Ourlads' Profile:
2018 Guide: What Ourlads' NFL Scouting Services said about JOSHUA KALU: Nebraska, 6002 203 4.58. Three-year starter from Houston, TX. Made the transition to safety in 2017 but was limited to nine games due to a hamstring injury. At safety he is a work in progress, but has the size needed for the position. Shows range as a deep safety and can chase down routes. Plays with a good cushion and has the speed to stay over the top on vertical routes. At his best as a flat player from the nickel or box safety position. Takes a quick drop with good depth and reads the routes and quarterback. Gets under the deep route and closes the void back inside and up to shallow routes. Has a burst reacting to the throw. Times his hand to the catch point well and has good overall ball skills. Has match-up skill on slot receivers. Mirrors cuts and can close on a break. Shows toughness taking on edge blockers. Can quickly disengage from a block and make a tackle. Has range to chase plays down. Misses tackles by over running plays. Will lunge on occasion. Initial read and react as a deep safety is often late due to wasted steps and hesitation at the snap. At times shows hesitation reacting in deep third coverage. Does not get in on as many plays as his athletic ability indicates. Kalu will need to develop as a special teams’ player to factor on a team. Has safety upside but needs development. 2017 stats: 47 T, 6 PBU, 1 FF, 2 INT. BTR:left 4.76, right 4.70. OSR:12/21. Sixth/seventh round. (A-32 3/4, H-10, VJ-41.5, SS-4.25).