Castro's Kingdom

Safety Jamoris Slaughter didn’t expect to hear his name called during the NFL draft. The Browns made the surprising pick of drafting the Notre Dame product with the 175th pick. The reason the pick was surprising was because Slaughter only played in 3 1/2 games last year after tearing his Achilles tendon.

Working for one of the best college football companies, Phil Steele Publications, allows me access to great information on every player. Here is our “player card” on the Cleveland Browns newest DB, Jamoris Slaughter.

Slaughter entered college as a very highly touted recruit out of Georgia. Phil Steele ranked him as the #35 overall DB coming out of high school. He ran a 4.5 40 as a prep player.

After redshirting his true frosh year, Slaughter played in all 12 of Notre Dames games as a redshirt frosh, starting one of them (CB). He played both FS & CB and was noted as one of the better tacklers on the team, finishing with 14 of them.

Slaughter came into his Sophomore season needing to impress new head coach Brian Kelly. A lot of times new coaches want to play their own guys, but Slaughter gained 10 pounds over the offseason and did indeed impress Kelly in the spring practices with his downhill tackling ability. He played in 11 games, starting 5 of them at free safety, but was hampered by heel and ankle injuries, which cost him his starting job. Slaughter finished with 31 tackles, 3 pass break ups, and 1 interception.

In the offseason entering his Junior season, Slaughter had surgery due to bone spurs in his ankle. He was declared the starter after summer practices and played in all 13 games, starting 9 as a free safety. Slaughter finished with 45 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass break ups, and 1 interception.

Slaughter entered his Senior season with Notre Dame realizing how important it was for him to be on the field. He got some work at CB during spring practices and was getting work as an OLB in certain packages in the summer. He stared the first three games at safety before tearing his Achilles tendon on the first snap of the 2nd half against Michigan State. He finished with 8 tackles and 1 pass break up.

The NCAA denied Slaughters request for a 6th of eligibility in February.

Obviously it remains to be seen how Slaughter will respond after his season ending injury from a year ago, but when on the field, he’s a versatile player and a steady tackler.