Jayden Anding

Physical Profile

Listed at 5-11, 170 lbs. Taller than 13% and heavier than 3% of 2027 Safety prospects in the SEC Scouts database (32 with a listed size).

Play Style

An off-ball, read-and-react safety who plays with his eyes in the backfield and gets depth quickly, then drives on throws he anticipates. He is at his best in split-safety and quarters looks, where he can read the No. 2 receiver and jump routes. Against the run he fills downhill with conviction rather than waiting for the ball to come to him, and he looks for the big hit when the angle allows. On film he wins more with anticipation than with raw athleticism, which is why his ball production stands out relative to his size.

Strengths

• Ball skills and production: 4 INTs with a pick-six in 2025 show he finds and finishes the ball, not just breaks it up
• Eyes and instincts: evaluators single out his reads of quarterback and route combinations as an off-ball safety, which lets him play faster than his raw speed
• Willing run defender: triggers downhill, tackles cleanly and will deliver contact; 61 tackles is solid volume for a deep-alignment player
• Pedigree and program fit: brother of an LSU corner and a product of Ruston, a program that has reached four straight state title games, so he is used to high-level coaching and competition

Areas to Improve

• Mass and play strength: at about 170 pounds he has to add weight to hold up tackling SEC backs in space and to take on blocks in the alley without getting washed
• Coverage versatility: needs to show he can match up in man against slots and tight ends (especially bigger 6-3+ TEs) so he isn't limited to a deep-middle-only role
• Tackling angles at speed: aggressive downhill players with light frames can overrun or duck-tackle; he needs consistent breakdown and wrap technique against better competition

College Projection

Likely redshirt or special-teams contributor in 2027 while he adds weight, possibly playing his four games on coverage units. Year two is a realistic window to push into the safety rotation as a sub-package deep safety, and he projects as a starter candidate by year three (2029) once he is near 190-195 pounds. Nickel/STAR is a secondary option if LSU values his coverage instincts over his size.

NFL Outlook

Day 3 upside if development goes right. Ball skills and instincts translate, but NFL safeties generally need to be 195+ pounds and run in the 4.4s-4.5s. If he fills out and shows range in the SEC, he has a path to the draft as a rotational safety and special-teamer; without added mass and verified speed, he is more of a strong college starter than a draft lock.

Best Fit

A multiple-coverage defense heavy on quarters, split-safety and pattern-matching, where he can play with depth and read the quarterback rather than live in the box. LSU's staff, with Corey Raymond coaching the secondary, suits that, and the family and in-state ties give him stability during the redshirt-and-development phase his frame requires.