Analysis
DEPTH CHARTS FEATURE - What Ourlads NFL Scouting Services said before MALIK HOOKER made the Indianapolis Colts' depth chart: Ohio State, 6010 206 4.50. Junior entry and one year starter from New Castle, PA. Consensus first-team All-America and All-Big 10. Led the FBS with three of his seven interceptions returned for touchdowns. Played in 13 games as a red-shirt freshman, mostly on special teams. Backed up two-year starters Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell. A natural feel for where the action is going to be and an explosive reaction to where the action is. Appears out of nowhere often. Instincts and awareness are off the chart. Strong finisher. Closes a gap aggressively under control. Equally full of range against the run and pass. Can fill multiple roles in coverage. Has the hip swivel to man up on quickness, the speed to run downfield with a deep threat, and the efficient footwork to anticipate and react in zone. Excellent ball skills. High points it and can also reach without interfering in traffic. Could play the game more physical and show better tackling mechanics. A cut, no wrap tackler as a rule. Lacks experience that most safeties have coming out of college. Will lose track of what is going on behind him. Can be played with by a quality quarterback when it comes to looking off. Needs to take more consistent support angles. Still very green in comparison to other prospects as he’s only been playing football for five years which is almost hard to believe because of the high level of instincts and awareness he plays with. One has to believe the arrow is still very much pointing up for him. His issues revolve around the physical presence of the game. He misses more tackles than a safety should and there have been times where he shies from contact. His surgically repaired shoulder shouldn’t decrease his grade much, if at all. There is always risk with one year starters, but his upside is through the roof. Had surgery in January to repair a labrum tear in his hip and a sports hernia. 2016 stats: 74 T, 5.5 TFL, .5 sack, 4 PBU, 7 INT (3 TD). Medical exclusion at Combine, sports hernia. First round. (A-32 1/4, H-10 3/4, VJ-DNP, SS-DNP).