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UFL 2013-14 Rookie Draft Preview...
Player Profile
Name - Kyle Akinwande
College - Missouri
Size - 6'1' 203lbs
Position - CB
Projected - Top 5 pick
Akinwande is the best Cornerback prospect in this draft, and some will argue that he is the best all around athlete in the draft on either side of the ball. I currently have him rated as my 3rd best defensive player, behind DE Micah Goode and FS Carlos Bailey, however, because of the importance placed on Shutdown Cornerbacks in the UFL, I would not be surprised at all if Akinwande is the first Defensive player drafted come draft day.
That being said, this guy can do it all, he can play Corner, Saftey, Return Punts and Kicks, this kid truly gifted on the football field. The Missouri Tiger just completed his junior season and its not surprising that he has decided to leave early. Akinwande was the best shutdown corner in college football and he has been clocked as fast as 4.30 in the 40-yard dash.
This season he had eight interceptions (which he returned for 234 yards), twelve pass breakups, two blocked kicks, and 4.5 sacks. Akinwande averaged 35.1 yards kick returns and averaged 21.1 yards on punt returns, three of which he returned for scores. He won the Jim Thrope Award, this year after being the runner up to Carlos Bailey last season, and also the Chuck Bednarik Award, and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year by the conference's coaches.
Read & React: Possesses great instincts for the position. Reads his man and will sneak a peek at the quarterback, showing the anticipation necessary to make the big play. Can get over-aggressive and bite on double-moves, though he shows good straight-line speed to recover and possesses excellent ball skills. Could come up more aggressively when he reads run, as he's content with allowing teammates to make the tackle, but isn't afraid to come up in run support when he has to.
Man Coverage: Rare fluidity and straight-line speed for a defender of his size. Quick feet and balance when backpedaling and when he switches to a side shuffle technique. Rarely uses his hands to jam the receiver, opting instead simply to turn and run with his opponent. Will occasionally misjudge the speed of his opponent when in off-man coverage, allowing the receiver to eat up too much of the cushion. Easily flips his hips and shows very good burst out of his breaks (especially considering his size) to mirror the receiver. Good acceleration and has a burst to close. Good route-recognition. Good body lean and use of the sideline to ride wideouts out of bounds. Excellent size, overall physicality and competitiveness for jump-ball situations. Times his leaps well and can high-point the ball due to excellent hand-eye coordination.
Zone Coverage: Good recognition for zone coverage, but will drift out of position when he's reading the eyes of quarterbacks, resulting in some big-play interceptions, but also in allowing receptions when savvy passers bait him. Quick feet and balance to change directions. Good route anticipation. Switches off his target quickly when he sees the quarterback throwing elsewhere. Closes on the ball quickly.
Closing/Recovery: Some concern over what his time in the 40-yard dash will be, but shows very good field speed and possesses a second gear of acceleration to close on the ball. Locates the ball quickly and has the long arms to break up passes (or even make the interception) when it appears that he is beaten. Has good, but not elite burst to break downhill out of his cuts, making him susceptible to comeback routes against bigger receivers who challenge him vertically. Among best attributes is his size, leaping ability and ball skills on fade and go-routes against bigger receivers. Matches up well in jump-ball situations. Isn't afraid to get physical in these confrontations, but because he's going for the ball, doesn't draw the flag. Very good ball skills. Times his leap well, showing a good vertical and possesses the long arms and soft, strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air. Excellent return skills once he has the ball in his hands.
Run Support: When not in press coverage, reads run quickly and either provides the contain to push the runner back inside or makes the tackle himself. Focuses on his primary target - the receiver - when he's in press coverage and can be a step slower to recognize run. Trusts his teammates to make the play, showing good strength and toughness to fight through blocks, but not always the sense of urgency scouts would prefer. Good effort in pursuit. Takes good angles to the ball and has the speed to run down the ballcarrier.
Tackling: Reliable open-field tackler. Breaks down well in space to make the stop against elusive athletes. Willing to take on the bigger ballcarrier and does a nice of wrapping his arms securely around the legs to make the effective stop. Good effort in pursuit. Not an explosive hitter, but plays his size, strength and long arms help him knock down ballcarriers quickly.
Intangibles: Confident, almost cocky demeanor on the field. Possesses the short memory of all great cornerbacks. Extremely competitive. Seems to relish the battles against top receivers in man coverage. Campaigned to be used on special teams and even offense while at Mizzou due to his natural playmaking skills.
Player Profile
Name - Kyle Akinwande
College - Missouri
Size - 6'1' 203lbs
Position - CB
Projected - Top 5 pick
Akinwande is the best Cornerback prospect in this draft, and some will argue that he is the best all around athlete in the draft on either side of the ball. I currently have him rated as my 3rd best defensive player, behind DE Micah Goode and FS Carlos Bailey, however, because of the importance placed on Shutdown Cornerbacks in the UFL, I would not be surprised at all if Akinwande is the first Defensive player drafted come draft day.
That being said, this guy can do it all, he can play Corner, Saftey, Return Punts and Kicks, this kid truly gifted on the football field. The Missouri Tiger just completed his junior season and its not surprising that he has decided to leave early. Akinwande was the best shutdown corner in college football and he has been clocked as fast as 4.30 in the 40-yard dash.
This season he had eight interceptions (which he returned for 234 yards), twelve pass breakups, two blocked kicks, and 4.5 sacks. Akinwande averaged 35.1 yards kick returns and averaged 21.1 yards on punt returns, three of which he returned for scores. He won the Jim Thrope Award, this year after being the runner up to Carlos Bailey last season, and also the Chuck Bednarik Award, and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year by the conference's coaches.
Read & React: Possesses great instincts for the position. Reads his man and will sneak a peek at the quarterback, showing the anticipation necessary to make the big play. Can get over-aggressive and bite on double-moves, though he shows good straight-line speed to recover and possesses excellent ball skills. Could come up more aggressively when he reads run, as he's content with allowing teammates to make the tackle, but isn't afraid to come up in run support when he has to.
Man Coverage: Rare fluidity and straight-line speed for a defender of his size. Quick feet and balance when backpedaling and when he switches to a side shuffle technique. Rarely uses his hands to jam the receiver, opting instead simply to turn and run with his opponent. Will occasionally misjudge the speed of his opponent when in off-man coverage, allowing the receiver to eat up too much of the cushion. Easily flips his hips and shows very good burst out of his breaks (especially considering his size) to mirror the receiver. Good acceleration and has a burst to close. Good route-recognition. Good body lean and use of the sideline to ride wideouts out of bounds. Excellent size, overall physicality and competitiveness for jump-ball situations. Times his leaps well and can high-point the ball due to excellent hand-eye coordination.
Zone Coverage: Good recognition for zone coverage, but will drift out of position when he's reading the eyes of quarterbacks, resulting in some big-play interceptions, but also in allowing receptions when savvy passers bait him. Quick feet and balance to change directions. Good route anticipation. Switches off his target quickly when he sees the quarterback throwing elsewhere. Closes on the ball quickly.
Closing/Recovery: Some concern over what his time in the 40-yard dash will be, but shows very good field speed and possesses a second gear of acceleration to close on the ball. Locates the ball quickly and has the long arms to break up passes (or even make the interception) when it appears that he is beaten. Has good, but not elite burst to break downhill out of his cuts, making him susceptible to comeback routes against bigger receivers who challenge him vertically. Among best attributes is his size, leaping ability and ball skills on fade and go-routes against bigger receivers. Matches up well in jump-ball situations. Isn't afraid to get physical in these confrontations, but because he's going for the ball, doesn't draw the flag. Very good ball skills. Times his leap well, showing a good vertical and possesses the long arms and soft, strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air. Excellent return skills once he has the ball in his hands.
Run Support: When not in press coverage, reads run quickly and either provides the contain to push the runner back inside or makes the tackle himself. Focuses on his primary target - the receiver - when he's in press coverage and can be a step slower to recognize run. Trusts his teammates to make the play, showing good strength and toughness to fight through blocks, but not always the sense of urgency scouts would prefer. Good effort in pursuit. Takes good angles to the ball and has the speed to run down the ballcarrier.
Tackling: Reliable open-field tackler. Breaks down well in space to make the stop against elusive athletes. Willing to take on the bigger ballcarrier and does a nice of wrapping his arms securely around the legs to make the effective stop. Good effort in pursuit. Not an explosive hitter, but plays his size, strength and long arms help him knock down ballcarriers quickly.
Intangibles: Confident, almost cocky demeanor on the field. Possesses the short memory of all great cornerbacks. Extremely competitive. Seems to relish the battles against top receivers in man coverage. Campaigned to be used on special teams and even offense while at Mizzou due to his natural playmaking skills.
