OVERVIEW
Salley has been a model of consistency in the Buckeyes' secondary for the past three years. The hard-hitting free safety plays with great emotion and is regarded by the OSU staff as a coach on the field. He takes great pride in his leadership role, as he guided a young and inexperienced defensive backfield that helped the team rank fifth nationally in total defense in 2005, allowing only 281.33 yards per game. He got a chance to display his versatility and athletic talent when he also joined the Buckeyes' basketball team after his freshman year.
Salley helped lead St. Thomas Aquinas High School to a 14-1 record and a berth in the Class 5A state championship game as a senior. He finished the 2001 season with 76 tackles, including four stops behind the line of scrimmage. He blocked eight kicks during his career while alternating between cornerback and safety during his three years as a starter.
Salley also played basketball and was a starter as a junior when Aquinas won the state championship (he was named to the all-tournament team). He competed in track in the spring and advanced to the state finals as a sprinter.
As a true freshman at Ohio State in 2002, Salley appeared in every game. He played mostly on special teams and was listed second on the depth chart at field cornerback, logging 34 minutes of action while producing six tackles (3 solos). He started the last eleven games of the 2003 season, taking over for Donnie Nickey at free safety. He finished fourth on the team with 77 tackles (44 solos) and a stop for a loss. Salley also batted away five passes.
His consistency in the secondary earned Salley second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors as a junior. Salley missed the Michigan State and Purdue contests with a left shoulder injury and was sorely missed. He still managed to rank sixth on the squad with 55 tackles (26 solos), intercepted two passes and deflected four others.
Salley continued to elevate his performance throughout his senior season, earning All-Big Ten first-team accolades. He registered 43 tackles (27 solos) with 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and caused a fumble. Salley also had six pass breakups, an interception and a blocked kick.
In 49 games at Ohio State, Salley started his final 33 contests. He finished with 181 tackles (100 solos), 2.5 stops for losses of 9 yards and a forced fumble. Salley blocked a kick, picked off three passes and delivered fifteen pass deflections.
ANALYSIS
Positives: A tall, athletic frame with good upper body muscle tone, tight waist, good bubble and long legs...Effective Cover-2 deep zone type of player who might be better suited for weak-side linebacker at the next level to compensate for a lack of speed...More quick than fast, showing a good understanding for taking proper angles to close on the ball efficiently...Has keen field instincts, knowing all of his teammates' assignments and is quick to react when he sees the play develop...Has a smooth stride in his backpedal...Can generate good lower body power when attacking ballcarriers...Shows soft, natural hands and good extension to catch and pluck the ball away from his frame...Has the size to take on fullbacks in run support and is efficient using his hands to reroute tight ends at the line of scrimmage.
Negatives: Looks sluggish and lacks the burst and explosion out of his breaks to mirror receivers in their routes...His long limbs make him struggle to open his hips in attempts to get in and out of his breaks...Best when playing deep in the zone, so he can attack the ball in front of him, as he does not have the second gear to recover when beaten...Has good field awareness, but lacks production, especially in run force (2.5 stops for losses in 49 games)...Needs to do a better job of timing his leaps in jump ball opportunities (has good vertical jump ability, but needs to know when and how to use it)...Ducks his head at times trying to make the tackle and, despite decent power, he fails to generate pop on contact... Does not have the change of direction agility to smoothly flow to the ball...Lacks the timed speed to stay with receivers unless it is on underneath routes.
Salley is a consistent performer with good field smarts and plays with good effort. He reminds me a lot of the Colts' Cato June, and like the former Michigan safety Salley will probably be better utilized as a weak-side linebacker in a Cover-2 scheme to compensate for his lack of speed and acceleration.
Salley has good field awareness and it is rare to see him caught out of position, but he must compensate for his speed problems by playing so deep in the zone that he is often late to recover and get back in the action. He is a marginal performer vs. the run, as he does not have the lateral range to string plays out and fails to deliver a good hand punch to shock blockers when operating along the line.
Salley is a poor blitzer who gets sandwiched between blockers and does not have the power or hand activity to shed. When he has the ballcarrier trapped in tight quarters, he can lead with his shoulder and rock the runner back, but in the open field he lacks timing and misses too many hits.
He needs to show more aggression in his play. While he gives good effort, at times it appears as though he is going through the motions and fails to finish the play. Athletically, he has the size and muscle development you look for in a strong safety, but is not consistent enough as a tackler to play in the box. He lacks the foot speed to roam the field as a free safety, which leads him to possibly moving to weak-side linebacker. He will need to bulk up for a possible position change, though. Right now, his special teams play might win him a late roster spot, but his lack of productivity is a red flag.
INJURY REPORT
2004: Sat out the Michigan State and Purdue games after suffering a left shoulder stinger vs. Penn State (10/30).
CAREER NOTES
Started his final 33 games for the Buckeyes...Came into the program as a cornerback, moving to free safety as a sophomore...Also appeared in ten games with the Buckeyes' basketball team, joining the squad after the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
AGILITY TESTS
Combine: 4.67 in the 40-yard dash...2.71 20-yard dash...1.6 10-yard dash...Bench presses 225 pounds 14 times...40-inch vertical jump...10'3" broad jump...4.15 20-yard shuttle...11.28 60-yard shuttle...6.78 three-cone drill...32-inch arm length...8 3/4-inch hands...Right-handed...17/28 Wonderlic score.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach George Smith...Helped lead the team to a glittering 14-1 record and a berth in the Class 5A state championship game as a senior...Finished the 2001 season with 76 tackles, including four stops behind the line of scrimmage...Blocked eight kicks during his career while alternating between cornerback and safety during his three years as a starter...Also played basketball and was a starter as a junior when Aquinas won the state championship (he was named to the all-tournament team)...Competed in track in the spring and advanced to the state finals as a sprinter.
PERSONAL
Business major...Son of Pat and Nate Salley, Sr...Born 2/05/84...Resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
