An in depth and complete scouting report and draft prospect profile of Ohio State Nickel Josh Proctor for the NFL Draft.

Prospect: Josh Proctor

School: Ohio State

Age: 25

Josh Proctor Measurables:

• Height: 6’1.5” (NFL Combine)
• Weight:  199 (NFL Combine)

• 40: 4.55 (NFL Combine)
• 10 Yard Split: 1.54 (NFL Combine)
• Vertical Jump: 32.5” (NFL Combine)
• Broad Jump: 10’1”  (NFL Combine)
• Other Notes:
  • Measured in 6 lbs lighter at Combine than ESPN had listed
  • Josh Proctor 40 time continues to make us believe he’s a LB convert
  • Josh Proctor really looks better in DB drills than we would’ve thought. We still think he’s a LB convert candidate, but him playing as a primary box safety isn’t looking as bad as we originally thought

Tape Watched: Notre Dame, Penn State, Maryland, Michigan(Only first few series), Senior Bowl

Prospect Grade: 53%

Projected Draft Day: Rounds 6-7

Player Comparison: Lower end Jamal Adams

Josh Proctor Player Summary:

The  Positives

• At times he looks bigger than listed size
• Better closer to the line. Played like a 3rd LB at times
• Man coverage looks good against TE’s 
• Good understanding of gap filling
• Awareness seems really good

The Negatives

• One year starter
• Lacks a quick trigger coming down hill
  • We suspect hesitation comes from fear of getting beat by play action
• Lacks the speed and range to play single high
• Coverage skills need work
  • When playing zone down in the box it feels like he covers grass. Doesn’t really squeeze or carry routes as often as you’d like to see
    • Zone coverage looked so much better in Maryland game compared to Notre Dame(Underneath, not deep)
  • Can’t man WRs
• Wildly inconsistent tackling
• Already 25

Side Notes

• Played FS much more than we would’ve liked to see. If he stays at safety he has to be a box safety.
  • Not sure why coaches continue to believe he’s a FS. He played free way too during Senior Bowl
• Proctor should be in the same boat as Miami’s James Williams. Proctor needs to be transitioned to LB, he just looks better closer to the line

Josh Proctor is being categorized with the wrong position. Proctor should be getting scouted as a LB rather than a Safety. Proctor would drop into a role that made him a 3rd LB in Ohio State’s defense at times, and it was the best he looked. He understands gap filling and puts up a fight despite being on the lighter side. His box coverage skills seem good. A transition to LB would require some development thus the lower grade, but we like the upside that’s there.

Updated 4/22/24: Everything in our original summary stands true. Proctor’s film is frustrating to watch because from Ohio State to the Senior Bowl, coaches keep playing Proctor as a FS and that’s not what he is. His strength is box play and everytime I watch him play free it restrains his ability to play to his strength. He’s a nickel defender with the ability to possibly play SS. We think Jamal Adams is the perfect comp from a numbers perspective and style of play although don’t believe he will have a prime like Adams did.

Updated 4/22/24:

• Combine numbers and rank added to measurable portion of profile 
• Grade switched from “43%” to “53%”
• Projection switched from “Day 3(Late Day 3 S/Early Day 3 LB)” to “Rounds 6-7”
• Comp switched from “Ceiling: Bernard Pollard, Floor: Miles Killebrew” to “Lower end Jamal Adams”
• Negatives Added
  • Already 25
• Side Note Added
  • Not sure why coaches continue to believe he’s a FS. He played free way too during Senior Bowl