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Pre-Combine rankings: Safety

Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams (AP Images)

The NFL Combine is set for the end of the month, so we are taking a look at each position and how the players rank heading into the big event. In Rivals.com tradition, we also look back at how they ranked out of high school.

Today we look at our top safeties.

MORE PRE-COMBINE RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OL | DTs | DEs | LBs | CBs

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The skinny: Adams committed to LSU over Florida at the Under Armour All-America Game. Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M and others were also involved in his recruitment. Adams was third on the team this season with 76 tackles (7.5 for loss) along with an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Interesting note: Adams picked LSU even though his godfather, Joker Phillips, was on the Florida coaching staff at the time.

Farrell’s take: The safety position is becoming more and more important in the NFL and Adams is a whirling dervish at the position. He’s not that long, but he is filled out, an aggressive tackler and is always around the football. This kid was always high energy and had great leadership skills out of high school and that has continued in college. He has excellent anticipation in the run game, which will also make him highly coveted. Whoever drafts him will draft a defensive leader and his stock is way up recently.

The skinny: In May before his senior season, Peppers committed to Michigan over offers from Penn State and others. At one point, Stanford was the front-runner, but the Wolverines were his childhood favorite. This season Peppers was third on the Wolverines with 72 tackles (16 for loss) and four sacks. He also had an interception and a forced fumble. Peppers was utilized on offense and special teams as well.

Interesting note: The only two prospects ranked higher in the 2014 class were defensive ends Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama) and Myles Garrett (Texas A&M).

Farrell’s take: Peppers' move to a hybrid linebacker/safety role this season came as a bit of a surprise at first, but it has been nothing short of genius. Su’a Cravens' draft stock was hurt by being a ‘tweener of sorts, but he dropped down to linebacker full-time whereas Peppers has played everywhere. From the first time I saw Peppers as a freshman corner at Bosco to his dominant years at Paramus Catholic, this kid was always special and always a leader, and his combine showing will really help determine where he lands.

The skinny: Hooker chose Ohio State over Michigan, Pitt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Penn State. This season Hooker was third on the Buckeyes with 74 tackles (5.5 for loss) along with a team-high seven interceptions.

Interesting note: With seven picks, Hooker was tied with three other players for the second-most interceptions in college football this past season. Two players had eight interceptions.

Farrell’s take: Hooker was a mid-level three-star prospect who slid under the radar a bit his senior year and turned into a steal for Ohio State. He was always athletic, but only played two years of high school football and was a bit raw at his position. He was a better basketball player than a football player in high school, and he’s taken that athleticism and turned himself into a possible first-round draft pick.

The skinny: Baker picked Washington over UCLA the night before National Signing Day. He had previously been committed to Oregon. This season Baker led the Huskies with 71 tackles (10 for loss) with three sacks. He also had two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Interesting note: Baker attended the same high school as former UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and both were standouts in football and track together.

Farrell’s take: I loved Baker out of high school for many reasons. The first was his fearlessness and willingness to simply smack bigger guys as an undersized safety. He could have played wide receiver as well and planned to do so at Oregon, so the ball skills were there. This was a kid who would destroy you on the field in any conference or scheme. His size will still be a question mark he needs to answer to NFL scouts, but his film backs up his ability to play bigger.

The skinny: King was committed to Central Michigan and Ball State before finally flipping to Iowa about a week before National Signing Day. Neither Michigan nor Michigan State offered the three-star standout. King finished with 58 tackles, three interceptions, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble this season. He also contributed on special teams.

Interesting note: During King’s high school career, he set a state record with 29 interceptions.

Farrell’s take: King wasn’t tested as much this season as teams learned to avoid his side of the field. He was not heavily recruited out of high school and was essentially ignored by in-state powers Michigan and Michigan State, much to their dismay now. King was always a guy who was around the ball with double-digit interceptions consistently in high school, but we questioned his speed. King's instincts continue to be off the charts and make up for that lack of blazing quickness but now many are considering him a safety prospect because of it. He breaks on the ball like a sub-4.4 guy even though that's not his straight-ahead speed.

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