Josh Proctor, SAF, Ohio State
Size:
Height: 6’1.5”
Weight: 199 pounds
Arm Length: 32”
Hand Size: 8 3/4"
Accomplishments:
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2020) • 4-star recruit
“Josh Proctor is a versatile defensive back who will have a positive impact as a run defender and can be a plus-level player playing zone in pass coverage.”
Strengths:
Position-versatile (FS, SS, nickel)
Key and diagnose run
SIdeline-to-sideline pursuit
Concerns:
Over-run plays
Efficiency tackling
Film Analysis:
Josh Proctor is a six-year player who logged more than 50 career appearances for the Buckeyes. Proctor has played at all levels of the defense, showing to have an in-depth understanding of defense and the athletic profile to successfully fill multiple roles. Proctor makes plays in both the run game and in pass coverage, but his most consistent presence is felt through the run game.
As a run defender, Proctor makes plays from the FS, SS, and nickel positions. From depth at the FS/SS position, Proctor can diagnose, run, and run the alley downhill to make the tackle. Proctor is a reliable defensive back to fill not only gaps on the outside, but is comfortable with filling the A and B-gaps consistently and being effective. Proctor has a physical temperament to his game and will look for the big hit to establish a presence of physicality.
When walked down to the nickel position, Proctor still shows good run-diagnosing ability and will pursue the ball-carrier to the sideline. On plays like bubble screens and quick screens, Proctor can quickly defeat blocks and get to the ball-carrier to stop these plays on the outside from turning into big plays.
In pass coverage, Proctor aligns all over the field and fills many different responsibilities. Proctor can play the single-safety position and cover sideline to sideline or play in two-high situations, covering from hash to sideline to make plays on the football. Proctor's biggest impact is when he has to roll coverage into the middle of the field or hook curl zone and can read the quarterback and bait them into making throws where he can break the pass up or intercept it. Proctor also has the foot speed that, when aligned in the slot position, can carry slot receivers vertically up the field and make a play on the ball.
Proctor's biggest area of improvement as a player would be his effectiveness as a tackler. Proctor is a full-speed player who looks to make the big hit on ball-carriers but this results in a compromise in his technique. There are multiple times when Proctor fails to break down on the ball-carrier and will either over-run the ball-carrier or throw a shoulder and fail to make the tackle. The issue appears to be purely an improvement on technique issue and could be cleaned up as Proctor has shown that he is more than willing and has the right temperament to be a good run defender as a defensive back.
Overall, Proctor appears to be an ideal fit for a team that runs a high percentage of zone coverage and asks their safeties to be heavily involved in the run game. If drafted to a team like this, he should have an important role early on in his career.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 —Scheme Specific Contributor
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Western Kentucky (2023), Penn State (2023), Michigan (2023), Notre Dame (2023)
