Scouting Report: Cole Bishop (SAF) - Utah
Sales Pitch: “Explosive straight-line athlete with good size and toughness for the position. Tackling inconsistencies and limitations in coverage indicate more of a rotational role at the next level but brings a nice blend of instincts and range for a deep safety.”
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 206 lbs
Arm Length: 29 3/4”
Hand Size: 9 1/2”
40 Yard Dash: 4.45
10 Yard Split: 1.53
Vertical: 39”
Broad Jump: 10’ 4’
Short Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Age: 21
Relative Athletic Score: 9.88 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 117 TKL - 21.5 TFL - 7.5 SK - 3 INT - 12 PD - 1 FF
2023: 35 TKL - 6.5 TFL - 3 SK - 2 INT - 4 PD - 1 FF
Strengths
Explosive straight-line athlete w/ good size
Multi-year collegiate starter with good ball production
High IQ player with the versatility to play multiple spots in a secondary
Size to carry TEs 1 on 1 up the seam
Good route recognition and closing ability from off man and deep zone coverage
Range to play deep safety in split-safety looks and single high in 3-Deep looks
Brings power behind pads to separate ball and receiver at catch point
Runs the alley with speed and power from deep alignments
Willing to insert himself at the point of attack in run fits
Takes good angles in run support and uses leverage to spill ball carries to help
Fantastic backside effort and motor
Weaponizes speed and size to be an impactful blitzer
Weaknesses
Extremely short arms for the position
Lacks change of direction skills to guard WRs man to man
Stiff hips limit his ability to open up and run vertically
Struggles to quickly get out of back pedal and close on throws to the sideline from single high
Can drift and get lost as an underneath zone defender
13% career missed tackle rate
Stops feet and lunges as a tackler in the hole
Inability to disengage from blockers at the point of attack
Summary
Cole Bishop is an extremely instinctual safety with good size and straight-line athleticism for the position. A former 3-Star recruit, Bishop started 29 games played for Utah over the course of three seasons. He was a 3x All-Pac 12 honoree during that time, as well as a Jim Thorpe finalist in 2023. Bishop is at his best as a deep safety in a split alignment, either to the field or boundary side. He has good first step quickness and excellent read and react skills to quickly close from deep. He shows a tremendous ability to diagnose route concepts as they develop in front of him. Bishop brings powers behind his pads when he closes downhill to disrupt receivers at the catch point. He is a 4.45 athlete with the range as a deep safety to get to the sideline from 2-high looks and the top of the numbers from single high. His instincts and closing ability generated good production (3 INT & 12 PBU) in his 3 years of starting. Bishop is a willing and able defender in run support. He has good size for the position and is willing to take on blockers at the point of attack. He does an excellent job running the lane with speed and aggression from deep alignments. He also does a fantastic job using his leverage to spill ball carriers back to his help. Bishop does struggle to disengage from blockers at the point of attack. Marginal strength and short arms limit his ability to shed blocks and make plays in the hole. His short arms also reduce his tackling radius. Bishop struggles as a tackler in general (13% missed tackle rate) due to a bad habit of stopping his feet and dipping his head on contact. He lacks the flexibility or change of direction skills to mirror quicker players in space as a run defender, often getting caught flat footed in space. The same issues also limit his man coverage ability. He has the size and speed to carry TEs up the seam but lacks the redirect skills to mirror WRs 1 on 1 in space. Bishop fits best in a scheme that utilizes a heavy amount of split safety looks and allows him to play coming downhill. He can be brought down into the box on pure passing downs to either cover TEs or blitz, an area where he had a good amount of success in college (Ranked Top-10 among SAF for PR, SK & HUR in 2023). Bishop draft range starters around late Day 2 as he projects to be a player who will immediate be a key special teams player and has the speed and football IQ to develop into a solid starter or rotational DB.