Category: Cornerbacks

2020 NFL draft: Bryce Hall scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Virginia cornerback prospect Bryce Hall

Bryce Hall | CB | Virginia

Elevator Pitch

Hall is a versatile defender on the boundary. He is very physical as a cornerback with his ability to play press man and at the catch point. His ability to blitz and get involved in tackling makes him an attractive target for many teams on day two that are in need of a cornerback.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 202

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Hall is a long and tall cornerback who can use his length to his advantage. He is able to jam receivers at the line in an effort to reroute the receiver. His ability to suffocate receivers at the line of scrimmage will frustrate them and get off of their game at times. Due to his physicality at the line, smaller receivers will have trouble getting a clean release if he is able to jam them.

Hall is very physical at the catch point on defense. He does a good job of breaking up would be completions that shows his competitive side. In 2018 alone, Hall had 21 passes defended. He can also win the jump ball with receivers that make him a prime target to take on the larger receivers. Shows the ball skills to be an early starter at the NFL level.

He possesses the ability to click and close quickly from his spot on the field. Very physical and capable tackler, Hall isn’t a guy that goes low at the legs in his tackle attempts. He will go in a wrap up with some pop. Also gives something on corner blitzes.

Weaknesses

As with any player with an injury, there is a need for a medical records check. A broken ankle cost him most of his final year at Virginia. That could be a reason that Hall could slip down on some draft boards. With how NFL teams are operating these days, the normal medical re-check won’t occur and teams will be relying on outside information to make an informed decision.

Needs to work on his footwork when transitioning from the jam to his backpedal. This does allow some separation and he doesn’t have elite closing speed to make up for it. Needs to play with better discipline in off man coverage when he doesn’t get to jam them at the line.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Jeff Gladney scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about TCU cornerback prospect Jeff Gladney

Jeff Gladney | CB | TCU

Elevator Pitch

Gladney isn’t the biggest cornerback in the upcoming draft class but one of the more well rounded corners that will be in play during the first round. A corner who will do a good job of getting under the skin of wide receiver that he is covering. Hoping to force a mistake and that is where Gladney will take over.

Vitals

Height | 5-10

Weight | 191

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Gladney plays well in press man situations. He can jam his man at the line to re-route the receiver and throw off the timing between him and the quarterback. That sometimes leads to passes batted down, incompletions or interceptions. He is able to use his length to his advantage with almost 32″ arms.

In coverage, Gladney does a good job of reading both the receiver and the quarterback. He plays with good anticipation in order to disrupt the pass. In man coverage, he does well to stick to the receiver. Unlike some corners who play the eyes of the receiver, Gladney plays the ball in the air. He is also physical enough to take the ball right out of the receivers hands.

Does a good job of mirroring receiver in coverage. He also possesses the speed to recover and close the gap if he gets over aggressive in playing the receiver. He is no stranger to playing bigger receivers. He did very well against Collin Johnson who stands in at 6’5″. Also he can be very physical as a tackler.

Weaknesses

Gladney will need to fix the focus drops at the NFL level. His numbers would be a lot better had it not been for dropped interceptions during his time at TCU. Not to mention as a tackler, he can take improper angles that could cause some issues for his potential team. Both fixable issues with proper coaching and technique.

Being a sticky defender is one thing but Gladney will need to learn to play better coverage downfield. He tends to be a bit grabby during the route which will cause flags to fly his way. Once those issues get fixed, he will be a good cornerback in the NFL.

Projection: Top 40

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2020 NFL draft: Cameron Dantzler scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Mississippi State cornerback prospect Cameron Dantzler

Cameron Dantzler | CB | Mississippi State

Elevator Pitch

Dantzler is an enticing press-man cornerback with impressive length and ideal physicality who plays with good route anticipatory skills. He’s not a fantastic athlete, but he offers value as a boundary defender with solid starting upside at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-2

Weight | 188

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If you like length at the cornerback position, you’ll love Dantzler’s game.

A tall and lanky cornerback who possesses the height necessary to match up with ‘X’ receivers on the boundary, Dantzler brings plenty of physical upside. Despite being somewhat skinny for his height, he plays with impressive physicality. He packs a solid jab in quick-jam press coverage, timing and placing his strikes with precision and then executing them with force. That physicality is maintained through a receiver’s stem, and Dantzler also does a good job of fighting with his opponents to make sure he doesn’t get boxed out on 50/50 balls or route that break across the middle of the field. He is a feisty and competitive player who brings plenty of swagger at the cornerback position, which is an encouraging sign for his professional prospects.

Dantzler does a good job of anticipating routes and mirroring his opponents’ movements. He positions himself well to make a play on the ball and prevent receivers from attacking leverage points against him. He does a great job of sniffing out screens and has the closing speed as a tackler and the motor to accelerate downhill and blow up the play. His ball skills show up through his adjustments to the ball and his ability to attack the ball in the air, as well as his ability to attack a receiver’s hands to break up the pass.

Weaknesses

For the physicality and awareness Dantzler brings, he doesn’t have top-notch athletic abilities. He plays with solid fluidity in coverage, but he can be burned by double moves and has average deep speed when covering a vertical route. He can improve in his ability to sink his hips a bit more when he changes direction, and he can work on his burst coming out of his breaks in short-area situations. His 4.64 40-yard dash at the Combine was a bit underwhelming, too.

Dantzler could also improve as a tackler, as he doesn’t play with spectacular form or play strength in that regard. While he has shown effort in run support, his style of play combined with his lanky frame might make it tougher to consistently bring down ball-carriers at the next level. He could stand to add on a bit more bulk, as his frame is a bit too wiry at this stage in his career.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Michael Ojemudia scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Iowa cornerback prospect Michael Ojemudia

Michael Ojemudia | CB | Iowa

Elevator Pitch

Ojemudia is a lengthy, fluid and intelligent cornerback who offers potential as a boundary corner at the next level. He isn’t a great tackler and his speed is average on tape, so that may knock his stock a little bit, but he has the tools to develop into a solid starter at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 200

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Iowa has produced plenty of talented defensive backs in recent years, and Ojemudia looks to be the next product in that assembly line of defenders.

At 6-foot-1 with a long wingspan, Ojemudia possesses plenty of length that gives him upside playing on the boundary. He isn’t afraid of getting physical at the line of scrimmage, as he has shown the ability to engage with receivers in quick-jam press and lock them up right at the snap. He can fight through box-out attempts pretty well too, which helps him out in jump-ball situations and when defending routes across the middle of the field in man coverage. Ojemudia complements that length and physicality with solid overall fluidity, as he can flip his hips well and change direction fluidly for his size. He plays with good footwork and pad level in his backpedal and has good overall patience in coverage.

Ojemudia isn’t just a tools prospect; he offers a high football IQ and instincts in man coverage. He is quick to read the eyes of the quarterback and diagnose the play, allowing him to act upon his reads to make a play on the ball. He tracks the ball down well and has impressive ball skills for the cornerback position. When engaged in tight man coverage, he is able to get his hands inside the frame of the opposition pretty well. He has a good feel for his safeties’ responsibilities, so he is able to determine what decision to make in zone coverage to ensure the opposing team doesn’t march down the field. The production is there with him, as well: he had 6 interceptions and 15 pass deflections in his last two seasons at Iowa.

Weaknesses

Though Ojemudia ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the Combine, his game speed isn’t necessarily reflective of that time. He doesn’t have stellar long speed when guarding vertical routes and can struggle against speedy wideouts in man coverage. He has enough quickness to be serviceable in that regard, but a lack of top-end athletic ability will likely limit him to guarding ‘X’ receivers on the boundary in the pros. He can be a bit too cushiony in zone coverage at times, and he doesn’t always have the downhill acceleration to effectively jump routes with consistency.

Ojemudia also struggles as a run defender. He doesn’t take very good angles as a tackler, and the effort with which he plays in run support is pretty lackluster on a down-by-down basis. His form isn’t all that polished, and he can stand to improve his ability to get his weight underneath him and play with good pad level as a tackler. He also can get better at shedding blocks.

Projection: 3rd-4th Round

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2020 NFL draft: Damon Arnette scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Ohio State cornerback prospect Damon Arnette

Damon Arnette | CB | Ohio State

Elevator Pitch

Arnette is a well-rounded cornerback who possesses physicality, length and awareness in his game. While his average athleticism could prevent him from being a first-round pick, those aforementioned traits – along with his ability to play on the outside or in the slot – should see him come off the board on Day 2.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 195

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Ohio State has produced several talented, pro-ready defensive backs in recent years, and Arnette is no exception.

A two-year starter who also played a significant role in the Buckeyes’ secondary in 2017, Arnette tallied 22 pass breakups in the three seasons after his redshirt freshman year. He has good length at the cornerback position and has the frame to keep up with some of the taller wide receivers on the boundary. He is a willing engager in press coverage, as he does a good job of jamming receivers immediately at the line of scrimmage and being a nuisance through a receiver’s route stem. His jab at the point of attack is powerful and can knock receivers off their route pattern, eliminating them from the play.

Arnette plays with intelligence and does a good job of anticipating and mirroring routes while reading the eyes of the quarterback and diagnosing the play. He plays with the awareness to limit a receiver’s ability to attack his blindspot and knows how deceive his opponents with false leverage points. His footwork in his backpedal is polished, and he has overall solid fluidity in short-area situations. He’s also a versatile cornerback, having experience and positive tape as a boundary cornerback, a field cornerback, or in the slot.

Weaknesses

For all that Arnette brings to the table, a lack of high-end athleticism prevents him from being a true top-tier cornerback in this year’s class. He doesn’t have fantastic deep speed and can be tested by speedy wideouts on vertical routes. His burst coming out of his breaks could be improved, as it prevents him from consistently being able to jump routes downhill and make a play on the ball.

Arnette doesn’t offer too much value in run support, as he doesn’t take the best of angles to the ball-carrier, and his effort as a tackler in the open field could be improved. Due to his lack of impressive athleticism in coverage, he could be less of a fit in man-heavy schemes and might instead be limited to zone schemes.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: A.J. Terrell scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Clemson cornerback prospect A.J. Terrell

A.J. Terrell | CB | Clemson

Elevator Pitch

Terrell is a lengthy, physical and fluid cornerback with the physical tools to be a quality press-man defensive back at the next level. He’s technically sound and has pretty good instincts, and while he can get better as a tackler, he should be a good starter at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 195

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

The physical attributes are definitely apparent in Terrell’s profile.

A tall and lengthy defender with good physicality in his upper body, Terrell fits the ideal press corner prototype from a size standpoint. He can jam receivers well at the line of scrimmage, delivering his strikes with good timing, placement and power, knocking the opposition off their route coming off the snap. He understands the importance of leverage well, and he does a good job of positioning himself to prevent receivers from attacking his blind spot. His physicality helps him counter hand usage in man coverage, and he does a good job of preventing receivers from boxing him out in jump-ball or short-route situations.

Terrell is a quality athlete for a lengthier cornerback, and his 4.42 40-yard dash at the Combine helped support that. He has good long speed and is capable of covering vertical routes by matching most receivers step-for-step. He’s a fluid cover corner who can flip his hips and change direction easily, aiding his impressive route anticipation skills to completely shut out his opponents. His feel for route concepts and his ability to read the quarterback’s eyes allow him to quicken narrow the throwing window and disrupt the play on a consistent basis.

Weaknesses

While Terrell was rock solid for basically the entirety of 2019, his stock took a big hit with his performance in the national championship against LSU. Granted, LSU sophomore receiver Ja’Marr Chase essentially torched every cornerback he went up against this past year, but Terrell still fell far short of expectations on a major stage. The quantity of good games far outweighs the bad with him, but that lone game could be put under a microscope.

On tape, Terrell is a bit of an arm tackler and doesn’t take the sharpest of pursuit angles. His ability to square up to ball-carriers and maintain good form in run support is a trait that could be improved. In coverage, he can improve how well he sinks his hips in his backpedal, as he can pop up and be a bit high at times. His acceleration coming downhill out of his breaks could become more consistent, and he’s occasionally a split second too late to make a play on the ball when he tries to jump a route.

Projection: 2nd Round

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2020 NFL draft: Jaylon Johnson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Utah cornerback prospect Jaylon Johnson

Jaylon Johnson | CB | Utah

Elevator Pitch

Johnson is a press man corner who can really become CB1 at an early point in his career. His physical play can be a difference maker when dealing with wide receivers at the NFL level. While being physical, he shows the speed to recover when he needs to . Should be a top target on day two.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 193

Class | Junior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

Johnson is the prototypical cornerback for teams who like physicality and length. With his 31 3/8″ arms, he can use that length to really impact completed passes thrown his way. Not to mention the physical aspect when playing press man. Will jam receivers and knock them off their timing and routes. This is where he wins most often.

Johnson shows good ability to mirror receiver down the field, no loss of speed when flipping his hips to turn and run. He is very much a sticky corner in that he stays with his guy in coverage. With good short area quickness, Johnson can click and close to make a play in the secondary.

Due to his size and length to go along with his leaping ability, jump balls won’t always go in favor of the offense. Shows adequate hands and ball skills for the position. He intercepted seven passes in three years, with two coming all the way back for scores. As he continues in his development, that area should improve as well. No slouch as a tackler either.

Weaknesses

Johnson can be aggressive, but that also can come back to bite him. Peeking back at the quarterback can also give the receiver opportunity to separate from coverage. His technique will require some work as he can get a bit grabby down the field and those yellow hankies will soon follow.

While he is physical as a tackler, there are often times you will question his effort levels. He will become a spectator or make business decisions on the field. When he stays engaged this doesn’t seem to be an issue.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Noah Igbinoghene scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Auburn cornerback prospect Noah Igbinoghene

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

College Bio Page

Career Stats

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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2020 NFL draft: Kristian Fulton scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about LSU cornerback prospect Kristian Fulton

Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU

Elevator Pitch

Fulton is a fluid, lengthy and technically-sound cornerback who brings instant starting potential as a prospect in the first round. He brings solid physicality in press and can also play in off-man, and he has more than adequate athleticism for his position. He should be one of the first defensive backs to come off the board in this year’s draft.

Vitals

Height | 6-0

Weight | 197

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Fulton’s ceiling at the next level could see him become one of the league’s better cornerbacks early in his career.

A taller cornerback with good length along the outside, he has enough size to keep up with bigger wideouts in man coverage. He plays with solid physicality when attacking the ball in tight windows, and he can fight box outs well. That aggressiveness showed up in the stat sheet this past year, as he finished the 2019 season with 14 pass breakups. Fulton also possesses good athleticism, as his hip fluidity allows him to mirror routes and match most receivers step for step. He can change direction easily and can accelerate well coming out of his breaks.

Technical issues aren’t much of a problem for Fulton, as he plays with consistently good footwork in coverage and stays low in his backpedal. He does a great job of battling receivers’ stems and preventing them from attacking leverage points, and his recovery athleticism allows him to re-gain control if he ever does misstep. He offers some versatility, too, as he can excel in both press-man or off-man coverage.

Weaknesses

Fulton’s biggest weakness in his skill set is probably his tackling. He has shown some flashes in run support, but they come few and far between. He dives for the legs too often, and his pad level and overall play strength could be improved upon a bit. It could help him to add a little bit more bulk to his frame to help him become more consistent in dragging ball carriers down.

His lack of ball production is slightly worrisome, as he only had two interceptions at the collegiate level. He could improve at tracking the ball down and placing himself in the best position to make a play on it. Fulton also missed the entirety of the 2017 season for tampering with his urine sample for a PED test.

Projection: 1st Round

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2020 NFL draft: CJ Henderson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Florida cornerback prospect CJ Henderson

CJ Henderson | CB | Florida

Elevator Pitch

A fluid, lengthy and intelligent cornerback with Day 1 starting potential, Henderson should be high in demand when the draft rolls around. Given how he put to bed speed concerns (which probably shouldn’t have existed to begin with) with a 4.39 40-yard dash, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him drafted in the top half of the first round.

Vitals

Height | 6-1

Weight | 204

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

From a physical and athletic standpoint, Henderson has all of the tools to be a high-quality starting cornerback in the NFL.

A tall cornerback with a solid wingspan and good length on the boundary, Henderson could hypothetically pair up with some of the bigger receivers the league has to offer. He pairs that length with fluidity and burst, as he can change direction very well and accelerate coming out of his breaks at a high level. He has the long speed to keep up with speedier wideouts who can take the top off of a defense.

Henderson’s fluidity is aided greatly by his route anticipatory skills. He does a good job of mirroring routes and can also read a quarterback’s eyes well. He’s a versatile defender who can play off in man coverage, closer to the line of scrimmage in press, or guarding slot receivers as a nickelback. He also delivers a solid pop as a blitzer, and his closing speed against the run is good, as well.

Weaknesses

Henderson doesn’t have many pressing needs, but there are definitely areas in which he can improve. Among them is his ability to track the ball down, as he can occasionally fail to adjust to the ball and make a play on it in man coverage. He also has occasional issues with his balance and can slip up from time to time.

While a willing tackler, Henderson can do a better job of working on his consistency in that regard. He shows a high motor and good explosiveness on some plays, and he shows a lack of body control and poor pursuit angles on others. He can stand to bring physicality in run support on more of a regular basis.

Projection: Top 20

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