DeMarcco Hellams Scouting Report

Background

NAME: DeMarcco Hellams

POSITION: S

SCHOOL: Alabama

HEIGHT: 6’1″

WEIGHT: 208

CLASS: 4SR

HOMETOWN: Washington, DC

HIGH SCHOOL: DeMatha Catholic

DOB: 6/5/2000

GAMES WATCHED: Arkansas, Mississippi State, Texas, Vanderbilt, Tennessee

Career Stats

2019 (2 games): 4 tackles, 0.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks.
2020 (11 games): 56 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 1 sack, 3 passes defensed.
2021 (14 games): 87 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 3 passes defensed, 3 interceptions.
2022 (13 games): 108 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 7 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.

Biography

Hellams starred on both sides of the ball as a senior in high school. Top 100 recruit. Worked on special teams as a freshman, sitting behind Jordan Battle and Xavier McKinney in a deep secondary that included many other NFL talents. Joined the third down defense for the Tide and stayed a vital part of special teams as a sophomore. Ended the year starting the national championship. Finally earned the starting safety spot in his third season, but picked up a leg injury to end camp, which kept him off the field early in the year. Led Alabama and ranked sixth in the SEC in tackles with 108 in his senior season.

Trait Grades

Range: 45 (Fringe Average)
Instincts: 50 (Average)
Tackling: 60 (Above Average)
Run Support: 60 (Above Average)
Change of Direction: 45 (Fringe Average)
Man Coverage: 30 (Poor)
Zone Coverage: 40 (Below Average)
Versatility: 45 (Fringe Average)
Frame: 65 (Star)
Physicality: 65 (Star)

Analysis

I want so badly for Hellams to be good because in the run game, he’s a lot of fun. He is hard-hitting and a great athlete. However, he is horrible at coverage, up, down, left, and right… it doesn’t matter. I do genuinely believe Alabama was utilizing him wrong; he would be an incredible box safety. Think of Hellams in a role like Landon Collins with the Giants (a linebacker with safety instincts). He is a great athlete, but once he commits to something he commits all the way, limiting his range. Hellams is very hit or miss, either he is the best player on the field or you are asking “why is he covering that guy”. Whether it’s zone or man he is dreadful, the only position he is really good at covering is running backs, when he starts in the box. Again, Hellams is best suited as a box safety and mostly covers the run… so not very versatile. Physically, he’s a great athlete, really only has problems with his change of direction. Hellams is like a bull in a china shop, he is going to mess somebody up but he makes that decision pretty early in the play. His ceiling is low… because of the low versatility.