Ourlads' Profile:
2023 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about SYDNEY BROWN:
Illinois | H: 5101 W: 211 40: 4.47 A: 3112 H: 1014 W: 7600
Five year starter, London, Ontario. First team All-Big 10, consensus second team All-America and Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. An instinctive physical two way safety prospect who has been a leader of the Illinois secondary the past five years. Equally at home in the deep zones or in the box as an overhang player or nickel. Excellent ability to quickly diagnose run/pass he’s sudden reacting downhill or laterally. Has a closing burst working to the alley and has sideline to sideline range. Has remarkable ability to close downhill and make plays close to the line or in the backfield. Adept at locating the ball across the line and gets to more plays than most safeties. Always around the ball. Outruns blocks with quickness but when confronted is quick to slip and shed on the move. Has explosive tackling skill driving through most tackles with gather and finish. As a zone defender has been solid processing route combinations and his quick reactions get him to the throwing lane. He’s been productive getting his hands on balls. Quarterbacks have to be aware of where he is as he can quickly close a window. Shows match skill versus inside receivers and has speed to run with vertical routes. As a deep safety has range to challenge deep vertical routes from one or two high looks. His stature and length isn’t a perfect fit and it shows up tackling at times and in 50/50 battles versus tight ends and big slots. He will give up yards after contact to a powerful back and has been run over inline. He may fit in sub packages and a core special team player but his skill set is that of a starter in the right scheme.
2022 Stats: 59 T, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 7 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF, 1 FR (1 TD), 6 INT (1 TD). OSR:2/20. 2nd/3rd round.