Where LSU football's AJ Haulcy ranks on Mel Kiper's latest draft board

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When former Houston safety AJ Haulcy entered the transfer portal in the spring, LSU football made landing Haulcy a priority. Ahead of the spring portal, Brian Kelly said LSU was probably done adding talent. Haucly was too good to pass up and the Tigers made an aggressive offer.

Haulcy delivered. After years of lackluster safety play, Haulcy returned the position to an elite level at LSU. He was one of the best in the SEC.

Earlier this month, ESPN's Mel Kiper released his updated player rankings, slotting Haulcy as the No. 8-ranked safety in the class. Kiper ranks Ohio State's Caleb Downs as the best in the group with Pitt's Kyle Louis and Oregon's Dillon Thieneman rounding out the top three.

Based on Kiper's ranking, Haucly could go anywhere between the second or fourth rounds. But it wouldn't be a surprise to see Haucly picked on the earlier end of that scale.

Haulcy was the top-graded safety in the SEC, according to PFF. He was good in coverage, excelling in man and zone. Haulcy defended the run, too, and finished the year with 66 solo tackles and 20 stops. Haulcy recorded three pressures as a blitzer.

Haucly opened the entire playbook for Blake Baker's defense. With a versatile safety, Baker could get creative with the secondary, sending corners on blitzes because he trusted Haulcy to hold up behind them.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Where LSU football star sits on ESPN's Mel Kiper's latest draft board

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