Every once in a while, we will come across a prospect with that “IT” factor. No one can really put their finger on what “it” really is, but for some reason, you just know when a player has it. It could be his play on the field as a difference maker and dominant force. It may be his presence in the locker room, as a leader, and the guy everyone seems to gravitate towards. Whatever it is, some players just are blessed with it, and when you find a guy like that, it’s hard to look away.
Enter Georgia Southern University, Safety, Deshawntee Gallon. Blessed with good size, great speed and an incredible nose for the ball, Gallon has been the biggest fish in a competitive pond. He has the ball skills to be either the Strong, or free safety, and yet the gull, to play in the box as an outside linebacker.
We sat down with Gallon for this small school sleeper profile, to pick his brain about his play on the field and what he brings to a locker room.
“I feel like in the locker room, I will always bring a leadership presence..you have to. I believe in learning though, you have to be able to listen and take knowledge from those that came before you and to become a real leader, you have to follow the right way. I will always be the guy that my teammates can trust, with anything and everything. When you love the game the way I do, you work your butt off in everything you do, so in the locker room, I am always the guy putting in extra time.
On the field, I want to be the guy you can lean on, the guy my coach can trust to make the play on defense. Be it special teams, at linebacker, or safety I will always put my team first, and always be the man who will make a play.”
At 5’11, 210 lbs, this impressive athlete has 227 tackles, 16.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and 9 passes defensed in 37 total games. Although Gallon spent his time at Linebacker, he offers the skill set to be a cover safety, to go along with his in the box style, and has the raw speed (4.5) to cover wide-outs.
“I feel very comfortable playing in the slot, taking on slot WR’s, running backs, tight ends, anyone you want me to. I know I have the skill set to play in the box and be the tone setter who will knock the snot out of someone, but I know I can sit back there and play center field. I have the speed to cover. I can play with a slot receiver, inside and out in a pinch, I am athletic enough to cover, and make a play.
I feel like what makes a difference between me and other linebackers, is I can really play the safety or corner position, I can really stay in coverage, and make plays. Then I can come down in the box and make a play that way, it isn’t arrogance, it is confidence in my training, in my tape study, I am always prepared as a player. Football, is changing, it is all about throwing the ball, so a player with my skill set can be valuable. I can play the run, I am not afraid to go hit, and I can cover.”
Despite the Eagles being strong at the safety position, if they have a chance to add a player, like Gallon, whom can play multiple spots on the field and add value as a special teams ace, they should jump at it. With his play type, Gallon could easily become the play maker they have been searching for on the back end, of the defense. He could be the steal of the draft, and later become the a fixture in the city of Philadelphia, for years to come.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Icon Sportswire via AP Images
