NFL Draft Profile: Demani Richardson, Safety, Texas A&M Aggies
#26
Pos: S
Ht: 6001
Wt: 215
40: 4.41
DOB: 10/7/2000
Hometown: Waxahachie, TX
High School: Waxahachie
Eligibility: 2023
Demani Richardson
Texas A&M Aggies
One-Liner:
Overall a future solid starting safety at the next level who can unlock another level if he shows he has some playmaking ability.
Evaluation:
Good frame with solid length and bulk to his upper body. Excellent football IQ, smart player who sees the field at a high level while working off the QB indicator. Reads his keys consistently which allow him to play faster than his athletic traits. Controls the defense, can see him making checks and making sure guys are lined up properly. Shows some impressive plays with good range as a single-high safety who can track the deep ball. Very good range as a split field safety, his natural instincts and feel will take him to routes consistently and even before they fully develop some times. Has the athletic ability to matchup with tight ends along with the strength to get physical with the leagues bigger tight ends. Excellent closing burst on ball carrier when filling the alley in run support. Finishes tackles consistently as an efficient wrap and roll tackler who can generate power out of his hips. Lacks twitch, does not have the raw foot speed to be a true single high safety. Struggles in man coverage due to his inability to flip his hips and stay connected playing in space against slot receivers. Angles to the football can be inconsistent, giving up easy cut backs when he could use the sideline as a second defender to make a tackle. Needs to show more ball production, has not created enough takeaways and has not shown the ability to pluck the football out the air. Extremely cerebral safety with a natural feel for dissecting how offenses are trying to attack him, aiding him in his ability to play fast. Efficiency as a tackler with a strong frame gives him some versatility to give you reps in the box to increase run support and matchup with tight ends. Will struggle in man coverage against slot receivers at the next level due to lack of twitch to stay connected. Little to no ball production up to this point in his career, needs to create more takeaways and show an ability to be a playmaker. Overall a future solid starting safety at the next level who can unlock another level if he shows he has some playmaking ability.
Grade:
4th Round
Background:
Demani Richardson is a 2019 SEC All-Freshman Team member and started nine games for Texas A&M in 2021 and all eight in 2020, Before that, when he came to the university, he was a starter in eleven games in 2019 as a Freshman. From Waxahachie, Texas, and attending Waxahachie High School, he was an Army All-American and AP All-State Honorable Mention as a Junior. Richardson was also used on the offensive side of the ball at times, where he had twenty-two carries for over two hundred yards.
