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 NCAA Scouting – Player Profile:
Craig Steltz, S
by James Izzard
1/4/2008
The next draft prospect to come under Football Diner’s scouting spotlight is a National Champion from LSU: safety Craig Steltz, a big time play-maker in the LSU backfield. A finalist for the Jim Thorpe award given to the nation’s best defensive back, Steltz has earned the right to be playing Sundays next seasons.
The draft is made up with two kinds of players – the guys with the tangibles and the guys who can just simply play football. Steltz falls into the latter category; a true football player in every sense, he may not have the elite speed or jumping ability some of the other prospects do, but he knows how to read and react with the best of them, which is why he has a chance to play at the next level.
 He was recruited by LSU after attending Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) High School, and was rated the best state’s best safety prospect in 2003.
Steltz had a fine senior year and was a key component in LSU’s championship season, recording 97 tackles and leading the SEC with 6 interceptions, while also registering 5 tackles for loss and breaking up 7 passes. Along with teamates Ali Highsmith and Glenn Dorsey, he was name a first team All-American.
Steltz picked up a shoulder injury which resulted him missing the Senior Bowl and the scouting combine in Indianapolis; unfortunately this may hurt his eventual draft position.
What we like about Steltz
He has a good frame for a safety he is very muscular. Steltz’s forte in college was reading and reacting to the ball he is considered a ball hawk and has excellent hands. His strong positioning and timing are perhaps his most valuable features. He is reasonably stout against the run, and is a very strong special teams performer who should see the field in kick coverage in his rookie year.
Question marks over Steltz
Despite his good frame and strength Steltz isn’t a great tackler – he does not seem to generate much power behind his hits.
 Unless he improves his route recognition aspect of his game he will never play man coverage in the pros. His speed is questionable; unfortunately due to the shoulder injury he couldn’t run a 40 at the combine. He often looked rather stiff and rigid when reacting to plays in college, this may be down to speed or possibly down to poor flexibility.
Highlight of his College Career
Aside from winning the National Championship, the highlight of Steltz’s career was making a school record 3 interceptions versus Mississippi State as the Tigers destroyed MSU 45-0 in his senior year.
Other Snippets of Info
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Steltz ranks 6th for Interceptions on LSU’s all time list. Last year’s first round selection LaRon Landry ranks 5th.
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If he fails to make it as a pro football player he has an ambition to partake in UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).
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An NFL player you could compare him to would be Marlon McCree of the San Diego Chargers or Darnell Bing formerly of the Oakland Raiders.
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Potential good fits Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers any team looking to upgrade their coverage on special teams.
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