PSO Scouting Report: S Xavier McKinney (Alabama)

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Physical Tools, College Game Film, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: S

Hometown: Roswell, GA

School: Alabama

Class: Junior

Age: 21

Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 201 lbs.

Hands: 9.63” | Arms: 30.88”

Bench: 19 reps | 40 Time: 4.63s

Facts to Know

1st-Team All-SEC, 2nd-Team All-American (2019)
Allowed just 2 1st downs in 246 snaps at FS (4 INTs)
15 coverage stops in 2019 (T-4th most)
Split time evenly between FS, slot CB, and in the box (271 – 227 – 285)

Physical Tools

Pros

Flexible hips and quick feet
Fluid and patient in his backpedal
Functional strength (19 bench reps – 71%)
Solid lower body testing — 36″ vertical (56th percentile), 122″ broad (62nd)
Plays quite a bit faster than he tested
Adequate, but not great length (30.88″)

Cons

Mediocre frame (6’0″, 201 lbs)
Quicker than fast (sluggish 4.63s 40-YD)
Strong on the bench but not many powerful hits
108.9 SPARQ score (20th percentile)

Grade: B

Game Film

Pros

High-level play in multiple roles — box, slot, free safety, etc.
Sticky on underneath routes
Very quick to diagnose and close on the play
Quality ball skills (5 INTs, 15 PBUs, 6 FFs)
Very patient and confident — trusts his reads and doesn’t panic
Legitimate blitzing threat
Consistent, sure tackler
Strong in run support — can fill gaps like a LB

Cons

Not an overly physical presence near the LOS like many hybrid S/LBs
Doesn’t make a ton of eye-popping, highlight-reel plays
Occasionally over pursues and takes a poor angle

Grade: A-

Production

Pros

2nd-Team All-American, 1st-Team All-SEC (2019)
220+ snaps at FS, slot CB, and in the box
88.4 overall PFF grade (9th among FBS safeties)
Gave up only 2 1st downs in 246 coverage snaps at FS
89.2 coverage, 90.3 deep PFF grades
Solid 11.0% missed tackle rate for his volume
Registered 21 pressures on 71 blitzes since 2018
6 forced fumbles over last 2 seasons

Cons

Less-than-stellar 57.3 PFF run defense grade
Left a few INTs on the table, could have had 5 or 6

Grade: A

Risk

Pros

2-year starting DB at Alabama
Legitimate underneath route eraser
Rare instincts and football IQ for his age
Consistent high-level play; doesn’t let a bad play turn into a bad game
Versatility is off the charts — capable of masking various defensive holes
Elite read-and-react ability

Cons

Decent but not a great athlete; doesn’t hold him back much on film though
Not overly physical and/or powerful like a typical hybrid
Probably not enough range to play single-high Safety on a regular basis

Grade: B+

Overall

Spending 2 seasons as Nick Saban’s swiss-army knife, Xavier McKinney is the most pro-ready Safety in this class. Not the greatest athlete or most intimidating presence, McKinney is so intelligent and technically sound that it doesn’t even matter inside the lines. Controlling the back-end of Alabama’s defense, he moved all over the field, either creating matchup problems or masking them.

While one could argue he isn’t spectacular in any single area, the value he brings across the board cannot be understated. Problems covering TEs? Xavier can handle it. Thin at LB or CB? Xavier can fill in. Need a roamer underneath? How about a classic free safety? Of course, Xavier is there.

Despite his relative lack of athleticism, McKinney is already such a smart and well-rounded football player. It’s truly rare that a player of his age is so capable and comfortable playing in various alignments at such a high level — some defensive coordinator is bound to fall in love with him.

Pro Comp: S Malcolm Jenkins (New Orleans Saints)

Projected Round: Mid-late 1st round

Prime Destinations: CLE, DAL, MIA, NE, ATL

OVERALL Grade: B+