NFL Draft Nears For NDSU Strong Safety Craig Dahl
4/27/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
North Dakota State strong safety Craig Dahl will join his family in Madison Lake, Minn., this weekend to watch the National Football League draft unfold on televison. Dahl will be watching with an attentive eye.
Dahl attracted the attention of NFL scouts with his alert play over the past two seasons and his performance at the NFL Combine in February. It's been a whirlwind of activity since last fall when he was a vital part of the Bison march to a 10-1 season and 2006 Great West Football Conference championship.
Dahl, a 6-foot-1, 213-pound senior from Mankato, Minn. (East H.S.), was part of a defense that ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (13.4 ppg) and ninth in total defense (253.64 ypg). He was a member of the winning North squad at the IntaJuice North South All-Star Classic on Jan. 13 at Galena Park ISD Stadium in Houston.
In the Lindy's 2007 Pro Draft Report magazine, Dahl is listed at No. 23 among safety prospects (grade 4.7 out of 9). In Lindy's view, "Dahl has potential as an in-the-box strong safety, but even more attractive to scouts in his combination of size, speed and aggression as a special teams performer. Dahl is considered by some to be the top special teams prospects in this draft, which will like be his ticket to an NFL roster.
Dahl is listed as third out of 12 "Day 2 Prospects" in The Sporting News NFL Draft Preview (April 23, 2007 issue) section on safeties. The preview says Dahl is "a raw prospect who shows the toughness and competitiveness necessary to maximize his physical gifts.
Dahl, a two-time team captain, was third on the team with 62 tackles including 32 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He became NDSU's all-time leader with 134 solo tackles during the season and tied the school single-game record with 12 solo tackles against Nicholls State in 2004.
Playing with a broken right hand and two broken fingers on his left for a majority of the season, Dahl had two interceptions this season including one that set up the game-winning TD drive in the 28-24 win over UC Davis on Nov. 4. He finished with seven career interceptions.
Dahl was a two-time first team All-Great West Football Conference selection in 2004 and 2006, and was second team all-league in 2005. He was a three-time GWFC Defensive Player of the Week during his career.
Dahl became the second NDSU football player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team honors this season. He was also one of 37 I-AA players selected as a National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame 2006 Draddy Trophy semifinalist. Dahl is a two-time academic all-district and academic all-conference selection.
Craig is the son of Terry and Laurie Dahl, Madison Lake, Minn. His brother, Brian, was a starting defensive end for the Bison.
What they're saying:
“... Dahl had a complete workout at the Combine, running his two 40s in 4.57 and 4.61. He also recorded a 35-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-2 long jump, 4.28 short shuttle, 6.69 three-cone drill and 17 bench presses. Dahl played quarterback in high school, running for 3,398 yards and passing for 1,769 yards over his final two years while scoring 57 touchdowns. He also played basketball and was in the track program as a high jumper and long jumper. Dahl played as a true freshman at North Dakota State in 2003 and started the next three years. He is a competitive, smart player. He was a good tackler at the Division I-AA level, but will he be able to keep up with the fast NFL players he will need to cover? He will be a very good special teams player."
Scott Wright's Draft Countdown
Predicts late round selection
“ ... Strengths: great size and bulk, smart, great instincts for the game, tough and durable ... won't be much more than a backup players and special teams ace, but will excel in that role.”
“... His strengths: closing speed, size, toughness ... improvements: change of direction, hands ... a very productive, Dahl possesses outstanding size/speed numbers. Could make a roster as a conventional strong safety or potentially play in a two-deep zone system.”
“...He is a hard-hitting safety that is best in run support ... Dahl is a reliable tackler with good form and strength ... He has great football intelligence, but he lacks experience against top level competition, which we will see each and every week in the NFL ... Dahl was quite productive in Division I-AA, collecting well over 200 tackles in four years ... He is a technically sound special teams and backup safety prospect that needs to improve coverage.”
Listed as the 13th in the top 25 prospects for FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) draftees.
“... Has the build to entice an NFL team for a selection in the late rounds of the draft.”
“... He has good size ... comes up aggressively in run support. Good tackler. Covers tight ends well. I'm not sure how good he is versus quality WRs. That is a concern.”
