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  | Wednesday, April 9, 2003 Updated: April 17, 9:48 AM ET Newman stands out among DBs By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com Here is how ESPN.com rates the top 12 defensive back prospects in the draft: Vital statistics: 5-feet-10 3/8, 189 pounds, 4.38 in the 40. Numbers game: Two-year starter who played "nickel" spot as sophomore, really blossomed in 2002, with five interceptions and 14 passes defensed. Also played some wide receiver, where he had one touchdown catch, and returned punts and kickoffs. Upside: Tough-minded and competitive, doesn't back down and won't shy away when asked to prove himself, like in postseason workouts. Terrific athlete with makeup speed, burst to the ball and nice hip turn that allows him to run deep with great fluidity. Can jump out of the building. Has good hands and can return punts and kickoffs.
The dish: Might be the best immediate impact player in entire draft and a certain top five selection. Lots of rumors in recent weeks about shoulders, but that shouldn't hurt his stock. Will probably start as a rookie. Vital statistics: 5-feet-11 1/8, 199 pounds, 4.38 in the 40. Numbers game: Started seven games as a freshman and then, except for a broken bone in 2001 that cost him four games, every contest after that. Had 11 interceptions for career and averaged 10.7 yards on 32 punt returns. Upside: Outstanding all-around athlete, onetime track and basketball performer has great agility, very smooth in transition. Drives quickly to the pass thrown in front of him. A better tackler than Newman, will support the run, knows how to get off blocks and uses his hands well. Downer: His linear speed doesn't always translate into top-end burst and is not as fluid as you'd like in his backpedal. Needs to improve the strength in his hands and shoulders to better redirect receivers with his initial jam. The dish: Scouts like his anticipation and quickness and, while just a cut below Newman, should be a top 10 selection and starter as a rookie. Vital statistics: 5-feet-11 ¾, 186 pounds, 4.41 in the 40. Numbers game: Three-year starter, was in lineup every game 2000-2002, for 36 consecutive starts. Posted nine interceptions and 26 passes defensed over final three seasons, added a pair of sacks in 2002. Upside: Perhaps the physically strongest cornerback in the draft and, while he looks a little lean, doesn't mind contact and will play run support. Hard worker who is instinctive, has football smarts, solid in basically all areas. Downer: Doesn't always play as fast as his stopwatch speed would indicate he should and gets lost at times in zone coverages and looks awkward when playing off-man. Doesn't have the big-time upside of Newman and Trufant. The dish: It's a coin-flip for the No. 3 corner spot after the top two at the position and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Most teams to whom we speak have Davis as the third guy but he could still slip into second round. Vital statistics: 5-feet-10 1/8, 206 pounds, 4.37 in the 40. Numbers game: Played safety, linebacker and on special teams as freshman in 1999, before settling at safety for last three seasons. Averaged 83 tackles 2000-2002, had six interceptions, and also blocked four punts. Upside: Explosive to the ball, at least when playing the run, and always seems to be in a football position. Strikes a rising blow, a natural form and wrap-up tackler who has been best playing close to the line of scrimmage. Reads the run really well and will take on blockers, shed, and find the ball. Downer: Looks better on tape in coverage than he appeared to be at times during his career, but still not very polished in pass defense, and doesn't use his range and speed to his advantage. Will allow his emotions to get to him and occasionally gets out of control. Shorter than most teams prefer. The dish: Has some liabilities, particularly in coverage, and hard to get a good read on because he played so close to the line. But there is no denying he's a football player, a competitor and warrior you want on your side, and he should be the first safety chosen. Vital statistics: 5-10-3/8, 192 pounds, 4.40 in the 40. Numbers game: As a three-year starter, got his hands on a lot of balls, as evidenced by 11 interceptions and an amazing 58 passes defensed. Totaled 136 tackles past two years and has also returned kickoffs and punts. Upside: Often underrated but, when it comes to playing man-to-man, off-man and zone coverages, he might be the most accomplished cover corner in the entire draft. Good makeup speed and closes quickly on the ball that's thrown in front of him. A better all-around athlete than he's credited for. Downer: A little thin through the upper body and will have to get into the weight room more at the NFL level. Hardly a matador tackler, but doesn't always break down and square his shoulders. For all his awareness, will lose sight of the ball thrown directly over his head. The dish: As noted with Sammy Davis, he's a candidate to be the No. 3 corner on some teams' draft boards, although not as many clubs seem to be talking him up lately as a first-rounder. Vital statistics: 6-feet-1 3/8, 197 pounds, 4.44 in the 40. Numbers game: Former wide receiver who only moved to conerback full-time for his senior season. Posted 26 tackles, two interceptions and five pass deflections in 2002 and blocked two kicks. Caught 39 passes as sophomore. Upside: Super athlete and the kind of competitive makeup required of the position. Flexible, fluid, and tremendous change of direction skills. The kind of size most teams want at cornerback now and will play with a chip on his shoulder and with selective amnesia, won't linger over bad plays. Downer: Really raw at the position, since he has played corner full-time for just a year. At times, he looks exactly like what he is, a wide receiver who is trying to learn the position with on-the-job training. Hasn't learned to play the run very well yet and just an adequate tackler. The dish: Take him and you're betting "on the come," but there are several teams that have a first-round grade on him. Pittsburgh, for instance, is a club that thinks highly of him. Could be a first-rounder if some team has the luxury of being patient while he refines himself at a relatively new position. Vital statistics: 6-feet-0 5/8, 204 pounds, 4.38 in the 40. Numbers game: Limited by injuries as a sophomore, started every game in his junior and senior campaigns. In those two years, had 84 tackles, along with 25 pass deflections and three interceptions. Upside: Big guy who runs really well, moves with such facility that it sometimes looks as if he's coasting, even if he isn't. Very bright and has been an academic All-American, with his smarts transferring over to the field, where he is excellent at reading plays. Nice, long build and is a superior athlete. Downer: Not as "sudden" as one might expect for a player with his kind of 40-yard time. Plays a little too upright on occasion and that will hamper his turn-and-go when the ball is thrown deep. Just an average tackler. The dish: Another one of those corners who has a shot to be taken in the first round or who might slip into the second stanza. Another example of how beauty is in the eye of the beholder at the cornerback spot. Vital statistics: 5-feet-10 1/8, 207 pounds, 4.47 in the 40. Numbers game: Became starter toward end of freshman year and averaged 82.8 tackles over course of his career, including 107 stops in 2002, with 28 career tackles for loss. Accounted for 12 takeaways and two blocked kicks. Upside: Tremendous leader, real character-type guy, played in every game as an 18-year-old freshman and naturally garners respect. Intelligent on and off the field, very productive, not physically blessed but a true competitor who is always around the ball. Downer: Isn't as big as most teams want and doesn't play as quick as the 40-yard time he clocked at campus workout. For all his smarts, blows too many coverages, and lacks range. At his best playing down in the box. The dish: Teams are really split on him and only a few believe he can play up to his reputation. Could still squeeze into second half of first round but second round is more plausible. Vital statistics: 6-feet-2 ¼, 205 pounds, 4.43 in the 40. Numbers game: Former junior college standout who was two-year starter for Vols and, while alternating between corner and safety, recorded 132 tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes defensed. Upside: Great size, and has lined up and played well at corner and safety, which makes him the kind of flexible secondary player teams are seeking for the way the game is played now. Has closing speed, some toughness, loves to compete and play bump-and-run. Downer: For all his obvious athleticism, plays too tall, and he is hardly economical in his movements. A better hitter than he is a tackler, doesn't wrap up all the time, and is not a classic form tackler. Has to really master one position. The dish: Some scouts see him as a boom-or-bust type, a guy who makes them salivate one minute, and cringe the next. Some character issues and was not a worker in the classroom. Vital statistics: 6-feet-0 ¾, 202 pounds, 4.43 in the 40. Numbers game: Started career at corner, moved to safety in 2002, and was one of the college game's most prolific ballhawks in his four years. Totaled 31 interceptions, including 11 in 2000 and 14 in 2002, and also had 42 pass deflections in four seasons. Upside: Top defensive player at Division I-AA level for last two years and should be a solid pro. Some skeptics wonder if he can be effective at a high level of competition but, when you're around the ball as much as he's been, it's indicative of great instincts. Played corner at first in college but moved to free safety so teams couldn't avoid throwing at him. Superb hands and knows the way to the end zone, with three returns for scores in 2002. Downer: While he is a superb "ball athlete" and seems a natural safety, might not be physical enough, or a good enough tackler, for the position. Needs to work a little harder on technique and on his pursuit angles. The dish: There are still some questions about whether he can make the transition to the big-time, but most teams feel he will be a reliable player, and he should go off the board in the second round. Vital statistics: 6-feet-2 ½, 209 pounds, 4.55 in the 40. Numbers game: Although he played just three seasons, finished as leading tackler in Razorbacks history, with 366 stops. Was over the 100-tackle mark every year, including 144 tackles in 2002, had nine career interceptions. Upside: Can be dominant run defender and has the potential, because of his rangy build and large wing span, to eventually be a factor versus the pass as well. Loves his reputation as big hitter and will intimidate receivers coming across the middle. Walk him down into the box and he's a tackling machine. Downer: Has a little too much quick-twitch mentality and will bite too often on the play-fake. Gets himself into no man's land in coverage and wastes a lot of steps when he gets out of position. Prototype traditional strong safety at a time when teams want better athletes at the position. The dish: Character will be closely scrutinized because of two DUI arrests and past suspension from the team. Too big a hitter, though, to slide past the second round. Vital statistics: 6-feet-1 ¾, 208 pounds, 4.41 in the 40. Numbers game: Over his final three seasons, totaled 285 tackles, also had four interceptions 2000-2002. Excellent special teams player, and managed to block 11 kicks, including eight field goal tries, in his career. Upside: Younger brother of Rams wide receiver Torry Holt, above average defender, terrific size and awareness. Good diagnostician, especially against the running game, and will chase plays down. Plays in a classic breakdown football position and looks good when aligned in zone coverages. A superb special teams player and will contribute immediately in that area. Downer: Not as strong as his size would suggest he should be, will drive through some tackles, but still slide off. A little tight through the hips, does not change direction well, out his element when playing single coverage. The dish: Certainly not an elite athlete, but has nice bloodlines, and plays with tremendous instinct. Solid character and solidly in the second round. Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. | ||||||||||||||
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