USC Safety Kamari Ramsey Scouting Report | 2026 NFL Draft

Player Snapshot

• School: USC
• Position: Safety
• Height: 6-0 / Weight: 205 lbs
• Class: Junior (declared for 2026 NFL Draft)
• Recruiting: Four-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon School in California

Kamari Ramsey is a versatile, instinctive defensive back with real mixed-role value — capable of playing deep safety, robber, or slot-defensive back at the next level. His awareness, coverage skills, and range make him a compelling secondary piece for NFL defenses that prioritize versatility over strict position labels.

Background & Development

Ramsey began his collegiate career at UCLA before transferring to USC early in the 2024 season. At UCLA, he posted solid production and coverage results, which earned him interest from even bigger programs.

At USC in 2024, Ramsey saw a breakout year with 60 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 5 passes defended, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception while starting most games and showcasing big-play instincts.

In 2025, injuries limited his time on the field, but he still contributed as a leader in USC’s secondary and finished with 27 tackles and 2 passes defended in fewer games. Over his combined college career (UCLA + USC), Ramsey accumulated over 130 total tackles, multiple tackles for loss, interceptions, and pass breakups.

Strengths

Exceptional Coverage Instincts & Route Recognition

Ramsey’s ability to diagnose route combinations quickly and react on the fly is one of his best traits. He consistently reads eyes, flips his hips under control, and stays on the correct trajectories in underneath and intermediate zones.

Versatile Defensive Tool

He can align in traditional free safety roles, slide into a “robber” assignment, or match up in the slot against tight ends and receivers. NFL teams covet this type of secondary flexibility in today’s sub-package defenses.

Playmaking in Space

Ramsey’s ball skills and anticipation create opportunities for pass breakups and turnovers. He has shown the ability to mirror-match tight ends and disrupt underneath routes, which is a premium trait for coverage safeties in complex schemes.

Football IQ & Processing

Scouts consistently point to his cerebral play — his understanding of offensive sets and ability to locate the football before it arrives make him impactful even when he isn’t directly targeted.

Areas for Improvement

Tackling Consistency

While improved from earlier in his career, tackle fundamentals — especially in the open field — are still an area for refinement. He can take aggressive angles that sometimes pull him out of position or lead to missed opportunities.

Injury Availability

Ramsey’s 2025 season was marred by missed games due to injury and illness, which may cause teams to scrutinize his medical profile ahead of the draft.

Top-Level Ball Production

Though Ramsey has shown ball awareness, his interception totals aren’t elite relative to his coverage ability, suggesting some growth is still possible in finishing plays with turnovers.

Film Traits & Measurables

• Physical Profile: 6-0 / 205 lbs — ideal size for a modern safety with length to handle intermediate routes and enough bulk to support the run.

• Athleticism: Fluid hips and quick feet allow clean transitions from deep coverage to downhill support.

• Versatility: Demonstrates comfort playing multiple alignments, including free safety, slot, and robber roles — a significant value add for NFL coordinators.

Draft Projection & NFL Fit

Kamari Ramsey is generally regarded as a Day 2 safety prospect with upside, projected anywhere from the late second to fourth round depending on team scheme and medical evaluations.

His ability to play multiple coverage roles, read and react on the fly, and make open-field plays projects well to modern NFL systems that require interchangeable defensive backs. While Ramsey isn’t currently viewed as a clear first-round lock like Caleb Downs, his combination of traits makes him an attractive fit for teams valuing versatility and coverage intelligence at safety.

Best Fit: Defensive schemes that utilize three-safety looks, leverage match-coverage responsibilities, or ask safeties to operate as hybrid slot/cash defenders.