Villanova Football: Should NFL Hopeful Waxter II Switch to Safety?

Villanova football cornerback Isas Waxter II participated in the 2025 NFL Combine, which ran from Thursday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 2, taking part in a variety of physical tests and examinations as well as interviews with media and NFL teams.

Waxter, 23, received an overall prospect grade of 5.69, at the higher end of the category for players expected to fill in on the bottom of the game day roster or practice squad. As things stand right now, he’d probably end up as a sixth or seventh round pick on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, set to run from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wis.

That said, Waxter didn’t participate in a handful of tests critical to the cornerback position like the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle, used to measure agility and balance, as well as the bench press, which measures the upper body strength defensive backs need to press wide receivers off the line.

Villanova football will host their pro day on Thursday, March 27, giving Waxter a chance to fill in those gaps on his résumé.

At 6-foot-1 and 209 pounds, Waxter ran a 4.56 second 40-yard dash: he’s taller and heavier — and slower — than the average NFL cornerback, so the agility drills could be a point of weakness to begin with, but can make up for that with physical play or a move to safety.

Prospect Analysis

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein (whose full report can be found here) praised Waxter for his size, physical play and intensity, especially his ability to break up passes by attacking receivers as the ball arrives: he racked up 19 passes defended and three forced fumbles across 46 games in his Villanova football career. Similarly, Zierlein said Waxter possesses the strength to fight through blocks and help out in run support, skills that translate well to safety.

On the other hand, Waxter’s technical ability at cornerback — footwork, backpedaling, balance and tackling form — could use work. Many of those traits can improve with time and effort, but elements like his speed have a definite ceiling: Waxter won’t ever win any gold medals in the 100 meter dash.

A switch to safety would give him the best chance of sticking around on an NFL roster, especially if he can contribute on special teams as well.

Click here for the full list of Isas Waxter II’s physical test results at the NFL Combine.