2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas

by Cory J. Bonini on March 1, 2013 @ 17:27:16 PDT

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Texas free safety Kenny Vaccaro enters the 2013 NFL Draft after two very strong seasons in a row, including an impressive 2012 senior campaign.

Vaccaro racked up 107 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered one, and intercepted a pair of passes in '12. He notched 82 stops the year before.

Top-rated safety

Strengths

Above-average athlete with lower-body explosiveness
Good size and build at 6-foot, 214 pounds
Three-year starter
Plays downhill and gets involved in run defense
Very capable pass defender, despite limited statistics to show for it - experienced playing slot cornerback
Reliable open-field tackler
Understands what is asked of him and holds his own in Cover 2
Recognizes routes as they're developing and reacts accordingly
Strong team leader

Weaknesses

Tends to freelance too much - overly aggressive by looking for the knockout shot
Can take himself out of the play with poor angles
Average straight-line speed
Arrested for failure to obey a police officer in 2012

Expected draft placement

It would be surprising if Vaccaro didn't come off the board in the first round. He could go in the teens, with the Dallas Cowboys (No. 18) seemingly the best suitor for him. The St. Louis Rams could look to him with one of their two first-round choices (No. 16, No. 22), and the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 21) may have Vaccaro on their radar.

About Cory J. Bonini

Cory is KFFL's General Manager. In late 2002, he joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, Bonini has been featured in print, on radio and on scores of websites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors. Follow @CoryKFFL