Noah Igbinoghene | CB | Auburn
Elevator Pitch
Igbinoghene is an athletic defensive back with impressive hip fluidity, body control and value as a kick returner. As one would expect for a wide receiver convert, he’s still learning the cornerback position, but his athletic tools and his upside make him worthy of a Day 2 pick.
Vitals
Height | 5-10
Weight | 198
Strengths
Igbinoghene has come very far in just two seasons of playing the cornerback position.
A wide receiver in all of high school as well as his freshman year at Auburn, Igbinoghene converted to cornerback in 2018 and started right away for the Tigers. He brings plenty of athleticism to the table, as he has top-notch speed and can accelerate very well coming out of his breaks. He has fluid hips and can change direction seamlessly while accelerating coming out of his breaks. A standout in track events for Auburn in 2018 whose parents were both Olympic athletes, Igbinoghene’s explosiveness in his lower body, as well as his raw speed, provide plenty of upside in his game.
Being thrown into the fire right away after moving to corner, Igbinoghene did better than one would expect for someone as new to the position as he is. He ended up with a combined 18 pass breakups in his two seasons as a starter. Those ball skills as a receiver are apparent, as he aggressively attacks the ball and isn’t afraid of working through contact to make a play. While still developing, he has shown some promise in regards to his ability to read the quarterback’s eyes and process the situation at hand. He also has value as a kick returner, having returned two kicks for touchdowns in his collegiate career.
Weaknesses
As athletic as Igbinoghene is, his inexperience showed at times on tape. His footwork in coverage could use some improving, as he occasionally looks lost and struggles with maintaining proper technique when backpedaling. He can be a step too slow to recognize route concepts, which allows inferior athletes to blow by him at times. He also still has a bit of a receiver’s mentality when his back is to the ball, as he struggles with making a play when he’s facing his opponent, as opposed to an incoming pass.
Igbinoghene’s inexperience is also apparent as a tackler. He struggles with his form in run support, diving at the legs too often and often failing to maintain proper pad level when squaring up to an opponent. He’s also a bit of an arm tackler, as he can get better at staying low and getting a proper wrap-up on ball carriers. His hand usage in press coverage and ability to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage could also use some work.
Projection: Day 2
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