Jalen Catalon S UNLV | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jalen Catalon S UNLV
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 08/28/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.55 seconds (56%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Age: 23.7 DOB: 03/15/2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
Last Updated: 08/28/2024 | |
Draft Year: 2025 | |
40 time: 4.55 seconds (56%*) | |
Age: 23.7 DOB: 03/15/2001 | |
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Overall Rating: | 83.0 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
Offense Rating: |
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73% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
QB Rating When targeted: | 54.7 | |
Tackling: |
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74% |
Run Defense: |
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68% |
Coverage: |
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81% |
Zone: |
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84% |
Man/Press: |
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77% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#117
Position rank:
#25
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College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1823 | ||
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#56
Pos Rank:
#28
State Rank:
#42
College Combine Results
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Ovr Rank: #23 Pos Rank: #29 | ||
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Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
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Ji'Ayir Brown - Penn State |
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90% |
Christopher Smith - Georgia |
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81% |
Tre Sterling - Oklahoma State |
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80% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jalen Catalon, a 5'11", 205-pound safety from UNLV, has had a tumultuous college career marked by flashes of brilliance and setbacks due to injuries. Born on March 15, 2001, in Mansfield, Texas, Catalon was a standout at Mansfield Legacy High School, earning All-Area Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior. His senior season was cut short by a knee injury, but he still garnered a four-star recruit rating.Catalon began his college career at Arkansas, where he redshirted his freshman year before breaking out in 2020. He recorded 99 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles, earning first-team All-SEC and Freshman All-American honors. However, injuries limited him to just six games in 2021 and one game in 2022. He transferred to Texas for the 2023 season, appearing in eight games with 17 tackles and one forced fumble.
After entering the transfer portal again, Catalon landed at UNLV for his final season of eligibility in 2024. Throughout his college career, he has totalled176 total tackles, 5 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles in 29 games played across four schools.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Aggressive downhill player who excels in run support, showing a quick trigger and willingness to fly into the box
- Possesses good instincts and play recognition, often diagnosing plays quickly and putting himself in position to make stops
- Exhibits solid ball skills when healthy, with the ability to high-point passes and create turnovers in the secondary
- Demonstrates leadership qualities and solid football IQ, having played in multiple defensive systems across his college career
- Shows versatility to line up at various spots in the defensive backfield, including deep safety and in the box
- Tackles with authority and brings a physical presence to the secondary, intimidating receivers coming across the middle
- Has experience in big-time college football environments, having played in the SEC and Big 12 conferences
- Displays good short-area quickness and change of direction skills when healthy, aiding in coverage and pursuit angles
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Extensive injury history raises red flags about long-term durability and ability to withstand the physical demands of the pro game
- Lacks prototypical length for the safety position, potentially struggling to match up with jumbo-sized tight ends and contested catch specialists
- Long speed is a concern, potentially limiting his ability to cover ground as a single-high safety or recover when beaten deep
- Inconsistent tackling technique shows up on tape, occasionally leading to missed tackles in space or allowing extra yardage after contact
- May be scheme-limited at the next level, lacking the athleticism to consistently hold up in man coverage against NFL-caliber athletes
Scouting Report: Summary
A box safety with the mindset of an old-school enforcer, this prospect's best fit comes in a defense that leverages his instincts and physicality near the line of scrimmage. His ability to quickly diagnose plays and attack downhill makes him an intriguing option for teams employing split-safety looks or those needing a tone-setter in the box. Schematically, he projects best in a system that allows him to play forward and utilize his run-stopping abilities. His experience in multiple collegiate systems suggests adaptability, but he may be exposed in coverages that consistently ask him to play deep or match up one-on-one with elite athletes. Special teams could provide an immediate path to playing time while he develops. The medical evaluations will be crucial in determining his draft stock. If cleared, he has the potential to carve out a role as a sub-package player and core special teamer, with the upside to develop into a starter in the right system. However, his physical limitations and injury history suggest he may face an uphill battle to become more than a rotational player at the next level.
Written By:
Kev Thomas (MWC)
Jalen Catalon percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Jalen Catalon (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
184.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
43.0
*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.