Dallas Cowboys draft 2023: CB Devon Witherspoon scouting report

Scouting report collection on this 12 months’s draft prospects with participant projections and comparisons. This assessment is of Illinois Preventing Illini CB Devon Witherspoon.

• By
  
  Mike_Poland
  
• on March 17, 2023 2:00 pm

We proceed with our 2023 NFL Draft draft prospect assessment of gamers that might curiosity the Dallas Cowboys. Immediately we have a look at a cornerback Devon Witherspoon from Illinois Preventing Illini.

Earlier prospect evaluations:

DT Bryan Bresee
CB Kelee Ringo
LB Andre Carter II
CB Joey Porter Jr
WR Jalin Hyatt
OG O’Cyrus Torrence
RB Bijan Robinson
C John Michael Schmitz
RB Devon Achane

Devon Witherspoon was ungraded popping out of highschool and acquired a few presents from schools like South Alabama and UMass. He took one of the best provide made to him and signed at Illinois in 2019.

In his freshman 12 months, Witherspoon was given a chance early and was thrown into the hearth taking part in a complete of 321 snaps on protection as a cornerback. He recorded 18 tackles and three stops. He additionally allowed seven receptions for 145 yards while having two passes breakups. For his first 12 months taking part in he was spectacular permitting a quarterback score of solely 76.3.

In 2020, Witherspoon performed in seven video games for Illinois. He recorded 31 tackles and added 5 defensive stops. He struggled within the passing recreation permitting 4 touchdowns with solely two interceptions. He made no PBU’s and allowed 381 yards and a QB score of 122.6.

In 2021 as a junior, Witherspoon performed 10 video games for Illinois. He made 42 tackles, 19 defensive stops and in addition added two sacks for the 12 months. Though Witherspoon had no interceptions he was improved as a cornerback. He made six PBU’s and a QB score of 86.9 permitting just one landing.

In Witherspoon’s senior 12 months, he exploded as a defender. He performed 12 video games and 738 snaps, whereas making 32 tackles and lacking 5 tackles. He allowed a reception price of solely 35% for 206 yards. He made 14 PBU’s and had three interceptions for the 12 months. What was most spectacular was his elite QB score allowed of solely 25.3. In opposition to Northwestern in his last recreation, Witherspoon allowed just one reception for six yards, whereas making two interceptions and a QB score allowed of simply 2.8.

Devon Witherspoon
Illinois Preventing Illini
Senior
0-star highschool recruit
Top- 5”11
Weight- 181
Arm Size- 31 1/4
Wingspan- 75”

NFL Mix:
N/A

Awards:
2022 All-American first workforce
2022 All-BIG10 First Group

Scorecard:

Total- 91.2/100
Tackling- 82
Run Protection- 85
Zone Protection- 75
Man Protection- 91
Pace- 91/100
Power- 79/100
Acceleration- 95/100
Agility- 92/100

THE GOOD

• Has the pace and agility to play each exterior or within the slot and compete on the place early in his profession.
• Sensible recognizing routes and route ideas. Excessive ranges of consciousness and good instincts to seek out the ball.
• Very oily hips that he can flip extremely effectively.
• Reveals confidence and aggressiveness you need from a high nook. Has good short-term reminiscence to overlook about detrimental performs and return to the sphere with a constructive attacking mentality.
• Elite foot pace. Makes use of his foot pace nicely to reflect receivers.
• Agility and alter of route is elite and is noticeable when chasing receivers in zone.
• Quick space pace is one one of the best amongst this years cornerbacks.
• The most effective cornerback this 12 months when defending in press-man. An elite defender in man protection and stays bodily with the receiver all the best way to the ball.
• His playmaking talents in 2022 had been insane. Each in passing and operating performs Witherspoon made performs on the ball and ball service.
• A giant hitter when making tackles.
• Fast to react to run performs and closes rapidly on the ball service. Very dependable as a run defender.
• Expertise taking part in particular groups (led Illinois in particular workforce tackles in 2019)

THE BAD

• Just one good 12 months of manufacturing. His earlier three seasons had been solely common.
• A pure press-man defender. Struggles in zone.
• His over aggressive tendencies result in penalties and can be one thing groups must count on on the subsequent degree (11 penalties within the final two years).
• Undersized for the best way he performs.
• Can take dangerous angles when chasing the ball service.
• Has various dangerous missed tackles.
• Within the NFL he might solely ever be a slot nook.
• Sensible quarterbacks will know methods to manipulate him with their eyes and actions.

THE FIT

Devon Witherspoon is a beginning cornerback on nearly each workforce within the NFL. He might solely be the nickel nook on most groups, however the best way the NFL is evolving, the nickel nook place is as a lot a precedence on the roster as an outdoor nook. His bodily play fashion and mentality tied along with his pure expertise to make performs on the ball will put him excessive on this 12 months’s prospect rankings. If a workforce can spend extra time teaching the artwork of zone defending or tweaking a few of his detrimental flaws he has in man protection, he may grow to be one of many higher corners within the NFL.

Mid-first spherical worth.

(All scout consensus rating: ninth)

COWBOYS COMPARISON
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