STRENGTHS - Vaccaro has the speed and explosiveness to be extremely effective in all types of coverage. His QAB allows him to change directions fluidly and consistently make tackles in the open field. He takes excellent angles of pursuit and is adept at squaring up and driving through the ball carrier when he keeps his feet. He has a good feel for the game and is quick to diagnose and attack the ball, allowing him to make plays all over the field regardless of his alignment. He has the length and height to effectively reach around the receiver to play the ball.
WEAKNESSES - Vaccaro looks thinner than listed and his NFL team will likely want him to add 10-15 lbs to his frame. He struggles to consistently defeat blockers and must be more aggressive with his hands and use his length to prevent blockers from locking on. At times he is too aggressive in run support and leaves his feet when attempting tackle, causing him to whiff completely.
SUMMARY - Kenny Vaccaro is a highly impressive athlete and is one of the most complete safety prospects to enter the NFL the past several years. His elite speed and explosiveness allows him to make plays all over the field vs. the run and pass, and his agility and smoothness allow him to play under control despite playing at such a high speed. His most impressive effort this season came against West Virginia, when he went man-to-man for much of the night vs. the explosive and elusive Tavon Austin and more than held his own. He is outstanding on run plays outside the box, as he takes excellent angles to the boundary and is able to stay square to his target and finish effectively in space. His ability to slide down and play nickel back only adds to his value at the next level, as coverage ability is paramount for safeties in today's NFL which is so often based on spreading the field and exposing isolated match-ups. I fully expect Vaccaro to hear his name called on day one of the draft, as he is clearly one of the top defensive backs in this class.