2023 BCS CB Scouting Report
Player: Devon Witherspoon
School: Illinois
Year: Junior
Games Watched: Wyoming 2022, Michigan State 2022, Purdue 2022
Man Coverage: Plays in a scheme that employs a heavy dose of man coverage. Lines up playing off man or cloud coverage. Utilizes catch technique as well as bail and press. Sticks to receivers with hand checks and twitch.
Zone Coverage: Does not play much zone coverage in games watched. Has reps in Cover 2 but is a small sample size. Has the traits to be an effective zone defender. Development in Cover 3, 4 etc will be necessary for more scheme versatility.
Reaction/Recovery: Shows strong recovery and closing speed. Will reach out and grab when he feels a receiver is separating. Quick and decisive when he clicks and closes.
Long speed: Shows speed to carry vertical routes. Rarely tested downfield, but when he was, he had no issues keeping up.
Ball skills: Can play through the hands of the receiver and cause the PBU. Can get his head around and locate the football when tracking downfield. Feisty at the catchpoint and will muscle his way into position to make a play on the ball.
Run Support: Willing and active in run support. Chases down ball carriers with bad intentions. 6’0 180 pound frame will bring questions about overall effectiveness against bigger bodies as well as durability.
COD Ability: Changes direction with good twitch and burst. Matches lateral movements effectively and with no wasted movement.
Awareness: Stays locked on his assignment. Faced man beating route concepts weekly and navigates through traffic without getting lost. Quick to ID run and react.
Tackling: Looks to tackle with authority. Not an ankle biter. Shows good effort rallying to the football.
Physicality/Toughness: The most physical and aggressive CB in the class. He actively is seeking contact at all times. Quickly triggers downhill against the run. Doesn’t hesitate to stick his nose in the pile.
Man Coverage (15) – 14
Run Support (5) – 4
Zone Coverage (10) – 6
COD Ability (10) – 8
Reaction/Recovery (10) – 8
Awareness (10) – 8
Long speed (10) – 8
Tackling (10) -8
Ball skills (10) – 8
Physicality/Toughness (10) – 8
Grade: 80/100 – Day 1
Summary: Devon Witherspoon is a high level competitor with an aggressive play style. He’s very comfortable in man coverage on an island. Played in a lot of MOFC coverage schemes and that should translate to the next level immediately. High motor player. Fits best in a defense that deploys man coverage at a high percentage. Has the ability to be an effective slot defender. Has the traits to translate to an effective Nickel defender as well. Game will get to the next level with development in zone coverage and scheme versatility. Only concerns will be with his size, weight specifically. An offseason in an NFL strength and conditioning program will help going forward.
Report Author: EJ Holt