2021 NFL Draft: 4 Potential late-round steals at safety
Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech
If you want to talk about size at safety, Divine Deablo is a great player to start off with. Deablo was recruited as a three-star 180-pound wide receiver. Five years later as a 6-foot-3, 226-pound safety, Deablo has spent plenty of time in the weight room and is ready to show off his skills against the best of the NFL.
A team captain at Virginia Tech, Deablo was a force when he finally cracked the starting lineup in 2018 after converting from the receiver as a freshman in 2016.
Throughout his career, he accounted for 206 tackles, 12.5 of which were for loss, along with six interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Last season Deablo missed two games, but still posted 55 tackles and four interceptions to earn All ACC honors.
As mentioned, his size is a definite plus, but it takes away a bit of athleticism. That will work against him. Where his athleticism lacks, his pure talent takes over. One of the things he improved greatly in 2020 is his ability to read the quarterback’s eyes.
Deablo was a constant on the Virginia Tech special teams unit, where he’ll be a solid contributor in the NFL sooner than later.
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It wouldn’t be surprising to see Deablo move to linebacker in the NFL, and that might actually be a benefit. If he goes to a team that lets him blitz, he’ll cause plenty of disruption behind the line. The growth he showed in his game in 2020 was exponential, and if given time he can continue that at the next level.