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CB Scouting Reports - 2023
Bird’s Eye View: Positional Analysis
The 2023 CB class offers corners with length – Joey Porter (Penn State), Kelee Ringo (Georgia), Emmanuel Forbes (Mississippi State), Christian Gonzalez (Oregon), Devon Witherspoon (Illinois), and some quality slot CB candidates – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (TCU) and Steven Gilmore (Marshall). Porter is the closest thing to a shutdown corner but will be best utilized in press coverage and will not fit every system. Ringo is the most athletic of the big CBs but got torched by Jayden Daniels (LSU) and CJ Stroud (Ohio State) at the end of the season, although he bounced back with a great performance against TCU in the National Championship game. Gonzalez is the fastest and smoothest of the top CB prospects in this class. Hodges-Tomlinson, the nephew of all-time great RB LaDainian Tomlinson, won the Thorpe Award in 2022 for TCU.
Positional Grade: B
Christian Gonzalez / Oregon
6013 / 197 / 32” Arms
Transfer from Colorado. Possesses model CB measureables regarding size, height, and length. Has a huge wingspan. Reportedly ran an amazing 23.3 MPH GPS time during 2022 spring camp. Smooth, natural athlete who accelerates easily. Has a fantastic closing burst on the ball in the air – great ball skills. Flips his hips easily and can mirror WRs movement in space. Very good balance and body control – can adjust to off-target passes. Very effective in zone coverage and drives on the ball thrown in front of him. Prototypical length and technique in press coverage. Has the skill set to succeed in any type of coverage – press, off-man, and zone. Soft, reliable hands. High points the ball like a WR – very good leaping ability. Willing and able tackler – breaks down well in the open field. Excellent special teams ability as a kick blocker due to length and burst. Is physical in coverage and may draw penalties with this style of play. Recorded 50 tackles / 4 INTs / 11 passes defensed in 2022.
Christian Gonzalez / Oregon
Player Comparison:
Patrick Surtain, Denver
Joey Porter, Penn State
Player Comparison:
J.C. Jackson, LA Chargers
Joey Porter, Penn State
6024 / 193 / 34” Arms
​Son of former Steeler Edge Rusher of the same name. Looks the part of an ideal NFL CB. Big CB with excellent length – extremely long arms. Long strider who covers ground efficiently. Very physical at the LOS and throughout the route – could be prone to drawing flags in the NFL with his playing style. Physical. Very good tackler. Very confident. Stays in-phase and shows very good closing burst. Demonstrates good instincts and ball skills but hands are inconsistent.
Darrell Luter, South Alabama
6000 / 189 / 32.3” Arms
​Marginal height, a somewhat thin frame, and good length for an outside CB. Primarily, lines up as the field corner for the Jaguars. Lines up in press, man, and off man and seems comfortable in each type of coverage. Very fluid athlete and displays quick-twitch reaction skills. Willing tackler but has limited effectiveness making solo tackles in the open field. Rarely tested by Western Kentucky QB Austin Reed in the New Orleans Bowl – a sign of respect. Can lose a step in transition and then display good burst to close the gap and contest the pass. Needs to turn and play the ball in the air or risk PI calls.
Darrell Luter, South Alabama
Player Comparison:
Greg Newsome, Cleveland
Julius Brents, Kansas State
Player Comparison:
Ahkello Witherspoon, Pittsburgh
Julius Brents, Kansas State
6026 / 198 / 34” Arms / 82.5” Wingspan
Transfer from Iowa. Extremely tall and long CB with great overall length, especially arm length. Shows the ability to stay in-phase against big WRs (e.g., Quinton Johnson of TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game). Physical in coverage and competes at the catch point. Displays some tightness in his hips, which can be exposed by speed in space. Sometimes has difficulty locating the ball on deeper routes and he needs to improve playing the ball in the air. Willing to deliver hits and may project to safety for some NFL teams. Uses size and length well to press at the LOS and re-route the WR downfield with strength. Can lose a step in transition and has difficulty maintaining phase on longer developing pass plays.
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
5080 / 178 / 29” Arms
Nephew of Hall of Fame RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Undersized CB who lines up out wide but may need to convert to slot CB duties in the NFL. Displays quick feet and loose hips to stay in-phase with receivers downfield. Very smooth and fluid movement skills. Displays quick reaction skills while in man coverage. Tends to face guard in tight coverage and needs to play the ball in the air better. 2022 Thorpe Award winner.
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Player Comparison:
Donte Jackson, Carolina
Riley Moss / Iowa
Player Comparison:
Nik Needham, Miami
Riley Moss / Iowa
6010 / 193 / 30” Arms
Very good size and overall length, although his arms are slightly shorter than ideal for an outside CB. Displays burst and make-up ability and competes for the ball at the catch point. Very effective closing burst. Very good deep speed. Light feet and loose hips allow him to shadow WRs on crossing routes and deep patterns. Able to stay in-phase and then compete at the catch point. Very good ball skills and plays the ball in the air like a WR.
Cam Smith / South Carolina
6006 / 180 / 31.5” Arms
Good size, length, and wingspan for a CB on an island. Has slot CB experience. Displays an effective closing burst on the ball in the air. Exhibits the ability to flip his hips and stay in-phase in man coverage downfield. Uses length and quickness well as a kick blocker on special teams. Willing and physical tackler against the run. Comes in under control, breaks down, and tackles WRs in space. Nice reaction skills and is fundamentally solid in coverage. Versatile enough to line up in press, off man, and zone coverage. Likes to try getting in his opponent’s head and talks a lot. Very physical in coverage – may make him prone to penalties at the NFL level. Shows promising potential as a blitzer. Recorded 27 tackles / 1 INT / 7 passes defensed in 2022.
Cam Smith / South Carolina
Player Comparison:
Marco Wilson, Arizona
Deonte Banks / Maryland
Player Comparison:
Kendall Fuller, Washington
Deonte Banks / Maryland
6000 / 197 / 31.3” Arms
Optimal length with long arms and legs – has prototypical NFL measureables. Very good athlete who demonstrates the ability the stay in-phase with the WR. Quick reaction skills and swings his head around to play the ball in the air, reducing chances for pass interference calls. Competes throughout the route and plays the ball in the air well – very good ball skills. Makes plays on the ball but fails to come down with it too often. Excels in press coverage where he can mirror a WR by staying in his hip pocket throughout the route. Impressive short area quickness. Utilizes length well while in tight coverage. Willing and physical tackler but too often comes in high and out of control. Effective on corner blitzes. Recorded 38 tackles / 1 INT / 8 passes defensed in 2022.
Kelee Ringo, Georgia
6016 / 207 / 31.2” Arms
Looks the part of an NFL CB with long arms and a solid, muscular torso. Former 5-star recruit who was generally considered the top prospect in his class. Extremely athletic with light feet and loose hips. Very quick and can stay in-phase with any WR downfield unique attributes for a bigger CB. Technique needs continued development and can lose phase when that happens. Aggressive and will gamble trying to make plays.
Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Player Comparison:
Jaycee Horn, Carolina
Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Player Comparison:
Levi Wallace, Pittsburgh
Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
6006 /166 / 32.2” Arms
Tall CB with good overall length and a large catch radius / reach. Extremely thin build. Displays ability to play man and the explosive burst to close on the ball in the air. Very good deep speed due to his large gait that eats up ground in chunks. Great ball skills - has had 6 career INTs returned for TDs with 3 of those occurring in 2022. Willing in run support and tackles well but can fall off some tackles due to his lack of power and strength.
Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
5114 / 181 / 31.2” Arms
​Good size CB with decent length. Physical and willing to support against the run. Aggressive press technique but needs work on accuracy of hand placement. Plays the ball in the air well. Displays excellent reaction skills and uses his length well at the catch point to defend passes. Has loose hips and the ability to stay in-phase with WRs throughout the route. Nice instincts – not fooled easily by play action or double moves. Best season was his last year and he looked like a future Pro Bowler in Champagne in 2022.
Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Player Comparison:
Tre'Davious White, Buffalo
DJ Turner, Michigan
Player Comparison:
Asante Samuel, LA Chargers
DJ Turner, Michigan
5110 / 178 / 30.6” Arms
Good overall length with long arms and a solid frame. Displays excellent long speed – recorded the best 40 time at the combine (4.26 – 4th best time in the last 20 years). Typically stays in-phase and in the receiver’s hip pocket but is susceptible to double moves and pump fakes. Flashes ball skills but inconsistently plays the ball in the air. Tremendous athlete who can matchup with speed on the outside but whose size might be best used in the slot.
Jakorian Bennett, Maryland
5110 / 188 / 31.7” Arms
Decent overall size with adequate height. Long arms. Strong and physical CB who is effective when he can get his hands on the receiver. Great ball skills - broke up 16 passes in 2021 and has more pass breakups than other player in the nation (27) over the last two years (2021 / 2022). Tackles well in the open-field. Good form tackler and breaks down well to secure the tackle. Effective in zone coverage where he can read the QB's eyes. Smooth and fluid back pedal and transitions with light feet and loose hips.
Jakorian Bennett, Maryland
Player Comparison:
Jalen Mills, New England
Mekhi Garner / LSU
Player Comparison:
James Bradberry, Philadelphia
Mekhi Garner / LSU
6020 / 212 / 32.2” Arms
​Transfer from Louisiana. Very big CB with length, good mass, and a large wingspan. Typically, lines up in press technique, although looks comfortable in off-man coverage. Ideal length and physical dimensions for a press corner. Displays quick reaction skills on the ball at the catch point. Competes and battles with the WR for the ball at the catch point – uses length and strength well. Strong and can redirect WRs during routes. Needs to be better with his eyes – keeps eyes on QB too long, allowing the WR to create separation. Gets fooled by double moves too often. Appears to be a little too stiff and loses a step at the transition point – struggles against quickness due to tightness in his hips. Willing and good tackler who sometimes has trouble breaking down in the open field. Acquitted himself well against Seminoles WR Johnny Wilson in 2022. Recorded 43 tackles / 1.5 TFL / 8 passes defensed in 2022.
Anthony Johnson, Virginia
6020 / 205 / 32.5” Arms
​Transfer from Louisville. Prototypical size and length with a solid frame. Smart and instinctive. Closes on the ball quickly and displays excellent burst. Can be stressed by vertical speed and is best with the receiver in front of him or in press coverage. Effective in zone and reads the QBs eyes well. Tightness in the hips causes him to lose a step at the transition point to faster or quicker WRs who create separation. May be moved to safety in the NFL.
Anthony Johnson, Virginia
Player Comparison:
Jaylen Watson, Kansas City
Clark Phillips, Utah
Player Comparison:
Jourdan Lewis, Dallas
Clark Phillips, Utah
5090 /184 / 29.1” Arms
Marginal sized CB with a solid frame. Drives on the ball effectively out of zone. Athletic and smooth. Demonstrates the ability to stay in-phase and make plays on the ball. Good ball and quick twitch reaction skills. Should excel in the slot but matches up well on the outside, despite size limitations.
Tiawan Mullen, Indiana
Undersized and lacks great length. Profiles as a slot CB in the NFL. Quick twitch, instinctive corner who is effective in press or off man coverage. Adept at staying in-phase in man coverage. Experienced and smart. Displays good ball skills. Very good open-field tackler and supports well against the run. Brother plays CB for Baltimore (Trayvon Mullen).
Tiawan Mullen, Indiana
Player Comparison:
Josiah Scott, Philadelphia
Steven Gilmore, Marshall
Player Comparison:
Duke Dawson, Pittsburgh
Steven Gilmore, Marshall
5092 / 162 / 30.6” Arms
Younger brother of All-Pro CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys). Undersized - marginal height and length for an outside CB with a somewhat thin frame. Very good athlete with loose hips, light feet, and natural fluidity. Plays a variety of coverages and seems comfortable regardless of responsibilities. Smart. Demonstrates the ability to stay-in phase with size downfield. Plays the ball in the air well and has a closing burst on the ball. Willing in run support but is limited to a drag down tackler due to size limitations. Experienced punt returner for the Thundering Herd.
Nehemiah Shelton, San Jose State
6000 / 186 / 77.2” Wingspan
Thin, lanky build but good overall length with long arms. Used in a variety of coverages though he seems most comfortable in man coverage. Displays ability to line up out wide or in the slot. Good lateral agility and demonstrates the ability to stay in-phase. Alert and plays the ball in the air well. Nice reaction skills – pivots his head and makes a play on the ball or man.
Nehemiah Shelton, San Jose State
Player Comparison:
Troy Hill, LA Rams
Tyrique Stevenson / Miami, Fl
Player Comparison:
Jeff Okudah, Detroit
Tyrique Stevenson / Miami, Fl
6000 / 198 / 32.3” Arms
​Transfer from Georgia. Good size, overall length, and reach. Solid build. Primarily operates on the outside and excels in press coverage. Good press technique. Displays quick feet and good instincts – not fooled by stems / nods while in press coverage. Good burst to close coverage quickly. Keeps his eyes on the QB and keys quickly on the pass in front of him. Outstanding quick reaction skills and has displayed good ball skills in his time at Miami.
Darius Rush / South Carolina
6020 / 198 / 33.3” Arms
Ideal height, length, and reach. High football IQ – reads body language well and trusts his eyes. Very good instincts. Excellent reaction skills. Displays the ability to stay in-phase with speed in space – doesn’t lose much in transition. Athletic and well-coordinated with loose hips and good movement skills. Knows how to use his length at the catch point to disrupt the reception.
Darius Rush / South Carolina
Player Comparison:
Tariq Woolen, Seattle
Eli Ricks / Alabama
Player Comparison:
Greedy Williams, Philadelphia
Eli Ricks / Alabama
6020 / 188 / 32.3” Arms
Transfer from LSU. Possesses the desired height, length, and wingspan for an NFL CB. Excels in press coverage where he utilizes his length to harass WRs. Very physical in coverage and uses his body well to disrupt routes – may be prone to drawing penalties at the next level. Very good agility for a big CB. Displays excellent reaction skills and plays the ball in the air effectively. Demonstrates the ability to stay in the hip pocket of the WR throughout the route. Good leaping ability and competes for the ball at the catch point. Uses length well to knock the ball out of the WRs hands. Willing and physical in run support. Injuries significantly impacted his playing time as he played in 10 games with 5 starts for Alabama in 2022. Recorded 13 tackles / 1 TFL / 4 passes defensed in 2022.
Cameron Brown / Ohio State
6000 / 199 / 31” Arms
Has the size, length, and wingspan of an NFL CB. Very good speed – can really fly. Displays quick reaction skills at the catch point -uses length well to break up the pass. Very good closing burst on balls thrown in front of him. Best in off man and zone where he can see and react to the ball thrown in front of him. Tightness in the hips is exposed in tight coverage when Brown loses a step-in transition and the WR can create separation. Lacks ideal ball skills and hands are inconsistent. Reliable open-field tackler. Has missed considerable time with injuries while in Columbus.
Cameron Brown / Ohio State
Player Comparison:
Bryce Hall, NY Jets
Jaylon Jones / Texas A&M
Player Comparison:
Nate Hobbs, Las Vegas
Jaylon Jones / Texas A&M
6020 / 200 / 30.6” Arms
Fits the modern-era archetype regarding height, length, and wingspan. Naturally athletic and smooth. Physical in coverage. Displays the ability to stay in-phase in coverage. Excels when he can plant his feet and drive towards the ball – excellent closing burst. Competes at the catch point and uses his length to break up passes. Good open-field tackler and breaks down well in space. Recorded 33 tackles / 1 FR / 2 passes defensed in 2022. Had 3 INTs in his career.
Kyu Blu-Kelly / Stanford
6000 / 199 / 31” Arms
Good body length, solid mass, and the large wingspan desired at the position. Displays good short area quickness and effectively uses length to play the ball at the catch point. Good short area burst. Lacks great deep speed. Loses a step at the transition point and loses pace with the WR – demonstrates some tightness in hips. Good tackler but has difficulty breaking down in space – falls off too many tackles. Recorded 35 tackles / 6 passes defensed in 2022. Totaled 3 INTs in his career.
Kyu Blu-Kelly / Stanford
Player Comparison:
Bryce Hall, NY Jets
Carrington Valentine / Kentucky
Player Comparison:
Eric Stokes, Green Bay
Carrington Valentine / Kentucky
6000 / 193 / 32.2” Arms
NFL height, size, and length. Started 25 games in his career. Plays a combination of press and man. Looks comfortable in zone coverage – plays the ball thrown in front of him well. Displays the ability to stay on the hip of the WR on vertical routes. Competes for the ball at the catch point in man coverage. Physical with WRs and may be prone to PI calls in the NFL. Understands how to use leverage on sideline routes and force the WR towards the sideline. Tight in the hips and can struggle with double moves and crossing routes. Lacks some deep speed. Has difficulty breaking down in space and doesn’t seem keen on contact. Falls off some tackles – lacks some playing strength. Recorded 48 tackles / 1.5 TFL / 1 sack / 1 INT / 10 passes defensed in 2022.
Alex Austin / Oregon State
6010 / 195 / 31.7” Arms
Long CB with a solid build. Good wingspan. Displays loose hips and very good agility for a tall corner. Competes at the catch point. He mostly plays off man and zone coverage for the Beavers. Covers the slot regularly. Good burst on the ball thrown in his area of responsibility. Watches the QB’s eyes and jumps on bad decisions. More of a diver as a tackler and could add some strength to improve his physicality and in run support ability. Very good instincts and awareness. Has natural attributes for press corner and looks good in limited opportunities. Recorded 57 tackles / 1 TFL / 1 sack / 1 FR / 2 INTs / 10 passes defensed in 2022.
Alex Austin / Oregon State
Player Comparison:
Casey Hayward, Atlanta
Mekhi Blackmon / USC
Player Comparison:
Jack Jones, New England
Mekhi Blackmon / USC
5110 / 178 / 31” Arms
Transfer from Colorado. Good size and overall length. Good leaping ability – has a lot of production going up with a WR in a jump ball situation and knocking or taking the ball away from the receiver. Excellent ball skills. Able to stay in-phase with the WR throughout the route. Good quick reaction skills. Very good burst on the ball. Soft, natural hands and catches the ball like an NFL WR. Secure and reliable tackler. Understands using the sideline for leverage in coverage. Recorded 66 tackles / 1 FF / 1 FR / 3 INTs / 13 passes defensed in 2022.
Arquon Bush / Cincinnati
6000 / 187 / 29.7” Arms
Fits the physical attributes for a modern era CB with good height and overall length, although his arm length is shorter than ideal. Smooth and natural athlete with explosive qualities in space. Willing and physical hitter – will dislodge the ball from the WR on some hits. Breaks down well in the open-field and is a good tackler in space but sometimes fails to wrap up, preferring the big hit. Stays in-phase and makes plays on the ball consistently – excellent quick reaction skills. Very good ball skills – attacks the ball in the air like a WR. High points the ball like a WR. Good balance and body control displayed near the sideline. Smart and instinctual. Excellent special teams player – excels as a kick blocker with multiple career blocks. Recorded 9 career INTs and 32 career passes defensed as a Bearcat. Recorded 34 tackles / 1 FF / 2 INTs / 8 passes defensed in 2022.
Arquon Bush / Cincinnati
Player Comparison:
Jerry Jacobs, Detroit
Myles Brooks / Louisiana Tech
Player Comparison:
Daryl Worthy, Baltimore
Myles Brooks / Louisiana Tech
6010 / 201 / 30.6” Arms
Prototypical height for an NFL CB with a thin, athletic build. Good overall length. Primarily plays in press technique. Displays the ability to stay in-phase with WR on deep routes – press technique is excellent. Needs to be more assertive in coverage and demonstrate better ball skills – beaten twice for TDs in the Clemson game despite being in the hip pocket of the WR at the catch point. Tends to lock in on the WR and fails to look for the ball in the air. Can be fooled by play action, giving the WR too much cushion to exploit. Recorded 29 tackles / 1 FR / 3 INTs / 9 passes defensed in 2022.
Rejzhon Wright / Oregon State
6020 / 196 / 77.2” Wingspan
Ideal height and length for an outside CB – usually responsible for boundary corner duties. Mostly plays off man and zone coverage for the Beavers. Good agility and technique – able to maintain phase with the WR, even crossing routes over the middle of the field. Impressive closing burst on the ball / ball carrier. Light feet / loose hips make him well suited to playing press and tight coverage. Will battle the WR throughout the route and uses length to harass him. Willing and active in run support – good tackling form. Heisman Trophy winner, USC QB Caleb Williams did not challenge him much at all in 2022 – possibly a sign of respect. Recorded 38 tackles / .5 TFL / 1 FR / 2 INTs / 9 passes defensed in 2022.
​Rejzhon Wright / Oregon State
