Nov 24, 2012; Clemson, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks player D.J. Swearinger (36) prior to the game against the Clemson Tigers at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Just a few days left and the NFL COMBINE will officially begin! Keeping up with our draft watch profiles, lets take a look at prospect that may be flying under the radar leading up to this weekend.

At present the current safeties on our roster are: Eric Weddle, Atari Bigby, Darrell Stuckey, Corey Lynch and Brandon Taylor. Bigby showed flashes at times to be a good pairing however cared more about laying a hit on someone rather then tackling them. Darrell Stuckey has made his presence felt mainly on Special Teams and is a question mark for playing time at the position. Lynch a UDFA last season has filled in nicely in spot duty and could be a nice up and coming prospect. Finally last years 3rd Round draft pick, Brandon Taylor didn’t get to see much time due to a torn ACL that ended his season.

So yet another season has passed and still the chargers are searching for a safety to pair along side of Eric Weddle. Unfortunately there are more pressing needs for this team that need to be addressed in the early rounds, so names such as Kenny Vaccaro and Matt Elam will probably be off the board. However in the middle rounds, there could be a prospect that the Chargers might look at to shore up the secondary.

D.J. Swearinger, a four-year starter at South Carolina, Is a versatile player with the capability of playing both free and strong safety. Starting every game in his college career, Swearinger can fit into any scheme. He is an extremely physical player (5’11, 201 pounds) with great tackling skills and is dependable in coverage. As a vocal leader and a downhill playmaker, Swearinger brings the kind of traits the Chargers may be missing in the defensive backfield.

As it stands right now, he looks like a mid-round pick. However, because of his versatility, a solid performance at The Combine may have Swearinger quickly rising up draft boards in Radio City this April.

By Jake Hefner

#BOLTSOHARD

January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) rushes as Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (12) throws the ball during the second half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. South Carolina won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jadeveon Clowney is a defensive beast. He is athletic, huge. quick, and has a mean streak. Everyone saw when Clowney dang near took that kid from Michigan’s head off.

Watch it a few more times, just to remember that ridiculousness:

Clowney would easily be the top pick in the draft this season. There is no way that the Kansas City Chiefs could pass on him with that first pick. Could you imagine facing this kid twice a year for the next few seasons? He would make Jeromey Clary or Mike Harris look like a turnstile and Philip Rivers would get executed.

Luckily for us, there is a rule in the NFL that prevents kids from entering the NFL draft until they are 3 years removed from high school. Clowney will not be eligible for the draft until 2014. It won’t be till next year till the kid gets his shot at the NFL.

If he continues at his pace and is projected to be the top draft pick, then we might have to worry about the Oakland Raiders sucking so hard that they get a chance to select Clowney. Hope this kid stays out of the AFC West, unless of course he is on the Chargers.

I have been all over google checking out information on our newest playmaker. I know that he can do a standing backflip and dunk a basketball with his football gear on. I know that he is a sweet ride that the cops will definitely notice:

PLEASE STAY OFF THE STREETS OF PB MELVIN!!! Give me a call and I will give you a ride!

Here are a few more of the highlights that I got through in my google research:

• Denver LB Von Miller criticized Robert Griffin III, but had nothing but praise for Melvin.

  “Every player in the draft has their knocks. His just happens to be … where do you play him? In my opinion, he can play both (positions). He can play almost anywhere”

  “I think he can play defensive end, he can rush in the middle sometimes, kind of like a hybrid, I think he can do some of the things I did last year, maybe more.” NFL.com

  I hope that Melvin can put some pressure on some quarterbacks like Von Miller did!!!

• Here is a snippet from the scouting report over at Garnet and Black Attack:

  Melvin Ingram is far from a perfect prospect, but his speed, versatility, and raw athleticism will empower a creative defensive mind to employ him at a number of positions to take full advantage of his skills, much as South Carolina did in his senior season. Like all of the Gamecocks’ other top draft prospects, there are some aspects of Melvin’s game that make you curious as to how well his game will translate to the next level, but his ability to excel in a variety of schemes give him a pretty high floor as a prospect.

  So you’re saying that Melvin is a physical freak, but someone (JOHN PAGANO) has to be able to use him to the best of his abilities. We have to get him in the right situations and let him develop into a dominant player. Check out that scouting report for more good info.

• Melvin didn’t burst onto the scene in SC. He was a slacker and needed a good kick in the pants. He got that good kick in the pants from his defensive line coach Brad Lawing. Here is what he had to tell him:

  “You’ve got tons of ability, but you don’t practice hard,” Lawing recalled telling Ingram. “You seem very disinterested. You’re going back to Rockingham if this continues, because after college, that’s where you’re headed. You’re not going to earn a degree, because of the way you’re approaching school. As a football player, when you play your last college snap, that’s going to be it. It’s going to be a shame to waste all that ability you’ve got.”

  Ingram listened and changed. He graduated in December and maximized his final two seasons as a USC defensive end, leading the Gamecocks with nine sacks as a junior and 10 as a senior. Lawing still remembers the day, at some point during the past two seasons, when Ingram looked at him and said, “You know, a man can make a lot of money playing this game, can’t he?” –  The Post and Courier

  We have to keep this kid motivated and working hard!!!

It will be up to John Pagano and the coaching staff to make this kid a playmaker. He is a superior athlete and will need to get the motivation and mentoring from his coaching staff and teammates, but has the ability to make some game changing plays for us. We can just put the kid all over the field and give him opportunities to make plays.