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Bears Select Oregon State Safety Brandon Hardin

| April 27th, 2012

From PFW:

Positives:

Excellent size and athletic ability. Has played corner and safety and has extensive experience locked in man coverage. Good balance, hip flex, change of direction and body control for his size. Can turn and run vertical. Zone-aware. Supports the run aggressively. Heavy hitter. Plays with awareness and football intelligence. Has the traits and mentality for special teams. Outstanding character and makeup.

Negatives:

Could improve press technique. Average pedal fluidity. Lacks ideal explosion and recovery burst to survive on an island. Stressed by smaller, quicker receivers (gives up separation at the top of stems). Minimal ball production. Does not always arrive under control to tackle. At times gets wired to blocks. Relatively inexperienced (only one full season as a starter).

Summary:

Intriguing size-speed prospect who looks like a safety and was athletic enough to play corner in college. Has desirable intangibles and at worst should be a versatile, valuable backup and core special-teams player. Has more upside than former OSU safety Sabby Piscitelli, who was overdrafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007.