2023 BCS CB Scouting Report
Player: Carrington Valentine
School: Kentucky
Year: Junior
Games Watched: Mississippi State 2022, Ole Miss 2022, Tennessee 2022, Georgia 2022
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Man Coverage: Has the athletic ability to mirror and match receivers. Has the mentality to get physical. Would be better off with improved leverage and footwork. Lines up predominantly as the boundary CB. Stays on top of routes in off man. Could use development in hand placement and timing when jamming in the contact window.
Zone Coverage: Has experience in Cover 2,3,4. Can freelance and gamble at times leaving his assignment uncovered. Shows quick reactions when keying the QB.
Reaction/Recovery: Shows quick and twitchy reactions when the action is in front of him. Triggers downhill in zone or off man with explosiveness.
Long speed: Shows good long speed and acceleration. Has no problems running with any receiver. Short stride, but doesn’t take long to get to top speed.
Ball skills: 1 Career INT in 31 collegiate games. Like his entire game he is tough and physical at the catch point. Plays through the hands very well. Has multiple reps on film of him ripping a reception out of the receivers hands.
Run Support: Active in defending the run. Limited play strength brings questions of overall effectiveness. More than willing to throw his body into a runner. Fights through blocks.
COD Ability: Quick and twitchy stop/start. Has the necessary hips to turn and run. Grabs and creates collision when transitioning laterally. Has acceleration out of breaks.
Awareness: Quick to ID screens. Route recognition will develop with more experience. Also will need development with assignments in zone coverage.
Tackling: Listed at 6’0 194. Limited mass and play strength. Better off attacking low or wrapping up and waiting for help. More of a drag down tackler.
Physicality/Toughness: Very tough feisty and physical player. That trait allows him to play effectively against bigger receivers. He dials up that toughness too much at times when it’s more effective to play to his physical strengths. Will need to find the balance of physicality in coverage.
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Man Coverage (15) – 12
Run Support (5) – 4
Zone Coverage (10) – 6
COD Ability (10) – 7
Reaction/Recovery (10) – 8
Awareness (10) – 5
Long speed (10) – 9
Tackling (10) – 5
Ball skills(10) – 7
Physicality/Toughness (10) – 6
Grade: 69/100 – Late day 2/Day 3
Summary: Carrington Valentine is a player with real upside as a cover CB. His speed and quickness project him to be able to be successful in a variety of coverage schemes. Currently Valentine looks best in off man playing top down. Valentine also has experience as a kick returner from high school, so there is some special teams value. With time to develop his footwork, leverage and zone assignments, Carrington Valentine can be a starting caliber defensive back at the next level.
Report Author: EJ Holt
Twitter: @EJHolt_NFLDraft
