Position: Safety
School: USC
Status: Junior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
40-Yard Dash: 4.45 (EST)
Positives:
Darnell Bing has prototypical size for an NFL safety, with very, very good speed and hitting power to complement it. He is above-average in coverage, although not great in it. Bing has tons of upside, which is impressive given his current ability. He is not a bit afraid to come up to the line of scrimmage and blitz, and can lay the lumber on the ball carrier anywhere on the field.
Negatives:
Bing has never been able to put together a healthy season, seemingly always being hurt and missing some time. To his credit, he plays through a lot of injuries, but they effect his play more than they should. His coverage ability isn't what it could be with his speed and athleticism, but that may be in part because of those injuries.
Overview:
As an incredibly highly-decorated recruit out of high school, there have always been high expectations for Darnell Bing, which he may have lived up to, and then some, if not for his injuries. Some feel that because of his speed, he will make a better free safety in the NFL, but his closing and hitting abilities lend him better to the strong safety spot, especially with his occasional problems in coverage. He has the potential to be a top-15 pick in the draft if he could stay healthy for a year, and will be an instant upgrade to the safety position for many teams.
