2020 NFL Draft: 9 Intriguing prospects from college football Week 9

3. Hamsah Nasirildeen, S/LB, Florida State

If you haven’t seen the 6-4, 217-pound safety/linebacker play, you’re missing out. In Week 9, Hamsah Nasirildeen was all over the field for Florida State finishing with 17 tackles and a sack. Those numbers are indicative of the type of player Nasirildeen is. There’s a lot to like about the tools he brings as a versatile defender.

No, he’s not a modern safety where he plays nickel. Nevertheless, he’s a smooth mover with range as a safety. He’ll match up against big slots and flexed tight ends because of his length and solid movement skills. When the ball is in the air, he shows great ball skills and hands. He’s a downhill player with solid sideline to sideline speed. He can also play outside linebacker at the next level, especially with the ability to pack on weight.

While some may understandably compare him to Kam Chancellor, another player comes to mind: New York Giants linebacker Deone Bucannon. In 2016, the Arizona Cardinals drafted him to play a “moneybacker” position; Nasirildeen can do the same thing. The hybrid linebacker/safety is an ideal fit for someone with Nasirildeen’s talents. He’s an ideal Cover-3 safety or any system that runs two-deep coverages.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith, who also played for Florida State, made a name for himself as a linebacker and Nasirildeen can replicate that effort. Nasirildeen is a specimen who’ll hear his name called in the first round.