The 2008 draft class at cornerback is one of the strongest I have scouted in quite some time and because of the lack of quality talent at the safety spot don’t be surprised to see some of these cornerbacks moved over to the free safety spot in the NFL.
The Talent: Leodis McKelvin-Troy… It was a very close race between McKelvin and Tennessee State
cover-cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but McKelvin’s immediate impact as a returner gave him the slight nod. McKelvin is a very talented athlete with excellent foot speed and a very fluid backpedal technique. While he does not have very sure hands for the interception, he gets his hands on a lot of footballs when teams decide to throw in his direction. McKelvin is also a very explosive return man. He returned 7 punts and 1 kickoff for touchdowns during his college career.
The Talent Part II: Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie-Tennessee State….Dominique is the cousin of former FSU and current San Diego Chargers All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie. At 6-1 ¼, and 185 pounds, Dominique has excellent size and he consistently has run in the mid 4.3’s in the 40-yard dash. Yes, Cromarite needs some work on his overall pass coverage skills and techniques, but he is a playmaker with the football in flight and he has excellent ball reaction skills. He also is a terrific special teams performer and he blocked 4 punts as a senior. No question the best small college cornerback since Rashean Mathis came out of Bethune Cookman in 2003 and he has been a star performer for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde Player: Mike Jenkins-South Florida.. There is no question that when Jenkins is focused and properly motivated he has shown the cover skills to maybe turn out to be the best cornerback in the draft class of 2008, but he consistently will play up and down to the competition and he has a “Mariah Carey” diva-personality. He is very talented and a gifted cover-cornerback, but at times he seems to be almost bored with the game.
The Gambler: Aqib Talib-Kansas…. When the ball is in the air, Talib thinks it is aimed for him. Aqib has excellent ball reaction skills and he has excellent football instincts. He is a defensive playmaker and Talib has good coverage techniques, but he will also give up a host of big plays due to his very aggressive style of play.
Corner most likely to be moved to Free Safety: Reggie Smith-Oklahoma… Reggie has played both free safety and cornerback for the Sooners and he has excelled in both spots. Smith is a very muscular athlete, who has good size and he is a very physical player out on the field. His ball reaction skills are outstanding and the young man can also return punts and kickoffs. Reggie will be a major league steal if he lasts until the second round.
The Sleeper: Al Phillips-Wagner College (New York).. That’s right, Wagner College. Phillips has dominated at a lower level of competition and while teams rarely tested his side of the field, he has intercepted 11 passes over the past 2 seasons. Al has good size (5-10, 195) and he has run in the mid 4.4’s for the pros. Phillips can also return punts and kickoffs very well.Keep an eye out for this young man in the middle to later rounds of the draft.
Mike D’s Top 6 Cornerbacks for the 2008 NFL Draft…
1. Leodis McKelvin-Troy 1st round
2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie-Tennessee State 1st
round
5. Brandon Flowers-Virginia Tech Late 1st round or
early 2nd round choice
6. Reggie Smith-Oklahoma Late 1st round or early
2nd round choice
The Locals: Tracy Porter-Indiana, Chevis Jackson-LSU, Jonathan Zenon-LSU, Craig Turner-Southern Illinois, and DeMichael Dizer-Grambling.... Porter only played two years of high school football at Port Allen High School, but it was enough to get a late scholarship offer from then LSU head coach Nick Saban. Porter really played well as a senior and he has a fine combination of size, foot speed and 1st rate coverage skills. He has a very fluid ability to
change directions and he finds the ball quickly in flight. Tracy is also a good punt returner and look for his name to come off the draft board in the middle part of Round 2.
In my opinion Chevis Jackson has been the most successful cover man in my 23 years of scouting and covering LSU football. While Jackson does not have elite foot speed and recovery ability, he has excellent ball reaction skills and positioning ability. He would be a perfect fit in a Tampa-2 cover scheme and the guy was rarely picked on by opposing QB’s in a very tough SEC. 3rd round projection….
While teams stayed away from Jackson, it was Zenon who got most of the balls thrown in his direction. Zenon is a rail-thin cornerback, who has difficulty matching up against the more physical WR’s, but he is instinctive and he seems to always come up with a big play in pass defense.
Craig Turner has only played two years at cornerback for Southern Illinois, but he is one of the elite return men in this draft class. The former Hahnville High School standout fullback averaged 11.6 yards per return on punts and 29.1 yards per return on kickoffs as a senior. His return skills are 1st rate and this should get his name called late on draft day.
Dizer has played safety at Grambling, but he looks best suited to play cornerback in the pros. DeMichael has a nice combination of size and foot speed. He breaks to the ball quickly and Dizer has a nose for the football. Late round pick or premium undrafted free agent signee.
Saints Draft Need: (High).. If the Saints don’t decide to move up on draft day to acquire one of the top defensive tackles, the decision in Round 1 may come down to either USC OLB. Keith Rivers or Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. If they chose to pass on Cromartie in Round 1 to select Rivers, then watch for them to select a cornerback in the 2nd round. Auburn’s Patrick Lee or Indiana’s Tracy Porter should get a long look in Round 2.
Another scenario is to possibly get involved with the Philadelphia Eagles in trade talks for veteran cornerback Lito Sheppard, (who is 27 years old), on draft day and swap 1st round choices. Then the Saints could fill their linebacking needs with the selection of Tennessee middle/weakside linebacker Jerod Mayo later in Round 1.
The Talent: Leodis McKelvin-Troy… It was a very close race between McKelvin and Tennessee State
The Talent Part II: Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie-Tennessee State….Dominique is the cousin of former FSU and current San Diego Chargers All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie. At 6-1 ¼, and 185 pounds, Dominique has excellent size and he consistently has run in the mid 4.3’s in the 40-yard dash. Yes, Cromarite needs some work on his overall pass coverage skills and techniques, but he is a playmaker with the football in flight and he has excellent ball reaction skills. He also is a terrific special teams performer and he blocked 4 punts as a senior. No question the best small college cornerback since Rashean Mathis came out of Bethune Cookman in 2003 and he has been a star performer for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde Player: Mike Jenkins-South Florida.. There is no question that when Jenkins is focused and properly motivated he has shown the cover skills to maybe turn out to be the best cornerback in the draft class of 2008, but he consistently will play up and down to the competition and he has a “Mariah Carey” diva-personality. He is very talented and a gifted cover-cornerback, but at times he seems to be almost bored with the game.
The Gambler: Aqib Talib-Kansas…. When the ball is in the air, Talib thinks it is aimed for him. Aqib has excellent ball reaction skills and he has excellent football instincts. He is a defensive playmaker and Talib has good coverage techniques, but he will also give up a host of big plays due to his very aggressive style of play.
Corner most likely to be moved to Free Safety: Reggie Smith-Oklahoma… Reggie has played both free safety and cornerback for the Sooners and he has excelled in both spots. Smith is a very muscular athlete, who has good size and he is a very physical player out on the field. His ball reaction skills are outstanding and the young man can also return punts and kickoffs. Reggie will be a major league steal if he lasts until the second round.
The Sleeper: Al Phillips-Wagner College (New York).. That’s right, Wagner College. Phillips has dominated at a lower level of competition and while teams rarely tested his side of the field, he has intercepted 11 passes over the past 2 seasons. Al has good size (5-10, 195) and he has run in the mid 4.4’s for the pros. Phillips can also return punts and kickoffs very well.Keep an eye out for this young man in the middle to later rounds of the draft.
