Lesser Known Corners

Not a lot of football players from William and Mary -- my cousin went there.

"CB Derek Cox (6-1 1/4, 188 pounds) got a strong look, and he’ll work out with the Raiders and Patriots next week. He had times of 4.39 and 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a 36 1/2-inch vertical and an 11-foot, 8-inch broad jump. He also had a 4.11-second short shuttle and a 6.80-second three-cone drill, and he did 12 reps on the bench press."

 

I'm just bumping this in case anyone needs help selecting picks for Starkiller's annual mock draft contest.

 

Sorry. I should have mentioned him, but I didn't because I thought his combine performance got him noticed. Great size and speed, but before the shoulder injury, his toughness was questioned. So scouts aren't really sure about that aspect of his game. I've been considering him as our second round pick in the mock contest. The Titans can afford to wait on Barnes to develop, IMO.

 

From Rutgers:

DB Jason McCourty (5-11 7/8, 193) ran a 4.30 and 4.34 40-yard dash, a 4.28 short shuttle and a 6.76 three-cone drill. McCourty also posted a 36.5-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump and 15 bench press lifts.

 

Here's what I put on the Pro Day thread about Barnes. It's brief:


"DB Kevin Barnes (6-0 3/8, 184) ran a 4.45 and 4.49 in the 40, had a 41-inch vertical jump and kept his combine numbers for everything else."

 

More on Barnes for ya, Smarty. Pretty good read, actually.

http://www.thephinsider.com/2009/4/16/838968/scouting-the-draft-kevin-barnes


"Kevin Barnes


Height: 6'0 1/4" / Weight: 187
40: 4.45 / Arm: 32 1/2"" / Vertical: 41"

Barnes was a two year starter at Maryland and was the number one corner on the team each of those seasons. A fifth year senior, Barnes has good leadership skills and is a very intelligent player. He had one of the highest Wonderlic scores (41) out of any player in the draft and was lauded as almost being an extra coach for his younger teammates after his senior season was cut short by an injury after seven games.

He fractured his shoulder blade against Wake Forest and missed the rest of the season but should be fully recovered by training camp. Barnes isn't tall or particularly big but he has a great vertical jump and is fearless in run support. He injured his shoulder throwing his body into the ball carrier on a running play and with his slight physique it may actually be a problem that he is too physical.

He may struggle against big and physical wide outs but has the speed to stay with most slot or number two receivers. I think Barnes probably projects to a nickelback or a number two corner but could be very effective there. He has a good nose for the ball and decent hands for a corner, as evidenced by his six interceptions and 14 pass break ups in 20 games the last two seasons.

After the California game where he had an interception and knocked Cal running back Jahvid Best out of the game with a wicked hit, few teams wanted to challenge his side of the field. He will also be a very willing and able contributor on special teams coverage for whatever team takes him.

His abilities are probably below recent Maryland corners Domonique Foxworth and Josh Wilson. I think he would be a very nice pickup for a team needing depth in the secondary in the third round."


Corner is weird this year. It almost feels like WR did last year. So many guys with the triangle numbers the guys at the top don't have.

I think I still like Victor Harris the most in the second.

 

Morgan Trent can't stop when he gets started. Deon Butler folded him like oragami with his cuts at the senior bowl practices.