Miami Hurricanes safety Bubba Bolden PFF 2022 NFL Draft profile
Miami Hurricanes safety Bubba Bolden is getting a lot of notice on preseason awards watch lists entering the 2021 season. With a big season this fall, Bolden can drastically improve his prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft. Bolden has shown potential in his two Miami seasons but needs to be more consistent in 2021.
Bolden led the Miami Hurricanes with 74 tackles in 2021 and added 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception, three pass breakups and four forced fumbles. Bolden was average at best in pass coverage in 2020 and his 16 missed tackles were too many. Those numbers need to improve in 2021 to move up the draft board.
Bolden needs to maximize his ability after being named to preseason watch lists for the Bednarik, Nagurski and Thorpe Awards and first-team preseason All-ACC. Led by Bolden, the Miami defense has something to prove after inconsistent performances in all three losses in 2020. The opener against Alabama is a huge test.
Bolden is highly thought of by the ACC Media. The ACC Media provided Bolden the third-highest vote total on the preseason All-ACC defense. Bolden was the seventh-ranked safety in the Class of 2017 when he signed with USC. Pro Football Focus profiled Bolden in a look at “Early 2022 NFL Draft safety rankings and class overview.”
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"BUBBA BOLDEN, MIAMI (FL) (REDSHIRT SENIOR)Bolden’s description…has all the traits you could want at 6-foot-3, 204 pounds, and was an all-everything recruit who started at USC before transferring to the Hurricanes. And while an injury-plagued 2019 saw him only play five games, he played a healthy 662 snaps in 2020.His 66.7 overall grade is indicative of the up-and-down player he is at this point. The flashes are special, but he still has too many missed tackles — 16 on 89 attempts — and missed assignments."
Bolden is entering his second full season as a starting strong safety after dealing with injuries throughout his collegiate career. Entering his fifth season in college, Bolden has a goal of becoming a first-round pick when he recently appeared with Miami wide receiver Mike Harley on the Joe Rose Show on WQAM above.
Miami safety Bubba Bolden third most votes All-ACC defense. dark. Next
Bolden, Harley and Miami quarterback D’Eriq King represented Miami at ACC Kickoff Media Days in Charlotte with head coach Manny Diaz last month. The opportunity is there for Bolden to become an elite player in 2021. Bolden needs to become a more complete player this season to become a 2021 first-round draft pick.