Former linebacker turned safety who uses his 6-4 frame and physicality to patrol the middle of the field like a human roadblock. Wisniewski is a tone-setter against the run who fills alleys, delivers pop at the point of contact, and led all Texas Tech defensive backs in tackles — but deep coverage and range remain open questions that could cap his ceiling as a box-only defender. His transition from FCS All-American at NDSU to a productive Big 12 starter validates the football IQ, and his Shrine Bowl week proved he can line up in the slot and compete. The floor is a high-impact special teamer who earns early-down reps in a sub-package; the ceiling is a starting strong safety in a scheme that values disguise and physical play over the middle.
- Exceptional size for a safety (6-4, 218-220 lbs) with linebacker experience that gives him physicality and tackling reliability most safeties cannot match
- Elite run defense instincts — reads run keys quickly, fills downhill with authority, and recorded an 87.3 PFF rush defense grade (tied for 12th nationally among safeties)
- Football intelligence and coverage discipline in intermediate zones — understands spacing, anticipates routes, and tightens throwing lanes sitting in zone
- Versatility to play box safety, rotate to slot corner, or potentially move back to linebacker, validated by strong East-West Shrine Bowl showing where he earned All-Practice Team honors
- Proven ability to transition across competition levels — from FCS All-American (8 INTs in 2023) to productive Power Four contributor without a drop in play quality
- Legitimate questions about deep-range and speed as a single-high safety — multiple evaluators flagged concerns about his ability to cover ground consistently at the NFL level
- Zero interceptions in 2025 at Texas Tech despite 808 defensive snaps and six pass breakups — ball production did not translate from FCS to Power Four competition
- Not a game-changing athlete — evaluation is capped by physical limitations that likely prevent him from being more than a scheme-specific strong safety
- Foot injury that wiped out the entire 2024 season creates durability questions that only one year of Power Four tape cannot fully answer
Steelers Depot's Carney directly comped him to the Eagles safety — both are former Shrine Bowl safeties who compensate for physical limitations with size, instincts, physicality, and willingness to play in the box and on special teams.