Safeties #1: Rahim Moore School: UCLA, Jr. Height: 6” 0” Weight: 202 40-Yard dash: 4.62 In a nutshell: Best known for being a ballhawk that led the nation with 10 interceptions in 2009. His interception numbers dropped off precipitously his junior season, however, when he grabbed only one. Healthy and reliable player that started all 37 games from 2008-2010. Very good at reading the quarterback and attacking the ball in the air. Uses his height and leverage to his advantage when going after the ball in the air as if he's the intended receiver. Not a knockout tackler, but he's good in space, wraps up well and takes good angles. Could add a few pounds. Rivalry game: Moore was credited with eight tackles against rival USC in UCLA's final game of the 2010 season, although the safety was largely a non-factor. With USC running back Allen Bradford running to the tune of 212 yards on the ground, the Trojans didn't have the need to go to the air all that much, which is where Moore makes his biggest impact. It turned out to be the first time since 1999 neither UCLA nor USC would be going to a bowl game. The Bruins ended the season with six losses in their final seven games. Honors: First-team All-American by The Sporting News, Thorpe Award semifinalist, first-team All-Pac 10 in 2009 and 2010.
Author: Brian Carriveau Best game: Moore tallied three interceptions in a season-opening victory over San Diego State as a sophomore in 2009. That mark tied the school record for the most interceptions in a single game. For his efforts, Moore was named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week. Also had one tackle and a pass breakup. He followed that up with a twointerception game the following week at Tennessee and had a third interception wiped out by penalty. Stats: 71 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT
#2: DeAndre McDaniel School: Clemson, Sr. Height: 6’ 0” Weight: 217 40-Yard dash: 4.65 In a nutshell: Equally aggressive both against the run and the pass, McDaniel can play in the box, defend the slot and excel in deep coverage as well. Plays like a linebacker in a safety’s body, but seems to have the necessary fluidity to be effective in pass coverage at the next level. Was originally recruited to play safety at Clemson. Was the only college football player in 2009 to record at least eight interceptions and 100 tackles. There’s some characters concerns stemming from a 2008 arrest for “assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.” Postseason Game: Recorded a team-high and a career-high 15 tackles in a 21-13 victory over Kentucky in the 2009 Music City Bowl. For Clemson, the victory put a posi-
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DeAndre McDaniel - Clemson
tive spin on the season for a team that was looking to qualify for a BCS bowl game but lost to Georgia Tech in the ACC Title game. According to Travis Sawchik of the Post and Courier of South Carolina, “Kentucky offensive coordinator Joker Phillips told [Clemson head coach Dabo] Swinney it looked like there were two No. 2s on the field.” Honors: First-team All-ACC 2009 and 2010, first-team All-American by the Football Writer’s Association as a junior. All-Star game: There were mixed reports on McDaniel coming out of the Senior Bowl practices. On the positive side, several accounts said he looked very fluid in coverage and that he looked good matching up with tight ends. One of the more biting criticisms came from Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated and DraftInsider.net who wrote,