Dashawn Spears CB LSU |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #10 ROLE: Slot/Nickel Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.43 seconds (75%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jersey: #10 | |
| ROLE: Slot/Nickel Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.43 seconds (75%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.6 / 100
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 46.8 | |
| Tackling: |
|
77% |
| Run Defense: |
|
79% |
| Coverage: |
|
89% |
| Zone: |
|
77% |
| Man/Press: |
|
89% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#102
Position rank:
#25 (DB)
|
||
| College Games: 27 College Snaps: 565 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
|
||
|
247 RATING: 96/100
|
||
|
RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shavon Revel Jr. - East Carolina |
|
88% |
| Martin Emerson - Mississippi State |
|
86% |
| Devin Moore - Florida |
|
82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Dashawn Spears was born in Utah and moved to Baton Rouge at about age 9 with his mother to live with his stepfather, and he changed his surname from McBryde to Spears in 2024. He starred at Denham Springs High School, setting a school record with 10 interceptions as a junior and adding nine interceptions, 51 tackles and three defensive touchdowns as a senior, and he was a two-time first-team Class 5A All-State pick who also ran track. He was a four-star recruit and the No. 4 safety in the On3 composite.Spears played in 13 games with three starts as a freshman in 2024. In 2025 he played in all 13 games, intercepting two passes against Florida, including a 58-yard pick-six, in a 20-10 win that earned him SEC defensive player of the week and Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week honors. He finished with 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions on 255 defensive snaps, and he made a career-high nine tackles against Houston in the Texas Bowl.
Spears moved to the hybrid STAR role under Lane Kiffin in 2026, and LSU opened with a 51-10 win over Clemson. He had a sack against Louisiana Tech, and Kiffin called him an integral part of how well the defense had played. He tore his ACL in the second quarter at Ole Miss on 19 September and is out for the season, with seven tackles, a sack and a pass breakup in three games.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for a defensive back, with a top-tier forty
- Returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown against Florida in 2025
- Earned SEC and national defensive player of the week honors in 2025
- Versatile defender with experience at safety and the STAR nickel role
- Ball skills shown by a school-record 10 interceptions in high school
- Lane Kiffin called him an integral part of LSU's defense
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Torn ACL at Ole Miss ended his 2026 season after three games
- Played only 255 defensive snaps in a rotational role in 2025
- Has made only a handful of college starts
- Missed two tackles in limited snaps against Ole Miss
Scouting Report: Summary
Spears is a fast, instinctive defensive back with the ball skills to change a game. He has rare speed, and he showed it against Florida in 2025, intercepting two passes and returning one 58 yards for a touchdown to earn SEC and Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week honors. He had a school-record 10 interceptions as a high school junior, and he made a career-high nine tackles in the Texas Bowl against Houston.His 2026 season started with a new role. Lane Kiffin moved him to the hybrid STAR position, where his speed and coverage ability fit naturally, and he had a sack against Louisiana Tech as LSU opened with a 51-10 win over Clemson. Kiffin called him an integral part of how well the defense had played. He had chosen to stay at LSU in January after being expected to enter the portal, calling it his dream school.
However, his season ended in the second quarter at Ole Miss on 19 September, when he tore his ACL. That injury will be the first question for NFL teams, and he will not be able to show his recovery before the draft process begins. His body of work is also small. He played only 255 defensive snaps in 2025, has made only a handful of college starts and played three games this season, so his tape is limited.
Overall, Spears has the speed, ball skills and versatility that NFL teams look for in a modern defensive back, but his knee and his limited experience make him a projection. He projects as a fourth-round defensive back with the ceiling of a starting nickel or safety and the floor of a special teams contributor. As a junior, he could also return to LSU in 2027 to rebuild his value after the injury.
How other scouting services rate Dashawn Spears (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
128.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
38.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.