The new-look NFL Draft preparation is fully underway with the Houston Texans interviewing Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman via Facetime.
Gilman spent his freshman year at the Naval Academy before transferring to Notre Dame, a team he eventually became a captain of. Standing at 5-10 and 201 pounds he is somewhat undersized and doesn’t possess great speed as proven after he clocked a 4.6 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
However, the Hawaii native is durable and tough. He played every one of the side’s 26 games his final two years with the Fighting Irish, recording 169 tackles, three interceptions, and six forced fumbles.
Coach Bill O’Brien always emphasizes the importance of versatility, especially in non-starters and Gilman brings plenty. Notre Dame moved him around, having also lined him up as a blitzer on the outside of the defensive front, not to mention his wealth of special teams experience.
Gilman himself spoke to CBS earlier this April, giving everyone an insight into exactly what he believes he can bring to the NFL:
As a player, I pride myself on versatility. I’m able to cover in the backfield, man-to-man, play in the slot as well as help in run support and play in blitz packages. That is what I pride myself on. Any team that adds me is getting a guy with high football IQ and rare instincts. Whoever I go to will get a guy who is able to change the game and change a team.
Expect Gilman to be taken somewhere around the third or fourth rounds, and given his special teams ability, versatility, and apparent high IQ he could well end up in Houston.
