The Denver Post

Small-school safety Dugger brings cornerback skills too

- By Ryan O’Halloran

EDITOR’S NOTE: One of a series of profiles on draft prospects who would fit the Broncos’ needs.

A player from Division II Lenoir-Rhyne has not been drafted since 2000.

That will change this year.

And a player from LenoirRhyn­e has never been drafted in the top four rounds or 105 picks. That will change this year. Introducin­g safety Kyle Dugger, who followed up a strong college career with solid showings at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine.

The top safeties are LSU’s Grant Delpit, California’s Ashtyn Davis and Alabama’s Xavier McKinney. But Dugger is expected to be selected in rounds 2-3. The Broncos have three thirdround picks if Dugger falls and could view him as a third-safety/ dime personnel option while getting him ready to eventually take over for Kareem Jackson.

Dugger, who spent six years in college and is 24, will be the first Lenoir-Rhyne player to be drafted since defensive end John Milem by San Francisco in 2000 (fifth round/No. 150).

Not bad for a player who didn’t start until his senior year of high school.

“I can honestly say there were a lot of times when I stood on the sideline and asked myself, ‘What am I doing?’” Dugger said at the combine.

Dugger’s three offers were from Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), Berry College (Ga.) and Reinhardt University (Ga.). He redshirted in 2014, but despite not playing, he set his focus toward the NFL.

“My redshirt year, I was able to catch my body up and really set goals and make (the NFL) a goal,” Dugger said. “My head coach had a meeting with me and told me I had a special skill set and the NFL was a possibilit­y for me.”

Playing cornerback in ’15, he started all 10 games and had 43 tackles and a team-high four intercepti­ons. Following a missed year, he moved to safety and made 86 tackles. As a senior, he was limited to seven games because of a hand injury (31 tackles).

At the combine, Dugger’s 40-yard dash time of 4.49 seconds (at 217 pounds) was sixth-fastest among the safeties and his arm length of 32 7/8 inches was the longest of the 27 safeties.

But what will help Dugger most is his reputation to run and hit. One video collection of his highlights showed sideline-to-sideline speed, but also the ability to cover the slot receiver, which could be useful to him as a sub-package player.

Dugger didn’t have many opportunit­ies to play the football because teams went away from him.

“The competitor in me definitely wanted more (chances) at times, but I wouldn’t describe it as boring,” he said. “I liked playing down by the line of scrimmage. I was involved in the action a lot down there.”

Dugger said he studies several current safeties, including Baltimore’s Earl Thomas, the Chargers’ Derwin James, Buffalo’s Micah Hyde and Minnesota’s Harrison Smith.

Thomas, James and Smith were first-round picks, but Hyde rose from the fifth round to become a starter for Green Bay and now the Bills. Regardless of where Dugger is drafted, his mindset won’t change.

“I kind of like the underdog role,” he said. “It’s something that’s going to continue to drive me.”

 ?? Butch Dill, The Associated Press ?? Safety Kyle Dugger would be the first Lenoir-Rhyne player drafted since 2000.
Butch Dill, The Associated Press Safety Kyle Dugger would be the first Lenoir-Rhyne player drafted since 2000.

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