Film Don't Lie | Ayden Pouncey
Just when you thought things were slowing down, Notre Dame sent a reminder that they are still hot when it comes to recruiting by adding a commitment from 4-star safety Ayden Pouncey.
A multi-sport athlete who competes in several track and field events (11.05 100m), landing Pouncey is a big win for Notre Dame over programs like Florida and Miami.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 170
Projected Position: Safety
ISD Grade: 91 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 91.0 (4-star)
What he does best:
He’s a very good athlete. It shows up as a defensive back, receiver, and returner. His lateral agility and his ball skills show up at all of these positions.
Pouncey does a fantastic job with his recognition versus the run and the screen game. He slips blocks well and is a strong tackler.
He might be skinny, but he hits above his weight class. He plays with a physical edge.
He wasn’t asked to play a ton of man coverage, but he has the skills to do so.
What he needs to improve:
He will need to get a lot bigger and stronger. It should make a significant difference when he does because he already plays with great physicality, but will need to develop to continue to play that way.
He’s unrefined with his technique in coverage. Pouncy is a reactive athlete who can become a lot more efficient with his footwork.
What’s his ceiling?
I know some see Pouncey as a corner and he’s certainly an intriguing option because at 6-3, but he’s not as long as others at that height. His wingspan was measured at 73.3 inches earlier this year and it would be preferable if he was longer at corner.
That plus his strength in diagnosing plays and tackling makes me think he is a better fit at safety or nickel. I think he has the potential to develop into a very good one and he can track the ball well too.
It’s another quality piece in the defensive backfield for Mike Mickens to work with and I believe his best fit at Notre Dame is as the field safety.
The player he reminds me of is former Alabama safety Deionte Thompson (5th round pick by Arizona) in terms of frame, instincts, and his aggressiveness as a tackler. He developed into a quality starter for the Crimson Tide and had 14.5 havoc plays in his final year in college.
Who he could be:
Former Alabama safety Deionte Thompson
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