CB Kristian Fulton:
Scouting Reports:
LSU Profile: https://lsusports.net/sports/football/roster/kristian-fulton/20244
NFL.com: https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kristian-fulton?id=32194655-4c73-3491-274a-7b3b8a1d4f92
Walterfootball: https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2020kfulton.php
Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/kristian-fulton/Qmu4Q6YhUs
Yahoo Sports' top 2020 NFL draft prospects, No. 23: LSU CB Kristian Fulton: https://sports.yahoo.com/yahoo-sports-top-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-no-23-lsu-cb-kristian-fulton-232019194.html
Meet the Prospect: Kristian Fulton: https://www.detroitlions.com/news/meet-the-prospect-kristian-fulton
Articles:
2020 NFL Draft: The top Day 2 and Day 3 budget prospects (NEED: ZONE-COVERAGE CORNERBACK - Early: CB Kristian Fulton, LSU. Later: CB John Reid, Penn State. Not every defense covets “shutdown” coverage ability. Some defenses are content with smart, instinctive corners who may not fit your typical size/speed boxes. Fulton isn’t overly physical and has a limited wingspan, but he has still made special plays on the ball from off coverage. He’ll likely go at the back end of the first or early second. If you want that same skill set in the back end of Day 2 or early Day 3, Reid has proved to be capable in that regard, as well. Arguably the biggest thing with Reid is his age, as he turns 24 in May.) (4-21-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-the-class-top-day-2-and-day-3-budget-prospects
2020 NFL Draft: Biggest pro and con for every top defensive back prospect (CB KRISTIAN FULTON, LSU (PFF Draft Board rank: 12) - Biggest Pro: One of the stickiest corners in the class. Fulton is perhaps the most annoying cornerback for wide receivers to face because he sticks to them like glue and is a nightmare to battle at the catch point. Over the past two years, Fulton has forced tight coverage on 65.5% of his targets (fifth) and a contested target on 34.5% (third), which are incredibly impressive rates for a guy playing in the SEC. On the 38 contested targets he forced, Fulton allowed only nine to be caught with 25 forced incompletions. That right there is what we call dominance. Biggest Con: Handful of ugly explosive plays given up in career. Outside of his year-and-a-half long suspension prior to 2018, the biggest knock on Fulton is the bunch of explosive plays he gave up during his time in Baton Rouge. Of the 48 catches allowed in his career, 16 ended up going for a gain of 15 or more yards, and four of his five touchdowns allowed were an explosive play. Of those 16, seven resulted in a 30-plus yard gain. For perspective, Okudah only had one.) (4-17-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-biggest-pro-con-every-top-defensive-back-prospect
Building The Perfect 2020 Cornerback Prospect (Physicality / Press: Kristian Fulton, LSU: Just like former teammate Greedy Williams last year, Kristian Fulton thrives off physicality at/near the line of scrimmage. Fulton is as comfortable as they come in press coverage, be that legit press coverage in which he jams the receiver at the line or press bail in which he lines up right on the line of scrimmage then bails off at the snap. Either way, Fulton wants to start each play in as close proximity to the wide receiver and go from there rather than play off-coverage and wait on the receiver to make a move. According to Pro Football Focus, Fulton's 301 snaps in press-coverage are the third-most of any player in the class. Additionally, Fulton graded as the SEC's best cornerback in 2019, which puts him above players such as teammate Derek Stingley Jr., Alabama's Trevon Diggs, Florida's C.J. Henderson, Mississippi State's Cam Dantzler, and a handful of other. Granted, that does not necessarily mean Fulton had the best press-coverage grade, but being his overall coverage grade was elite and he played a ton of his snaps in press, it is fair to assume his press-coverage grade is quite good. Fulton is also physical later in routes and at the catch point. He understands very well how to "stack" on top of a wide receiver and slow down their route without making a blatant push that brings on a penalty. That subtle, nuanced physicality is what often separates good cornerbacks from the great ones. ) (4-16-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/evaluations/building-perfect-2020-cornerback-prospect
Thor's Cornerback Rankings (3. Fulton: (Comp: Denzel Ward (Eric Edholm)): Fulton, from nearby New Orleans, arrived in Baton Rouge as a ballyhooed top-30 overall recruit. He barely saw the field as a true freshman, with LSU’s corner cupboard stocked as-usual (Tre’Davious White, Donte Jackson and Kevin Toliver). From there, things got hairy. Fulton used someone else’s urine for a PED test – later explaining that he had smoked marijuana a few days earlier – and got caught. The NCAA hammered him with a two-year suspension. That penalty was eventually reduced to one season after a drawn-out,19-month fight with the NCAA that ended the week leading up to the 2018 kickoff. Despite all that missed time, thrust immediately back into action as the starter, Fulton dominated in Dave Aranda’s press-man defense. He allowed a mere 17-of-41 targets to be converted into completions for an opposing passer rating of 65.3 while turning in a PFF coverage grade of 89.7 in 2018, elite territory. Last year, his 86.6 PFF coverage grade was top-10 among corners, and he tied for No. 8 in the land with 14 pass breakups. Fulton has a real knack for breaking on the ball out of his backpedal with timing and explosion, combining his ability to recognize route concepts with his special sauce of disrupting at the catch point. Fulton is a LifeLock corner, the kind of dude who is covering you in man on the tarmac off the airplane. The build, athleticism, body-control, technique, you-can’t-have-that cover style and production (43.2% completions allowed the past two years) all suggest potential CB1 at the next level. But Fulton does come with risk. There was the harebrained drug test fiasco that he has to answer for. On the field, he could stand to improve as a tackler, though he’s not averse to the idea like Henderson. It would also be nice if he could start to convert some of those breakups into interceptions – Fulton only picked off two balls at LSU.) (4-15-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/evaluations/thors-cornerback-rankings
2020 NFL Draft: 10 prospects who won't get picked high enough (CB KRISTIAN FULTON, LSU: Fulton is another one of those questionable draft slides. He had an issue off the field that caused him to be suspended a year and a half, but he has been one of college football’s best cornerbacks since 2018. In fact, he actually recorded the highest PFF coverage grade in the country these past two seasons and highest forced incompletion rate (30.5%) by over four percentage points when lined up on the outside. His ability to stick with his man, consistently force tight coverage and win at the catch point is as good as anyone. Fulton can plug into any scheme you ask him to and is certainly deserving of being among the top 15 prospects off the board as opposed to the middle second-round looks a lot of people are giving him.) (4-10-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-college-football-2020-nfl-draft-10-prospects-who-wont-get-picked-high-enough
O'HARA'S DRAFT PREVIEW: 5 cornerbacks that could interest Lions (4. Kristian Fulton, LSU. 6-0, 197. 4.46 Combine 40. Stats: 25 games last two seasons, 23 pass breakups. Breakdown: Played briefly in 2016 and missed all of 2017 because of an NCAA suspension. Returned in 2018 and missed three games with an ankle injury. Tested well at the Combine. How he could fit Lions: Strong player who can play man coverage outside. One of a handful of Day 2 possibilities.) (4-10-20): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-s-draft-preview-5-cornerbacks-that-could-interest-lions-okudah
2020 NFL Draft: Buyer beware in Round 1 (Fulton gets a bit handsy downfield and that will be a problem in the NFL. The league is protecting wide receivers more than ever, which could lead to several penalties. His draft stock has fluctuated throughout the process similar to what his teammate, Greedy Williams, went through a year ago. Williams was ultimately taken in the second round.) (4-7-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-top-quarterbacks-and-a-trio-of-lsu-tigers-headline-buyer-beware-list-in-the-first-round/
Touchdown Wire's 2020 NFL Draft rankings: Top 25 defensive players (23. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Fulton sat out the entire 2017 season after it was discovered that he had tampered with a drug test, but he returned well in 2018 and 2019, allowing a total of 48 receptions on 111 targets for 675 yards. The five touchdowns he allowed to just two interceptions in that time is a bit of a concern, but Fulton has held up well against some of the best receivers in the last two draft classes. A natural press cornerback who needs work with the off-coverage aspects of his game, Fulton could develop into a No. 1 NFL cornerback over time.) (4-3-20): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/04/03/touchdown-wires-2020-nfl-draft-rankings-top-25-defensive-players/
2020 NFL draft: Kristian Fulton scouting report (3-9-20): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/03/09/2020-nfl-draft-kristian-fulton-scouting-report/
2020 NFL Draft: Prospects PFF likes more than other scouts and media (CB Kristian Fulton, LSU: The wide receiver and offensive tackle draft classes are being noted for their high-end talent and depth, but cornerback is right there with them. No one is touching Jeff Okudah as the best in the class, but after him opinions stray considerably. PFF views LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton as the second-best at the position, while some see him as the fifth or sixth best. Here’s why those folks are wrong: First and foremost, Fulton has dominated in each of the past two seasons, producing the best two-year coverage grade among Power-5 cornerbacks. During that stretch, Fulton played a lot of press coverage against some of the most difficult competition in college football in the SEC (502 coverage snaps to be exact — the fourth most in the FBS). What he did on those reps was pretty nasty. Fulton played the fifth-most coverage snaps per target seen at 7.5. In other words, quarterbacks weren’t going to try and throw his way — understandably so considering he allowed a sub-40% catch rate and FBS-high forced incompletion rate of 38.1%. You can put this man on an island and let him burn some receivers like the sun — he’s the second-best cornerback in this class.) (3-4-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-pff-likes-more-than-other-scouts-and-media
What you need to know about the top 10 cornerbacks on PFF's 2020 NFL Draft Big Board (2. KRISTIAN FULTON, LSU
I interviewed Kristian Fulton and Ohio State's Damon Arnette as they sat side by side to debate which school was the real D.B.U. Arnette quickly cooled the temperature by giving props to the LSU defensive backs by saying that they had earned the right to be called D.B.U., and he added that the Buckeyes have titled themselves as B.I.A, which stands for “Best In America.” This exchange best exemplifies the incredible respect these competitors have for one another. Fulton admitted that, while spending time together in Indianapolis, the group of defensive backs had formed a bond off the field but remained competitors when it was time to work. Fulton’s 4.46-second 40-yard dash then bested Arnette’s time of 4.56 seconds. Now PFF’s second-ranked corner, Fulton recorded 20 forced incompletions last season, which tied for first among all cornerbacks with at least 300 coverage snaps last year. And after Fulton arrived in Indy with questions surrounding his top-end speed in coverage, he quickly put those concerns to bed and checked one more box to help silence the noise.) (3-4-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-need-to-know-about-the-top-10-cornerbacks-pff-2020-nfl-draft-big-board
2020 NFL Scouting Combine Team Thoughts on Workouts (Team sources said LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton had a good workout. With a 40-yard dash time of 4.47 seconds, Fulton showed that he has recovered from a leg injury that he played with during the 2019 season. Fulton needed a good combine to help his first-round hopes, and he came through with clutch performances.) (3-2-20): https://walterfootball.com/combine2020blog.php
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: Risers and fallers from the DB drills (Risers - Kristian Fulton, LSU: Entering the week, very few things were “wrong” with Kristian Fulton as a prospect; he stood at second in PFF’s cornerback rankings and was the 17th best prospect overall. That being said, the one concern we had was his straight-line speed and ability to make up ground when beaten off the line. Fulton then posted a 4.46-second 40-yard dash time, tying for the 10th best at his position, easing many of the concerns that came with him in the process. NFL teams covet guys who can be isolated in press coverage and hang with his receiver. Fulton saw 52 targets when in single, press coverage over the last two years, and while 10 resulted in an explosive play, the LSU corner produced a forced incompletion rate (38.5%) that was higher than the percentage of passes that he allowed to be caught (34.6%). He isn’t touching Okudah on our board, but he proved exactly what he needed to in Indianapolis.) (3-2-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-risers-and-fallers-from-the-db-drills
NFL COMBINE SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS (Blue chip corners hold their own - Some notable DBs who made favorable impressions include LSU's Krisitan Fulton finished fourth in the three-cone drill throwing up a time of 6.94 while also recording a solid 4.46 40-yard dash time.) (3-2-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/combine-breakdown/nfl-combine-sunday-highlights
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: What to watch for in DB drills (KRISTIAN FULTON IS THE CLEAR-CUT CB2 FOR PFF, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE DOESN'T HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE ON SUNDAY: Fulton has been one of college football's best cornerbacks ever since he was thrown into starting action at the beginning of 2018. Since then, he's produced a two-year coverage grade of 92.0 and allowed a catch on just 43.6% of his targets, second and fifth, respectively, among qualifying draft-eligible corners. There are very few things not to like about Fulton's play. He has vast experience playing press coverage (third-most such snaps in 2019), he's elite at the catch point (third-highest forced incompletion rate in 2019) and he has crisp agility. Oh, and he showed all of this against the toughest conference in the game in the SEC. That being said, one of the few things preventing him from being a top-15 prospect on our big board is his straight-line speed. He wouldn't get beat off the line often, but when he did, he didn't have the make-up speed to prevent a big play. Fulton is the clear-cut second-ranked cornerback in this class in our eyes, but he'd still hugely benefit from a plus performance tonight.) (3-1-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-what-to-watch-for-in-db-drills
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: Notable quotes and analysis from Day 4 (“Just from a competitive standpoint. I feel like being in the SEC, I go up against the best receivers. You go and tell me who has put up numbers on me.” – Kristian Fulton. There weren't a whole lot of players who put up big numbers against him in 2019, and no player had more than three receptions in a single game against Fulton all season. In all, he allowed less than 45% of the passes into his coverage to be completed, his second consecutive season doing so. From a pure production standpoint, there aren't a whole lot of players who have been at the same level.) (2-28-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-notable-quotes-and-analysis-from-day-4
2020 NFL Draft and Free Agency: Labeling the blue-chip, mid-tier, buyer beware and undervalued defensive backs (Blue Chips - CB KRISTIAN FULTON (PFF round projection: Round 1): Kristian Fulton is PFF's second-ranked cornerback in the class and a top-20 prospect overall. After playing just 13 snaps in his first two seasons, he was thrown into the starting role in 2018 and made an immediate impact. Over the last two years, Fulton strung together the second-best PFF coverage grade in college football, and he did it in the SEC, the nation's toughest conference. He's been one of the best at the catch point over that stretch, posting a forced incompletion rate of 29% and allowing just 23.7% of his contested targets to be caught. There are questions about his speed and whether or not he'll be able to make up ground when needed, but he's still a top-tier option for teams this offseason. Potential landing spots: New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons) (2-26-20): https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2020-nfl-draft-and-free-agency-labeling-the-blue-chip-mid-tier-buyer-beware-and-undervalued-defensive-backs
Breaking down the top-10 cornerbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft (4. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Kristian Fulton is one of those guys who was at the top of my board in the summer but has since fallen a little bit. He is sticky in man coverage and man, as the guys above him, he’s incredibly fluid. His aggressiveness and football IQ combine to make a prospect who is hard to dislike as a whole. With his length added on, this prospect has a type of swagger that makes his brand of football unique to him and him only. But I have to question a few things in his game, mainly his ball skills. He is not the big play-maker that defense will look for, and that does throw him down a bit. Yes, he does an excellent job of staying in that hip pocket and ripping the ball out at the catch point, but he has done an overall great job of tracking the ball and making a play on it. He also needs to improve on his tackling, though the effort for that is there. Fulton is another first-round prospect that has to improve on a few things.) (2-26-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-top-10-cornerbacks/
NFL Hot Press: Jordan Love Voted Most Overrated Prospect (Fulton received 2 votes. Kristian Fulton and Grant Delpit were in second and third place, respectively, and teams were also verbose in their feedback about them being overrated. It will be interesting to see if the LSU defensive backs end up going lower than the consensus belief considering how many team sources felt that way.) (2-25-20): http://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/Jordan-Love-Voted-Most-Overrated-Prospect
NFL combine 2020: Jeff Okudah is the best cornerback prospect in years (CB Kristian Fulton (LSU): He led the national champs with 14 passes defended last season. He was one of the best cover men in the nation’s best conference. The resume is strong. But it’s not perfect. Fulton also missed the entire 2017 season because of a drug-related suspension, which means the combine will be more important for him as he tries to convince clubs he’s not a red flag. Some analysts are wondering about his speed too, so keep a close eye on the stopwatch in Indy.) (2-24-20): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/02/nfl-combine-2020-jeff-okudah-is-the-best-cornerback-prospect-in-years.html
2020 NFL scouting combine preview: secondary (Who needs to nail the athletic testing - LSU CB Kristian Fulton: In general, the 40-yard dash can be an overrated metric in some talent evaluators’ minds. But even for those folks, it’s hard to persuade teams to draft a sub-6-foot (or a shorter-armed) cornerback who doesn’t crack a 4.5-second time. Fulton is listed by LSU at 6-foot flat, but he might come in closer to the 5-11 range and might weigh less than the 200 pounds on the school’s roster. If Fulton runs well, all’s well. But a poor showing in the 40 (and other athletic tests) might cause him to slip just a bit. Some people believe Fulton will end up a first-round pick no matter what, and his play on the field last season and in 2018 prior to a season-ending injury supports that. But with a few other checkmarks working against him — the injury history plus some very minor character questions — Fulton would do himself a big favor with a strong workout.) (2-21-20): https://sports.yahoo.com/2020-nfl-scouting-combine-preview-secondary-140443210.html
2020 NFL Draft: Cornerback rankings, top prospects (3. Kristian Fulton, LSU (SR, 6'0", 200 pounds): With lots of experience in press coverage, Fulton is a patient and physical corner with good size and length. Fulton has lots of reps against elite competition and has mostly held his own. While he may not have elite long speed, he's quick, fluid and sticky in coverage. Per PFF data, Fulton is tied for the most forced incompletions (34) among draft-eligible cornerbacks since 2018. He was suspended for the 2017 season for tampering with an NCAA drug test.) (2-20-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/02/20/nfl-draft-2020-cornerbacks-rankings-best-prospects
Draft CB rankings: Okudah leads pack (2. Kristian Fulton, LSU: Fulton considered entering the NFL Draft after the 2018 season and he very well may have been the first cornerback off the board. Instead, he returned to LSU where he allowed a completion percentage of 39.3 and ranked first in the nation in forced incompletions, according to Pro Football Focus. Like Okudah, Fulton has unparalleled coverage skills; his ability to stick with receivers will easily translate to the next level given the weekly competition he faced in the SEC. Unlike Okudah, Fulton isn't expected to be a burner, but even if he runs 4.5 he'll be firmly in the first-round conversation.) (2-19-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-cornerback-rankings-jeff-okudah-is-the-unquestioned-no-1-but-dont-sleep-on-rest-of-class/
2020 NFL Combine: Cornerback Prospects, Invites, What To Watch For (5. Kristian Fulton, LSU 6-0, 200 (1): Why He’s Here On The List: A physical as any corner in the draft, he’ll tackle, and he’ll beat up receivers at the line. He’ll also come up with a whole lot of plays, breaking up 14 passes and 23 over the last two seasons. No, he isn’t his former teammate Derek Stingley Jr., but he’s going to be someone’s baller as a strong No. 2 corner. What The NFL Types Want To See: He’ll at least be asked about the NCAA penalty early on involving a drug test. The suspension was overturned, and it’s ancient history now after going on to have a fantastic college career. More than that, the scouts need to see a good 40 to think of him as a first round corner and not a top 50 overall pick type of tweener. Bottom Line: A broken up pass machine, he’s a playmaker who could fit in a variety of roles – he’ll find a job somewhere in a secondary. On size, he’s what everyone is going to want as a tough corner who’ll battle for the ball. However, he has to show off the deep wheels.) (2-17-20): https://collegefootballnews.com/2020/02/2020-nfl-combine-cornerback-prospects-invites-what-to-watch-for
Lions 2020 Combine Preview: Cornerbacks (Kristian Fulton, LSU: Like Okudah, Fulton is a natural man-press corner -- which the Lions will really like. The Lions do put quite a bit of emphasis on tackling ability and that is a weakness of Fulton. Not only that, but he also missed the 2017 season due to a suspension stemming from an incident that involved him tampering with an NCAA drug test. The ability is there for Fulton to be a first-round pick, but he does come with a couple of flaws the Lions might not be able to overlook.) (2-15-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2020-nfl-combine-preview-cornerbacks
Lions NFL Combine preview: Defensive backs (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: The parts of the combine we don’t see – the team interview and medical examinations – will be important for Fulton, who missed a season for a drug-related suspension and additional time for multiple injuries. He put those issues in the rear-view in 2019, playing at a high level for the champs. He appeared in all 15 games, breaking up 14 passes.) (2-13-20): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/02/13/detroit-lions-nfl-combine-preview-defensive-backs/4751287002/
2020 Combine Preview: Cornerback (4. Kristian Fulton, LSU, 6-0, 200: The interviews will be an important part of Fulton's pre-draft process. He was suspended for one season in 2017 after having someone else provide urine for a PED test. He started the last two seasons for the Tigers, playing all 15 games this season with 38 tackles, 14 passes defended (led team) and an interception. Good press-man corner, but some analysts question his long speed, so his 40 time will be key as well.) (2-11-20): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2020-combine-preview-cornerback-okudah-henderson
2020 NFL Draft prospects with the most to prove at the combine (KRISTIAN FULTON, CB, LSU: While at LSU the last couple of seasons, Fulton has been one of the best cornerbacks in PFF’s grading system, producing a two-year coverage grade that was the second-best in college football. The most alluring quality of Fulton’s is the fact he played press coverage the third most among those in this class and he did it at a high-level. In press, he allowed just 25 catches on 63 targets with 24 forced incompletions. That said, there have been numerous instances in general of Fulton giving up an explosive play due to his subpar speed as he isn’t able to make up much ground when getting beat. On his 110 since 2018, just 48 have been caught but 16 of those resulted in an explosive play of 15 or more yards. He’s still shown enough to be the second corner off the board but will need a big week in Indy to prove he owns the traits of an NFL shut down corner.) (2-7-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-with-the-most-to-prove-at-the-combine
2020 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Cornerbacks (2. KRISTIAN FULTON, LSU (Draft Board Rank: 10th): Fulton’s speed may be a concern and he has only average size, but he’s graded out at a level we’ve seen few match at the position in our six years of college grading. He earned an 89.7 coverage grade in 2018 and 86.8 this past year. He allowed only 48 catches over that span and broke up 20 passes. Fulton is one of the most experienced press corners in the nation with 323 such snaps in 2019. The worry is that while he never really got exposed for a whole game, he was far from lockdown over the course of the season. He still allowed 453 yards on 31-69 targets this past season. Fulton is often too content out of phase with receivers or doesn’t quite have the make up speed when quicker receivers get a step on him. He gave up five catches that went for more than 30 yards this past season. Even with teams often forced to pass a lot from behind against LSU, that’s more than you’d like to see from a top prospect. I’ll take his 43.6% career completion percentage allowed though any day.) (2-5-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-position-rankings-cornerbacks
Kristian Fulton Senior Bowl Draft Stock: Bypassed Mobile but still expected to be drafted early (1-22-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/kristian-fulton-senior-bowl-draft-stock-bypassed-mobile-but-still-expected-to-be-draft-early/
Complete guide to the 2020 Senior Bowl (Not too many big names in this group, but it does boast a potential first-round pick in Fulton, who struggled in the national title game but still has top-32 talent.) (1-20): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/01/20/senior-bowl-preview-2020-nfl-draft/
PFF 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl Preview: players to watch, draft implications, schedule, team rosters and more (Jeff Okudah is the clear-cut number one cornerback in this draft class, but number two honors will likely go to Kristian Fulton. He made an immediate impact when thrown into his starting role to start 2018 and has continued that through the 2019 season, as his two-year PFF grade at outside corner is the best in the country. Fulton is elite at the catch point, owning the highest forced incompletion rate the past two years and allowing just 23.7% of contested targets to be caught in that span. The most alluring quality is the fact that he has vast experience playing press-man coverage — and he did it at a high level. NFL teams will be jumping all over that this week.) (1-20-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-2020-reeses-senior-bowl-preview-players-to-watch-draft-implications-schedule-team-rosters
2020 East-West Shrine Game Stock Report (Down - Fulton: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Terrell was not the only cover corner to hurt his draft grade in the National Championship, as Clemson really picked on LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton. On the second play from scrimmage, Fulton was beaten by Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross at the line of scrimmage, as he swam over Fulton and cut to the inside to get open over the top for a gain of 35 yards. Fulton bounced back to have tight coverage on Tee Higgins while he ran a deep route downfield. Shortly later, Higgins got a step on Fulton running vertically and Fulton was flagged for a pass interference as he held Higgins to keep him from breaking away. Minutes later, Fulton made a good open-field tackle in zone on a third down to keep Clemson from getting a first down, but he allowed Ross to get open on a comeback route and then had Higgins flat out run him over around the six-yard line before Higgins darted into the end zone. In the third quarter, Fulton snagged an interception after interfering with Justyn Ross and the officials correctly called the penalty. The tape of the National Championship reminded me of Fulton's performance against Texas early in the 2019 season. He does a nice job of running with receivers and keeping close coverage, but he struggles to finish, allowing wideouts to achieve late separation or pull away from him at the end of routes. Fulton has tendency to get too physical, and he could have pass interference penalty issues in the NFL. Fulton could be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but multiple team sources told me they graded him in the second round and this tape will serve to validate that grade and hurt his chances of being a Thursday night pick.) (1-18-20): http://walterfootball.com/draft2020stock_20.php
Senior Bowl primer: Everything to know (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: While not a towering outside cornerback, Fulton can play on the perimeter, and his stickiness in coverage is at the same level as consensus top cornerback Jeff Okudah from Ohio State. The LSU star has the feet, hips, and explosion to stay in phase (keeping up in coverage) with any type of receiver on a route with any amount of intricacy. And as we saw in 2019 when he tallied 13 pass breakups, he's aware when the ball is arriving and knows what to do. It'll be surprising if Fulton isn't the second cornerback off the board. ) (1-17-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/senior-bowl-2020-comprehensive-scouting-primer-about-this-years-pre-draft-event-in-mobile/
PFF favorites in the 2020 NFL Draft (CB Fulton: Fulton has one of the most impressive grading profiles we’ve ever seen from an SEC cornerback. The biggest thing with Fulton has been the consistency. The redshirt junior has back-to-back seasons of elite grades and elite grades in conference play as well. He outgraded Greedy Williams in 2018 with an 89.7 coverage grade and followed that up with an 88.9 coverage grade this year. For his career in SEC play, Fulton’s earned a 92.8 coverage grade and allowed a completion percentage of only 41.3 against. Those are some damn good numbers to put up when looking ahead to the NFL.) (1-14-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-under-the-radar-sleepers-prospects-2020
2020 NFL Draft: Joe Burrow showcases elite skill set, Clyde Edwards-Helaire shines in LSU's title game win (Kristian Fulton, CB: The first half wasn't particularly kind to Fulton, and he was on the receiving end of a truck stick by Tee Higgins on his end around score. But in general, especially after halftime, Fulton and his phenom cornerback mate Derek Stingley did a fantastic job locking up Higgins and Justyn Ross on the outside. Fulton squeezed inside on a post and snagged a pick in the second half but was flagged for pass interference when he tugged Higgins' jersey. Lawrence had extreme difficult getting comfortable and much of that had to do with the tight, mirroring coverage down the field from Fulton and the rest of LSU's secondary. ) (1-14-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-joe-burrow-showcases-elite-skill-set-clyde-edwards-helaire-shines-in-lsus-title-game-win/
Five NFL Draft takeaways (Joe Burrow!) from the 2020 college championship (4. Highly-regarded CBs Kristian Fulton, A.J. Terrell struggled - Fulton has high grades from scouts, but there's reason to be skeptical. The talent is evident, but there are too many examples of him not trusting his technique and getting handsy downfield. The Louisiana native has a great frame but shows no interest in tackling, though he does a great job mirroring receivers. Fulton, who had six tackles and one pass break-up, was exposed for most of the game but he was the victim of a pretty tacky pass interference call late in the third quarter. A no-call could have drastically changed the game. He is a late first- or second-round pick for me at this stage. ) (1-14-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/five-nfl-draft-takeaways-joe-burrow-from-the-2020-college-football-national-championship-game/
TWENTYMAN: 10 prospects to watch in college football national championship game (5. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Fulton has good NFL size (6-0, 200) and has a knack for getting his hand on the football with 13 passes defended and an interception this season. He's a man-cover corner, and that’s a staple of the Lions' defense. He’s considered by most draft analysts to be one of the top four cornerback prospects available in this draft.) (1-13-20): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-10-prospects-to-watch-in-college-football-national-championship-game
Top 10 draft prospects in CFP national championship game based on fit with Lions (No. 3 -- LSU CB Kristian Fulton: On that note, Kristian Fulton forced 17 incomplete passes this past season and heads into the early stages as Kiper’s No. 22 overall prospect and No. 4 cornerback. Fulton received PFF grades of 89.4 in coverage, with 11 pass breakups and a 29.1% forced incompletion rate. The Lions love to play man coverage, and Fulton is one of the best in the game at lining up in the press and in plain one-on-one situations. He logged 306 press coverage snaps this season, and more than held his own against SEC wide receivers.) (1-13-20): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/01/top-10-draft-prospects-in-cfp-national-championship-game-based-on-fit-with-detroit-lions.html
Detroit Lions could eye these 10 prospects in CFP title game (CB Kristian Fulton, LSU: Speaking of LSU's secondary, Fulton joins Stingley in giving the Tigers the best cornerback duo in college football. While Stingley is well on his way to being a generational prospect, Fulton is a top-50-type talent who could find a home in the back half of the first round. He has just two career interceptions, but is considered a solid man defender. One knock: Tackling is not his forte, which could make him a non-starter for the Lions.) (1-13-20): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/01/13/lsu-clemson-nfl-draft-prospects-national-championship-detroit-lions/4429798002/
4 Draft Prospects to Watch in National Championship Game (Cornerback Kristian Fulton - Senior Kristian Fulton plays the cornerback position as well as anyone at the collegiate level. On Monday, will be matching up against receivers Tee Higgins or Justyn Ross from Clemson. On the season, has 32 tackles, 13 pass break-ups and one interception. His 306 coverage snaps in press coverage were the third most in the country. He was rated among the 15 best FBS corners in raw PFF grade per snap in press coverage.) (1-12-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/four-draft-prospects-detroit-lions-fans-must-watch-national-title-game
2020 NFL draft: Top prospects to watch in National Championship Game (The LSU Tigers are producing another top cornerback for the upcoming class and he is probably not even the best one on the current team with true freshman corner Derek Stingley Jr on the other side. Fulton can more than hold his own however. He is an athlete who closes quickly and change of direction don’t deter him one bit. Needs to work on tackling technique at the next level. Even with the question marks surrounding him off-field, Fulton is a first round prospect.) (1-11-20): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/01/11/national-championship-game-nfl-draft-prospects-lsu-clemson-college-football-playoff/6/
Championship: Ranking the 25 best players in LSU-Clemson (9. KRISTIAN FULTON, CB, LSU: Forgotten on his own team not because of his success but rather the surprising play of his teammate Stingley, Fulton is every bit a lockdown cornerback. He’s been targeted 59 times and allowed just 26 receptions on the year, and he hasn't been beaten for a pass longer than 35 yards since Week 6.) (1-11-20): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-playoff-national-championship-ranking-the-25-best-players-in-lsu-clemson
LSU vs. Clemson: The top NFL draft prospects to watch in Monday's national title game (CB Kristian Fulton (2020): Fulton came back to LSU for 2019 after he missed the end of the 2018 season because of injury. Fulton has 13 passes defensed and one pick this season and was named a second-team All-SEC selection. Fulton was fourth in the SEC in passes defensed in 2018 before he was injured against Arkansas and has started every game he’s played in since 2016.) (1-9-20): https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-vs-clemson-the-top-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-mondays-national-title-game-210434508.html
2020 NFL Draft: Top 10 prospects to watch in the National Championship (3. CB KRISTIAN FULTON, LSU: After not playing a single snap for over a year and a half due to suspension, Fulton was thrown into a starting role at outside corner prior to the 2018 season and made an immediate impact. This season, particularly, Fulton’s PFF grade was among the 10 best at his position, and he had the highest forced incompletion rate (32.2%). Fulton at the catch point has been one of the best in the country, though he’s at his peak in press man coverage. His 306 coverage snaps played in press coverage were the third most in the country, and he was among the 15 best FBS corners in raw PFF grade per snap in press against stiff competition.) (1-9-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-top-prospects-to-watch-national-championship-game
NFL Draft Prospect Showdown: Championship Game (Squaring off against Higgins for some of the contest will be LSU CB Kristian Fulton. Depending on who you ask, Fulton is either better than former teammate Greedy Williams (2019 second-round pick) and has been a first-round pick all along, or he is a cornerback who thrives at the line of scrimmage without enough else to carry himself as a legitimately elite cornerback. The truth is somewhere in the middle. It's true that Fulton is at his best at the line of scrimmage. A press cornerback by nature, Fulton loves to be walked up to the line of scrimmage and play true press coverage or press-bail. He has a sharp processor when it comes to feeling how WRs are rolling out of their stances and he has the quick feet to act on his senses. Where Fulton can run into issues is when forced to break dramatically, particularly to the inside. Fulton can run WRs to the sideline all day, but in-breaking routes that force him to sink and shoot give him issues from time to time. Not only are his hips a bit slow to sink and change direction, but Fulton doesn't have that elite burst coming downfield or across the middle to always close the gap. Digs, over routes, posts, "basics," and deeper slants can all give Fulton problems, assuming the WR is a half-decent route runner. Considering Clemson also have an elite QB in Trevor Lawrence guiding their offense, it's tough to imagine Fulton is going to have a fun day. That isn't to say Fulton is going to get toasted -- he isn't a top prospect by accident -- but it's more likely that this match ends up one of his least impressive tapes between the combined quality of Higgins as a receiver and Lawrence's pinpoint accuracy. ) (1-8-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-championship-game
LSU's draft prospects in the CFP title (Kristian Fulton, CB: Fulton is barely inside of my first round projections. I have been a little lower on him than others. He looks disinterested in tackling and panics in coverage downfield too often. All of the appealing traits are there though: quick footwork, size and speed. The cornerback just needs to put it all together. LSU defensive backs have had a lot of success in the NFL. It would not surprise me if Fulton joined the list. He is ranked No. 15 in the CBS Sports composite rankings.) (1-7-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-national-championship-game-joe-burrow-grant-delpit-highlight-lsus-draft-prospects/
Jaguars 2020 draft needs, fits, picks (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Fulton is a light-footed, scheme-versatile corner with impeccable mirroring ability down the field and plus ball skills as the pass is arriving at its target. There's actually a lot of A.J. Bouye to his game in that he battles on every snap and rarely, if ever just concedes the reception. ) (12-31-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-jaguars-team-needs-draft-picks-prospects-to-watch-for-jacksonville/
Perfect 2020 NFL Draft fits for every non-playoff team (16. ATLANTA FALCONS
Earlier — CB Kristian Fulton, LSU: While they invested some draft capital in Isaiah Oliver, the former second-rounder allowed the seventh-most yards of any cornerback this season (794). Fulton, on the other hand, allowed all of 609 yards over the past two seasons (24 games) for the Tigers.) (12-30-19): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-perfect-2020-nfl-draft-fits-for-every-non-playoff-team
Peach Bowl prospect preview: LSU vs Oklahoma (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU, 6-0, 194, #1: Last year Greedy Williams was hyped as the best corner in last year’s class, but honestly, he wasn’t even the best player on his team — that honor went to Fulton. Now, with another year of experience under his belt, Fulton will surely be drafted before Williams was last year (46th overall) and is probably ticketed for the first round. If he falls to the Lions pick in the second round, he makes a ton of sense, as he is a physical, press-man, cover corner with speed, intelligence, and instincts.) (12-28-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/28/peach-bowl-prospect-preview-lsu-vs-oklahoma/
TWENTYMAN: 10 players to watch in national semifinal games (9. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Fulton has good NFL size (6-0, 200), and has a knack for getting his hand on the football with 12 passes defended and an interception this season. He's built to play man coverage, and that’s a staple of the Lions' defense.) (12-27-19): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-10-players-to-watch-in-national-semifinal-games
Draft prospects for Lions fans to watch in college football selection committee, playoff games (LSU CB Kristian Fulton -- Kristian Fulton is the model of consistency at cornerback in the SEC. The 6-foot senior has graded at 89.7 in coverage in both the previous two seasons making him the Khris Davis of college football. PFF has Fulton going No. 12 to the Eagles while ESPN has him slipping to the bottom of the first round at 28th to the Chiefs.) (12-27-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/12/draft-prospects-for-lions-fans-to-watch-in-college-football-selection-committee-playoff-games.html
Ranking the 50 best 2020 NFL draft prospects in the College Football Playoff (6. KRISTIAN FULTON, CB, LSU (Year: Senior): Fulton matching up with Lamb is going to be must-see TV for fans and scouts alike. It could very well be two top-10 2020 draft picks going head-to-head. At minimum, it's likely to be two first-rounders. Fulton graded better than teammate Greedy Williams — a 2019 second-round pick last season — only to return to school and be the highest-graded SEC cornerback this season. Multiple years of elite play is the type of grading profile we love to see. Man or zone, Fulton is a complete corner.) (12-26-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-ranking-best-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-in-the-college-football-playoff
NFL DRAFT PROSPECT SHOWDOWN: SECOND BOWL WEEK (Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb vs LSU CB Kristian Fulton: It’s incredibly rare that Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb enters a game without being the clear-cut best pass-catcher on the field. LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase is one of a small handful of receivers who can match Lamb’s pace as an explosive play threat, and Chase may end up an even better prospect than Lamb by the time he is eligible. Lamb won’t be directly facing off against Chase, though. Instead, the junior Sooner will have to square off against one of LSU’s many other first-round talents: CB Kristian Fulton. Fulton has been a feature on the showdown a number of times this season. Of course, the talent-loaded SEC gives him plenty of opportunity to face excellent competition, but Fulton is a fantastic player in his own right who deserves as much of a spotlight as any cornerback in this class. At 6-foot-, 200-pounds, Fulton sports a lean build that lends to speed and agility without sacrificing much by way of length and strength. In LSU’s defensive scheme that often asks him to play press-bail man coverage, being up to par in both strength and agility makes it easy for Fulton to win consistently at the line of scrimmage. After following receivers properly out of their stem, Fulton usually does an excellent job of latching into their hip pocket. Fulton is particularly impressive when he gets to work receivers toward the sideline or down the field. In both ‘Bama clips, Fulton does well to sit on the wide receiver’s stem before committing to getting into their frame. Fulton keeps his feet running and fires with the receiver as soon as they declare where their stem is going, then jams his near hand into their chest to slow them just enough to keep pace with them. Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t see it fit to target Fulton in either instance, but if he had, Fulton would have been right in position to make a play on the catch point because of how early he was able to win each snap. In this instance versus Auburn, Fulton does get targeted. Again, Fulton does well to wait on the route stem then explode out of his position to stick with the receiver. Fulton does not as directly get a hand into the receiver’s chest here, but he does stick right to the receiver’s outside hip and matches him step-for-step in a foot race down the field. By the time the ball arrived in the area, Fulton had stacked himself just on top of the wide receiver and was plenty prepared to leap to make a play on the ball. On the other side of the ball is Lamb, a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder wide receiver who looks and plays bigger than he is. Not that 6-foot-2 is short or inadequate by any stretch, but Lamb has a DeAndre Hopkins-like quality to him where everything he does suggests he would be closer to 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5. Lamb, like Hopkins, has unusually long arms and fantastic leaping ability, both of which make him a menace in contested situations and near the sideline. Versus Fulton, a well-versed and physical player down the sideline, Lamb’s ability to manipulate the catch point and find the ball at its highest point should come in handy. Lamb is also a ridiculous talent after the catch. He may not be the outright fastest player in the class, but he’s in the upper tier of breakaway speed while having the short-area flexibility and raw strength to play like a running back when would-be tacklers get a hand on him. Lamb ticks every possible box in terms of run-after-catch ability. The only thing that may complicate what could be a fierce matchup is where each player tends to align. Lamb plays primarily from the left side of the formation, whereas Fulton tends to play to the right side of the offense’s formation. Each see an average of 10-20% of their snaps on the opposite side or in the slot, but for the most part, they reside on opposite sides of the field. Unless a schematic change is made, it’s possible we see these two matched up only a handful of times. That being said, there is at least the consolation that Lamb gets to face off against Derek Stingley Jr., LSU’s star freshman cornerback who plays opposite from Fulton. Stingley wasn’t just one of the best freshmen defenders in the country this season — he was one of the best defenders, period. He is an excellent athlete, even more so than Fulton, and has a knack for finding the ball that is unmatched by any college cornerback since maybe Tyrann Mathieu.) (12-26-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-second-bowl-week
2020 NFL Draft Stock - Pre-Bowls III (Up - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Fulton has been a solid cover corner for the Tigers in 2019 and has been reliable in pass coverage. Coming from one of the schools in the running as "DB U," Fulton has extra media hype that helps him to get some first-round projections. Fulton has 30 tackles with 11 passes defensed and an interception entering the college football playoff. Fulton does a good job of running with receivers and preventing separation, but he needs to improve his discipline and also could stand to do a better job of defending the ball on 50-50 plays - see the game against Texas tape. If Fulton plays well in the playoff against Oklahoma and possibly in the National Championship, those things could give a nice boost to his draft stock.) (12-25-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2020stock_17.php
Building the best team from the College Football Playoff (Fulton joins just Jeffrey Okudah as the second-highest graded cornerback in coverage grade and the only three with elite coverage grades for 2019.) (12-24-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-building-best-team-from-college-football-playoff
Prospects to watch in the Peach Bowl (Kristian Fulton, CB: Fulton is the latest from the LSU cornerback lineage. He is a tough, physical cornerback, but his footwork gets crossed up occasionally and he gets a bit handsy downfield. The Louisiana native needs to trust his coaching and cut it loose. There is so much untapped potential to his game. Fulton possesses a strong chance of being a first round pick. ) (12-23-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/peach-bowl-time-tv-channel-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-oklahoma-vs-lsu/
Pat Caputo - 5 things Lions should think in 2020 NFL Draft (1. Think cornerback in Round 1 - The Lions’ have traditionally undervalued cornerback in the draft. They have not taken a cornerback in the first round in more than two decades, yet have selected four wide receivers and three tight ends in the opening round over the same period. The desire for Young is understandable, but it’s possible his OSU teammate, cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, will be as valuable as an NFL player. LSU corner Kristian Fulton has flashed Top 10 talent, as well.) (12-11-19): https://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/pat-caputo---things-lions-should-think-in-nfl/article_ef17d838-1c6c-11ea-89d2-9b6b884ad318.html
NFL draft: 20 prospect observations from conference title game weekend (14. The Tigers’ other corner of note, Kristian Fulton, is pretty good in his own right. After an up-and-down game against Texas early in the season, followed by a few slip-ups in coverage a few games later against Utah State, Fulton has looked the part of a first-round corner in April. He was really good again vs. Georgia.) (12-9-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-20-prospect-observations-from-conference-title-game-weekend-182109634.html
Potential Lions draft prospects to watch in the SEC Championship game (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Very fluid athlete with natural man coverage instincts, Fulton is a better prospect and cover corner than former teammate Greedy Williams (No. 46 overall in 2019). He does have some warts, namely a bad tendency to hold when he loses a step and a missed 2017 season for tampering with a failed drug test.) (12-7-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/07/potential-lions-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-the-sec-championship-game/
College Football: 2019 PFF All-SEC Team (FLEX DEFENSE - First Team: Kristian Fulton, LSU: Fulton, the LSU cornerback opposite Derek Stingley Jr., earned the third-highest grade (88.5) for an SEC cornerback. This marks the second season in which Fulton has produced an 88.0-plus defense grade. If once is a coincidence and twice is a trend, then he may just be one of the most dominant defensive backs in the SEC. Of the 54 targets that came his way, Fulton made a play on the ball 16 times with an interception to boot. The LSU cornerback played press coverage on 265 of his 407 coverage snaps and forced 10 incompletions on 35 targets.) (12-2-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2019-pff-all-sec-team
PFF College Football: 25 observations ahead of Week 14 (CB Kristian Fulton — 86.3 overall grade: After a shaky start to his tenure with the Tigers, including missing the 2017 season due to suspension, Fulton is looking to finish his career by helping the Tigers into the playoff. In the past two seasons as a starter, Fulton has been elite in coverage. All told, he’s allowed just a 44.2% completion rate into his coverage to go along with 15 pass breakups and two interceptions.) (11-29-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-25-observations-ahead-of-week-14
2020 NFL Draft: Top-five players at each defensive position entering College Football Week 14 (2. Kristian Fulton, LSU: Fulton has been dominant for LSU during SEC play so far this year. He’s earned an 89.6 coverage grade against SEC opponents and only allowed receptions on 13-of-27 targets for 153 yards in seven games.) (11-26-19): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-top-five-players-at-each-defensive-position-entering-college-football-week-14
Senior Bowl matchups: Kristian Fulton, Derrick Brown headline cast (#2. Antonio Gandy-Golden vs. Kristian Fulton*: Antonio Gandy-Golden (AGG) has gathered a number of fans in the draft community. He provides highlight plays and is a great physical specimen. His biggest concern? The level of competition he faces during his time at Liberty. There’s a pretty good chance the Gandy-Golden has not lined up against a cornerback who will be drafted in the next two seasons. That all changes at the Senior Bowl. LSU’s Kristian Fulton is someone many believed could have been a first-rounder last year. He chose to return to school, and it was a great choice. LSU is currently the top team in the country and should be the favorites to win the national championship. If AGG and Fulton were to match-up, it’d likely be the most-watched match-up in Mobile. Both players are great athletes with strong size and long arms. AGG gets to face off against the top senior cornerback, and Fulton will look to cement himself as a top 20 pick.) (11-15-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/senior-bowl-1v1-match-ups-we-hope-to-see/
Kristian Fulton shaken up on the play. They’re looking at his right leg. He walks off, but he doesn’t look comfy. (11-9-19): https://mobile.twitter.com/BarrettSallee/status/1193281411505180675
Back to the Future: Jerry Jeudy and Kristian Fulton take center stage in Week 11 (Matchup to Watch: Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy vs. LSU CB Kristian Fulton: The matchup of the week is without a doubt LSU vs. Alabama, but perhaps the biggest draft matchups are also happening in Tuscaloosa this weekend as well. Kristian Fulton, a standout cornerback who could be invited to the Senior Bowl and be a first-round draft pick, is coming into this game with a big chip on his shoulder to prove he is in the upper tier of cornerbacks in this year’s draft class. All things considered, Fulton has far more to gain here than almost anyone else on Alabama. This is due to the opportunity to put his name in the same tier as that of Jeffrey Okudah and Trevon Diggs, should he shut down the top-flight wide receivers of Alabama such as Henry Ruggs, Devonta Smith, and of course, the highly hyped-up Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy has a good bit to lose if he shows he can not take on Fulton and come out as the winner, but I expect that to happen, especially when the former Bilitnetkoff Award Winner shows off his skill set. Jeudy’s game is taken into the upper echelon of wide receiver prospects because everything he does looks so effortless. Yes, the route running and yards after catch are fantastic, but there is a beauty in how easy a receiver can make all the complicated stuff of the wide receiver position look so simple. Jeudy does just that with smooth and efficient movements rather than be held up by intricate and lagging movements. Case and point on his yards after catch ability can be seen here. Jeudy runs nothing more than a route to the flat, and the subtle dead leg stutter is all he needs to turn an otherwise five-yard gain into a twenty-yard gain. His short-area burst and ability to just slinky off this tackle with such ease are fantastic. Jeudy has a lot more highlight reel cuts and moves he has put on defenders over the years, but the stuff in this play are easily translatable to the NFL stage even if they are just that simple. Now, the route running of Jeudy is incredibly effortless. The cornerback rides this inside stem down too far, and it allows Jeudy to obliterate him with ease. But the slow release off the line to subtlely eat into the defensive back’s cushion and get right on his toes after he comes down are why he can separate so much, not to mention the sharp, smooth, and fluid cuts in his breaks. This is a precise route, and Jeudy makes it look so simple. That is why Kristian Fulton will have his work cut out for him, but Fulton, who has incredibly silky hips, ball skills, and top-notch instincts, has as good of a shot of slowing down Jeudy as anyone in this upcoming draft class. But most importantly, Fulton knows how to use his hands to aid him in covering receivers. This is kick-step mirroring that Fulton executes once the wide receiver picks a direction on his release and go route. Yes, his hips are fantastic, and it allows him to stay entirely in phase and in the hip pocket until he locates the ball and bats it away. What makes this play so impressive is how Fulton uses his hands to control the leverage of this route. That is why he is in such a great position to make a play on this ball. His transition is fantastic because of that hand usage. Fulton, of course, is still more than just great in one-on-one situations and has incredibly high football IQ to make plays like this one. Fulton could have taken the receiver up the sideline just like any corner who would be covering his man would do, but Fulton plays this through the quarterback’s eyes and does an excellent job to peel off the go route and jump in front of this out route. That is route recognition and just a fantastic job of reading through keys.) (11-9-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/back-to-the-future-jerry-jeudy-and-kristian-fulton-take-center-stage-in-week-11/
The 25 potential 2020 NFL draft picks in Alabama-LSU (CB Kristian Fulton: Nagy feels Fulton has been overshadowed by freshman cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr. but considers him a more complete prospect than former LSU cornerback Greedy Williams, a second-round pick last year. “Greedy was a really fluid athlete. You love that about him. He was long and he could cover people. Those were all huge, huge pluses. Greedy was a good player. But in terms of run support, toughness, and tackling, I think Kristian is a little more complete that way,” Nagy said. “He’s having a really solid year. He’s kind of had some of his thunder stolen by the freshman [Stingley]. But Kristian is still a really good player. He’s gonna start early on in his career. He’s gonna be a guy some team sees as a starter and they’re going to pick him as a starter.”) (11-8-19): https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/11/the-25-potential-2020-nfl-draft-picks-in-alabama-lsu.html
LSU at Alabama: An NFL scout’s dream game, but also a nightmare (CB Kristian Fulton — The LSU coaches believe that prior to his knee injury last year, Fulton was playing better than Cleveland Browns second-rounder Greedy Williams, who mostly slipped out of Round 1 because of character concerns. The 6-foot, 200-pound Fulton hasn’t quite reached that peak 2018 mark this season, but he’s been pretty darned good — perhaps overshadowed unfairly by true-frosh phenom Derek Stingley. Fulton has been a bit handsy and prone to giving up plays downfield, such as in the Texas and Utah State games. But we see a future NFL starter with good size, athleticism and enough instincts and playmaking ability to solidly land in Round 1. He likely will earn a higher grade from me than last year’s top corner drafted, Georgia’s Deandre Baker, who went 30th to the New York Giants.) (11-8-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-at-alabama-an-nfl-scouts-dream-game-but-also-a-nightmare-154508719.html
PFF Rankings: The top 25 players in the LSU-Alabama matchup (9. KRISTIAN FULTON, CB, LSU: Fulton rounds out this game's impressive group of four of the top eight highest-graded cornerbacks in football. He has allowed just 45.2% of the passes thrown his way to be caught and has made eight total plays on the ball (1 INT, 7 PBU). Since the Texas game in Week 2, Fulton has allowed a reception longer than 18 yards just once. He has now allowed a career completion percentage of just 43.4% into his coverage.) (11-7-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-pff-rankings-the-top-25-players-in-the-lsu-alabama-matchup
Create-a-team: Selecting the best units from Alabama vs LSU (Derek Stingley Jr., Kristian Fulton, Kary Vincent Jr. vs Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain II, Shyheim Carter: Arguably the tightest matchup on the field in the Alabama-LSU matchup, the true freshman sensation in Stingley takes home top honors in this one as the nation's second-highest-graded cornerback. He's as good as any cornerback in the country in coverage and in run defense and he's made 14 plays on the ball while limiting receivers to just 20 receptions on 49 snaps as the primary coverage defender. Surtain and Diggs haven't allowed a touchdown in their coverage this season on 62 combined targets while limiting receivers to under 300 yards combined. Fulton is the ultimate deciding factor as he has come on strong as of late and is trending back towards the elite-level play we saw in 2018. He's had near-elite or elite games in coverage over his past three outings and has allowed all of 80 yards in those three games of lockdown coverage. The third cornerback from each of these teams are surefire starters anywhere else in the country while Carter does edge out Vincent in most categories. The Verdict: Stingley, Fulton, Vincent. The true freshman is the ultimate decision-maker for this one as he's playing well beyond his age. Stingley hasn't allowed a reception longer than 36 yards and that's despite going up against the likes of Collin Johnson, Elijah Moore and Seth Williams, among others. This is the biggest test to date but you can bet the same goes for either receiver he lines up against in this one.) (11-6-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-create-a-team-selecting-the-best-units-from-alabama-vs-lsu
NFL DRAFT PROSPECT SHOWDOWN: WEEK 11 (LSU DBs Kristian Fulton and Grant Delpit vs Alabama WRs Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith, and Henry Ruggs: The LSU-Alabama matchup could be taken in any direction. Quarterback matchups, trench battles, and Alabama’s secondary versus LSU’s wide receivers could have all worked. In fact, in most seasons the ideal matchup to highlight would be Alabama’s secondary versus LSU’s wide receivers, given each schools history of producing at those positions. But it’s 2019, and oh how the turntables. In addition to freshman phenom CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU’s secondary features senior CB Kristian Fulton and junior S Grant Delpit. All three are more likely than not to be first-round picks in their respective draft classes. Fulton has made a couple of appearances in the Showdown before. At 6-foot, 200-pounds, Fulton rocks a fair, lean build that enables him to be both physical and agile. Fulton’s defining characteristics are that he is a proactive press cornerback and has an uncanny knack for finding the ball in the air, no matter where it is or how he has to twist his body to get to it. Bringing in those passes for interceptions is another story, but there is still something to say for a cornerback who always gets a hand in to disrupt. During Monday’s media session, Fulton sounded amped up to be able to get toe-to-toe with some of the best receivers in the country, many of which he knows will also have success in the pros. “I don't think we're switching nothing up. We're going to be man all across the board with us so not really much help there … (Man coverage) shows you what you're really made of. They got NFL guys, we got NFL guys, too, so it's a fun one. You look forward to these games.” The comment about playing man across the board, while unsurprising to anyone who has seen LSU play, is the perfect segue into exploring Delpit’s skill set. Delpit is the ideal modern day safety. Not only can Delpit patrol the back end in single-high assignments, but he can walk up to play in the nickel, thriving both in man coverage and in run defense. Delpit shows phenomenal closing speed and rare playmaking instincts. There are so many plays on Delpit’s film reel that he makes seem normal, when almost any other safety in the country would not be able to make the same play. For example, this third-down stop against Florida a month ago summarizes Delpit’s skill set. Delpit is lined up in the slot to the left side of the offense’s formation and prepared to go man-to-man with the player across from him. As the Gators snap the ball and wide receivers get into their routes, Delpit shows no issues remaining tight to his man. A few seconds into the play, Gators QB Kyle Trask realizes nobody is open and decides to take matters into his own hands with a scramble. Trask has the right idea and nearly makes it work, but Delpit shows off the awareness to pick up on Trask’s maneuvers and separate himself from the wide receiver trying to block, then instantly closes the gap on Trask to take him down before the sticks. Versatility and awareness are the hallmarks of Delpit’s game. In a league that features an endless variety of skill players lining up in the slot and has finally embraced RPOs (run-pass options), the value in a safety who can play the nickel and tackle as well as they cover is higher than ever. Delpit fits the mold without a shadow of a doubt. For as good as Fulton and Delpit are, Alabama’s wide receivers are no slouches either. Jerry Jeudy is a top-15 pick, Devonta Smith is a top-100 pick, and Henry Ruggs is a candidate to run the fastest 40-yard dash in Indy this spring. Jeudy, as evidenced by his draft projections, is going to be the biggest handful for LSU’s secondary. Both before and after the catch, Jeudy is one of the slipperiest athletes in the country. The speed at which he can fire his feet, change direction, and reaccelerate afterwards can not be found anywhere else. Not only does Jeudy’s suddenness make him a threat with the ball in his hands, but he is a menace on vertical stems because he knows how to set defensive backs up for one wrong step and break away from them.) (11-6-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-week-11
College Football Week 8: 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Notes (Up - CB Kristian Fulton, LSU: Fulton got to play press coverage nearly all game long (16 of 23 coverage snaps) against a weak Mississippi State receiving corps and showed once again why he’s one of the best corners in the country. He was targeted five times on the day, allowing one catch for 15 yards, picking off a pass and breaking up two others. His interception also showed off his zone instincts as he came off the flat in Cover-2 after bumping the outside receiver to make a pick on the slot.) (10-22-19): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-college-football-week-8-2020-nfl-draft-scouting-notes
College Football Week 8: Eckrich SEC Team of the Week (CORNERBACK - Kristian Fulton, LSU: Also a member of PFF’s national team of the week, Fulton posted an elite game grade (88.1), only allowing one reception on five targets for 15 yards. In addition, Fulton picked up his first interception of the night and had two pass break-ups.) (10-21-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-8-sec-team-of-the-week
College Football Week 8 Eckrich Team of the Week (CORNERBACK - Kristian Fulton, LSU: Getting back to the dominant ways we saw in 2018, Fulton put forth a stellar effort in coverage against Mississippi State. He was targeted five times as the primary coverage defender, allowed just one reception for 15 yards while grabbing an interception and breaking up two more passes. In total, he allowed a 0.0 passer rating into his coverage and had the nation's second-highest coverage grade among cornerbacks in Week 8.) (10-20-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-8-eckrich-team-of-the-week
College Football Week 7: Eckrich SEC Team of the Week (FLEX - Kristian Fulton, LSU: Fulton was the Tigers’ highest-graded defender. He allowed five receptions on seven targets, but for only 33 yards and had one pass breakup. In addition, he did not miss a tackle in five attempts.) (10-13-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-7-sec-team-of-the-week
Five possible Lions 2020 draft prospects: Week 7 (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU (No. 22)
No. 7 Florida at No. 5 LSU | 8 p.m. | ESPN: This might feel like a weekly reminder, but the Lions don't really have a long-term option in place opposite Darius Slay. Rashaan Melvin continues to perform well, but he's on a one-year deal, and it's far too early to declare 2018 fifth-round pick Amani Oruwariye, who has yet to play a defensive snap, a solution. If the Lions find themselves drafting in the middle of the first round or later, that's a good place to be shopping for defensive backs. Fulton has desirable measurables for the position, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 192 pounds, and comes from a man-coverage scheme that should ease a transition into Detroit's defense. His coverage numbers are astounding. No corner allowed fewer first downs last season. What's holding him back are red flags, both for injuries and off-filed issues. He was suspended a full season for tampering with a drug test in 2017 and has been limited by foot, shoulder and ankle injuries during his time with the Tigers. The vetting process will be important with this prospect.) (10-11-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/10/11/five-possible-detroit-lions-2020-draft-prospects-week-7/3907589002/
Five possible Lions 2020 draft prospects: Week 7 (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU (No. 22)
No. 7 Florida at No. 5 LSU | 8 p.m. | ESPN: This might feel like a weekly reminder, but the Lions don't really have a long-term option in place opposite Darius Slay. Rashaan Melvin continues to perform well, but he's on a one-year deal, and it's far too early to declare 2018 fifth-round pick Amani Oruwariye, who has yet to play a defensive snap, a solution. If the Lions find themselves drafting in the middle of the first round or later, that's a good place to be shopping for defensive backs. Fulton has desirable measurables for the position, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 192 pounds, and comes from a man-coverage scheme that should ease a transition into Detroit's defense. His coverage numbers are astounding. No corner allowed fewer first downs last season. What's holding him back are red flags, both for injuries and off-filed issues. He was suspended a full season for tampering with a drug test in 2017 and has been limited by foot, shoulder and ankle injuries during his time with the Tigers. The vetting process will be important with this prospect.) (10-11-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/10/11/five-possible-detroit-lions-2020-draft-prospects-week-7/3907589002/
2020 NFL Draft prospect Rankings: Top five players at each defensive position (2. Kristian Fulton, LSU: Outside of the Texas game where Fulton was nursing an ankle injury, the LSU cornerback has been lights out in 2019. In those three other games, Fulton’s allowed 3-9 targets for 24 yards. He’s about as sticky in man coverage as it gets in this cornerback class, rarely allowing receivers to get more than an arm’s length away.) (10-3-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-2020-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-top-five-players-at-each-defensive-position
NFL DRAFT PROSPECT SHOWDOWN: WEEK 4 (Vanderbilt WR Kalija Lipscomb vs LSU CB Kristian Fulton: This is not LSU CB Kristian Fulton's first appearance in the Prospect Showdown and it probably won't be the last. He is the best draft-eligible cornerback in the SEC, maybe even the entire country. Tasked with trying to get the best of Fulton this week is Vanderbilt WR Kalija Lipscomb, who was kept quiet in his last outing versus a top SEC opponent (Georgia). Fulton does not require as much introduction as the last time around. Like a majority of elite cornerbacks, Fulton is a pro's pro in press/bail and off-man coverages. He does not want to waste his time sitting back in zones and waiting on the quarterback to show something; he wants to attack the wide receiver head on and dare the quarterback to beat him. Fulton's calling card is how comfortably he slides into the hip pocket of wide receiver's once he flips his hips to turn down the field. Once in phase, Fulton does a fantastic job of keeping track of the ball, almost as if he has an extra pair of eyes somewhere on his helmet. Through three games, Fulton already has four pass break ups, tied for second-most in the country alongside other top cornerbacks such as Paulson Adebo (Stanford), Parnell Motley (Oklahoma), and teammate Derek Stingley Jr. Fulton had nine pass breakups last year, so if his pace keeps up, he will outdo his junior season production. Lipscomb is a newcomer to this series, but a familiar face to anyone who watches the SEC. In a breakout 2018 campaign as a junior, Lipscomb caught 87 passes (most in the SEC) for 916 yards and nine touchdowns, with an extra rushing touchdown to boot. He isn't a big-play threat the way many top receivers are, but his ability to work the short-to-intermediate area, create space for himself, and go to work as a ball carrier is a perfect blend of skills for a chain-mover. It's a thankless job compared to the Jerry Jeudy and Justin Jefferson types, but it's an important job nonetheless. Hell, the New England Patriots built a dynasty through that type of player. This isn't a special play by any means, but if the Commodores want a chance to compete with LSU, they have to keep their offense on the field as much as possible. Lipscomb's work within 10 yards gives them the best chance to do so, as RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn has not gotten off to a hot start. How often Lipscomb gets paired directly against Fulton will be interesting to keep track of. Fulton is exclusively an outside cornerback, while Lipscomb can flip-flop between an outside alignment and a slot position. Lipscomb can operate just as well from either spot, but it's worth noting that Vanderbilt also like to hide Lipscomb off the line of scrimmage so as to give him clean releases. Lipscomb can struggle to fight off press coverage, which Fulton excels at. If Vanderbilt doesn't try to hide or steer Lipscomb away from Fulton, the stud receiver could get completely washed out of the game plan. The other thing to watch for is how healthy Fulton looks. Fulton left at some point during the Texas game (and came back to action) with an apparent injury and missed one of LSU's practices early this week. That said, Fulton is probably good to go and dominate his opponent, and him missing practice was likely a cautionary effort to make sure he isn't working himself too hard before game day. Advantage: Fulton) (9-18-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-week-4
NFL draft winners and losers: Joe Burrow can't be overlooked after Texas statement (A few down for LSU, too: It wasn’t all roses for LSU on Saturday. Although it had a few defensive standouts, it was not the best night for two possible first-round picks — safety Grant Delpit and cornerback Kristian Fulton. Delpit has rare instincts and gifts, and looks to be a future NFL starter. He has been praised by scouts for his all-around play, and for good reason. But after Delpit made a fine third-down stop early in the game, he uncharacteristically missed a few tackles. Battling against a tough customer such as Texas QB Sam Ehlinger has to be factored into the equation, and I doubt Delpit has many more games such as that one. But you’d like to see him clean that up a bit. Fulton also was hot and cold. He did a good job in the first 35 minutes of the game or so in his matchups with 6-foot-6 Texas wideout Collin Johnson (giving up about 7 inches in the process) and finished with two passes broken up. But Fulton also was flagged for a DPI and allowed Texas’ Brennan Eagles to beat him a few times late in the game as the Longhorns fought to stay in the game. Entering the season, I had Fulton as my CB2 in this upcoming class. He was playing lights out last season — even better than Cleveland Browns second-round CB Greedy Williams — before getting hurt. But watching Fulton get handsy in coverage a few times (some of which were not called) and giving up some grabs in this one, I am going to have to reevaluate him in what could be a very deep class.) (9-9-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-winners-and-losers-joe-burrow-cant-be-overlooked-after-texas-statement-175540784.html
2020 NFL Draft: The best prospect matchups of Week 2 (LSU CB Kristian Fulton vs. Texas WR Collin Johnson: The true marquee matchup of this weekend. Both Fulton and Johnson could end up being first-rounders when all is said and done. Johnson put together a fairly quiet four-catch, 55-yard, one-touchdown performance in Week 1 against Louisiana Tech, while Fulton dropped an interception after he sat on a double move on his lone target against Georgia Southern. A dominant performance one way or the other will ring loudly come April.) (9-5-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-2020-nfl-draft-the-best-prospect-matchups-of-week-2
NFL DRAFT PROSPECT SHOWDOWN: WEEK 2 (Texas WR Collin Johnson vs LSU CB Kristian Fulton: College Gameday’s game of the week is always primed with premier prospects to be pitted against each other. This week is no different as LSU CB Kristian Fulton sets out to shut out Texas WR Collin Johnson in their matchup on Saturday. By most any NFL draft board around, Fulton is considered the superior prospect. Fulton, unlike his upcoming opponent, has a case as the best player at his position in this class and could lock up that title with a strong senior season. He has the high-end agility, body control, and ball skills that most elite NFL cornerbacks possess and plays in a defense that regularly play press/bail coverage. If Fulton can turn a wide receiver to the sideline and lock to their inside hip, the rep is over and the receiver has no chance. Take this pass breakup against DaMarkus Lodge last season, for example. Lodge may not have been a special receiver, but he was above-average by college standards and had a stint on the Buccaneers 2019 90-man preseason roster. In this rep, Fulton backpedaled with light, quick feet and did not commit to engaging Lodge until he declared his route. Fulton flipped his hips and locked into Lodge’s frame as soon as the wide receiver declared vertical. Once Fulton earned the inside track, all he had to do was keep up in the foot race and fight at the catch point. The Tiger cornerback made a leaping effort to disrupt Lodge’s catch attempt and force an incompletion. Fulton made a similar play with a more acrobatic finish versus Auburn. He earns the same inside positioning as in the previous clip, again stretching his outside arm into the wide receiver’s frame to maintain a point of reference for where he is relative to the receiver. Fulton never gets particularly physical with the receiver until the last second when he leaps forward with his off hand to bat the ball away. It’s that kind of special ball location that ties Fulton’s game together. The technique and movement skills are important and provide the baseline for his skill set, but his ability to get a hand on the ball at every opportunity is spectacular. It’s tough just to locate the ball in the air down the field, much less understand where one is relative to the ball and have the athleticism to get to it. Fulton may have his hands full with Johnson, though. Johnson is a massive 6-foot-6, 220 pound tree of a man. He takes long strides up and across the field, allowing him to cover significant ground in just a few steps. Not surprising for someone with his frame, Johnson is also a menace against press coverage. He is simply too strong, too lanky, and too aggressive to be dealt with by most cornerbacks lined up directly across from him. This poor Louisiana Tech cornerback took the full force of Johnson’s anti-press measures. Had QB Sam Ehlinger not overthrown the second pass, Johnson would have earned two completions almost exclusively through his bullying against the press cornerback. Johnson’s anti-press strength versus Fulton’s press comfort and prowess is the crux of this matchup. Fulton is a press/bail savant, but Johnson is bigger and stronger than most every receiver he has ever faced, so this is a unique battle for the LSU corner. Where the matchup likely swings in Fulton’s favor, however, is comparing how each player moves in space. Fulton is a smooth, effortless player in space. He can sink his hips, change direction, and accelerate out of a break to match a wide receiver’s route. Johnson, on the other hand, doesn’t have the suddenness to win in space. In part because his legs are abnormally long, his strides are naturally too wide for him to make quick, concentrated movements. Ehlinger looks Johnson’s way on this play, but Johnson takes an eternity to stop, redirect, and explode toward the boundary. It’s possible Ehlinger was spooked by the creeping underneath defender, but had Johnson gotten in and out of his break in a timely manner, he would have cleared that defender a split-second earlier and potentially given Ehlinger the window he was looking for. That slow pace will not fly in the LSU game. Fulton should be able to hold his own versus Johnson in press, which will end the matchup by itself. Johnson just doesn’t have the tools to consistently beat Fulton anywhere beyond the line of scrimmage, and even that arena isn’t favored one way or the other. Unless Fulton shows a rare collapse in press technique and ability, he should get the best of Texas’ top wide receiver. Advantage: Fulton) (9-4-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-week-2
NFL Draft: Great SEC talent on all-conference defense (The cornerback position lacks the big names and star power of previous seasons, but that is sure to change on the field in 2019. C.J. Henderson of Florida seems to get most of the hype here, even earning a recent first-round grade from PFN’s own Tony Pauline. However, my preference of the available cornerbacks is LSU cover man Kristian Fulton. The junior Tiger played opposite Greedy Williams last season and arguably shined bigger and brighter than the more highly acclaimed Cleveland Browns’ draft pick. Fulton has good size and recovery speed and is a great technician at the cornerback position. He reminds me Tre’Davious White, a former first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills. Alabama’s Trevon Diggs is the cousin of Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Trevon forced a 27.3% incompletion rate last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Dantzler is a tall and long cover man for the Bulldogs who is on the rise after an excellent sophomore season. He is a genuine lockdown cornerback prospect with some unique talent that could see him drafted first among this group with a great junior year.) (8-24-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-draft-great-sec-talent-on-all-conference-defense/
LSU Tigers: Grant Delpit to headline trio of defensive playmakers in 2019 (Kristian Fulton: Many people love Kristian Fulton, and while I like the LSU junior corner myself, I still think there’s plenty of room for improvement in his game. Fulton possesses an excellent combination of size and speed and shows solid ball skills. It was apparent at times last season that opposing quarterbacks purposely stayed away from Fulton and threw in the direction of Greedy Williams. It’s no wonder scouts have Fulton graded significantly higher than any other senior cornerback.) (8-21-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/lsu-tigers-summer-draft-grades-pauline-2/
SEC Preview of 2020 NFL Draft: Top prospects loaded with Alabama players, starting with Tua Tagovailoa (Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Fulton considered entering the 2019 NFL Draft. He has quick feet, smooth hips and was arguably LSU's best cornerback last season even though he played across the field from Greedy Williams, the Browns' second-round pick this spring. According to Pro Football Focus' metrics, Fulton allowed just 41.5 percent of the passes thrown in his direction to be caught and held receivers to 49 yards after the catch during the '18 season. Fulton's off-field history may give some NFL teams pause but his on-field abilities are undeniable.) (8-13-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/sec-preview-of-2020-nfl-draft-top-prospects-loaded-with-alabama-players-starting-with-tua-tagovailoa/
SEC: 4 key matchups for 2020 NFL Draft prospects (Delpit isn’t the only player in the LSU secondary this season. Cornerback Kristian Fulton played exceptionally well paired with Greedy Williams last season and is set to take over the number one job this year. He is an outstanding player in his own right and could be among those considered as a top-20 selection. Fulton is a great athlete who sat out the 2017 season and returned last season to grade out with extremely positive marks in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out at an elite 89.3. While Greedy received much of the hype last season, Fulton may have been the better, more consistent player overall. He has excellent speed and is also not afraid to get physical with ball carriers. Like many LSU cover men before him, he is a pure technician and will shine again in 2019.) (8-3-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/sec-nfl-draft-schedule-2019-key-matchups/
2020 NFL Draft: CJ Henderson headlines the cornerback class (3. Fulton: While watching Greedy Williams tape prepping for the 2019 draft, Kristian Fulton caught my attention. Fulton had a lot of hype as a five-star prospect coming out of Archbishop Rummel High School. Although he came to LSU with a lot of hype, he could not contribute right away as he failed a PED test which suspended him for the 2017 season. Fulton enters the 2019 season as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded returning cornerback. The expectations are high, will Fulton Deliver? He has elite quickness and fluidity, but he is exposed when playing against the run. He excels in man-to-man coverage, utilizing a blend of instincts and footwork to consistently put himself in a good position to make a play on the ball. While Fulton has battled intense issues early in his tenure at LSU, he has recovered nicely by letting his play on the field do the talking. Overall, I see Fulton being a late first-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft, being selected higher than former teammate Greedy Williams.) (8-1-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-c-j-henderson-premier-cb/
SEC Top 25 NFL Draft prospects: Elite Jeudy and co. to rule in 2019 (8. Fulton: Henderson and Fulton are talented young playmakers who will battle for the top cornerback spot in the draft.) (7-30-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/sec-nfl-draft-top-25-prospects/
2020 NFL Draft: SEC Summer Seniors – LSU CB Kristian Fulton (6-21-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-sec-summer-seniors-lsu-cb-kristian-fulton/
SEC: 4 key matchups for 2020 NFL Draft prospects (Delpit isn’t the only player in the LSU secondary this season. Cornerback Kristian Fulton played exceptionally well paired with Greedy Williams last season and is set to take over the number one job this year. He is an outstanding player in his own right and could be among those considered as a top-20 selection. Fulton is a great athlete who sat out the 2017 season and returned last season to grade out with extremely positive marks in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out at an elite 89.3. While Greedy received much of the hype last season, Fulton may have been the better, more consistent player overall. He has excellent speed and is also not afraid to get physical with ball carriers. Like many LSU cover men before him, he is a pure technician and will shine again in 2019.) (8-3-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/sec-nfl-draft-schedule-2019-key-matchups/
2020 NFL Draft: CJ Henderson headlines the cornerback class (3. Fulton: While watching Greedy Williams tape prepping for the 2019 draft, Kristian Fulton caught my attention. Fulton had a lot of hype as a five-star prospect coming out of Archbishop Rummel High School. Although he came to LSU with a lot of hype, he could not contribute right away as he failed a PED test which suspended him for the 2017 season. Fulton enters the 2019 season as Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded returning cornerback. The expectations are high, will Fulton Deliver? He has elite quickness and fluidity, but he is exposed when playing against the run. He excels in man-to-man coverage, utilizing a blend of instincts and footwork to consistently put himself in a good position to make a play on the ball. While Fulton has battled intense issues early in his tenure at LSU, he has recovered nicely by letting his play on the field do the talking. Overall, I see Fulton being a late first-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft, being selected higher than former teammate Greedy Williams.) (8-1-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-c-j-henderson-premier-cb/
SEC Top 25 NFL Draft prospects: Elite Jeudy and co. to rule in 2019 (8. Fulton: Henderson and Fulton are talented young playmakers who will battle for the top cornerback spot in the draft.) (7-30-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/sec-nfl-draft-top-25-prospects/
2020 NFL Draft: SEC Summer Seniors – LSU CB Kristian Fulton (6-21-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-sec-summer-seniors-lsu-cb-kristian-fulton/
CB Jeff Gladney:
Scouting Reports:
TCU Profile: https://gofrogs.com/sports/football/roster/jeff-gladney/5736
NFL.com: https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jeff-gladney?id=3219474c-4123-3268-ddee-2301ab56da44
Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/jeff-gladney/REsp9km7V1
Yahoo Sports' top 2020 NFL draft prospects, No. 32: TCU CB Jeff Gladney: https://sports.yahoo.com/yahoo-sports-top-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-no-32-tcu-cb-jeff-gladney-170731411.html
Articles:
Which '20 draft prospect is everyone wrong about? (People need to stop underestimating Gladney - Everyone is talking about the offensive players in this draft, but I'm looking to the defense. TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney's stock is down because he is 5-foot-10, but there is nothing he can't do. And he's been doing it for years. He can win at all three levels and had no fear about going up against the best in the Big 12 every week. He is the second-best cornerback in this class behind Ohio State's Jeff Okudah.) (4-23-20): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001110601/article/2020-nfl-draft-which-prospect-is-everyone-wrong-about-for-better-or-worse
Meet Jeff Gladney, the CB prospect who proves size doesn't matter (4-21-20): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/04/21/2020-nfl-draft-prospects-jeff-gladney-tcu-interview/
2020 All-Juice team includes Jalen Hurts, J.K. Dobbins and Kenneth Murray (An uber-competitive cornerback with ball skills, toughness and athleticism, Gladney (5-10, 191) is the type of corner needed for a team to succeed in today’s NFL. A “dawg” through and through, he always seems to be right on his man’s hip, ready to make a play on the ball – and let him know about it afterward. If he’d tested better, he’d be a cinch to go in the first round. Still, teams love his tape and demeanor so much that it hasn’t stopped the top-32 chatter. Grade: 6.8) (4-20-20): https://sports.yahoo.com/2020-all-juice-team-includes-jalen-hurts-jk-dobbins-and-kenneth-murray-151125586.html
PFF's list of "my guys" ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft (CB JEFF GLADNEY, TCU: Only three FBS cornerbacks have played more coverage snaps (1,487) or seen more targets (232) over the past four seasons than TCU’s Jeff Gladney, PFF’s seventh-ranked cornerback and No. 34 overall player in the 2020 NFL Draft. His career coverage grade (89.8) ranks ninth among all FBS cornerbacks with at least 1,000 coverage snaps played over the past four collegiate seasons (2016-19). He also ranks first in completion percentage allowed (47%), third in forced incompletion percentage (21.1%) and seventh in passer rating allowed (72.3) among the same group of cornerbacks. And he’s only gotten better with experience. Among the 143 FBS cornerbacks with at least 600 coverage snaps played in 2018 and 2019 combined, Gladney ranked sixth in PFF coverage grade (90.4). He allowed just 54 receptions for 690 yards, 27 first downs and four touchdowns from 130 targets. He ranked third in completion percentage allowed (41.5%), sixth in forced incompletion percentage (24.6%) and eighth in passer rating when targeted (59.5) over that span. Gladney’s physical, aggressive approach to the position, instincts and ball skills should all translate to early success in his NFL career. He’s also an underrated match-and-mirror cornerback with better scheme versatility than he’s given credit for despite his small frame (5-foot-10, 191 pounds).) (4-17-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pffs-list-of-my-guys-for-the-2020-nfl-draft
2020 NFL Draft: Biggest pro and con for every top defensive back prospect (CB JEFF GLADNEY, TCU (PFF Draft Board rank: 34): Biggest Pro: Impossible to beat downfield. He may have run a 4.48 40-yard dash at the Combine, but Gladney has reportedly ran in the low 4.3s. Watching him on the field, he sure looks like he’d run a time that fast. Gladney has tremendous makeup speed that made him rarely lose deep downfield. He forced tight coverage on nearly 80% of his targets 10 or more yards downfield since 2018 (sixth-best). Gladney saw 78 total targets that were 10 or more yards downfield and allowed only 19 to be caught with 26 combined interceptions and forced incompletions. Biggest Con: Bit undersized for the outside. At 5-foot-10, 191 pounds, some teams might look to move Gladney to the slot. He does, however, have the arm length and speed that could keep him on the outside, specifically in a zone-heavy team. Over the past two years, Gladney posted a great 87.4 coverage grade in zone coverage while finishing top 15 in catch rate allowed (48.2%) and forced incompletion rate (21.7%).) (4-17-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-biggest-pro-con-every-top-defensive-back-prospect
Thor's Cornerback Rankings (5. Gladney: (Comp: Darius Slay (Kelly)): A mighty mite with a 620-pound squat and 400-pound power clean, Gladney plays like a bat out of hell. He punches above his weight class when colliding with larger men, hitting running backs with authority as though he were a linebacker. He’s a menace when sent on kamikaze blitzes, knifing home with urgency and arriving with a bang. In coverage, he’s very difficult to shake, harassing your personal space until the ball arrives and he can reach in and poke it away. His ball skills are outstanding, with 15 breakups apiece in each of the past two years (Amik Robertson was the only other FBS player to post 15+ breakups the past two years). Gladney is another Feldman Freak lister. His testing disappointed slightly, but don’t read too much into that. He ran a 4.48 in Indy but has run in the 4.3s in the past. His athleticism and ability to anticipate routes leads to a brand of coverage that lends itself to very little separation – per PFF, Gladney forced the second-most contested targets the past two seasons with 46, and 27 of those were forced incompletions. Of slight concern is the drop-off in Gladney’s play between 2018 and 2019. His PFF grade dropped from 90.6 to 71.7, he drew more than twice as many penalties (three to seven) and he allowed three TD (one the year before) despite getting targeted 14 times less. He’s a smaller outside corner who really only had the one superstar season, a highly-intense player whose game can play down when he gets frustrated.) (4-15-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/evaluations/thors-cornerback-rankings
Touchdown Wire's 2020 NFL Draft rankings: Top 25 defensive players (10. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Speed is an asset at any position, and cornerback is no exception. Gladney is a perfect example. At 5-10 and 191 pounds, he ran a disappointing 4.48 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, but he’s more of a 4.3 guy on the field. Per Pro Football Focus, Gladney has forced tight coverage on 79.5% of his downfield targets over the last two seasons, the sixth-best rate among all NCAA cornerbacks, and nearly 20 percentage points above the FBS average. He’s forced 46 contested catches over that time, and just 10 of those passes turned into receptions. He’s averaged 417 coverage snaps over the last three seasons, and he’s passed every test he’s been given as a boundary cornerback.) (4-3-20): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/04/03/touchdown-wires-2020-nfl-draft-rankings-top-25-defensive-players/
2020 NFL draft: Jeff Gladney scouting report (3-27-20): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/03/27/2020-nfl-draft-jeff-gladney-scouting-report/
CB Gladney out after meniscus surgery (3-11-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-tcus-jeff-gladney-to-miss-4-5-weeks-in-recovery-from-meniscus-surgery-report-says/
What you need to know about the top 10 cornerbacks on PFF's 2020 NFL Draft Big Board (7. JEFF GLADNEY, TCU: Of the top 10 corners I interviewed at the combine, Jeff Gladney was by far the most intensely focused. He is a fearless, no-nonsense player who forced 49 incompletions during his four seasons at TCU, the second-most among cornerbacks in the nation over that timeframe. Aided by his quick feet on intermediate routes and his ability to recover after losing a step on deep routes downfield, Gladney earned a 72.7 career coverage grade during his time in Fort Worth. Over that career, he was targeted 232 times but still forced an incompletion on 21.1% of those targets — an impressive rate on that kind of volume. Gladney came to Indy wanting to prove that he has the speed to be a lockdown corner at the NFL level, so he promptly laid down an impressive 4.48-second 40-yard dash and showed his explosive athletic ability with a 37.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot 4-inch broad jump. He is a battle-tested corner who has enough good plays on tape to last no longer than the second round come April.) (3-4-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-need-to-know-about-the-top-10-cornerbacks-pff-2020-nfl-draft-big-board
2020 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Backs (Down - Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
Jeff Gladney didn't have a positive medical report at the combine. He'll have to undergo meniscus repair. Also, his 3-cone time was dreadful, as he posted a very slow 7.26.) (3-2-20): https://walterfootball.com/combine2020stockDB.php
NFL COMBINE SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS (Blue chip corners hold their own - Some notable DBs who made favorable impressions include TCU's Jeff Gladney slotted right behind Fulton with a 4.48 40-yard dash time and finished seventh in the group with 17 bench press reps. He also finished with a solid 37.5 inch vertical jump but ran the three-cone drill in a rather leisurely 7.26 seconds which was near the bottom of the group.) (3-2-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/combine-breakdown/nfl-combine-sunday-highlights
TCU Cornerback Jeff Gladney To Undergo Meniscus Repair (3-1-20): https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/01/tcu-cornerback-jeff-gladney-to-undergo-meniscus-repair/
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: What to watch for in DB drills (JEFF GLADNEY AND TROY PRIDE JR. ARE GOING TO SHINE IN THE 40
There are a handful of defensive backs who are vying for the quickest 40-yard dash, and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them sniffs the 4.2-second mark. TCU's Jeff Gladney likely won't get that low, but he most certainly will be posting one of the fastest times of the day, as his tape shows just how much ground he can make up when his receiver tries to beat him deep. On Gladney's 45 vertical-route targets since 2018, he allowed just nine receptions; he forced tight coverage on 38 of those passes, and he also forced 10 incompletions. He's currently a fringe first-rounder on our big board, and a solid day of testing could see him secure Day 1 status. Troy Pride Jr. was always known for his elite speed, but he wasn't particularly a sought-after prospect until he had arguably the best week of anyone in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. Throughout the practices — and in the game itself — Pride didn't let up a single explosive play, and he also made a few impressive plays on the ball. He didn't have the best season of his career at Notre Dame in 2019 by posting a sub-70.0 coverage grade, but he was rarely beaten deep, as he was in years prior. Since 2017, Pride was targeted 37 times on throws 20-plus yards downfield, and he allowed only six to be caught while hauling in three interceptions and forcing 15 incompletions. The Notre Dame corner has near-perfect make-up speed, and if he runs in the 4.2s like he says he wants to, his stock will see one of the largest rises of the week.) (3-1-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-what-to-watch-for-in-db-drills
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: Notable quotes and analysis from Day 4 (“I just like being up in somebody's face. I feel like that's mano a mano. We're right there together, so the best man wins.” – Jeff Gladney on why he enjoys press coverage. It's no wonder that Gladney enjoys press coverage given the kind of success he had in those alignments during the 2019 season. He forced incompletions on 11 of the 30 passes thrown his way after lining up in a press look, one of the best rates in the draft class. With the kind of recovery speed that Gladney has at his disposal, he can take some chances sitting on underneath routes without getting burned deep.) (2-28-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-notable-quotes-and-analysis-from-day-4
Combine weigh-in: Okudah, Dugger winners (Winners - Jeff Gladney, TCU: Gladney is another feisty cornerback with lightning-quick feet. While he didn't hit 5-11, to get over 190 was big for him after being listed at 183 during the year. Also, he has long arms for his size that are nearly 32 inches. There was some concern, he'd weigh in light with short arms. It didn't happen.) (2-27-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-combine-jeffrey-okudah-kyle-dugger-winners-as-defensive-backs-weigh-in/
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: Notable quotes and analysis from Day 3 (“TCU's Jeff Gladney came in a bit short (5'10”), but he's got some wings for a short cornerback with 32″ arms. Dude's going to fly in the 40-yard dash, as well — could run in the 4.3s.” – Austin Gayle. Jeff Gladney has some great makeup speed, and it shows in his deep coverage numbers. Rarely did he let up an open receiver on such targets; he actually forced tight coverage on 79.5% of his targets 10-plus yards downfield, the sixth-best rate and nearly 20 percentage points above the FBS average. And with those 32-inch arms, Gladney forced the second-most contested targets over the last couple of seasons, as well. Don't let the height fool you.) (2-27-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-notable-quotes-and-analysis-from-day-3
2020 NFL Draft and Free Agency: Labeling the blue-chip, mid-tier, buyer beware and undervalued defensive backs (The Undervalued - CB JEFF GLADNEY (PFF round projection: Round 2): There's a concern with his frame and how he'll handle NFL receivers, but the elite speed and ability to stay step for step with any college receiver he faced is too good to ignore. Over the last couple of seasons, Gladney has forced the second-most contested targets, and on those 46 targets, he allowed just 10 to be caught while forcing 27 incompletions. Potential landing spots: Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals) (2-26-20): https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2020-nfl-draft-and-free-agency-labeling-the-blue-chip-mid-tier-buyer-beware-and-undervalued-defensive-backs
Breaking down the top-10 cornerbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft (2. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
Jeff Gladney is a guy who has slowly but surely taken my board by storm. In the summer, I liked Gladney. He was a feisty, athletic cornerback that I thought could be an excellent second cornerback at the next level. But I never envisioned him to be this high on my rankings. This is a guy that gives it his all every coverage rep, regardless of who he is facing. He has had trouble covering bigger receivers, but he has also given those big-bodied guys fits. Hakeem Butler had a tough time last season against Gladney’s physical press style. More importantly, Gladney is just incredibly sticky in man coverage. You do not see him get burnt very often. He has fluid change of direction skills, and with his click and close ability, he can stay in the receiver’s hip pocket and almost always makes a play on catch point. He is just such a clean athlete. His feet are lightning quick, and his closing speed is outstanding. I appreciate how he loves to come down and be a force in run defense, too. Gladney is a good tackler. Overall, he is just a rock-solid player with some issues here and there, but he should be a first-round pick all day.) (2-26-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-top-10-cornerbacks/
Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Cornerbacks (Jeff Gladney, TCU
(Suggested by: Jeff Risdon and Derek Okrie): Gladney will be higher than Dantzler — and maybe Diggs — on some teams boards but he’s a full four inches shorter than both those prospects which will lose him some checkmarks on his evaluation sheet for the Lions. Gladney has terrific technique, noticeable quickness in mirrored coverage, great anticipatory instincts, and a physical nature that will appeal to most teams if they are comfortable with his size (est. 5-10, 183).) (2-25-20): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/02/25/detroit-lions-2020-nfl-combine-preview-cornerbacks/
Combine: Answering the biggest questions (Who will run the fastest? Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Gladney has the frame, explosiveness, and light feet perfectly suited for the 40, and a time in the low 4.30s would surprise no one. He may not be even 190 pounds at the combine, which, at around 6-0, should help glide down the track. On film, it was very rare to see Gladney not in the hip pocket of a wideout down the field.) (2-21-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-combine-burning-questions-answered-which-prospects-will-erupt-who-needs-a-big-workout-and-more/
2020 NFL Draft: Cornerback rankings, top prospects (5. Jeff Gladney, TCU (rSR, 6'0", 183 pounds): Gladney lacks ideal size and length at the position, but he plays with a more physical presence than his listed weight would suggest. The TCU corner's combination of strength—benches 400 pounds and squats 600 pounds—and speed—4.34 in the 40—earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman's preseason Freaks' List. Blending foot quickness, short-area agility and feisty competitive toughness, Gladney has a nose for the ball that's led to 26 passes defended since 2018 and five interceptions over his three seasons as a starter.) (2-20-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/02/20/nfl-draft-2020-cornerbacks-rankings-best-prospects
Draft CB rankings: Okudah leads pack (6. Jeff Gladney, TCU: Oh man, there's so much to love about Gladney. He's listed at 6-foot and 185 pounds, and while he's the perfect height for an NFL cornerback he's slightly undersized. He has the frame to add 5-10 pounds but he may not need to; Gladney bench-presses 400 pounds, and squats 620 pounds, according to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, which is freakishly strong for someone his measurables. There's also this: Gladney, who is a burner, is one of the best cover cornerbacks in this class -- to the point where we won't be surprised if a team takes him in Round 1.) (2-19-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-cornerback-rankings-jeff-okudah-is-the-unquestioned-no-1-but-dont-sleep-on-rest-of-class/
2020 NFL Combine: Cornerback Prospects, Invites, What To Watch For (6. Jeff Gladney, TCU 6-0, 183 (2): NFL Combine What Matters: As tough as any corner in Indy, he’ll battle, scrap and come up with a whole lot of tackles. Will the scouts be okay with his smallish body type? A good 40 is a must.) (2-17-20): https://collegefootballnews.com/2020/02/2020-nfl-combine-cornerback-prospects-invites-what-to-watch-for
Lions 2020 Combine Preview: Cornerbacks (CB Jeff Gladney: Gladney is one player specifically I think the Lions could target with their second-round pick if available. He has very quick feet, which allows him to play on the outside in man coverage and in the slot as well. At 183 pounds, he isn't necessarily a big corner, but he does provide quite a bit in run support and tackling. If Quinn can overlook Gladney's slight frame, there is a lot to like about Gladney's fit with the Lions.) (2-15-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2020-nfl-combine-preview-cornerbacks
2020 NFL Draft prospects who can use the NFL Combine to rise (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Big 12 prospects have good attendance on this list, and a surprising number of them rest on the defensive side of the ball. Jeff Gladney is just another Big 12 defender with wicked upside at the next level. He’s not the longest cornerback, but he makes up for it with torrid short-area explosiveness and foot speed. He’s also fairly instinctive, and the prospect makeup is there for Gladney to be a productive starter in the NFL. He should cement his first-round upside in the agility drills, primarily.) (2-5-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-combine-prospects-rise/
2020 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Cornerbacks (7. JEFF GLADNEY, TCU (Draft Board Rank: 33rd): Gladney has serious speed to burn and it showed up when opposing quarterbacks tried to test him downfield. On targets 20-plus yards downfield the past two seasons, Gladney has allowed only 10-46 receiving for 333 yards. That target number was considerably higher than any other cornerback on this list, as it’s often trial by fire in the Big-12. The fact that he only allowed 690 yards on 130 targets over the past two seasons is a massive difference from your average corner in the Big-12. Even though Gladney is a senior, he’s still very slightly built for the position. Even his own school lists him at 6-0, 183 pounds. That’s 10 pounds away from the baseline for the position and 20 pounds from ideal weight. Proving he can still move with more mass on his frame will be big for him at the combine.) (2-5-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-position-rankings-cornerbacks
Chiefs 2020 draft needs, fits, picks (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Gladney is a little on the skinny side but had three years of high-end production at TCU and will be one of the twitchiest corners in the class with flexible ankles and hips to quickly change directions down the field. While not a total burner, he has good top-end speed to stay with receivers on deep balls too.) (2-3-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-chiefs-team-needs-draft-picks-prospects-to-watch-for-kansas-city/
Texans 2020 draft needs, fits, picks (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: With Lonnie Johnson and Gareon Conley, the Texans have two young corners with good size to play on either perimeter for the foreseeable future. But Vernon Hargreaves' roster status isn't a sure thing and more twitch in the secondary would be useful for the Texans. That's precisely what the feisty Gladney has.) (1-15-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-texans-team-needs-draft-picks-prospects-to-watch-for-houston/
15 players who could make sense for Detroit Lions in Senior Bowl (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: One of the most physically gifted athletes who will be in Mobile, Gladney is expected to run his 40-yard dash in the 4.3s and has shown impressive strength in the weight room. On the field, he’s quick and agile, and a surprisingly good tackler despite being listed at just 183 pounds. He's broken up at least a dozen passes each of the past two seasons.) (1-15-20): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/01/15/15-players-who-could-make-sense-detroit-lions-senior-bowl/4480357002/
Jets 2020 draft needs, fits, picks (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Gladney is an active, light-footed, lanky cornerback who plays with a nasty demeanor, never giving an inch in contested-catch situations. Over the past two years at TCU, the feisty, sticky corner has three interceptions and a sizable 28 pass breakups. With a strong combine, Gladney should be on the Day 2 radar.) (1-2-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-new-york-jets-team-needs-draft-picks-prospects-to-watch/
Cowboys 2020 draft needs, fits, picks (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Gladney shows good, quick footwork. The Texas native has oily hips but he was not trusting his eyes in 2018. He has played at a faster, more instinctual pace this season. His willingness to contribute in the run game is a plus as well. Some cornerbacks shy away from contact but do not count Gladney among them. Dallas should be able to find a talented cornerback in the second or third round. Utah's Jaylon Johnson is another that could fall into the same range.) (12-31-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-team-needs-draft-picks-prospects-to-watch/
Falcons 2020 draft needs, fits, picks (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Atlanta wants to be physical on the defensive side of the ball. They have been riddled with injuries over the past two years and need to build depth at the cornerback position. Gladney is a really good player. He is fast and shows quick footwork but can become stronger. His aggressiveness in the run game will make him an appealing option for most teams on Day 2. His rate of play picked up in 2019, which is a positive sign moving forward. There should be no shortage of options at the cornerback position on Day 2. Clemson's A.J. Terrell, Ohio State's Damon Arnette, Utah's Jaylon Johnson and others could also suit their needs.) (12-31-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-atlanta-falcons-team-needs-draft-picks-prospects-to-watch/
Grading 2020 Senior Bowl invites (CB JEFF GLADNEY, TCU: Gladney has been one of the few stingy Big 12 corners over the course of his career. With legit 4.3 speed, he rarely gets beaten deep. On 71 targets of 10-plus yards downfield the past two seasons, he’s allowed only 18 catches while breaking up an FBS leading 21 passes.) (11-26-19): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-grading-2020-senior-bowl-invitees
Five possible Lions 2020 draft prospects: Week 13 (Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU (No. 12): A likely Day 2 propsect, Gladley is a long, lanky playmaker for the Horned Frogs, breaking up 12 passes each of the past two seasons, while pulling down three interceptions during that 23-game stretch. If the listed weight of 183 pounds is accurate, the 6-foot corner could stand to add some meat to his frame, but strength is not an issue. He reportedly benches 400 pounds and can squat over 600. Fast with quick feet and smooth transitions, Gladney has rapidly improved during his college career, allowing fewer than 50 percent of passes his direction to be completed this season.) (11-22-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/11/22/five-possible-detroit-lions-2020-draft-prospects-week-13/4269215002/
NFL DRAFT PROSPECT SHOWDOWN: WEEK 11 (Baylor vs TCU - Baylor WR Denzel Mims vs TCU Jeff Gladney: It’s been a while since TCU has sent a cornerback to the league, especially when only counting NFL draft picks. Safety Derrick Kindred (2016) was the last TCU defensive back of any kind that was drafted, while Jason Verrett (2014) was the last cornerback deemed worthy of a pick. The Horned Frogs have pumped out a few UDFAs since then, but senior Jeff Gladney is here to correct TCU’s drought of not getting cornerbacks drafted. Gladney is 6-foot and 183-pounds of lightning. Everything Gladney does feels as quick as the flash of a Polaroid. Whether it’s micro movements like firing his feet in his backpedal or macro movements such as closing on the ball from a distance, Gladney never looks like anything but the quickest guy on the field. Gladney is sped up to 1.25x speed while everyone else is at normal playback speed. As for the micro, take a look at Gladney’s rapid footwork in this clip (top of screen). Gladney fires his feet up and down with blazing speed while maintaining a clean, balanced base under him. Gladney is able to easily turn toward the sideline to match the wide receiver’s break because he is always resetting himself to a newer, better position to do so. The quick footwork is not done for the sake of being quick, it’s actually functional for him. Not many cornerbacks have that kind of explosion or control. )The macro is just as ridiculous. Against almost every Big 12 team, being able to respond to the quick game on time and shut down screens before they can get going is crucial. Far too many players in the conference have the breakaway speed to punish a cornerback being late to the party. With Gladney, though, that’s not an issue. Gladney has the awareness and closing speed to put a lid on any wide receiver screen thrown to his side of the field — and he is willing to deliver a hit that will make receivers think twice about even wanting that play called for them again. What completes Gladney’s game is that he is not just an agile mover. As his willingness to hit may suggest, Gladney can press and get physical with wide receivers through their routes. Against larger receivers, in particular, this is almost necessary without absolutely perfect footwork on each and every play. Gladney understands when and how to use his body to leverage off of his opponent. This is textbook stuff from Gladney (top of screen). Playing a few yards off the line, Gladney does not need to immediately initiate contact with the wide receiver. Gladney remains patient with a solid base under him and waits for the receiver to try to snap his route off before jamming him in the chest to slow him down. Rather than play over the top of the receiver at that point, Gladney takes the more aggressive approach in trying to work from a trail position to potentially reach over the receiver’s inside shoulder and bat down a pass. In some situations, Gladney would not be able to do this, but Gladney knows that he has a deep safety helping him. Gladney can afford to take the risk here instead of playing it safe and working off the receiver’s outside shoulder. Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims may present a particularly troubling matchup for Gladney, though. Mims is 6-foot-3, 215-pounds and as coordinated as a Cirque Cu Soleil performer. While his long speed is also a useful tool, Mims wins many of his matchups through ball-tracking and coordination up against the boundary. Mims has a rare ability to find the ball at the highest spot and contort his body to pluck it out of the air. Gladney has the skill set to keep up with Mims’ pace, but beating him at the catch point may not go as well. It genuinely does not make sense that Mims can reach out like this in both instances while maintaining the awareness and control to keep himself in bounds. It’s not like Mims is doing so in a weak spot in zone coverage, either. Mims is getting jammed up against the sideline by a defender and still finds ways to bring each pass in. The drawback with Mims is that he’s a rather linear player. Mims can run verticals, posts, and comebacks on the sideline, but not a whole lot else. He does not have a full route tree and is instead limited to a small handful of vertical routes. In fairness, that may be more a product of Baylor’s offense than Mims’ inability, but it’s a fair criticism until proven otherwise. Regardless of how the matchup goes, the final score won’t look good for Gladney. Baylor are a considerably better team than TCU right now and should be able to beat the Horned Frogs. That being said, in the 15-ish times Gladney and Mims directly face off against each other, Gladney’s all-around speed and physicality should outshine Mims’ ability to catch passes on the sideline. Advantage: Gladney) (11-6-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-week-11
College Football Week 9 Eckrich Big-12 Team of the Week (Jeff Gladney, TCU: Sam Ehlinger had it out for Jeff Gladney in Week 9, targeting him a whopping 17 times. Gladney employed a bend-don't-break mentality, allowing nine to be caught and holding his opposition to -11 yards after the catch.) (10-28-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-9-big-12-team-of-the-week
NFL draft winners and losers: 2020 draft will be the year of the wide receiver (The Horned Frogs’ forgotten standout - When we did a sweeping scan of 2020 prospects this summer, one name was recommended to us by a scout whose turf includes the southwest: TCU CB Jeff Gladney, Niang’s teammate. We really liked what we saw in the 6-foot, 185-pound corner, even if there were questions about his slim built. Prior to this season, however, we saw a player who really took a jump in 2018, as Gladney appeared blessed with outstanding makeup speed, underrated toughness and really nice discipline in coverage. Nothing has changed so far in 2019. In fact, other than a rough outing vs. Iowa State that included a few missed tackles, penalties and slipups in coverage, Gladney has been mostly excellent this season. Although Gladney allowed a back-shoulder completion for 21 yards against Texas’ 6-foot-6 receiver, Collin Johnson. And was credited with allowing his first touchdown on what looked like a blown coverage or miscommunication by more than one member of the TCU defense, he also forced two incompletions while covering Johnson in the end zone (which ended up being massive after Texas missed the ensuing field-goal try), broke up one other pass and tackled well in the open field. Gladney might not be a shutdown corner, and his size will always be a worry against bigger, stronger receivers — a la Johnson — in the NFL. But we’ve seen enough of what appears to be a pretty tough-minded and confident man-cover corner to think he’s a candidate for the second round in what should be a deep CB class.) (10-28-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-winners-and-losers-2020-draft-will-be-the-year-of-the-wide-receiver-175000723.html
Back to the Future: Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins eyes 2020 NFL draft (Matchup to Watch: Texas WR, Devin Duvernay vs. TCU CB, Jeff Gladney: It’s a Week 9 Texas battle this week in Fort Worth. Sam Ehlinger and Texas escaped a scare at Kansas last week, but it was to no fault of their ascending receiver Devin Duvernay, who ran a 10.27 100m dash in high school. As a former track star, people are going to expect him also to carry toughness, and Duvernay brings that grit with him. Our own AJ Schulte is a big, big fan of Duvernay, who had a fantastic game against LSU that put him firmly on the map of everyone in the country. Schulte believes that Duvernay projects similarly to Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers and cites that his ability to climb up boards is growing with each passing game. I would have to agree that Duvernay’s prospects only continue to improve, and he is looking more and more like a Day 2 draft pick. A speedy receiver who also is a polished route runner and has a vast release set? You can sign me and the NFL up any day of the week. Texas loves to deploy Duvernay on these in-breaking routes that get him into space out of trips. The natural pick allows Duvernay to get open, and from there, he showcases his elite speed and ability to gain yards after the catch. Duvernay’s big-play ability to going to be part of the reason that a team will pound the table for him in April. However, his route running is just as impressive. Not only are his cuts sharp and fluid, but he does a great job of setting the cornerback up here with a subtle head fake to truly draw him down and inside. From there, it is merely executing an excellent toe drag on the sideline to secure this touchdown. On the other side of things, an emerging, aggressive cornerback out of TCU in Jeff Gladney has gotten watchful eyes on him this season, as he continues a solid season with five pass breakups already on the year. Gladney might not be receiving the hype of some top corners like Kristian Fulton, but he is flying under the radar as a solid name to look closely to as the season rages on. Gladney’s aggressiveness seeps over into run support and getting dirty near the line. Gladney is sent on blitzes and blows up throws to the flats all the time, much like he does here. This is excellent recognition and closing speed by Gladney to close on this short throw and force this incomplete pass. He also avoids targeting or any unnecessary and makes a good form tackle instead. Perhaps the ability to man up bigger-bodied receivers and get disruptive at the catch point is even vital for Gladney’s draft stock. Hakeem Butler gets bumped during his stem, and Gladney controls this route the whole way. Yes, it gets a little physical and aggressive, but Gladney loves to impose his will on guys with bigger frames and force them to try and win a jump ball. Gladney wins them very, very often.) (10-26-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/college-football-week-9/
2020 NFL Draft: Sleepers to know ahead of the 2019 college football season (CB JEFF GLADNEY, TCU: If you’re a college wide receiver, you might get Gladney a couple times here and there, but chances are you’re not going to beat him deep. In all likelihood, Gladney will run somewhere in the 4.3s at next year’s combine, and it translated to the football field. He didn’t allow a single catch 20-plus yards downfield last year and allowed only 3-19 targets 10-plus yards downfield to be completed.) (8-22-19): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-sleepers-to-know-ahead-of-the-2019-college-football-season
Big 12: All-Conference Defense dripping with potential (DB Jeff Gladney, TCU: Gladney is one of the fastest players in college football, which helps him in the Big 12. According to Pro Football Focus, Gladney allowed the second-fewest yards per coverage snap last season. He posted excellent production last season with 15 total passes defended and two interceptions. TCU’s defenses have traditionally been great, and Gladney will be a big reason why this season.) (8-21-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/big-12-all-conference-defense-dripping-with-potential/
NFL Draft: Big 12 prospects with most to prove (CB Jeff Gladney, TCU: TCU has produced a lot of defensive talent over the years, with players like Jerry Hughes, Jason Verrett, Derrick Kindred, L.J. Collier, and Ben Banogu. Jeff Gladney has the potential to be another one of these players and be drafted high in the 2020 NFL Draft. Gladney is one of the fastest players in all of college football. He’s the best cornerback in the Big 12 and has all of the tools to be a top-level player at the next level too. He stands at 6’0 185 lbs and has been timed as fast as a 4.34 (with some saying he can be timed faster), and that speed shows up on his tape. In a conference filled with elite receiving talent, corners need to be able to keep up with them. Gladney did that and more, allowing only a 46.9 passer rating in coverage and had 13 pass breakups last season. However, he needs to improve his technique in coverage and be less grabby down the field. In an elite corner class, every little thing counts. Seeing him line up against Purdue’s Rondale Moore next season will be must-see television. He’s got to prove he can be an elite prospect by shutting down the elite talents he’ll face once more.) (8-5-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-draft-big-12-prospects-with-most-to-prove/
Big 12’s Top-25 NFL Draft Prospects: It’s a deep class (Jeff Gladney is reported to have run a 4.39 40 yard dash and his tape backs that up. He is one of the Big 12’s defensive players and a lockdown defender for the Horned Frogs.) (7-30-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/big-12s-top-25-nfl-draft-prospects/
CB CJ Henderson:
Scouting Reports:
Florida Profile: https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/cj-henderson/11635
NFL.com: https://www.nfl.com/prospects/c.j.-henderson?id=32194845-4e05-3672-fd87-85ca08961509
Walterfootball: https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2020cjhenderson.php
2020 NFL draft: CJ Henderson scouting report: https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/03/09/2020-nfl-draft-cj-henderson-scouting-report/
Draft Network: https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/cj-henderson/D8AdfjeDeG
Draft Tek: https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Draft-Scouting-Reports/Scouting-Report-CJ-Henderson.asp
Articles:
2020 NFL Draft: The top Day 2 and Day 3 budget prospects (NEED: MAN-COVERAGE CORNER - Early: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida. Later: CB Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame. Man-coverage corners are characterized by their all-encompassing athleticism. You better have speed, change-of-direction ability and some physicality to get by in man coverage at the NFL level. Henderson quite obviously had that for the Gators, and it’s a big reason why he’s a potential top-10 pick. Pride wasn’t quite as sticky but was still fairly stingy downfield. He only allowed two catches that went for more than 20 yards all last season.) (4-21-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-the-class-top-day-2-and-day-3-budget-prospects
Yahoo Sports' top 2020 NFL draft prospects, No. 7: Florida CB CJ Henderson (4-20-20): https://sports.yahoo.com/yahoo-sports-top-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-no-7-florida-cb-cj-henderson-182142130.html
2020 NFL Draft Week - Monday Rumors (There has been some talk lately of Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah having the possibility to slide from the top half to the bottom half of the top 10. That definitely is possible because the Detroit Lions are the only landing spot for Okudah to potentially go as a top-five pick. If the Lions pass on him or trade down, Okudah will go a little later than expected. A rough combine performance dinged Okudah's draft stock, plus he showed some stiffness that did not sit well with teams. Still, they all like his tape, so the combine was not a huge negative. Some defensive back coaches and teams like Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson more, feeling he is a more fluid athlete with a rare combination of size and speed to run the route and prevent separation. Henderson's personality, however, is not helping him, as he is known to be very quiet and not an engaging teammate. Thus, one would think that Okudah would have an edge in the makeup consideration, but team sources say there is not a big difference in that regard. Some teams have some minor maturity concerns with Okudah as well. But just to be clear, sources said they are very minor. Okudah is a lock for the top 10, but the odds of him going in the top five are not as strong as the consensus thought was a few weeks ago.) (4-20-20): https://walterfootball.com/nflhotpress/article/2020-NFL-Draft-Week---Monday-Rumors
2020 NFL Draft: Biggest pro and con for every top defensive back prospect (CB C.J. HENDERSON, FLORIDA (PFF Draft Board rank: 17): Biggest Pro: Right behind Okudah for the best man coverage skills in class. C.J. Henderson is one of the top athletes in the draft and is clearly the top man-to-man cornerback prospect after Okudah. In single coverage at outside corner since 2018, Henderson allowed a minimal 20 catches on 44 targets while making as many plays on the ball as first downs allowed (16). His elite play shined the most when filtering his single coverage reps to only deep 20-plus yard targets, as he allowed just four catches on 15 targets with eight total plays made on the ball. And on not a single one of those 15 targets did the receiver generate open separation. Biggest Con: Looked like a different player in 2019 than 2018. If Henderson had replicated his 2018 season in 2019, he’d be up there as one of the top 10 prospects in the draft. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that caused him to miss a handful of games early on in the season, and there were a handful of just head-scratching plays of his. He gave up five catches that resulted in 40-plus yard gains, which accounted for 233 of his 389 yards allowed on the year. For perspective, A.J. Terrell was the only other PFF top-10 cornerback in this draft to give up multiple 40-plus yard plays.) (4-17-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-biggest-pro-con-every-top-defensive-back-prospect
Building The Perfect 2020 Cornerback Prospect (Build: C.J. Henderson, Florida
Honestly, picking an “ideal” cornerback build from the top of this cornerback class is sort of nonsense. Almost all of the top guys are within an inch and five pounds of 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, which is about the perfect range for a cornerback as is. As such, we will just roll with someone who is not Jeff Okudah (so we can still give Okudah two categories), but has nearly identical features: C.J. Henderson. Okudah and Henderson each measured in at 6-foot-1, but Henderson came in one pound lighter at 204. Henderson sports 31 ⅝” arms on his tall, lean frame, which puts him in the 60th percentile for arm length. Play Speed: C.J. Henderson, Florida - Utah's Javelin Guidry ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but raw speed is not necessarily the same as play speed, especially when two players run comparable times. While Guidry clocked in at 4.29s with his 5-foot-9 and 191-pound frame, C.J. Henderson ran a 4.39s with his previously mentioned 6-foot-1 and 204-pound frame, which is as or more impressive than Guidry's time at his size. The play speed is also evident on tape for Henderson. While his technique can be shoddy and he loves to gamble in zone coverages, Henderson has incredible closing speed, both when working vertically and when flying downhill to cover the short area. No amount of separation is safe against Henderson. Henderson's gambling play style as well as how his speed enables that play style is on full display in the clip above. From the outside position Henderson started in, many cornerbacks would ride the wide receiver's outside shoulder as far as possible and try to disrupt the pass from over the receiver's back. Henderson does not have the patience for that, though. He sees a window to close on the ball sooner and takes it. Henderson cuts inside to get under the receiver and reach for the ball before/as it gets to the catch point, which is obviously a major risk if Henderson mistimes his move or the ball gets tipped up behind him. Due to his speed and closing ability, however, Henderson is able to close the distance in a hurry and make a play on the ball. The confidence and play speed to get away with a play like that can only be found in a small handful of other cornerbacks in this class. ) (4-16-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/evaluations/building-perfect-2020-cornerback-prospect
Thor's Cornerback Rankings (2. Henderson: (Comp: Marcus Peters (Benjamin Solak)): A track star from Miami Dade County, Henderson was a longtime commit to the local Hurricanes before flipping to the Gators (Florida also signed his brother, four-star WR Xzavier, No. 73 on the ESPN 300, in January). Henderson’s college career started off strong, with four picks as a freshman, two of which he took to the house. Henderson became a star as a sophomore, allowing 18-of-36 balls thrown his way to be completed for 249 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and an opposing QB rating of 49.6. He was everywhere, defending nine balls, making five TFL, and even picking up three sacks. Last year, teams understandably threw at him less, but Henderson surprisingly struggled a bit when they did, with his passer rating against spiking to 109.0 and his PFF coverage grade falling from 81.7 to 58.9. A high ankle sprain suffered in early September cost him two games and led to some up-and-down play upon his return. Henderson was a track star in high school who would go on to be a Bruce Feldman Freak Lister. He went blow-for-blow with Okudah at the NFL Combine, running a 4.39 with a 127-inch broad jump and a 37.5-inch vertical. That easy athleticism is a hallmark of his game. But he’s more than just an athlete. Florida DC Todd Grantham called Henderson the best corner he’s ever coached. Henderson is a long-levered man corner who gives you very little room to breathe. A heady player who rarely gets fooled, Henderson has a knack for picking up tells. He recognizes patterns on the fly and will accelerate in and swat it away nonchalantly, or pick up a telegraph from the quarterback’s eyes that’ll, for instance, allow him to give more cushion, expecting something downfield. Smart and oh-so-fluid, Henderson is nearly Okudah’s equal as a pure cover man. One area he falls behind: Henderson missed 22.5% of his tackles last year and is a – how to put it? – reluctant tackler, despite the fact that he’s both weight-room strong and a very good blitzer. Henderson is also clearly more comfortable in coverage when he can see the entire offense in front of him; his instincts can go on the fritz downfield with his back to the quarterback when the ball is in the air, leading to penalties and completions.) (4-15-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/evaluations/thors-cornerback-rankings
2020 NFL Draft News and Rumors from Tony Pauline (C.J. Henderson a top 12 pick? There have been reports in the media claiming C.J. Henderson has passed Jeffrey Okudah on cornerback boards around the league. I’ve heard nothing to justify these reports but I can tell you this- several people inside the league tell me it’s looking more and more as though Henderson, rated as the 13th best prospect on my overall board, will end up as a top 12 pick in the draft.) (4-15-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-news-rumors-tony-pauline/
O'HARA'S DRAFT PREVIEW: 5 cornerbacks that could interest Lions (2. C.J. Henderson, Florida. 6-1, 204. 4.39 Combine 40. Stats: 3 years. 2018, 2019: 22 starts. All 6 interceptions were in first two seasons. Breakdown: Gets to the ball. Showed what was to come as a freshman with 4 interceptions, returning one for a TD in two straight games. He had 18 pass breakups in 22 games his last two seasons. How he could fit Lions: He uses good size and speed to get to the ball. He could be available lower in the first round with a pick used from a trade.) (4-10-20): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-s-draft-preview-5-cornerbacks-that-could-interest-lions-okudah
7 Cornerback Prospects That Fit the Lions' Defensive Scheme (CJ Henderson, CB, Florida (40-yard: 4.39 seconds): Henderson is likely only in play for the Lions if they trade back or acquire another pick later in the first round. If the Lions for some reason don't come away with Okudah at the top of the draft, Henderson is a nice consolation prize. While excelling in just about any coverage asked of him, he does his best work while in man-press. He is a top-notch athlete that can stick with any receiver. Henderson's biggest flaw is his tackling ability. Patricia is known for liking corners that can play the run, and Henderson might be one of the worst in the class. Important to note, he did not have a great 2019 season after dealing with a nagging ankle injury. But, he was solid in 2018. Overall, he has exceptional natural ability that will need to be refined at the next level.) (4-8-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/7-cornerback-prospects-that-fit-the-detroit-lions-defensive-scheme
Touchdown Wire's 2020 NFL Draft rankings: Top 25 defensive players (12. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: If you’re looking for a pure cover cornerback in this draft class, Henderson might be your guy — especially if your team plays a lot of man coverage. In 2018, Henderson played man coverage on 60% of his snaps, per Sports Info Solutions, and he allowed just 15 catches on 40 targets for 211 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and an opponent passer rating of 24.1. The Gators had Henderson playing more zone coverage in 2019 — 67% — and it didn’t go as well. Last season, Henderson gave up 20 catches on 39 targets for 394 yards, no interceptions, two touchdowns, and an opponent passer rating of 93.3. Tackling effort is also a concern, especially against the run, but Henderson is a top-level cover man in the right system.) (4-3-20): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/04/03/touchdown-wires-2020-nfl-draft-rankings-top-25-defensive-players/
Draft This, Not That: 2020 NFL Draft Edition (Need a CB with stickiness in coverage? Draft Damon Arnette instead of C.J. Henderson. Henderson will be a top-20 draft pick, more than likely. His athletic profile and shutdown reputation from Florida have made that the expectation. Bypass that artificially sweetened calorie bomb and draft Damon Arnette some 50 picks later. Arnette comes from Ohio State, where they know how to coach NFL-ready cornerbacks. He’s accustomed to being challenged, what with playing opposite top-10 pick Jeff Okudah and 2018 No. 4 overall pick Denzel Ward (a Pro Bowler as a rookie) before Okudah. Henderson is a much better athlete and plays with more swagger. There ends the list of attributes where Henderson bests Arnette. In terms of football IQ, reliability, ball skills, press technique and press-bail footwork, Arnette is every bit as good or better than Henderson.Then there’s tackling. Arnette is arguably the best tackler of any CB in this class. Even Henderson’s biggest proponents will acknowledge his apathy towards even a token effort at trying to tackle. Don’t be surprised when Arnette is a good starter in 2021 and the team drafting Henderson in the teens is wondering why they wolfed down the deep-fried Twinkie in a time with a toilet paper shortage.) (4-2-20): https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3255/Draft-This-Not-That-2020-NFL-Draft-Edition
What you need to know about the top 10 cornerbacks on PFF's 2020 NFL Draft Big Board (3. C.J. HENDERSON, FLORIDA: Henderson posted a PFF coverage grade of 80.9 in 2018 when he allowed only 18 receptions and zero touchdowns across his 36 targets in primary coverage. However, he saw his grade plummet to 58.9 in 2019 after he allowed 389 yards on 37 targets. His regression was credited to a lackadaisical effort that often seemed to lack focus. But while interviewing Henderson, he spoke about his intent to demonstrate a sustained effort by showcasing his talent during every phase of the combine workouts. Henderson did just that. His 4.39-second 40-yard dash was the best among any of PFF's top-10 corners, as was his 20 reps on the bench press. His 37.5-inch vertical jump tied for second-best among the group, and his 31-5/8 inch arms combine with his 6-foot-frame to solidify his position as a first-round selection. Henderson didn’t hide from the probing questions, but he responded with a confident smile as if he knew that all would be well. And after his performance in Indy, I would suggest that all is very well.) (3-4-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-need-to-know-about-the-top-10-cornerbacks-pff-2020-nfl-draft-big-board
2020 NFL Combine winners: Cornerbacks (C.J. Henderson, Florida 6-0.5, 204, 40 y/d: 4.39, vertical 37.5, broad: 10’7″: Like Okudah, the Lions reportedly had a meeting with Henderson at the Combine, showing they are doing their homework on the draft’s top cornerbacks. When Henderson took the field in Indianapolis, he put his best foot forward and had a terrific day in timed drills, measurables, and in on-field drills. On the NFL Network broadcast, Daniels Jeremiah mentioned that he believes Henderson could be “the second corner drafted” indicating that “he’s gonna end up going in the top 15.” If that is his true draft slot, he would be selected almost directly in between the Lions’ first and second-round picks, making the odds of landing him unlikely.) (3-3-20): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/03/2020-nfl-combine-winners-cornerbacks/
2020 NFL Draft Stock - Post-Combine (Up - C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: Team evaluators said Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson looked like the best defensive back on the field at the combine. Henderson clocked a 4.39 time in the 40-yard dash, which is an excellent time for a big cornerback like him. The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder has natural cover skills with size and speed, so he could be a riser in the final weeks before the 2020 NFL Draft.) (3-3-20): http://walterfootball.com/draft2020stock_25.php
All-Combine Team: Who shined at each position? (C.J. Henderson, Florida (Best team fits: Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins.): Henderson tied for second among corners in the 40 at 4.39, hit 20 reps on the bench press, jumped to 37 1/2 inches and finished with an athleticism score of 99 (per Next Gen Stats). Many of Henderson's measurables line up with that of eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, though he's lighter by 15 pounds. His on-field workout displayed fluidity and burst through footwork drills and he showed reliable, natural ball skills, justifying his ranking as a top corner prospect despite a lack of total production in college.) ( 3-2-20): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001104947/article/2020-allcombine-team-which-nfl-draft-prospects-owned-indy
Stock report from the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine (Up - C.J. Henderson, Florida: Considered the second-best corner in the class by most analysts, Henderson did little to shake confidence in that evaluation. He was one of just four defensive backs to run under 4.4 seconds, while also posting top-five positional marks in the bench and vertical jump.) (3-2-20): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/03/02/stock-report-2020-nfl-scouting-combine/4927380002/
TWENTYMAN: 10 players who impressed at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine (7. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: No cornerback in this class is going to overtake Ohio State's Jeff Okudah as the top player at the position in this draft, but there are a lot of guys vying for that next spot. Henderson made a pretty darn good case for himself in Indy. He ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds and was pretty smooth in the on-field workouts. I wouldn't be surprised if Henderson is the second cornerback off the board.) (3-2-20): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-10-players-who-impressed-at-the-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-simmons
2020 NFL Draft: Isaiah Simmons, Justin Jefferson, CJ Henderson among 10 biggest winners at combine (CJ Henderson, CB, Florida: Henderson flew under the radar during the 2019 season, in part because the Gators weren't in the national-title conversation down the stretch. But watch Henderson play and it quickly becomes clear that he's a first-round talent. He showed up in Indy and ran a 4.39 40 -- the same as Isaiah Simmons! -- and that was after bench-pressing 225 pounds 20 times. And at 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, Henderson has prototypical size for a cover cornerback in today's NFL. He excels in coverage; the elite speed we saw at the combine showed up on a weekly basis at Florida. If there's one thing he needs to work on it's tackling, but he's undoubtedly a first-round talent. The only question is how high he'll go.) (3-2-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2020-nfl-draft-isaiah-simmons-justin-jefferson-cj-henderson-among-10-biggest-winners-at-combine/
2020 NFL Combine Stock Report: Defensive Backs (Up - C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Of all the cornerbacks at the combine, no one was better in the drills than C.J. Henderson. THe Florida star may have vaulted himself into the top 15 with his performance. Henderson also ran a 4.39 40 and posted a 10-7 broad jump.) (3-2-20): https://walterfootball.com/combine2020stockDB.php
2020 NFL Scouting Combine Team Thoughts on Workouts (Team evaluators said Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson looked like the best defensive back on the field at the combine. Henderson clocked a 4.39-second time in the 40-yard dash, which is an excellent time for a big cornerback like him. The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder has natural cover skills with size and speed, so he could be a riser in the final weeks before the 2020 NFL Draft.) (3-2-20): https://walterfootball.com/combine2020blog.php
2020 NFL Scouting Combine: Risers and fallers from the DB drills (Risers - C.J. Henderson, Florida: Coming in second place to a track star in the 40-yard dash is still a pretty good result. Throw in top-10 finishes in the vertical and broad jump, and it only gets better for Florida's C.J. Henderson. While it doesn’t look like it’ll be enough to rise above Fulton for CB2, Henderson did increase the gap between himself and the next best cornerback. We knew Henderson had elite speed, as he was rarely beaten off the line on a vertical route — while in single coverage, Henderson was targeted 20-plus yards downfield 15 times over the past two seasons, and he forced tight coverage on 13 of those passes. On those 13, just three were caught by the receiver while he picked off one and forced seven incompletions.) (3-2-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-risers-and-fallers-from-the-db-drills
NFL combine winners, losers: One player stands alone (Winners - 9. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: No corner is going to come within striking distance of Jeff Okudah as the top prospect at the position, but Henderson might be pulling ahead in the race to be the second off the board after the Ohio State star. Both his 4.39-second 40 and superb workout affirmed he's a fluid player built to handle top-tier receivers. A spot in the top 20 looks like a good bet.) (3-2-20): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2020/03/02/nfl-combine-winners-losers-isaiah-simmons-top-performer-players/4922351002/
NFL COMBINE SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS (Blue chip corners hold their own - Some notable DBs who made favorable impressions include Florida's C.J. Henderson, who posted the second-best 40-yard dash amongst the corners group while throwing up 20 reps on the bench and springing for a 37.5 inch vertical jump. He also recorded a broad jump of 127 inches and finished in the top half of most tests, solidifying his top-three corner status.) (3-2-20): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/combine-breakdown/nfl-combine-sunday-highlights
Winners and losers from all 4 days of NFL combine (Winners - C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: The former Gator weighed in at a solid 204 pounds in Indianapolis and yet he still managed to run a 4.39 40 (tied for third fastest among DBs). His 20 bench-press reps showed some dedication in the weight room, as well. Henderson was also the most impressive corner in on-field drills, looking smooth in transition and catching just about everything thrown his way. He needed a good day to secure a first-round selection -- and he got it.) (3-1-20): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001104876/article/2020-nfl-scouting-combine-winnerslosers-cj-henderson-zips
Combine drills: Okudah, Henderson dazzle (Winners - C.J. Henderson, Florida: Henderson has grasped the title as CB2 in this class for me. He looked really smooth in on-field drills after running a blazing 40-yard dash time for his size.) (3-1-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-combine-results-jeff-okudah-c-j-henderson-stand-out-among-cornerback-winners-and-losers/
NFL scouting combine winners and losers (Winners - Florida CB C.J. HendersonThe first round appears to be a lock for Henderson, and the top 20 feels more likely now that he cranked out a 4.39 40 and nailed his positional work. There are questions about his tackling and whether he played not to get hurt last season, but Henderson absolutely is in the running for CB2 behind Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah for some teams. Everything Henderson did on Sunday at the combine looked easy.) (3-1-20): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-scouting-combine-winners-and-losers-001301927.html
DJ's takeaways from Day 4 of NFL combine drills (C.J. Henderson, Florida (No. 57 to Houston): Ranked as Jeremiah's No. 25 overall prospect. "I think the best mover out here on the field has been C.J. Henderson. ... I think he's going to be the second corner drafted. You can see the make up speed on tape -- it jumps at you. He has a lot of juice. He's gonna end up going in the top 15.") (3-1-20): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001103989/article/daniel-jeremiahs-2020-nfl-scouting-combine-takeaways
Combine weigh-in: Okudah, Dugger winners (Winners - C.J. Henderson, Florida: Henderson looks a little slight of frame on film, but at over 6-0 and 204 pounds, he erased any of those concerns this morning. A wingspan just under 76 inches was a good development for him too.) (2-27-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-combine-jeffrey-okudah-kyle-dugger-winners-as-defensive-backs-weigh-in/
Breaking down the top-10 cornerbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft (5. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: There is a legitimate case that C.J. Henderson is the best pure cover cornerback in this draft. Henderson is the most fluid cornerback in this draft, and his mirroring skills are incredible. He is always in a position to make a play at the catch point because when he is allowed to do his game with excellent athletic skills, he thrives. I love his aggressiveness and will to get physical as well. Henderson wins the leverage game as well as anyone and knows where his help is at all times, but rarely does he give up a large amount of separation. That ability to use leverage has shone itself through in his reps against top receivers as he lines up in a specific shade and uses his significant change of direction skills to stay with them. The massive knock-on Henderson is his tackling. It is abysmal. To reach his ceiling, he has to improve on it. There is very little to hate in coverage, but his tackling woes do bump him down here for me.) (2-26-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-top-10-cornerbacks/
NFL combine 2020: Jeff Okudah is the best cornerback prospect in years (CB C.J. Henderson (Florida): Bob Quinn has made eight picks in the first two rounds of the draft. Five of those players came from the SEC, and two were defensive players from Florida. The man has a pattern, and Henderson fits it. That guy was filthy in 2018, when he allowed just 18 catches. You know, for the season. In the nation’s toughest conference. And none of those catches scored touchdowns, by the way. His numbers did slide a little in 2019 as he battled an ankle injury that cost him three games, but he’s too big, too fast and too good to make it anywhere close to Day 2. If the Lions do trade into the back half of the first round, though, Henderson could definitely be an option.) (2-24-20): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/02/nfl-combine-2020-jeff-okudah-is-the-best-cornerback-prospect-in-years.html
2020 NFL Draft: Cornerback rankings, top prospects (2. C.J. Henderson, Florida (JR, 6'1", 202 pounds): Critics will be quick to point to his inconsistency as a tackler, and that's certainly something that needs to improve. With his blend of size, length and speed, however, Henderson has elite man-coverage skills. Not only should he post explosive testing numbers in Indy, but the gifted athlete's agility, fluid movements and smooth transitions keep him connected to routes in coverage. While the ball production wasn't there in 2019, the junior recorded six interceptions in his first two seasons at Florida combined.) (2-20-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/02/20/nfl-draft-2020-cornerbacks-rankings-best-prospects
Draft CB rankings: Okudah leads pack (3. CJ Henderson, Florida: Long-armed and well proportioned, Henderson is physical at the point of attack, and has the strength to match up against NFL wide receivers. In addition to his coverage prowess -- especially on deep routes -- Henderson has the ability to be an effective blitzer out of the slot, and is also a good open-field tackler. He plays with a ton of confidence as both man or zone corner, and he would be a natural fit in, say, Philadelphia, Jacksonville or Las Vegas.) (2-19-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-cornerback-rankings-jeff-okudah-is-the-unquestioned-no-1-but-dont-sleep-on-rest-of-class/
11 NFL draft prospects who could spark big combine buzz (7. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: Speed and agility are at the center of Henderson's game. The 40-yard dash and agility drills should provide him platforms to show off his first-rate closing speed and quickness. After bulking up to 202 pounds, he is more powerful than one might think, as shown by his 545-pound squat and 380-pound bench press. Henderson also notched a 10-4 broad jump and 40 1/2-inch vertical leap last summer.) (2-18-20): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2020/02/18/nfl-draft-2020-combine-top-players-buzz-henry-ruggs/4785928002/
NFL draft watch: 10 targets for Lions in Round 2 (CB C.J. Henderson, Florida: I think Henderson emerges as the second-best corner in the draft, and I don’t see much chance he makes it to No. 35, the Lions’ current second-round pick. But teams are funny about drafting cornerbacks sometime — a fit for one team isn’t always a fit for another — and Henderson could be there at No. 26 (that trade with the Dolphins again) or if the Lions were to make a move up. If they don’t take Okudah with their first pick, they still have a need at cornerback and Henderson bears no resemblance to the last Florida cornerback the Lions drafted, Teez Tabor.) (2-17-20): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/02/16/10-players-detroit-lions-could-target-round-2-nfl-draft/4759338002/
2020 NFL Combine: Cornerback Prospects, Invites, What To Watch For (4. CJ Henderson, Florida 6-1, 202 (1): Why He’s Here On The List: The combination of size and speed is as good as any in the draft. He might not be a thumper of any sort, but he’s a good tackler for his body-type, and he can really, really move. There’s not a bust concern – he’s able to play any corner style. What The NFL Types Want To See: Everything is okay with his ankle, right? He missed a few games early on last year – did that have anything to do with the lack of any interceptions? He was great at attacking the ball, and he returned just fine with a good second half of the season, but the medical evaluation will be a bit of a big deal. Bottom Line: Watch out for opinions on him to be all over the board. Some will have him as the No. 2 corner in a year without a clear-cut second guy, and some will see him as a good-value mid-second rounder. A great workout could end all of that – he’ll look and and run like an elite prospect.) (2-17-20): https://collegefootballnews.com/2020/02/2020-nfl-combine-cornerback-prospects-invites-what-to-watch-for
Lions 2020 Combine Preview: Cornerbacks (CB CJ Henderson: Yet again, another corner that is towards the top of draft boards due to his length and man-coverage ability. He may not play as much press as the top-two corners but he is still sticky enough to get his hands on a lot of passes. Much like Fulton, for a player of his size, he is not very physical in the run game, and shies away from contact at times. Most teams will likely take the trade off of poor run support ability for good in-coverage ability, though.) (2-15-20): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2020-nfl-combine-preview-cornerbacks
Lions NFL Combine preview: Defensive backs (C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: Listed at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, Henderson’s size and length check the boxes. In 30 games over three seasons for the Gators, he intercepted six passes and broke up another 20. Don’t be surprised if his vertical sets the bar for the position group, while a fast 40 should lock him into the middle of the first round.) (2-13-20): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/02/13/detroit-lions-nfl-combine-preview-defensive-backs/4751287002/
2020 Combine Preview: Cornerback (2. C.J. Henderson, Florida, 6-1, 202: A first-team All-SEC selection this past season despite playing in just nine games due to an ankle injury. He led the Gators with 11 pass breakups and 33 tackles (no interceptions). Henderson, like Okudah, has terrific length and burst, and is a willing tackler. He'll test well at the Combine and is a likely first-round talent.) (2-11-20): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2020-combine-preview-cornerback-okudah-henderson
Meet CJ Henderson, Florida's shutdown CB prospect (2-10-20): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/02/10/2020-nfl-draft-prospects-cj-henderson-florida-gators-interview/
2020 NFL Draft prospects who can use the NFL Combine to rise (CJ Henderson, CB, Florida: The book is out on CJ Henderson’s athleticism, as he’s been renowned as a transcendent athletic prospect since high school. That said, it seems as though people are due for a reminder. Henderson has received some Round 1 hype this offseason, but some have been hesitant to crown him at the cornerback position due to his tackling inconsistencies. The NFL Combine is a chance for Henderson to remind scouts that he is of the highest echelon as an athlete, and a potential blue-chip prospect with his speed, explosive fluidity, length, and moxie.) (2-5-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-combine-prospects-rise/
2020 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Cornerbacks (4. C.J. HENDERSON, FLORIDA (Draft Board Rank: 24th): After Okudah, Henderson has the best man cover corner traits in this class. He’s just such a smooth, gifted athlete that he can stick in the hip pocket of even the shiftiest of wide outs. His best season came as a sophomore in 2018 when he allowed only 18 catches and zero touchdowns on 365 coverage snaps. Opposing quarterbacks really didn’t even test him with only 36 targets on the year. Henderson gets into trouble trusting his own athleticism. It’s rare to see him play with any sort of physicality along the route and it led to some big plays in 2019. In only nine games, Henderson allowed five catches that went for 40-plus yards. Some were mental lapses, but his passiveness hurt him on others. That step back in performance after a dominant 2018 sophomore campaign will need to be vetted.) (2-5-20): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-position-rankings-cornerbacks
2020 NFL Draft Musings: Underrated prospects from the SEC (I expect the Florida Gators to have six players drafted in April, with cornerback C.J. Henderson potentially ending up in the first round. But the player who impressed me the most on an every-down basis is not even draft-eligible.s) (2-4-20): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-musings-underrated-prospects-from-the-sec/
Evaluating declaration decisions (CB C.J. Henderson (Florida): Henderson was projected as a top-10 pick at the start of the season but he got off to a slow start. He has quick feet and mirrors the receiver well. The Florida native has a long, skinny frame but he showed improvement by season's end. It is not exactly a strong cornerback class, so he could earn himself a lot of money during the pre-NFL Draft process. NFL Draft projection: Top 25-50 pick) (1-9-20): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2020-sizing-up-early-declaration-decisions-of-tua-fromm-eason-and-more-key-prospects/
2019 College Bowl Preview: Orange Bowl – Florida vs Virginia (There are a few players that that scouts will be watching from the Florida Gators football team. Cornerback C.J. Henderson has late first-round appeal but is probably headed for the second round. Henderson is a longer, rangy cornerback with good ball skills. Concerns about his lack of involvement in the running game could force him to hang around longer than he should.) (12-30-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2019-college-bowl-preview-orange-bowl-florida-vs-virginia/
Florida CB CJ Henderson declares for 2020 NFL draft (12-18-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/12/18/2020-nfl-draft-c-j-henderson-florida-declares/
2020 NFL Draft: Top-five players at each defensive position entering College Football Week 14 (3. C.J. Henderson, Florida: After allowing only 249 yards all season as a sophomore, Henderson has given up far more big plays than ever before this year. Injuries have played a role in that, but he’s allowed four catches of 40-plus yards on the year. There’s a bit of flukiness to those, though, and his ability to consistently stick with receivers in man coverage is still there.) (11-26-19): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2020-nfl-draft-top-five-players-at-each-defensive-position-entering-college-football-week-14
Pauline: Wirfs and Epenesa may return to Iowa and other Week 13 NFL Draft Notes (Henderson, other declarations making news - Another big announcement from Pauline in terms of Week 13 NFL Draft declarations centered around Florida cover man C.J. Henderson. Pauline hears that Henderson is “heavily leaning towards entering the draft.” Henderson has been mentioned multiple times on the site as a potential top 2020 NFL Draft pick and elite corner prospect. Pauline himself tagged Henderson with a first-round grade back in August, and it appears the feisty junior has done nothing to change that fact.While this season hasn’t been a banner year for Henderson in terms of statistics, he has the size, speed, and ball skills to be a great player at the next level. Henderson has not recorded an interception this season, but he has done a great job challenging some of the best wide receivers in the SEC week in and week out. He has been an integral piece in an improved Florida defense in 2019. The Gators have not had an excellent recent track record with corner prospects in the NFL. Players such as Vernon Hargreaves, Teez Tabor, and Jaylen Watkins are just a few players that have not panned out in recent years. Regardless, Henderson will be a top-20 selection and has a chance to change that narrative next season. Here is an excellent play made by Henderson in 2018 against LSU star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.) (11-25-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/wirfs-epenesa-returns-overshadow-week-13-nfl-draft-declarations/
5 cornerbacks who could make sense for Detroit Lions’ defense in 2020 NFL Draft (Florida CB C.J. Henderson -- The 6-foot-1 junior cornerback has shown elite ability to get his hand in the way of passes while in coverage. C.J. Henderson’s interceptions are down, but he has a whopping 10 pass breakups in eight games for Florida this season. He picked off two passes as a sophomore and four as a freshman but hasn’t pulled one down this year. Henderson impressively returned two interceptions for touchdowns during that four-interception freshman campaign. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Henderson as his fourth-best cornerback, while counterpart Todd McShay has him as the 10th best overall prospect. Pro Football Focus has Henderson at No. 17 on its most recent big board.) (11-22-19): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/11/5-cornerbacks-who-could-make-sense-for-detroit-lions-defense-in-2020-nfl-draft.html
2020 NFL Draft Stock - Week 10 (Down - C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: Henderson has had a disappointing junior season, and that trend continued against Georgia. Henderson gave up a few receptions downfield against the Bulldogs due to being soft in coverage and allowing space for the receivers. Henderson gave up multiple third-and-long conversions by providing too big of a cushion and not closing with aggression. In the second quarter. Henderson got too handsy after he ran with receiver downfield, which drew a pass interference penalty. This season, Henderson has been an extremely finesse defender. He has not challenged receivers like he did in previous seasons and has allowed too many receptions from soft coverage. On top of that, Henderson is a terrible tackler. He seems to avoid contact and tackling unless he is forced to because no other defender is in position to make the tackle for him. Some team sources think that Henderson is protecting himself and trying not to get hurt. That could make sense given that Henderson injured his knee in Week 2 breaking up a deep ball, which caused him to miss multiple games. Perhaps that injury scared Henderson, but the tape he is producing is hurting his draft stock.) (11-5-19): http://walterfootball.com/draft2020stock_10.php
2020 NFL draft: 5 prospect matchups to watch in Week 8 (South Carolina WR Bryan Edwards vs. Florida CB CJ Henderson: South Carolina is coming off of an astonishing upset against Georgia, while Florida is looking to bounce back after losing to LSU. One team will be looking to keep up their momentum, while the other will look to gain some back. This Saturday will bring about an exciting matchup in Columbia. Despite not having starting quarterback Jake Bentley to throw him the ball, Edwards has put together a solid 2019 season. He has 33 catches, 426 yards and four touchdowns through six games. He carries an imposing 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame and is surprisingly nimble in the open field. The size-athleticism mismatch he offers against defensive backs has led him to prominence in the SEC. Just one week after getting lit up by LSU’s passing attack, Florida’s secondary, led by Henderson, will have a chance to make up for their down game. Henderson is an extremely fluid cover corner with a 6-foot-1 frame and impressive movement skills. He accelerates well coming out of his breaks, and he has the deep speed to help nullify vertical threats.) (10-18-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/10/18/2020-nfl-draft-5-prospect-matchups-to-watch-in-week-8/
College Football Week 7: 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Notes (STOCK REPORT – DOWN - CB C.J. Henderson, Florida: Joe Burrow didn’t shy away from Florida’s top cornerback, and Henderson paid the price. He had one nice pass breakup in the end zone early, but it was all downhill from there. He gave up a slant touchdown, missed a couple of tackles in coverage and then got lost on a wheel route for a big score. When all was said and done, Henderson allowed 6-of-9 targets for 106 yards and two scores.) (10-16-19): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-college-football-week-7-2020-nfl-draft-scouting-notes
2020 NFL draft: 5 prospect matchups to watch in Week 7 (LSU WR Justin Jefferson vs. Florida CB C.J. Henderson: Arguably the biggest game of Week 7 is LSU vs. Florida: two teams ranked in the top-10 looking to rise up even further in the rankings. Among the best prospect matchups in Death Valley will be Justin Jefferson and C.J. Henderson. Jefferson has had a fantastic start to the 2019 season, catching 30 passes for 547 yards and seven receptions in five games. A fluid and elusive wideout with great ability after the catch, he has been Joe Burrow’s favorite target in the midst of his rise to becoming a first-round target. His 6-foot-3, 192-pound frame gives him a size advantage over opposing defensive backs, and his body control makes him a tough weapon to cover. Henderson is currently nursing an ankle injury, but he is likely to play Saturday night. As one of the best cover corners in the country, his hip fluidity, straight-line speed and willingness to battle it out in physical catch situations has made him a potential first-round prospect in the eyes of some. Listed at 6-foot-1, his length will match up well against the lanky Jefferson. When two SEC powerhouses march onto the field, you know that the action will feature a handful of potential NFL prospects. Jefferson and Henderson will get the chance to each prove themselves to front offices in their matchup.) (10-11-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/10/11/2020-nfl-draft-5-prospect-matchups-to-watch-in-week-7/
NFL draft: Pac-12 QB, plus two standout wideouts top our prospects to watch this week (Gators CBs CJ Henderson, Marco Wilson and Trey Dean III all have strong reputations and are talented cover corners, but each has endured his share of struggles at times, too. Henderson just returned from an injury last week, and he struggled with a couple of missed tackles and two big pass plays allowed. We expect Henderson, the Gators’ primary left corner, to see a lot of Jefferson, who is often lined up to the offense’s right side split wide. That should be a fun matchup in a great battle between two top-10 teams with a lot on the line. Jefferson has become QB Joe Burrow’s most trusted target, so you can bet they’ll try connect several times in this one.) (10-10-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-pac-12-qb-plus-two-standout-wideouts-top-our-prospects-to-watch-this-week-182008812.html
NFL DRAFT PROSPECT SHOWDOWN: WEEK 7 (Florida CB C.J. Henderson vs LSU WR Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Terrace Marshall Jr.: Premier SEC matchups are never lacking in top-tier battles between future pros. Both teams have NFL Draft prospects littered throughout the entire roster, but the most inspiring clash is between Florida CB C.J. Henderson and LSU’s trio of WRs. Only Justin Jefferson is eligible for 2020 among the three, but all of them are future top-100 picks and will provide Henderson with a challenge. From a tools perspective, there is not much more a coach or scout could want out of Henderson. At 6-foot-1, 182-pounds, Henderson is a bit on the slender side, but that slenderness is part of why he plays as smooth as he does. He plays with light, quick feet at the line of scrimmage and at the top of route breaks that help him maintain a winning position early on in plays. From there, Henderson is able to rely on the flexibility in his hips and explosion out of his breaks to keep pace with wide receivers of all shapes and sizes.This pass breakup versus Miami’s Jeff Thomas is a good example of how Henderson can snap toward the ball. Henderson rides Thomas throughout his vertical stem right up until Thomas snaps off the route and shoves Henderson to gain some separation. A lot of cornerbacks would simply be beat once Thomas snaps off the route, but Henderson instantly regains his balance to fire downhill and close on the ball. Though Thomas gets two hands on the ball, Henderson is draped all over him and fighting with his arms to free the ball before it’s ruled a catch. This is not a clean pass breakup in the way we often see from defensive backs, but it’s a hell of a recovery and effort to make a play. Henderson primarily plays outside, so he may not see a whole lot of Jefferson, but he is not locked into one coverage style. Florida’s defense mixes in a fair amount of press/bail, off-man coverage and two- or four-deep coverages, all of which serves to showcase Henderson’s malleability as a coverage piece. So, how about the trio of emerging stars that Henderson has to shut down? Jefferson is the primary threat in LSU’s three-headed monster of a wide receiver corps. Through six weeks (five games, for LSU), Jefferson is top-ten in the country in both yards (547) and touchdowns (7). Standing at 6-foot-3, 192-pounds, the junior is a bit of an unusual fit at slot receiver, but in LSU’s new-look offense, it works. Jefferson is a natural at finding creases through the middle of the defense as well as gliding down the seams on vertical routes. He is not a sharp route runner the way many expect a slot receiver to be, but his ability to stress defenses vertically and horizontally is vital to opening up the Tigers passing game. Chase is not far behind Jefferson. Though Chase has fewer raw yards and touchdowns, he has also played one fewer game than Jefferson, so his yards-per-game is actually slightly higher than Jefferson. The difference is not big enough to serve any purpose beyond splitting hairs, but it’s insane that LSU have two WRs who are near the top among all WRs in the country. Chase is a bit of a stringy player 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, but it allows him to be the team’s most versatile piece in terms of playing inside or outside. Chase can operate out of both positions, showcasing stunning body control in contested situations and a quick transition to yards-after-catch once the ball is in his hands. Lastly, Marshall presents the biggest size mismatch at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds. Unlike the other two, Marshall is primarily an outside threat who LSU uses as it’s possession receiver. “Possession” is a loose term for LSU’s aggressive, spread out offense, but of the three top Tigers receiver, Marshall is the one least equipped to pull off long plays. That being said, Marshall is a menace in the red zone and has scored six times despite having just 20 total receptions. Make no mistake, Henderson is a fantastic cornerback prospect, but LSU has too many threats of varying skill sets to not get the best of him a few times. LSU’s passing offense is one of the best in the country and it’s tough to bet on that slowing down until it actually happens for once. Advantage: LSU) (10-9-19): https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-vs-prospect/nfl-draft-prospect-showdown-week-7
Five possible Lions 2020 draft prospects: Week 6 (CJ Henderson, CB, Florida: OK, we know, the last time the Lions drafted a corner out of the University of Florida, it didn't work out. This offseason, after two disappointing seasons, the team decided to move on from 2017 second-round pick Teez Tabor. But while general manager Bob Quinn needs to learn from that mistake, it can't prejudice him against a talent like Henderson. Long and lanky, Henderson is listed at 6-foot-1, 182 pounds. He's going to need to bulk up at the next level, to better match up against physical NFL receivers, as well as help support the run. His man coverage experience figures to appeal to the Lions, and unlike Tabor, Henderson has jets. In high school, he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.4 seconds. When he runs the 40 at the combine next year, he should check in somewhere in the 4.3s. Impressively, Henderson didn't allow a touchdown last season. He has shown a knack for getting the ball, picking off six passes the previous two years. He's yet to haul one in this season, in part because an ankle injury has limited him to two games.) (10-4-19): https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/10/04/five-possible-detroit-lions-2020-draft-prospects-week-6/3838970002/
2020 NFL Draft prospect Rankings: Top five players at each defensive position (4. C.J. Henderson, Florida: Henderson has been out the majority of the season after suffering a knee injury against UT-Martin in Week 2, so there’s been no real movement from him on the rankings front. We’d feel comfortable enough to take him in Round 1 based solely on his sophomore year when he allowed 18 catches and a passer rating of only 49.4.) (10-3-19): https://www.pff.com/news/college-2020-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-top-five-players-at-each-defensive-position
Florida Gators: C.J. Henderson leads trio of Florida defensive backs (C.J. Henderson: If you’re a team in the market for a true shutdown cornerback, it’s likely you already know all about Henderson. Before evolving into the premier cornerback in the country, Henderson arrived at Florida a lanky 6-foot-1, 190-pound athlete in 2017. It seemed almost certain he would need at least two years of development before he was ready to mix it up with SEC wide receivers. As a true freshman, Henderson played in nine games, making 22 stops, 2 pass breakups and 4 interceptions. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC team for his efforts. Starting all 13 games the following season, the perimeter defender returned with a vengeance as a sophomore. Henderson racked up 38 tackles (5 for loss), 5 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and an awe-inspiring 3 sacks. The ascending Gator effectively made himself a household name, announcing his arrival to the college football world. Now listed at 202 pounds, the lengthy boundary corner will likely have a target on his back throughout the 2019 season. Widely regarded as the best coverage specialist in the country, in arguably the most competitive conference, Henderson will often draw the best receivers in college football on a weekly basis. Remarkably, Henderson became a polished product early in his college career. He offers the versatility to fit any NFL defensive scheme, but his length should enable him to excel as a press-man corner at the next level. Henderson is a smart, instinctual defender that demonstrates outstanding eye discipline and is well adept at challenging the catch-point. He is currently slated to go in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.) (9-22-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/florida-gators-defensive-backs-dominate-2020-draft-class/
2020 NFL draft: Stock report on top prospects after Week 1 (STOCK DOWN - CJ Henderson: Henderson was the top prospect in the Week 0 matchup against the Miami Hurricanes. Touted as one of the best cover corners in the league, Henderson showed off that skillset by locking up the Hurricane’s skill players. He even broke up a touchdown pass late in the game. But the coverage isn’t what hurt his stock, it was his inability to make tackles. Henderson had an awful missed tackle at the second level, which ending up leading to a touchdown run that put Miami up, 20-17. His technique needs a lot of work and he needs to become more disciplined in this aspect of his game in order to earn first round consideration.) (9-2-19): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/09/02/2020-nfl-draft-stock-report-jalen-hurts-justin-herbert-jerry-jeudy/
Future NFL prospects stand out in Florida's 24-20 win over rival Miami (Throughout this game, in fact, the six-foot, 190 pound Henderson showed off the easy athleticism and wonderful instincts that led to his defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, characterizing him last year as the best cornerback he’s coached in nearly 30 years at the college level. It is easy to see why the former Georgia, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech coach is so high on his star junior cornerback. Fast, fluid and long-armed, Henderson has all the traits NFL scouts are looking for, showing terrific closing sped and the hand-eye coordination to rip the ball free for last second breakups– as he did twice Saturday, including once in the end zone. While Henderson’s ability is undeniable, so too was his lack of physicality in run support in this contest, something that ESPN color commentator Kirk Herbstreit caught and correctly called out in the fourth quarter. As you can see in the clip below, the cornerback (and the rest of Florida’s defense) showed more “alligator arms” than Gator chop on this Deejay Dallas touchdown run, which put Miami back in the lead. While coverage is critical for any cornerback hoping to get drafted in the first round, run support is also important. The league proved that yet again this past spring when arguably the most gifted corner in the SEC last year – then LSU star Greedy Williams -- wound up slipping out of the top 32 picks in large part due to questions about his willingness to get dirty as a tackler. Henderson’s inconsistencies as a tackler were an issue on tape and so scouts will certainly take note that he remains disappointing in this area. Don’t expect scouts to knock Henderson too much for this contest, however, given that it is the first game of the year and that teams are so restricted by NCAA guidelines in how much tackling they can do in practice.) (8-24-19): https://mavensports.io/nfldraftscout/news/future-nfl-prospects-stand-out-in-florida-s-24-20-win-over-rival-miami-DUmyFpVRPUmxqvjE-1loIg/
2020 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Florida vs. Miami (The headliner for the Gators is junior CB C.J. Henderson, a ballhawk with solid coverage instincts and one of the best click-and-close breaks in college football. He’s big (listed at 6-1/205) and uses his size very well, though his indifference in run support is something to watch and see if it develops. Henderson enters the season as a first-round projection on most mock drafts. He’s not all that different from Lions standout Darius Slay as a prospect, only with better size.) (8-24-19): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/24/2020-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-florida-vs-miami/
NFL Draft: Great SEC talent on all-conference defense (The cornerback position lacks the big names and star power of previous seasons, but that is sure to change on the field in 2019. C.J. Henderson of Florida seems to get most of the hype here, even earning a recent first-round grade from PFN’s own Tony Pauline. However, my preference of the available cornerbacks is LSU cover man Kristian Fulton. The junior Tiger played opposite Greedy Williams last season and arguably shined bigger and brighter than the more highly acclaimed Cleveland Browns’ draft pick.) (8-24-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-draft-great-sec-talent-on-all-conference-defense/
NFL draft: 5 prospects to watch for Week 0 in college football (Florida CB C.J. Henderson vs. Miami: The next in a long line of talented Gators DBs is Henderson, who is a junior but will be on the watch list for possibly declaring in 2020. His running mate, Marco Wilson, could be one of the prizes of the 2021 crop, too. This will be a very good test for both. The Hurricanes have some talent at receiver now that Jeff Thomas is back (after it appeared he might transfer to Illinois) and grad transfer K.J. Osborn (893 yards receiving at Buffalo last year) is in the fold. The 5-10, 170-pound Thomas is shifty, and the 6-foot, 205-pound Osborn is a talented deep threat; which one of them the 6-1, 191-pound Henderson ends up covering will be interesting. Henderson also can blitz effectively, possesses good closing speed and handled nearly all of his varied assignments well last season. The only receiver who seemed to tax him was Missouri’s speed merchant Emmanuel Hall. The Gators don’t face a host of upper-tier wideouts until later in the season, so this early test will be a good tape to review when breaking down Henderson amid what appears to be a banner year of cornerbacks possibly available in 2020.) (8-21-19): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-5-prospects-to-watch-for-week-0-in-college-football-225513279.html
Florida Gators: Tony Pauline gives CJ Henderson first round grade (CJ Henderson: Florida CB CJ Henderson is a developing corner who plays feisty football and shows outstanding athleticism as well as speed in his game. He effectively tracks the ball in the air and possesses the ball skills necessary to beat out opponents. I love his upside and believe he has first-round potential.): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/florida-gators-summer-scouting-draft-grades/
SEC Preview of 2020 NFL Draft: Top prospects loaded with Alabama players, starting with Tua Tagovailoa (CB C.J. Henderson: Long-legged and long-armed, Henderson can flip his hips, get in and out of breaks against top-flight receivers, and displays good mirroring skills. He's strong in man coverage, and while he isn't a ballhawk (two INTs, five passes defended last season) he has the hands of a wide receiver. Henderson sometimes struggles to disengage from blocks to make tackles in run game and he'll need to add weight to what can be described as a slight frame, at least by NFL standards.) (8-13-19): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/sec-preview-of-2020-nfl-draft-top-prospects-loaded-with-alabama-players-starting-with-tua-tagovailoa/
SEC: 4 key matchups for 2020 NFL Draft prospects (When it comes to the secondary, Florida’s top cover man C.J. Henderson will be vying for the top cornerback spot in the 2020 draft. Henderson has ideal size for the position and will be entrusted to lock down the opposition’s top receiving talent weekly.) (8-3-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/sec-nfl-draft-schedule-2019-key-matchups/
SEC Top 25 NFL Draft prospects: Elite Jeudy and co. to rule in 2019 (7. CJ Henderson: Henderson and Fulton are talented young playmakers who will battle for the top cornerback spot in the draft.) (7-20-19): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/sec-nfl-draft-top-25-prospects/
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