Makai Shahid brings downhill tackling and playmaking upside to the back end
In the 2025 season at Youngstown State, Makai Shahid logged 69 tackles, 39 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass breakups, showing he can trigger fast and finish plays as a DB. He also posted five or more tackles in eight games and had two 11-tackle outings, a strong sign of consistency and physicality. The differentiator here is effort and reliability: he plays with pop, covers ground, and shows up when the action tilts his way. That makes him a fit for a defense that wants a steady, active safety/corner hybrid rather than a pure ballhawk.
