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• Alabama safety Brian Branch received two top honors: He won “Best Interceptor” and “Best Position”.
• Oregon State’s Christian Gonzalez is versatile: He really has no weaknesses in his athleticism. He’s a big, explosive defender with the hips of a smaller cornerback.
• The underrated Ronnie Hickman won Best Double High: His ability to get out of his stance when pedaling or flat-footed is exactly the safety you want in a double high.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Defensive backs are becoming so versatile at the NFL level that putting corners and safety together feels right. While this is a class of corners that load both on the outside and in the slot, the same can’t be said about the safety position.
Best Makeup Speed: DJ Turner, Michigan
If you run the 4.26-second 40-yard dash on the NFL Combine, chances are this superlative event is for you. Turner has such a relaxed demeanor that he doesn’t have to worry about getting hit deep. It’s a skill that translates to every NFL defense.
? ? ?
I guess we shouldn’t be shocked when DJ Turner runs in 4.2s.
Landing saves speed! pic.twitter.com/SdzL1RSVno— BOLTS Draft Talk (@BoltsDraftTalk) March 16, 2023
Best cornerback: Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Witherspoon’s role as a man is exactly what an elite man in the NFL looks like. He approaches every rep with an untrainable edge. Simply put: he’s going to want to kick your ass. He did it a lot last season. Witherspoon allowed just 13 catches on 46 targets on 303 carries in 2022 for 115 yards advancing with two interceptions and 13 forced incompletes.
I had a middling first round at CB Devon Witherspoon in Illinois. Led Power 5 DB with 14 PBUs and 92.0 PFF coverage level. He’s great off+press, can play slots or outside, really complete CB prospect pic.twitter.com/khqeFiIP1s
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 13, 2022
Best Regional Cornerback: Clark Phillips III, Utah
Phillips might not tick all the physical boxes you want in an NFL cornerback, but there are two distinct aspects of a cornerback he excels in the draft class: His ability to read quarterbacks through receivers, As well as his ability to work downhill from out of coverage. Those two skills translate to ball handling, with Phillips completing three passes in zone coverage last season.
Utah DB 1 Clark Phillips III is a very interesting player. In total there are over 1300 snaps on the exterior and over 400 snaps in the slots. The size at 5-10 and 183 may be questioned, but he plays bigger and more athletic than that. Watch him vs Oregon here pic.twitter.com/3PCSjd9yKN
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 28, 2022
Top news cornerback: Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Porter is a pterodactyl on the line of scrimmage, with a 34-inch arm that packs a powerful punch. Porter allowed just eight catches on 17 targets for 68 yards on 106 carries last season, forcing incomplete seven of them. Something tells me he intends to at least triple the 106 number next season.
Joey Porter Jr. reigns over Ronnie Bell pic.twitter.com/iIaJ4XXUJm
— John Brennan (@jbrens20) March 22, 2023
Most versatile: Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Gonzalez’s versatility stems from his high-end, all-around physical skillset. There really is no weakness in his athleticism. He’s a big, explosive defender with the hips of a smaller cornerback. This allows him to stick with any plans or play in secondary roles.
Christian Gonzalez is long and fast…but his hips tie it all together. As loose/runny/greasy (choose your term) as I’ve seen when researching CB
appears all the time.
6013 197 4.38
41.5″ vertical, 11’1 wide
He will turn 21 in June. pic.twitter.com/Ada2mep0Of— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 22, 2023
Top tackler: Brian Branch, Alabama
Branch may not have the long speed to be drafted too early in the draft, but make no mistake: Whoever drafts him is getting the most solid defensive prospect at the moment. He doesn’t make mental mistakes in coverage or miss the game in front of him. In his career, Blanche has missed four tackles in 174 attempts.
I don’t care how. Get Brian Branch in a #Packers jersey ASAP. pic.twitter.com/Q48ZLkNPis
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 23, 2023
Best hip: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
A lower center of gravity obviously helps with direction-changing ability, but that doesn’t quite explain the THT’s specificity in this regard. The man is one of the smoothest movers you’ll ever see on a football field, barely losing speed when forced to flip his hips over. That’s why, despite his size, he had 29 pass turnovers in his college career.
Hodges_Tomlinson has some greasy butt pic.twitter.com/siGkYzZOVW
— Taylor Browning (@DiabeticTyler) December 21, 2022
Best Ball Skill: Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
The FBS leader (six) may have a knack for spotting football. He combines those skills with a 6-foot-7 wingspan and a 4.35-second 40-yard dash to help him catch the ball quickly in the air. With 14 career picks and 17 pass turnovers in three seasons, Forbes will likely find some football at the next level, too.
Emmanuel Forbes. See a movie. pic.twitter.com/AMYS2wTI4G
— steelers_convo (@steelers_convo) January 13, 2023
Best Slots: Brian Branch, Alabama
Branch is the best defensive back in this class when it comes to matching route concepts in down zone coverage. Last season, he was targeted 54 times. Only 14 of them resulted in conversions. Branch also leads all cornerbacks in coverage with 14. If you need a slot every down look no further.
Don’t think I’m going to get tired of watching #Alabama DB Brian Branch coverage. Always be spatially aware, chipping away at routes and looking for receivers within area coverage.
Very instinctive physical player who always shines even when I’m not watching him. pic.twitter.com/Lr2tvMTs7E
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 21, 2023
Best Single High School: Sidney Brown, Illinois
This is a hard superlative to give because there isn’t much real security in depth in this class. Brown has all the makings of being a part of it, but that’s not even his role at Illinois. Still, Brown still had a solid 90.4 grade in the 40 snaps he played at true deep safety last fall. His range and willingness to go all-out downhill will serve him well in a role like this.
Sydney Brown picked six. His second interception and second touchdown of the game. He also had a fumble recovery which he brought back to the house. pic.twitter.com/AhMD370Df3
— Illinois Football Focus (@IlliniFB) November 26, 2022
Best Double High: Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
Hickman is one of the underrated safeties in the draft class. His ability to get out of his stance off the pedals or flat-footed is just what you want in two highs of safety. Last season, he earned an 85.0 coverage grade in midfield opening coverage.
Ohio State’s Cam Brown and Ronnie Hickman were great on the 3rd pitch and target PBU. Brown plays with a patient foot and maintains leverage inside knowing he has Hickman weakening the route.
Brown and Hickman heading to @ShrineBowl are both candidates for the 2023 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/lsHDZHwkdf
— 7RoundsInHeaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) January 1, 2023
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