Sydney Brown

Illinois SAF

Games Watched: Wyoming, Chattanooga, Minnesota

Summary: Sydney Brown can play all over the field but fits best as a traditional box safety. He has good instincts and speed going downhill which allows him to quickly diagnose and make plays in the run game. In coverage he has great hand usage and has tremendous ball skills. He has the functional strength to consistently disengage with blockers and guard tight ends. While he has good straight line speed he is not very agile. He lacks eye discipline and is often fooled by offensive play design. He often doesn’t finish tackles when attempting to deliver a hit.

Pros

  • Plays with above average instincts
  • Closes on ball carriers quickly when working downhill
  • Uses his hands well to reroute receivers
  • Very good ball skills
  • Good functional strength

Cons

  • Overly aggressive trying to read plays
  • Does not change directions well
  • Misses tackles going for big hits

Grade: Sydney Brown gets an early 3rd round grade. He has some quality traits but the lack of agility and tackling inconsistencies are why he isn’t higher.