USFL Player Evaluation of LSU Safety A.J. Haulcy by Luke Staton
A.J. Haulcy is a 5 ’11, 215-pound standout ballhawk safety from LSU who has been recognized as one of the best in the country ever since he debuted at New Mexico State. In his first season, he had 86 tackles, 3 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions in a season that earned him Second-Team All-Mountain West honors in 2022. His next two seasons would be spent with the University of Houston, where he would rack up 171 total tackles, 10 passes defended, a forced fumble, and 5 interceptions for the Cougars, where he would make First-Team All-Big 12. His final year would be spent at LSU, where he would tally 89 tackles, 4 PBUs, 1 forced fumble, and 3 interceptions, earning him First-Team All-SEC and First-Team All-American honors. His career totals are 346 tackles, 17 PBUs, 4 forced fumbles, and 10 interceptions.
Haulcy is one of the most natural ballhawks in the draft. He has everything a defensive coordinator would want in not just a safety, but a DB in general: good size, good speed and acceleration, good play strength, and good hip fluidity as well. Those are just the intangibles. His ball skills, coverage ability, and play recognition are all pro-ready, with his play recognition being his most valuable asset. His play recognition, combined with his speed, burst, and processing, will allow him to be a standout on defense in the pros just as he was in college.
Haulcy is at his best as a deep safety. His size, football IQ, and skill set make him dangerous roaming deeper down the field. However, his run defense is solid but not great; he can take the right angles, but his rather average tackling ability, combined with his height and leaner frame, make it abundantly clear that he is not meant to be a box safety. His primary assignment on a play should never be to set the edge against the run, as he will get tossed around by tight ends or tackles, which opens up lanes for the running backs. While he can handle playing from the slot when needed, doing so would be a disservice and limit his overall impact on the field. The niche that he excels at is roaming deep, and while playing him in other positions for a play or two at a time is not an issue, keeping him away from the deep areas of the field puts both him and the defense as a whole at a disadvantage.
Haulcy is at his best when allowed to roam freely throughout the defensive backfield. His play recognition and ability to read the quarterback’s eyes combine with his speed and athleticism to make any deep shot a risky play.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit
Haulcy would excel in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. This may seem broad, but Haulcy has a skill set that is transferable across many systems, as long as he remains in the deep safety. I think that he would be best suited for the Steelers, the Raiders, and the Seahawks. All three of these teams need help at safety, and these teams would make the most of Haulcy’s skill set as a deep safety.
NFL Player Comp: Minkah Fitzpatrick
My player comparison for Haulcy is Minkah Fitzpatrick. Both players have similar physical traits, and their play styles are similar across the board. Both Minkah and Haulcy excelled as roaming deep safeties that could read the quarterback and bite down on a play.
Projection: High End Starter
I project Haulcy as a high-end starter in the NFL. In the right system, I think he could earn multiple Pro Bowl nods over the course of his career.
Grade and Round Projection: 5.81, Early Second Round
I project Haulcy to be selected early in the second round. This year has a deep safety class, so teams are more willing to wait on drafting a safety, especially with many teams finding their answer at the position in free agency this year. Right now, there is not much demand for many teams to reach for the position.
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