Rankings:
Nawrocki: #12 free safety. Grade: 4.95, late draftable or priority free agent capable of battling for a roster spot.
DraftCountdown.com: #25 safety. Late round-free agent grade.
Scouts Inc.: #36 safety. Grade: 30, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/Honors:
2013: Started 5 games. 22 tackles, an INT and two pass breakups. For career, also had three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
2012: Second team all-Big "Ten". 70 tackles, 1/2 tackle for loss, one INT, 12 pass breakups.
2011: Played in 12 games, starting 9. 69 tackles and 8 pass breakups. Third in Big "Ten" in pass breakups.
2010: Played in 7 games, starting one. 10 tackles and a pass breakup.
Academics: Majored in sociology.
Injuries:
2010: Missed last five games because of a foot injury.
2011: Missed last game due to a shoulder injury he had played with all season.
2013: Broken ankle at end of fifth game put him out for the rest of the season.
Twitter handle: @2CBryant
Not invited to NFL Combine and did not participate in Ohio State's pro day.
Scouting Report:
Fluid athlete who plays bigger than his size. Has the speed and feet of a corner but the physicality and mentality of a safety. Reads and reacts quickly. Plays the ball well in front of him. Active in run support. Aggressive hitter who closes fast and throws his body around. Has quick eyes and a quick first step and arrives at the ball in a hurry. Good instinctive player who frequently gets to the right spot at the right time. Good natural bend and flexibility. Maintains nice balance through his backpedal. Rangy, covers a lot of ground without a lot of effort. Has quality ball skills. Smart player with very good personal and football character. Team leader. Feisty and competitive. Experienced at corner, strong safety, nickel and special teams. Best suited as a nickel safety or short-area zone corner. Was on pace for his best season his senior year before getting injured.
Short, thinly-built, with short arms and small hands. Won't be able to get much bigger or stronger. Has little in-the-box experience and must learn to get stronger against the run. BORN RAMS DB, shoulder-tackler who needs to learn to wrap up. Not a ball hawk (only two career INTs). Overmatched by tight ends and deep speed. Gets turned around too often and loses track of the ball. Has had a lot of injuries. Compares to: Rodney McLeod
Fun Facts:
Christian is one of many Buckeye players to come from Glenville (Ohio) High and who was coached by Ted Ginn Sr. Christian has a younger brother named Coby. Yes, Coby Bryant.
RamView:
Bryant is a classic Jeff Fisher "feisty" DB and a classic Les Snead under-the-radar pickup. He also sounds like a player who fills a direct need; most of their safeties are traditional in-the-box types, while Bryant is more a free safety by trade. There's going to be some good competition this summer to play in nickel, though it's going to be between several really similar players. Don't count Bryant out if he can step up his run defense and contribute on special teams. OK pick.
Sources: NFL Draft 2014 Preview (Nolan Nawrocki), NFLDraftScout.com, DraftCountdown.com (Scott Wright), Scouts Inc., Chicago Tribune, NFL.com, The Ohio State University athletics, Ramview (Mike Franke)