Scouting Free Safeties - George Iloka
I think it may be hard for NFL scouts to get a handle on George Iloka's game because of his playing in the Mountain West at Boise. It's so tough to analyze a guy who has mostly been competing against inferior competition. I think that such is especially true for someone at the safety position. How will Iloka hold up against significantly faster over-the-top WRs and elite NFL QBs? Nevertheless, his draft stock continues to rise because he has exceptional size at 6'3"- 216lbs and runs a 40 in 4.4. You can't coach that...
#8 George Iloka, 6'3"- 216lbs
The book on Iloka is pretty simple: amazing physical talent that has enormous upside. However, he has played against inferior competition so it is hard to know whether his man-to-man skills will hold up against NFL caliber TEs and RBs. Nevertheless, he has the size to stick with physical TEs, so that is not an issue. The big question is whether his instincts and football IQ will have a distinct drop off when entering the NFL? He seems proficient at reading routes (in zone and man) and his play at the Senior Bowl (against much better competition) indicate that he will hold up fine against better athletes.
There are only two negatives that show up in the scouting reports, but neither is a deal breaker. Due to his length, Iloka's speed is exhibited best in long-striding, straight-line speed, and he sacrifices a bit of quickness in and out of breaks because of it. Nevertheless, he rarely wastes steps, and consistently finds himself in good position. Also, Iloka is not a bruiser. He is a wrap-up tackler, which is good, but he will not be a guy who can punish TEs for going over the middle. However, in the new NFL, that is not a priority for a Safety. I will take a guy in good position vs a guy who hits hard, and I think most coaches will agree.
Iloka's stock is on the rise, but he probably won't go earlier than the middle of the second round. Most boards are still projecting him in the early third round, which is why he might be a hassle-free pick up at #63. He certainly will not last until #94, and he is not worth selecting at #48. I think that he could be a great addition to a secondary that lacks a raw athlete with closing speed like Iloka.
#8 George Iloka, 6'3"- 216lbs
The book on Iloka is pretty simple: amazing physical talent that has enormous upside. However, he has played against inferior competition so it is hard to know whether his man-to-man skills will hold up against NFL caliber TEs and RBs. Nevertheless, he has the size to stick with physical TEs, so that is not an issue. The big question is whether his instincts and football IQ will have a distinct drop off when entering the NFL? He seems proficient at reading routes (in zone and man) and his play at the Senior Bowl (against much better competition) indicate that he will hold up fine against better athletes.
There are only two negatives that show up in the scouting reports, but neither is a deal breaker. Due to his length, Iloka's speed is exhibited best in long-striding, straight-line speed, and he sacrifices a bit of quickness in and out of breaks because of it. Nevertheless, he rarely wastes steps, and consistently finds himself in good position. Also, Iloka is not a bruiser. He is a wrap-up tackler, which is good, but he will not be a guy who can punish TEs for going over the middle. However, in the new NFL, that is not a priority for a Safety. I will take a guy in good position vs a guy who hits hard, and I think most coaches will agree.
Iloka's stock is on the rise, but he probably won't go earlier than the middle of the second round. Most boards are still projecting him in the early third round, which is why he might be a hassle-free pick up at #63. He certainly will not last until #94, and he is not worth selecting at #48. I think that he could be a great addition to a secondary that lacks a raw athlete with closing speed like Iloka.
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