FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at LSU defensive back A.J. Haulcy.
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: A.J. Haulcy
A.J. Haulcy (DB – LSU)
6-foot-0 | 222 Pounds
Background
A.J. Haulcy was a three-star recruit who originally attended New Mexico, where he started in nine of the final 12 games of his true freshman season, finishing with 87 tackles, three breakups and two interceptions.
Transferred to Houston and posted 98 tackles and four breakups in 2023. Recorded 74 tackles, eight breakups and five interceptions in 2024. Transferred again, spending this past season with the Tigers and posting 88 tackles, four breakups and three interceptions. Also has four career forced fumbles.
Positives
Thickly built, highly productive four-year starter for three different programs, and showed that he could handle SEC competition this past season. Has been more of a high safety in recent years, but has almost as many career snaps in the box. Good pre-snap communicator. Plays light on his feet, with good patience to diagnose.
Overall, Haulcy’s recognition skills are solid, rarely getting caught out of position; his extensive starting experience really comes through here. Physical player who likes to get downhill and deliver hits, with thudding power to dislodge the ball. Has four career forced fumbles to his name.
Attacks blocks with aggression, toughness and nice pop into contact. Takes nice angles in pursuit. Shows good form when shuffling to depth as a high safety. Was used as the Tigers’ primary high-safety in Cover 1 looks. Looks comfortable/confident when processing route combinations.
At times, his arrival was well timed when driving on spots over the middle of the field to jar throws loose or deliver hits to opposing receivers. Sniffs out screens quickly. Has shown impressive ball skills throughout his career, with plenty of breakups and interceptions to his name.
Negatives
Thick, but doesn’t appear to have quite the same length as some of his peers. Overall, Haulcy’s speed and acceleration are just adequate. More of a hitter/enforcer than a consistent form tackler, which can lead to occasional misses, although he’s generally been reliable.
Didn’t see Haulcy in too many true backpedals; typically shuffling to single-high from two-high pre-snap looks. Can occasionally creep up a bit and doesn’t have an ideal recovery speed to get back in position. Has a bit less experience in the slot than some of the other top safety prospects. Might not be the best fit athletically for work against opposing receivers.
Summary
One of the most experienced, consistent defensive back prospects in this year’s class, Haulcy shows an impressive combination of patience, awareness, angles and thudding power, which allowed him to produce for three different programs.
While he might not be the fastest or most explosive safety in the class, Haulcy’s impressive mental tools give him more snap-to-snap reliability than some of the sexier, more highly-touted safeties in the class. Would probably be best in the box, but also showed that he’s capable of working in high coverage this past season.
Projection: Round 2/Round 3
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