6’4” – 211 lbs. – 4.64
Appeared in all thirteen games as a freshman and ended up with nineteen stops and a breakup. Stepped into a starting role the following year and posted 39 tackles and ten passes defensed, then followed that up with another starting season consisting of 61 tackles, four interceptions, and eighteen breakups; subsequently declared for the draft. One of the bigger cornerbacks in a draft with plenty of size at the position; has an ideal combination of height, length, and bulk. Tended to line up on the short side of the field. Played a lot of man coverage in college, either lining up in a press look and bailing into shuffle, or playing off and backpedaling. Able to place his hands and make use of his size at the line, although he can be a little bit too grabby down the field. Has pretty quick feet for his size and looks good backpedaling to keep opponents in front of him from off-coverage. Didn’t run well in Indianapolis, but top-end speed was adequate to stick with opposing receivers down the sidelines out of press-man looks at the college level, making the most of his length to pin them to the boundary. Defends inside-releases well, placing his hands and providing flat coverage across the middle of the field on slants. Pretty twitchy when it comes to sticking with opponents through the stem. Good timing and placement to go for the breakup with his hands; tends to be in-phase, with the length to defend targets; strong body control and overall ball skills when he sees it. Would like to see him get his head around to locate more consistently when targeted down the sidelines; provided very good coverage in the Mississippi game but did allow a touchdown and another longer completion on back-shoulder throws. Playing zone, does a good job of keeping the play in front of him and knows when to break off of higher routes to plant and drive on an underneath option; has a slight hitch in his transition and just average explosiveness but compensates for it with processing. Can sometimes by lured up by play action. Willing to get physical as a tackler, with good hit-and-wrap technique. Able to withstand contact and play off of blocks to get to the ball; fights through opponents to reach the ball on screen patterns. One of the best cornerbacks in the SEC this past year, offering an impressive combination of size, technique, and instincts which caused the team to trust him in some difficult one-on-one matchups against top receivers.
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