Jakar Hamilton Scouting Report: NFL Outlook for SC State Safety

South Carolina State safety Jakar Hamilton bounced around throughout his college career, playing at three different schools.

After spending two seasons at Georgia Military College, Hamilton played one season with the Georgia Bulldogs before transferring to South Carolina State. And now, he'll hope to stick around at the NFL level.

Hamilton has experience at both cornerback and safety, so his versatility could serve him well at the professional level.

He does a nice job of carrying out his assignment in zone coverage. He may not be a game-changer in the secondary, but he can be counted upon to hold his own on defense.

Hamilton is more effective against the pass than he is against the run. His smallish frame makes him vulnerable against oncoming blockers, and he tends to get swallowed up.

There are legitimate questions as to whether or not Hamilton can mentally grasp the ins and outs of an NFL defense. He's solid in zone coverage, but NFL defenses require their safeties to do more than just play two-high coverage.

At 5'11", 186 pounds, Hamilton is a bit small to be an every-down safety at the NFL level. He has decent speed (4.56) and a great vertical jump at 41.5 inches.

But he only put up seven reps on the 225-pound bench press. From a physical tools' standpoint, Hamilton shows some promise.

Hamilton has struggled with academics, but there are no known concerns regarding his character. He left Georgia because he "needed a fresh start," and there were "no disciplinary issues," according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He was used primarily as a traditional two-deep safety. Hamilton also has the ability to play some man coverage, especially against slot receivers and tight ends.

Hamilton does a nice job of playing the ball in the air, but his hands are suspect. He'll usually break up the pass, but rarely does he come up with interceptions.

Hamilton tends to get swallowed up by blockers in the run game. He's not a big guy and can get himself into trouble when playing near the line of scrimmage.

Playing in the slot near the line of scrimmage, Hamilton is capable of playing some man-to-man coverage. By no means is he a shutdown corner, but he does a solid job of reacting in man coverage.

Hamilton did a nice job in zone coverage. He shouldn't be relied upon in single-high coverage, but he does a nice job in two-deep coverage.

Despite not having the ideal size for the safety position, Hamilton is a solid tackler. He's not one to deliver the big blow and force turnovers, but he's a decent form tackler.

Early in his NFL career, Hamilton is unlikely to play anything other than special teams. He has added value as a swing cornerback/safety prospect, but he doesn't excel at either position.

With that said, he certainly has potential. If he ends up in the right situation, Hamilton could be an effective player a few years down the road.