Ironhead Gallon - Linebacker/Safety - Georgia Southern

Height: 5’9”*

Weight: 204 pounds*

Vertical Jump: 38.5 inches*

Broad Jump: 10’10”*

40 Yard Dash: 4.57 seconds*

Bench Press: 18 reps*

*Georgia Southern pro day numbers

Deshawntee Gallon, or ‘Ironhead’ as he is known to most in Sun Belt football circles may have been one of the two best players on defense for Georgia Southern last season.

Although it may have been a down year for the Eagles, Gallon was one of the few defenders who never took a play off, and may have been one of the two best defensive players GS had in 2016.

Fitting into the same mold as linebacker-safety hybrids such as Arizona Cardinal Deone Bucannon, Gallon can play a role in run support or covering backs and tight ends in passing downs.

Strengths

A nose for the ball

When watching tape from last season, one thing that immediately springs to mind is: This guy is everywhere. Along with teammate Ukeme Eligwe, Gallon was always in the frame of a play and does a good job of snuffing out plays at the point of attack.

With the NFL moving to a more shotgun-heavy focus, Ironhead does a good job in run support and in helping identify plays early on.

Good build for his position

According to an interview with Gallon at Georgia Southern’s pro day, teams are viewing the prospect as more of a strong safety that can come down in the box and help with run support if needed.

Looking at Bucannon’s measurables just for reference, the former Eagle is nearly identical in height, weight, and speed as the current Arizona Cardinal was coming out of Washington State. If teams need a safety that can come down in the box later on in the draft, Gallon might be the guy for the job.

His name, duh

Do I even have to explain this?

Weaknesses

Ball skills

Not a natural safety, Gallon will need improvement in pass coverage, especially with locating the football at its highest point.

Here’s a quote from Ironhead himself at the school’s pro day:

“Pretty much ball skills and flipping my hips and stuff like that,” he added about what he wanted show on Thursday. “That’s one thing they really want to see with me coming from the linebacker position to try and play safety. That was my big emphasis.”

If the hybrid player can improve in his pass coverage, Gallon could potentially be a weapon if correctly utilized by an NFL team.