There is no question about it (unless you are a hater), Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was one of the most versatile players in the nation this past season.
He could play offense well, defense well, and special teams well. Yet one of the biggest stories heading into the NFL Scouting combine was where Peppers would play at the next level. That mystery seemed to become even more unclear on Friday when the Heisman finalist was scheduled to workout with both the linebackers and the defensive backs at this year’s combine.
Well, the picture seemed to become much clearer (at least in Peppers’ eyes), when he spoke to the media on Saturday.
While wearing a “24 LB” practice shirt, Peppers had a question for the media.
“What do I look like?” He said at Saturday’s NFL scouting combine. “I’m a safety.”
You see, the NFL told Peppers that during the combine, he had to work out at his most recent college position. He and his agents made a special request to the league to work out with both the linebackers and the defensive backs.
Now, Peppers is ready to show NFL scouts (and the rest of the world) that he is more than capable of playing safety at the next level.
“I control the controllables and I’m pretty much effective wherever I’m going to be put,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of tape at safety but I’m a pretty damn good safety.”
Peppers is confident in his abilities, especially after being battle tested in a very physical Big Ten.
“Free or strong (safety), I’m very fast, I’m stronger than the typical DB, tougher than a typical DB, seeing as I played linebacker in the Big Ten at 200 pounds so anywhere from nickel, I can play some corner still, so we’re going to see,” Peppers said.
H/T to the Detroit Free Press for quotes used in this piece. To read Mark Snyders remarkable piece on Peppers, please click here.
