Projecting the Depth Chart at Safety

Continuing our positional breakdown and depth chart projection from last week’s cornerback and running back positions, I’ll be taking a look at the safety position and how I see the depth chart at the moment. There’s plenty of young talent but at the moment, this is one of the more solid position groups returning a ton of experience and talent.

3rd team: Za’Carrius Green (R-Fr.)

Green benefitted from a redshirt season last year and brings a year of #BodyByGlass experience. Originally recruited by OSU as a linebacker, the 5-11, 205lb. athlete has really good mobility and coverage skills, which allowed the coaches to move him into a safety position. He doesn’t have experience at this level, but he’s already grown into a good frame and could play early in the season. If you haven’t heard that name, you will.

2nd team: Kenneth Edison-McGruder (Soph.)

McGruder is one of many young guys making a name for himself. There was a little experiment in the spring to move him to the Star linebacker position, which apparently went well. But the Pokes are loaded at Star, so keeping him at safety seems to be the plan, barring injury. He’s too talented to keep off the field, so it looks like he’ll get some playing time again this year to build off a freshman year where he saw spot duty at a very deep position group.

2nd team: Derrick Moncrief (Sr.)

Moncrief is the guy no one is talking about but maybe everyone should be. He plays a non-flashy position at safety, where Jordan Sterns is deservedly getting a ton of praise, and Moncrief is a guy who brings legitimate size, speed, and experience to now represent the most talented and deep positions perhaps on the entire squad. The former Auburn athlete sat last season to satisfy NCAA rules, and he has one final season to make his mark. The talent between the trio of athletes is absurd at the top of this list. There’s a reason Moncrief was at one time the No. 1 junior college safety prospect a few years ago.

1st team: Tre Flowers (R-Jr.)

Flowers is a big hitting safety who has proven he belongs in the starting role after a breakout 2015 campaign. He’s a freaky athlete at 6-foot-3 and his experience as a long jumper is another weapon in his arsenal. Flowers isn’t getting a ton of praise yet, but he has the talent to be a NFL draft pick in the future.

Ready to watch more hits like this from @_Slimm7 at the @SugarBowlNola ????? https://t.co/oDncSg3Oe0

— Oklahoma State (@TheOkiePokie) December 19, 2015

1st team: Jordan Sterns (Sr.)

The anchor of this group is Jordan Sterns, who sets the tone with his attitude and swagger. He’s on the Nagurski Award watch list, which is awarded to the best defensive player in CFB. Now that Ogbah is gone, the anchor has shifted from the front to the back of the defense. This entire unit is orchestrated by No. 13.

Summary

This is a deep group of safeties with not a lot to prove in fall camp. The time in camp will likely be used to develop depth, specifically with Green and McGruder to see how they can contribute. Although there isn’t much to sort out at the top, Moncrief, McGruder and Green could all make favorable impressions going into the season. At this point, though, they just need to stay healthy. If they can rely on McGruder and Green, it may allow for more rotations throughout the game in specific packages, allowing for Sterns/Flowers/Moncrief to get key rest and stay fresh.