Kitan Crawford S Nevada | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Kitan Crawford S Nevada
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/15/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (95%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 02/15/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (95%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 67.9 | |
| Tackling: |
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56% |
| Run Defense: |
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64% |
| Coverage: |
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74% |
| Zone: |
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72% |
| Man/Press: |
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73% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#223
Position rank:
#42
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1441 | ||
ESPN RATING: 84/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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Draft Profile: Bio
Kitan Crawford (5'11", 206 lbs, DOB not provided) established himself as a dynamic athlete at John Tyler High School in Texas, where he excelled as both a running back and cornerback. In his senior season, he amassed 1,065 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while also recording 33 tackles and three interceptions, earning first-team All-District 7-5A Division 1 honors at both positions. The four-star recruit capped his high school career by participating in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game.At Texas, Crawford appeared in 46 games across four seasons, gradually expanding his role each year. After playing primarily on special teams as a freshman in 2020, he earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2021. His junior year saw increased defensive responsibilities with 25 tackles and a blocked field goal, while his senior campaign in 2023 included three starts and culminated in honorable mention Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year recognition.
Crawford's final collegiate season at Nevada in 2024 marked his most productive year on the field. Starting 12 of 13 games for the Wolf Pack, he compiled a team-leading 76 tackles and demonstrated his playmaking ability with two interceptions, including a 52-yard return for a touchdown against Oregon State. His consistent performance throughout the season earned him All-Mountain West Honorable Mention honors, marking a successful transition to full-time safety.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional straight-line speed translates directly to coverage ability, showing rare recovery burst when beaten and range to patrol deep thirds of the field
- Special teams experience is extensive and impressive, with proven impact across all four units and the kind of gunner skills that'll have NFL coaches pounding the table
- Former running back background shows up in his footwork and change of direction, particularly when breaking on underneath routes in zone coverage
- Versatile defensive chess piece who can match up with tight ends in the box or rotate to deep safety, giving defensive coordinators valuable alignment flexibility
- Aggressive playing style when attacking downhill, shows no hesitation triggering against screens and brings a physical presence despite average size
- Ball tracking ability stands out on vertical routes, demonstrating natural instincts to locate and high-point passes without losing stride
- Explosive closing burst shows up in blitz packages, consistently disrupting quarterback timing when sent off the edge
- High football IQ evident in zone coverage, baiting quarterbacks and showing advanced route recognition skills developed over five collegiate seasons
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Tackling technique needs refinement, too often leading with shoulder instead of wrapping up, resulting in missed opportunities in open field situations
- Can get caught peeking into the backfield in man coverage, allowing savvy receivers to stack him vertically before he recovers
- Despite good instincts, sometimes takes overly aggressive angles to the ball carrier, creating cutback lanes in run support
- Limited starting experience at safety position may require patience as he continues developing positional instincts and timing
- Frame is slightly below ideal for an NFL safety, potentially limiting his ability to match up with more physical tight ends at the next level
Scouting Report: Summary
The film shows a safety whose explosive athleticism jumps off the screen, particularly when attacking downhill or carrying receivers vertically. His background as a running back manifests in fluid hip transitions and natural burst out of breaks, traits that mesh perfectly with modern NFL coverage demands. The natural progression from special teams ace to defensive playmaker at Nevada reveals a player whose best football lies ahead.Defensive coordinators running split-safety schemes will find immediate uses for Crawford's skillset. His range to cover ground in zone, physicality in run support, and man coverage ability against tight ends create a versatile chess piece for sub-packages. The special teams impact gives him day-one value while the defensive skills develop, reminiscent of how Adrian Phillips carved out his early NFL role.
This evaluation points to a mid-Day 3 selection who brings core special teams value with legitimate defensive upside. The combination of elite speed, coverage versatility, and proven third-phase impact presents a clear path to early playing time. For teams seeking secondary depth with special teams prowess, Crawford's film shows a player ready to contribute across multiple phases while developing into a potential defensive starter.
Kitan Crawford percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Kitan Crawford (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
447.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
87.0
*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.