Run Defense
Lukas Denis isn’t a terrible tackler, at least from a technical point of view, but at 190 pounds, he sometimes just gets run over:
And his tendency to go low – a common theme in this safety class – does lead to some misses:
Denis is unlikely to ever be an elite run defender – his size is going to always be a slight issue, but he doesn’t miss a huge number of tackles. The bigger issue is that he really struggles for strength when asked to get off of better blocks, and that this isn’t helped by an apparent lack of enthusiasm as a run defender at times.
Overall, Denis is a good-not-great coverage player with a need to improve as a run defender who just doesn’t have the ceiling to merit consideration towards the top of the draft. That being said, the Panthers really to upgrade at the safety position, and in terms of players who might be still on the board on the final day of the draft, Denis is the best.
Grade: High Fourth Round
Best-Case NFL Comparison: Kurt Coleman
