Rutgers safety Christian Izien Jr. met with the New York Giants among other teams in the New Jersey area. He had also previously attended the Giants’ local pro day.
#Rutgers Safety Christian Izien Jr. had a Zoom with the #Rams yesterday, source tells @theScore.
I’m also told Izien’s had top 30 visits with the #Giants, #Jets and #Eagles. #Rams, #Chargers, #Falcons and #49ers also met with him at his
Pro Day.Physical, instinctive and… pic.twitter.com/kL2tMmb5Aq
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 25, 2023
While Izien Jr. did not receive a trip to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, he’s been trying to make himself a name that will be called on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft.
Izien Jr. was one of the sole bright spots on the Rutgers football team these past few seasons. He totaled 297 tackles (187 solo, 15 for a loss), 15 passes defensed, 1.5 sacks, and four interceptions in four seasons for the Scarlet Knights.
However, his numbers are not what is putting Izien Jr. on NFL radars. The three-time (2020-22) Honorable Mention All-Big Ten safety is a freak athlete with a 4.41 40-yard dash and a 41.5-inch vertical. The Scarlet Knights had some successful NFL rookies last season in Isiah Pacheco and Tre Avery. Now Izien Jr. will look to follow in their footsteps.
Big Blue is in need of a final safety to add to the rotation after losing Julian Love and re-signing Jason Pinnock while adding Bobby McCain through free agency. With Xavier McKinney, Dane Belton, and McCain likely being the three feature players on the back end of the secondary, there is not much room left in this positional group.
However, adding an undrafted free agent or Day 3 prospect like Izien Jr., who has an elite upside with his athleticism, certainly can not hurt.
Note: Since Rutgers is considered to be within the “Metropolitan area” of the Giants, Izien’s visit would not be counted as a top-30 unless the team provided him transportation to East Rutherford.
