At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds with great athleticism, recent Ohio State commit Jantzen Dunn is oozing with potential for a defensive back and will likely have the opportunity to play cornerback or safety under Kerry Coombs.
With his skillset, it's likely Dunn lines up at free safety for the Buckeyes, where he looks to fit in naturally. In the back of the defense, Dunn brings great coverage skills in both man or zone. He also is very willing to come downhill and attack or drop back in coverage where he can cover from sideline to sideline with ease.
Dunn's coverage ability, downhill attacking mentality, and his sideline-to-sideline range are some of the highlights of his game that we'll be breaking down today.
Coverage Ability
If Ohio State's defense does, in fact, move away from the single-high safety look that Jeff Hafley used last season, then Dunn's coverage ability could be key for the Buckeyes in the coming years.
With Coombs now calling the shots defensively and the Buckeyes possibly going to a two-safety look, Dunn will be asked to play in both zone and man coverage. Luckily for Ohio State, Dunn excels at both.
Dunn has the size and aggressiveness to match up very well in man to man coverage while also excelling at reading the quarterback, playing the wide receiver, and flipping his hips in zone coverage.
- Play one: Lined up at safety Dunn has the slot receiver in man to man coverage off the line. He allows the receiver to come to him and does not get handsy with him. When the receiver breaks to the back pylon Dunn flips his hips all the way around and stays in the receiver's hip leading to a pass break up.
- Play two: A similar play to before but this time Dunn allows for more space between him and the wide receiver. When the receiver breaks to the corner of the endzone Dunn just has to turn and run with him which allows Dunn to stay stride for stride with the receiver and leads to an interception for his team.
- Play three: This time the offense runs a much simpler route but Dunn maintains his cushion in coverage so as the receiver breaks out he can slide into his hip and run with him. Because of the sticky coverage, Dunn once again breaks up the pass.
Despite his potential move to safety, his man coverage abilities prove that he will break talent and versatile to the safety group in Columbus.
Downhill Attacker
If Dunn plays safety at Ohio State, he'll be asked to play physically, making tackles and playing downhill. He has that aggressiveness, but plays with intelligence, too.
Based on his film, it's clear that Dunn possesses natural defensive instincts and is very quick to react based on those reads. Those instincts allow Dunn to decipher run plays coming or quick dump-off passes so that he can fly upfield and hit the ball carrier.
- Play one: Dunn sees the handoff then reads the runningback breaking outside and as soon as he sees that he takes off from his deep safety spot. Putting his speed on display Dunn breaks to the line of scrimmage and spots the running back for no gain.
- Play two: The offense tries to trick Dunn with the end around handoff but once again he read it all the way and comes flying upfield for another no gain tackle.
- Play three: This time on a screen pass he sees his man in the slot drop back to catch the quick throw but Dunn takes off full steam ahead and stops the screen behind the line.
Dunn is very good at reading and reacting as a safety. When those two traits are combined with his speed and physicality, then you get special safety.
Sideline to Sideline Range
At free safety, Dunn will be asked to cover a lot of ground. And when you combine his instincts with his speed, you get a special player that can cover sideline to sideline.
- Play one: Covering the slot receiver, off the snap Dunn drops into a deep outside zone for 15 yards before rising up to pick off the lofted pass near the sideline.
- Play two: Once again Dunn drops to a deep outside zone and reads the quarterbacks high throw. From there he rises up to into the air and knocks down the pass.
- Play three: Lined up at the hash marker Dunn sees the slot tight end break out on a shallow corner route. Once he reads this he gets into the tight end's hip pocket and breaks up a pass on the sideline.
A player with Dunn's size often isn't athletic enough to roam all over the back end of the defense like he can. With his skill in coverage and ability to cover all over the field then come downhill when needed, Dunn is a rare athlete and a prototype free safety.
