Draft Prospect Notes: Defensive Backs

The writers of Patriots Football Weekly have done their homework on all the prospects in this year's NFL Draft. Now, you can download the actual notes they took on all the top players, broken down by position for your convenience.

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CORNERBACKS

Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
CB	1	Janoris Jenkins	North Alabama	5-10	193	4.46	4.46
Notes: [Andy Hart] Best cover corner in draft. Good ball skills. Fluid. Major off-field concerns. [Erik Scalavino] . Tight coverage almost every play; closes well when beaten; versatile (slot or boundary) [Paul Perillo] Best CB in draft; excellent coverage; will play the run as well; Likes to jump routes.
CB	2	Morris Claiborne*	LSU	5-11	188	4.45	4.5
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good ball skills. Confident in speed, closes. High in his back pedal at times. [Erik Scalavino] . Playmaker; speedy and tight cover guy; great timing and instincts; [Paul Perillo] Has playmaking ability; plays with confidence.
CB	3	Stephon Gilmore*	South Carolina	6-0	190	4.52	4.4
Notes: [Andy Hart] Fast. Good FB IQ. Lot experience. Physical. Good size and ball skills. Solid all around. [Erik Scalavino] . Soft-talker; great size, but still raw talent; physical, aggressive style; return ability a plus [Paul Perillo] Willing tackler; aggressive; Great speed; Solid prospect.
CB	4	Dre Kirkpatrick*	Alabama	6-1	186	4.49	4.51
Notes: [Andy Hart] Physical, liikes to hit. But only 3 career picks on very good D. [Erik Scalavino] . Injuries and pot bust are concerns; aggressive and tall, but inconsistent [Paul Perillo] Big hitter; Quick close to ball; Very tight in coverage and aggressive.
CB	5	Trumaine Johnson	Montana	6-2	204	4.54	4.61
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good size. Not super fast. Level of competition is a concern. [Erik Scalavino] Enviable size. Performed well against Tennessee, his toughest college competition. [Paul Perillo] Excellent size; questionable level of competition; Speed a concern.
THE REST:
Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
CB		Brandon Boykin	Georgia	5-9	182	4.44
Notes: [Andy Hart] Do-it-all athlete. Blitzes, Tackles. Broke leg. VG football speed. [Erik Scalavino] Athletic, versatile, physical despite short size; excellent returner; off playmaker, too [Paul Perillo] Love his versatility; Great speed; Plays the run and shows good hands/ball skills.
CB		Josh Norman	Coastal Carolina	6-0	197	4.52	4.66
Notes: [Andy Hart] Very good balls skills. Confident player despite timed speed. Goes and gets it.. [Erik Scalavino] . Shone in all-star games; great size; nose for the football; kick-blocking knack [Paul Perillo] Good hands; aggressive; physical in coverage; Good ball skills; Lots of versatility; Solid.
CB		Josh Robinson*	Central Florida	5-9	199	4.47	4.33
Notes: [Andy Hart] Great speed. VG reactions and ball skills. Likes to hit a bit. [Erik Scalavino] . Versatile, quick; PR ability; not a great tackler, but usually provides tight coverage [Paul Perillo] Good ball skills; opportunistic; Great speed; ST ability as well.
CB		Jamell Fleming	Oklahoma	5-11	206	4.54	4.53
Notes: [Andy Hart] Seems like Man guy. Mixes up vs. run. Covers well underneath. Good production. [Erik Scalavino] . Poor tackler, but always around the ball [Paul Perillo] Aggressive, especialliy against the run; sits well in coverage; Quick feet.
CB		DeQuan Menzie	Alabama	5-10	202	4.65	4.74
Notes: [Andy Hart] Blitzes. Plays ball well. Good enough FB speed. FS prospect. [Erik Scalavino] . A corner who projects as an NFL safety because of physical style [Paul Perillo] Decisoive, quick and physical; Plays out of slot; Always around the ball.
CB		Casey Hayward	Vanderbilt	5-11	185	4.53	4.57
Notes: [Andy Hart] Lots of experience and production. Playmaker and zone reads. [Erik Scalavino] . Dependable all-around; experienced starter with good instincts for the ball [Paul Perillo] Aggressive; undercuts routes also good on deep ball; makes plays.
CB		Asa Jackson	Cal Poly	5-10	191	4.40	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] PR. Competitive playmaker who plays the ball well. Level Competition? [Erik Scalavino] . Nickel/slot, PR guy; athletic, speedy [Paul Perillo] Athletic, small and fast; Playmaker; PR ability; Gets hands on a lot of balls.
CB		Leonard Johnson	Iowa State	5-10	196	4.49	4.71
Notes: [Andy Hart] Looks and plays like Ellis Hobbs. Physical corner. [Erik Scalavino] . Ellis-Hobbs-like?; 4-year starter; stocky, but well-built; aggressive, but struggles with tall receivers; can make plays [Paul Perillo] Small but physical; Likes to undercut routes; sticks his nose in there.
CB		Janzen Jackson*	McNeese State	5-11	188	4.49	4.64
Notes: [Andy Hart] Lot of off-field issues. Physical with good ball skills. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] Aggressive, physical and quick; Good ball skills; Gets underneath receiver well.
CB		Alfonzo Dennard	Nebraska	5-10	204	4.49	4.55
Notes: [Andy Hart] Decent size and speed. Likes ot hit a bit -- including allegedly a cop! [Erik Scalavino] Intense player, good man-cover guy [Paul Perillo] Solid in coverage; Good ball skills; Athletic.
CB		Chase Minnifield	Virginia	5-10	183	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] Insert Comment. [Erik Scalavino]. father, Frank, was a DB who played part of his career on Bill Belichick’s Browns in early-to-mid-1990s [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Shaun Prater	Iowa	5-10	190	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] Tough. Special teams type/backup. [Erik Scalavino] . Long-time starter in Ferentz’ system at left CB; gunner on spec teams; physical player who likes to stick his nose in the mix, even vs run [Paul Perillo] Physcial tackler; Special teams prospect.
CB		Jayron Hosley*	Virginia Tech	5-10	178	4.52	4.47
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino]. Slighter build; nickel/slot corner, most likely; PR ability [Paul Perillo] Good hands; Aggressive; Comes up strong.
CB		Mike Harris	Florida State	5-10	188	4.52	4.68
Notes: [Andy Hart] Not super fast. Special teams type. [Erik Scalavino]. Versatile athlete, willing to mix it up vs the run and on spec teams; some talent, but still raw [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Ryan Steed	Furman	5-10	195	4.5	4.68
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino]. Athletic, instinctive, playmaker [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Omar Bolden	Arizona State	5-10	202	4.49
Notes: [Andy Hart] Missed 11 ACL. Captain. Athletic. Quick. Active. KOR. Pats worked out. [Erik Scalavino] Injury-prone (knee); KO returner; when healthy, made plays [Paul Perillo] Good range and speed.
CB		Charles Brown	North Carolina	5-9	202	4.49	4.63
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Dwight Bentley	Louisiana-Lafayette	5-10	182	4.49	4.43
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino]. Boyhood friends with Janoris Jenkins; small frame, but athletic, willing to support the run; gunner/vice candidate [Paul Perillo] Shows good hands and instincts; short tape.
CB		Coryell Judie	Texas A&M	5-11	194	4.48	4.48
Notes: [Andy Hart] KOR. Former track guy. Zone guy with some injury concerns. [Erik Scalavino] Injury history a concern, but plays best in zone coverage; spec teamer; decent tackler [Paul Perillo] Fast but raw athlete; doesn't turn head in coverage; KR ability.
CB		Cliff Harris*	Oregon	5-11	175	4.49	4.64
Notes: [Andy Hart] Very small. Decent speed. PR. Punk. Puked at Pro Day. [Erik Scalavino] Very small frame; some PR skills; dubious character [Paul Perillo] Plays more like a safety; ST ability; Good hands.
CB		Donnie Fletcher	Boston College	6-0	201	4.53
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Keith Tandy	West Virginia	5-10	202	4.54
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino]. Solid all-around; good special teamer (gunner/vice); instinctive [Paul Perillo] Positioned well; uses hands well; Breaks hard on ball; Noth afraid to hit; tough.
CB		Micah Pellerin	Hampton	6-0	194	4.49	4.61
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Robert Blanton	Notre Dame	6-0	208	4.53	4.7
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good tackler. Potential free safety. Gives up position and lets guys release. [Erik Scalavino] . Great size, versatility to play safety, said to be coachable and well-liked [Paul Perillo] Shaky in coverage; Good on slants but gets beat downfield; FS candidate.
CB		Justin Bethel	Presbyterian	5-11	200	4.48	4.58
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Emanuel Davis	East Carolina	5-10	186	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Trevin Wade	Arizona	5-10	192	4.56	4.59
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		D'Anton Lynn	Penn State	6-0	206	4.53	4.77
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Terrence Frederick	Texas A&M	5-10	187	4.52	4.54
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Quenton Washington	South Florida	5-10	195	4.5
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Robert Golden	Arizona	5-11	200	4.54
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Antonio Fenelus	Wisconsin	5-8	190	4.49	4.68
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Antwuan Reed	Pittsburgh	5-10	188	4.54	4.63
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Troy Woolfolk	Michigan	6-0	195	4.54
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Rod Brooks	LSU	5-10	190		4.37
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Jeremy Jones	Wayne State	5-9	194		4.56
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Chaz Powell	Penn State	6-0	203		4.53
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		DeAndre Presley	Appalachian State	5-10	185		4.64
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
CB		Coty Sensabuagh	Clemson	5-11	189		4.42
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.

FREE SAFETY

Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
FS	1	Harrison Smith	Notre Dame	6-2	213	4.55
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good size and physicality. OK in open field. Questionable ball skills and coverage. [Erik Scalavino] . Great Combine performance; Very quick, great size, leadership [Paul Perillo] Good size and physicality; Moves well; bad hands; Not great in coverage.
FS	2	George Iloka	Boise State	6-4	222	4.5	4.66
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good size, but plays slow. 45 career starts. Plays like LB. SS?. [Erik Scalavino] . Wiry build; moves around quickly, but not always controlled [Paul Perillo] Solid against the run; not as strong in coverage but decent; Great size; operates near line of scrimmage often.
FS	3	Markelle Martin	Oklahoma State	6-1	207	4.47
Notes: [Andy Hart] Plays phsical. Solid Tackler. Doesn't always go after ball in air. Brings wood. [Erik Scalavino . Aggressive, physical player; hard-hitter, but not always sure tackler [Paul Perillo] Physical; solid open-field tackler; Big hitter; Needs to play ball more.
FS	4	Trenton Robinson	Michigan State	5-9	195	4.46	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] Physical. Comes up and tackles. Bit stiff in coverage. But cover experience. [Erik Scalavino] . Potential CB convert due to smaller size; spec teams contributor; inconsistent defender [Paul Perillo] Physical; can cover slot receivers; Not great in coverage but good enough.

THE REST:
Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
FS		Tramain Thomas	Arkansas	6-0	192	4.60
Notes: [Andy Hart] Misses tackles. Reads QBs. Closes on ball carrier. [Erik Scalavino] . Average all around; nothing outstanding [Paul Perillo] Good size and range; reads plays well.
FS		Aaron Henry	Wisconsin	6-0	208	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino]. Former CB; more finesse than physical; knee injury history [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Christian Thompson	South Carolina State	6-0	203	4.45	4.5
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Phillip Thomas*	Syracuse	5-11	198	4.54	4.74
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Eddie Whitley	Virginia Tech	6-1	184	4.56
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] Physical and aggressive; short tape.
FS		Brandon Hardin	Oregon State	6-3	222	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Tysyn Hartman	Kansas State	6-3	208	4.64
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good size. Makes plays on ball. Lot of centerfield play time. [Erik Scalavino] Right-place-right-time kind of player [Paul Perillo] Decent centerfield type; Aggressive; Good size for ST; decent late-round prospect.
FS		Matt Merletti	North Carolina	5-11	205	4.56
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Damien Jackson	Mississippi	6-2	210	4.58
Notes: [Andy Hart] Good size. Likes to hit. Should be good special teamer. Always in the mix of play. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Jerrell Young	South Florida	6-1	207	4.57
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Deshawn Shead	Portland State	6-2	214	4.54
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Neiko Thorpe	Auburn	6-2	188	4.54
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Blake Gideon	Texas	6-0	208	4.64
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Corey Mosley	Virginia	5-10	200	4.51
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Sean Baker	Ball State	5-11	205	4.59
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Brian Peters	Northwestern	6-3	220	4.62
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
FS		Sam Proctor	Oklahoma	5-11	222	4.58
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.

STRONG SAFETY

Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
SS	1	Mark Barron	Alabama	6-1	213	4.56
Notes: [Andy Hart] Pretty athletic. Solid tackler. Likes LOS. Blitzes with good burst. Smart field leader. [Erik Scalavino] Excellent size, great athleticism; decent tackler; always around the ball [Paul Perillo] Can cover; Nice breaks on short out; Athletic; Blitzes well; Very decisive.
SS	2	Antonio Allen	South Carolina	6-1	210	4.57	4.67
Notes: [Andy Hart] Physical. Not fast. Special teams type.. [Erik Scalavino] Athletic, speedy, lanky for position; special teams experience; not a great tackler [Paul Perillo] Nickel back potential; Physical; Questionable speed; Good run support/blitzer; Not much in coverage.
SS	3	Brandon Taylor	LSU	5-11	209	4.57	4.58
Notes: [Andy Hart] 3 year starter. Closes. Decent range. Good football speed.. [Erik Scalavino] Solid all around, but nothing spectacular [Paul Perillo] Nice centerfield prospect; Flows to ball well; Good tackler; Closes well.
SS	4	Duke Ihenacho	San Jose State	6-0	213	4.60	4.68
Notes: [Andy Hart] Played some LB. Good closing speed. Tackles. Decent ball skills.. [Erik Scalavino] Great size and experienced starter; (brother, Carl, a Raider LB); aggressive style, though not always a sure tackler [Paul Perillo] Showed good pursuit; ST candidate; Tackles well.
THE REST:
Pos.	Rank	Player	School	Ht.	Wt.	40	Com
SS		Charles Mitchell	Mississippi State	5-11	202	4.56	4.63
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Donovan Richard	South Carolina State	6-0	218	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Matt Daniels	Duke	6-0	215	4.53
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Eddie Pleasant	Oregon	5-10	211	4.54	4.63
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Sean Cattouse	California	6-2	211	4.56	4.74
Notes: [Andy Hart] Physical. Plays the ball. Form tackler. Good size. Sure-thing on Special teams. [Erik Scalavino] Looks the part, but limited production; raw talent [Paul Perillo] Plays the ball well; Decent size; Tackles well; Aggressive; Around the line a lot; ST candidate.Good tackler.
SS		Kelcie McCray	Arkansas State	6-2	202	4.48	4.54
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Sean Richardson	Vanderbilt	6-2	216	4.54	4.52
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Johnny Thomas*	Oklahoma State	5-10	206	4.52	4.63
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Cyhl Quarles	Wake Forest	6-1	213	4.59	4.62
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Jerron McMillian	Maine	5-11	203	4.54	4.56
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Winston Guy	Kentucky	6-0	218	4.57	4.7
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Karnell Hatcher	LSU	6-1	223	4.64
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Delano Howell	Stanford	5-11	210	4.58	4.65
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.
SS		Corey White	Samford	5-11	206		4.55
Notes: [Andy Hart] No Comments. [Erik Scalavino] No Comments. [Paul Perillo] No Comments.