MKRob Sports

Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State Buckeyes

For the second year in a row, Malcolm Jenkins begins the season as the top cornerback prospect for the NFL Draft. Entering his fourth year as a starter for the Buckeyes, Jenkins possesses a rare blend of size, speed, and instinct at the position. Many teams needing secondary help will even consider him at the free safety position because of his outstanding open field tackling. He is an excellent cover man, but has the size to help out in run support like a safety. He played in 52 games at Ohio State, and registered 196 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and forced 4 fumbles. In coverage, Jenkins has tallied an impressive 11 interceptions and 17 passes broken up – including two interceptions he has taken back for touchdowns.

Jenkins showed another facet of his game this year that will likely be important as an NFL rookie, when he blocked 2 kicks playing special teams for the Buckeyes. Because teams try their best to throw away from him, he gets fewer chances to make big plays each year. Jenkins has excellent instincts and positioning in coverage. He’s far less likely to get his hips out of position like other young corners, and makes fantastic breaks on the ball while it’s in the air. According to the Ohio State Athletics website, Malcolm Jenkins runs a 4.3 in the 40 yard dash, a time that will have scouts drooling on their stop watches if he can do it. That type of speed at his size would vault him to the top of draft boards without his impressive resume. He also plays some of the best press coverage you’ll ever see out of a college cornerback. Jenkins’ physical tools, good technique, and big game experience should see him taken in the top 5 or at worst, the top 10 of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Malcolm Jenkins’ lackluster 4.55 second 40 yard dash time at the NFL Combine may have sealed his fate as an NFL safety. This still doesn’t take him out of the first round, but he is likely to slip out of the top ten overall picks.

Malcolm Jenkins did little to show scouts he can play corner in the NFL. He ran just a 4.53 second 40 yard dash at his Pro Day workout in Columbus. He is however, the best safety prospect in the draft and will likely go between picks 14 and 21.

Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Playing such a significant role on a team for four years is pretty impressive no matter where you play. Wake Forest has been a quality team over most of those seasons. After redshirting in 2004 as a true freshman, Alphonso Smith stepped into the starting line-up before the season began. The cornerback earned a variety of All-American honors for his efforts. As a sophomore he only started three contests, but he tallied 8.5 tackles-for-loss, four sacks and three interceptions. As an upperclassman Smith really came into his own and earned first team All-ACC honors due to his eight interceptions, including three that were returned for touchdowns. Through four games in 2008, Smith already has 30 tackles, four for loss and one interception.

Smith has everything anybody could want from a cornerback — with one exception. He is quick, has great instincts, can catch the ball very effectively and is rarely caught out of position. The one problem is his size. He is only 5-9 and 190 pounds.

His size, or lack there of, will keep him down on some draft boards, but Smith deserves to be mentioned with some of the top corners in this class. If he can separate himself from players like Kevin Barnes of Maryland, Mike Mickens of Cincinnati and Darius Butler of Connecticut, Smith could be a first round selection come April.

Vontae Davis, Illinois Fighting Illini

Vontae Davis is the younger brother of San Francisco tight end and former top ten pick, Vernon Davis. Athleticism obviously runs in this family, because both of the Davis brothers are freakishly strong and fast. Vontae is coming off an impressive sophomore campaign that saw him smother even the best receivers the Big Ten has to offer. Davis finished the season with 76 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 8 passes broken up, and he even blocked 2 kicks on special teams.

Other than Malcolm Jenkins and Alphonso Smith, Davis is the best defensive back available in this year’s draft. Davis has the potential to put up an untouchable amount of reps on the bench press, and possibly run in the high 4.3 range in the 40. Davis had a down year by his standards, but Illinois’ abysmal pass rush didn’t make his job any easier. He recorded 78 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 10 passes broken up in coverage, and 3 forced fumbles during the 2008 campaign. During his time at Illinois, Davis has improved drastically. He has gotten to the point where opposing defenses have virtually stopped throwing in his direction; cutting the field in half for offenses. He would be a great fit for an aggressive team because he’s an excellent blitzer. Davis is just as comfortable rushing the passer from the corner spot as he is in coverage. Davis is a sure fire first rounder this year, and shouldn’t slide past the top 20 for any reason.

Vontae Davis solidified himself as a first round pick at the NFL Combine in February. He was the only one of the top corner prospects to run a sub 4.5 40 yard dash, clocking in at a slightly underwhelming 4.49 seconds. He looked fluid enough during position drills that scouts think he can be an All Pro cover man if he improves his technique. His 25 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press also encouraged scouts that he has the strength to press even the biggest receivers at the NFL level.

Vontae Davis continues to show the athleticism necessary to be a shutdown corner in the NFL. He lowered his 40 yard dash time to 4.4 seconds at his Pro Day workout. Opinions are mixed on Davis, but he could go anywhere from eighth to somewhere in the twenties depending on how certain teams feel about him.

Darius Butler, UConn Huskies

Darius Butler has flown under the radar for his entire career. Listed at 5-10 and 187 pounds, the Connecticut cornerback is used to being overlooked. Through his first three years with the Huskies, Butler has only missed one start. Even as a freshman he was obviously the team’s best cover corner and that has not changed. He has racked up ten career interceptions heading into his junior campaign and he will even line up at wide receiver on occasion.

Being a capable receiver, Butler has great hands to go along with his speed and quickness. There is not much stopping him from following in the footsteps of fellow Big East cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Mike Jenkins and being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Making Butler appear even more attractive to NFL scouts is his ability to return kicks. Until his senior season, Butler was not the Huskies’ main kickoff returner, so it will be interesting to see if he can emerge as a dangerous return man.

If Butler’s career continues as it has, he will easily be a first day selection. Since he plays at UConn and is 5-11, many outside of Big East country do not know much about him, but the NFL sure does.