Southern Utah’s Miles Killebrew Ready to Be NFL’s Next Hybrid Playmaker

First, it was Kam Chancellor in Seattle. Then Deone Bucannon in Arizona.

NFL teams are looking for the next versatile defender who can play in a hybrid safety/linebacker role, and Southern Utah’s Miles Killebrew fits the bill.

At a rock-solid 6’2″, 217 pounds, it’s shocking to think Killebrew didn’t darken the doorstep of a weight room until college. His frame is tailor-made for the NFL game, as is his skill set. Once you turn on his game tape, it doesn’t take long to notice the physicality and versatility NFL teams are looking for in the next generation of playmakers in the back seven.

A four-year starter for the Thunderbirds, Killebrew earned all-conference honors in every season, racking up nearly 250 tackles over this final two years.

From his meetings with NFL teams leading up to the draft, it’s clear many of them see Killebrew in that hybrid role, hopefully developing into the next Chancellor or Bucannon.

“Most of the teams, that’s what I’ve heard,” Killebrew says. “I’ve heard the term ‘Nickel-Will” a lot. Coming in on third-down situations and being the fifth DB or extra linebacker, that’s what I’m expecting. I know one thing I’ll be doing, without a doubt, is special teams.”

It makes sense that Killebrew would make an immediate impact on special teams at the pro level.

Coming out of high school Killebrew’s recruiting experience was practically non-existent. Southern Utah came in late with Killebrew’s only scholarship offer, citing the 180-pounder’s playing style on special teams as the reason they saw promise.

“I had no stars,” Killebrew says. “I wasn’t a star recruit. Coach (Ed) Lamb said he saw my special teams film, saw my style of play, and that he liked the way I just threw my body around like a madman.”

A native of Henderson, Nevada, Killebrew says he was blessed and thankful for the chance Southern Utah took on him. Still, the reality of becoming a true NFL hopeful seemed far-fetched at the beginning.

“I didn’t really realize how feasible that goal was until my sophomore year,” Killebrew says. “That was when we saw our quarterback at the time, Brad Sorensen, start to get interest from NFL teams, and we saw scouts coming out to practice. All the underclassmen, we thought it was crazy. I got to see that they would find us, that we weren’t under a rock.”

Killebrew terrorized opposing offenses for four seasons, but knew he’d face questions about his …

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