Nyjae Colbert
Nyjae Colbert
About Nyjae
Expert Analysis
Ed OBrien | Prep Redzone Scout
Colbert is a rangy, ball-hawking free safety with strong instincts and real playmaking ability. He consistently shows up around the football, whether it’s in coverage, as a returner, or reacting to quick throws. As a deep safety, he does a good job playing “deep as the deepest”. He stays patient in his pedal, opens his hips cleanly, and breaks on the ball when it’s in the air. Colbert’s timing at the catch point stands out, as he competes well on posts, seams, and post-corner routes. Colbert’s highlights show him breaking up passes and capitalizing on underthrown balls for interceptions.
Colbert has a natural feel for the game. He reads quarterbacks well, jumps routes in zone coverage, and reacts quickly to screens and swing passes. He’s active downhill, willing to tackle, and shows reasonable effort finishing plays, including ankle tackles in space. Colbert also flashes strong ball skills, securing interceptions cleanly and turning them into positive returns.
With the ball in his hands, Colbert is electric. His punt-return ability is evident, with highlights showing multiple extended returns and touchdowns. That athleticism translates to defense, where his range and recovery speed allow him to erase mistakes and still make plays.
I’d like to see him put more pure safety reps early in the film, intense middle coverage, angles to the ball, and communication. He’ll also want to continue improving play-action discipline, trusting his keys before triggering downhill. I’d like to see him limit the number of punt returns at the start of highlights if the goal is safety recruitment. Use them as a secondary showcase, not the lead.
Overall, Colbert is a high-upside free safety prospect with range, ball skills, and athleticism. With added strength and a tighter safety-focused presentation, he projects as a dangerous center-field defender who can change games with turnovers.
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