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Kyle Dugger, S
School: Lenoir-Rhyne | Conference: South Atlantic (D2)
College Experience: Senior | Age: 24
Height / Weight: 6’1” / 217 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Round 1 or 2
NFL Comparison: Terrell Edmunds
Career Statistics:
Defensive Statistics
| Year | Team | G | Class | Pos | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sack | Int | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | G | Class | Pos | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sack | Int | FF |
| 2017 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 10 | Soph | DB | 57 | 30 | 87 | 4.5 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 14 | Junior | DB | 50 | 26 | 76 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 10 | Senior | S | 30 | 13 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Player Overview
Dugger’s ascension into the consciousness of NFL draft followers has been near meteoric over the course of the past few months. Hailing from tiny Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC (a school that hasn’t had a player drafted in 20 years), Dugger’s incredible athleticism and dominance of his Division 2 peers caught the attention of NFL scouts despite playing on a relatively small stage.
In 2018, as a junior, Dugger was not only a defensive force in the secondary, collecting 76 tackles, 10 passes defended, 3 INTs, and two fumble recoveries, he also excelled as a return specialist, averaging 17.2 yards per punt return (and 20 yards per kick return) and taking two returns to the house.
Dugger had a hand injury during a portion of his senior season and only started 7 games. Nevertheless, he was able to get second team All American recognition, accumulating 43 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 INTs. He was also a Senior Bowl stand-out, showing he had no problem hanging with top tier college competition.
Strengths
- Elite athlete with comps to some of the best safeties in recent memory (e.g., Eric Berry, Derwin James).
- Solid tackler. Elite lateral agility.
- Very competitive.
- Great leadership qualities. Two-time team captain.
- Could immediately be an elite special teamer.
Weaknesses
- Level of competition (D2).
- Tends to be a reactive defender. Needs to work on mental processing of the game.
- Needs to work on man coverage skills.
- His versatility is both a strength and a question mark. There’s some disagreement about where he fits at the NFL (linebacker, safety, nickel).
- Older (24) for a draft pick.
Let’s See His Work
How He Would Fit
With the spotlight firmly shone on Dugger at this point, the reality is he could easily end up being a first or second round draft pick. If that’s the case, the only way the Redskins could even consider taking him is with either a trade back from the #2 spot or some very generous trade compensation for Trent Williams. Nevertheless, I thought it was worth profiling him here both because he seems to fit the defensive positional flexibility that both Rivera and Del Rio seem to crave and because I think the prospects of some sort of trade back involving capital in the late first and/or early second rounds are better than zero.
A player like Dugger could immediately become a difference maker on special teams - in the same way Terry McLaurin was anticipated to perform last year - as well as high ceiling competition for several of the secondary and linebacking positions.