2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Devon Witherspoon, CB, University of Illinois
Devon Witherspoon is regarded as a top-20 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. We break down the skillset he brings to the table here.
Witherspoon shot up draft boards after being a consensus All-American last season. He has the physicality and movement skills to be a dominant press man corner, plus the instincts and closing speed to be very good zone coverage.
The scouting report is also available in a video format here. I strongly encourage everyone to watch that video as it allows you to visualize everything I discuss in this scouting report.
Overview
Birthdate: 12/11/2000
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 180 pounds
High School: Pine Forest HS (Pensacola, FL)
Recruit (247): 2019 Class NA
2022 Stats: 3 INT 14 PBU 16 Stops
2022 PFF: 92.0
2021 Stats: 6 PBU 19 Stops
2021 PFF: 69.3
Strengths
- Press Man Ability
- Plays with a lot of physicality – is able to throw receivers off of their route at the release.
- Movement skills allow him to match receivers & stick with them throughout the route.
- PFF had Witherspoon with just one yard allowed on 107 press coverage snaps last season according to this tweet – which is outrageous.
- Matching skills are quite impressive – looks like he’s running routes for the WRs at times.
- Skillset that is highly valued in the NFL as it gives defenses a lot of flexibility if they have corners good enough to hold up in man coverage.
- Instincts
- Instincts are as good as you’re going to see from about any corner.
- Way he’s able to read QBs is quite impressive – puts himself in positions to make plays on the ball constantly.
- Reads screens & quick throws very well & flies to the ball to make plays behind the LOS or for short gains.
- 11.5 tackles for loss in his career, which is pretty good for a corner.
- Instincts & closing speed give him the skillset to be very good in zone coverage in the NFL.
- Mentality
- Has the type of alpha mentality you want out of a corner.
- Someone who plays with a lot of confidence – which is important for CBs.
- Gives 100% on every play, not afraid to lay his body on the line.
- Production
- Was arguably the nation’s best corner last season as he was named a consensus All-American.
- 92.0 PFF grade was second amongst 521 qualified CBs in the FBS.
- 14 pass breakups were tied for third in the nation.
- Zero touchdowns allowed in 2022.
- Matching skills allowed him to cover as well or better than any CB in college football.
- Closing speed & instincts allowed him to make plays on the ball & tackles at a high rate.
Weaknesses
- Slightly Undersized
- Listed at 6-foot-0, 180 pounds which isn’t small by any means but most CBs that go in the top 5/10 picks are 6-foot-1 or taller.
- Not a big weakness because of the physicality he plays with, but ideally he’d be a bit taller.
- Penalties
- Can be too physical with receivers downfield at times leaving him susceptible to pass interference penalties.
- Had 11 penalties over the past two seasons (eight PIs, one facemask, one block in the back, and one unsportsmanlike conduct).
- Something he’ll need to be careful with in the NFL.
- Projectability of corners
- Corners tend to be busts at a higher rate as high draft picks in the NFL.
- Because it’s so hard to evaluate good CB play as CB production can be influenced by so many other variables it makes it difficult to project CBs to the NFL a lot of times.
- Shouldn’t have a major impact on his draft stock – but could cause a team to target a player at a position with a higher hit rate (DL, OL).
Final Evaluation
Pos Rank: CB1
Projection: Top 8 Pick
Devon Witherspoon is the clear-cut top corner in this class. His combination of physicality, movement skills, and instincts give him the skillset to excel in both man and zone coverage. Not only is he the top CB, but I see him as a top-five prospect in the class.
