David Roach is ideally suited for a defense that requires a safety spend a lot of time playing near the line of scrimmage.

Roach does have excellent range and catch-up speed to play in the deep third of the zone and is a very effective defender in press coverage. He has the ability to chase down ballcarriers and make plays downfield.

Roach battled durability issues early in his career. He missed the entire 2003 season with a knee injury and failed to play a full schedule as a redshirt freshman and sophomore. Since taking over free safety duties two seasons ago, he stayed on the field and turned into the centerfield-type of safety on a Horned Frogs' defense ranked second in the nation in total defense in 2006 (234.92 yards per game) and rank 11th in pass-efficiency defense (107.84 rating) his senior campaign.

Roach attended Abilene High School, where he did not begin playing football until later in his prep career. He earned first-team All-District 3-5A honors and was named to the All-Big Country Super Team as a senior. That year, he recorded 89 tackles, broke up four passes, caused one fumble and recovered another.

In 2003, Roach accepted a scholarship to Texas Christian, turning down offers from Arizona State and Oklahoma State. He redshirted that season after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee in August camp. He moved into the lineup for two games at weak-side (rover) safety in 2004, sitting out vs. Southern Methodist with a strained hamstring. In 10 games, he totaled 19 tackles (nine solo) and broke up one pass.

Roach started the team's first two games of the 2005 campaign at weak-side safety, playing in nine other games as a reserve, as a right hamstring strain sidelined him vs. Utah. He was in on 41 tackles (25 solo), including one for a loss, as he caused and recovered a fumble. He broke up two passes and had the first two interceptions for his career.

As a junior, Roach started 11 games, again missing the Horned Frogs' battle vs. Utah (right foot sprain), as he lined up at free safety. He registered 33 tackles (26 solo) with 2 ½ stops for losses. He also caused a fumble and knocked down four passes.

In 2007, Roach earned All-Mountain West Conference second-team honors. He started the entire schedule for the first time in his career, lining up at free safety. He finished fourth on the team with 76 tackles (44 solo), adding 3 ½ stops behind the line of scrimmage. He had two forced fumbles, intercepted a pass and broke up seven others.

Positives: Has the frame to be an NFL safety asked to make more plays inside the box -- tight waist with good muscle development throughout, thick chest, broad shoulders, good arm length, tight waist, washboard-like abdomen and tapered thighs and calves … Has very good closing speed vs. plays in front of him (downhill player), doing a good job of anticipating the flow of the ball when lined up in zone coverage … Good at using his hands to play the bump-and-run … Closes with good urgency and sees threats develop quickly to avoid blockers and get to the ballcarrier along the perimeter … Has good change-of-direction agility working down the line, but needs to open his hips quicker in transition … Fluid glider to the ball and is slippery avoiding the fullback to attack the ballcarrier … Has good route-awareness skills playing underneath and sees the blocking schemes developing, knowing how to sink his pads and sneak under bigger blockers … Has the foot speed to mirror tight ends and slot receivers and an effective hand placement to reroute … Better playing on the hash or in centerfield, where he can make plays on the ball and isn't asked to handle one-on-one assignments … Does not have natural hands, but is effective positioning himself between the receiver and the ball or reach around his opponent to deflect the throw … Likes to come downhill, where his closing burst lets him get to the ballcarrier before damage is done … Shows balance and body control, along with the ability to break down in space … Even with adequate knee bend and a bit of stiffness in his hips, he can accelerate on the ball in a hurry (must reduce his false steps in transition though) … Has the frame to add at least another 10 pounds of bulk without the added weight hindering his timed speed.

Negatives: Has a well-built frame with good closing speed, but has poor hip snap and doesn't always come out of his breaks cleanly … While he has a muscular frame, he lacks ideal playing strength and is more of a collision-type hitter who falls off too many tackles … Takes well to hard coaching, but needs to be monitored in the training room (does only what is asked) … Needs to improve his toughness, as he will let minor injuries linger and generally heads to the sideline when he gets hurt … Good team player, but shies away from leadership responsibilities … Has more build-up speed than and explosive burst … Better in "off" coverage and will bite on double moves … Must improve his timing on leaps, as he does not adjust well when having to compete for jump balls … Lacks natural hands and will trap or use his body to pin the ball … Gets turned around trying to track deep throws, failing to get his head turned to get under the ball to make the play … More of a collision-type tackler, as he will lead with his head and shoulders but then fail to bring his arms to wrap and secure … Must be more decisive in his next move after reading the quarterback, as a savvy passer can freeze him with pump fakes and this lets the receivers get behind him on routes … Better run tackler along the perimeter, as he does not use his hands well to protect his legs from cut blocks when playing in traffic … Has the range to make tackles along the perimeter, but would be even more effective taking proper angles.

Compares To: BRIAN RUSSELL-Seattle … Roach has very good closing speed to make plays on the ball in front of him, but can find trouble when playing man coverage. Needs to be a more consistent wrap-up tackler and stop biting on pump fakes, but he closes well along the perimeter and shows very good awareness playing inside the box.

2003: Sat out the season after undergoing surgery in August to repair a right knee torn meniscus.

2004: Did not play vs. Southern Methodist (9/10) due to a strained hamstring.

2005: Missed the Utah contest (9/15) with a right hamstring strain.

2006: Did not play vs. Utah (10/05) because of a right foot sprain.

2007: Suffered a shoulder contusion vs. Nevada-Las Vegas (11/17).

Campus: 4.47 in the 40-yard dash … 380-pound bench press … 625-pound squat … 365-pound power clean … 350-pound incline press … 38 ½-inch vertical jump … 32 ¾-inch arm length … 9 ¼-inch hands … 24/29 Wonderlic score.

Combine: 4.53 in the 40-yard dash … 1.55 10-yard dash … 2.63 20-yard dash … 4.15 20-yard shuttle … 11.11 60-yard shuttle … 6.88 three-cone drill … 38-inch vertical jump … 10'3" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 16 times.

Attended Abilene (Tex.) High School, playing football for head coach Steve Warren … Earned first-team All-District 3-5A honors and was named to the All-Big Country Super Team as a senior … That year, he recorded 89 tackles, broke up four passes, caused one fumble and recovered another.

Graduated with a master's of liberal arts degree in Communication Studies … Born David Johnathan Roach on 8/09/85 … Resides in Abilene, Texas.