2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Shyheim Battle, DB, North Carolina State
Player Data
| Name, Jersey # | Shyheim Battle, #7 |
| School (Code) | NCST |
| DOB, Class Yr | 7/18/2000, RS Junior |
| Height, Weight | 6020e, 173e |
| Position/Depth | CB, starter |
| Honors/Captainship | N/A |
| Season Viewed (yr) | 2022, 2023 |
| Games Watched | Marshall, Notre Dame, UNC (2022) |
| Scout Name / Date | Jake Kernen 10/7/2023 |
Per Year Stats (Most Recent First)
| 2023 | Started all 6 games to this point. 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PDs |
| 2022 | Played in 11 games, started 7 games. Missed 2 games due to injury. 34 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 INTs, 5 PDs. |
| 2021 | Played in 11 games, started 10 games. 28 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 INTs, 6 PDs. |
| 2020 | Started all 12 games. 36 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 10 PDs. |
| 2019 | Played in 3 games. Contributed on special teams, recorded no stats. Redshirt. |
Player Summary:
RS Junior from Rocky Mount, NC. Wore #25 in previous years, wears #7 in 2023. Long, physical corner. Primarily plays right corner in his current role. Lean, but good bulk. Thick, well defined uppers. Thick thighs, skinny calves. Stiff in the hips. Good quickness and lateral movement. Below-average top end speed. Struggles more in man than zone. Comfortable lining up in press and off coverage, but does not recover well if he doesn’t disrupt the receiver’s route on jams. Gets too physical in the route stem to slow down receivers if he thinks they are running past him. Struggles to identify picks and often collides with crossers and other defenders. Stays in phase well on go balls. Smart zone player, does a good job of passing off and picking up receivers as they come into his zone. At his best when he can keep the receiver in front of him and process what the offense is doing. Struggles to flip his hips and transition out of his backpedal on vertical routes. Occasionally bites too hard on PA and takes himself out of position. High level hand placement at the catch point, does a good job of playing through the receiver’s hands to break up passes. Aggressive in run and screen support, quick to trigger downhill. Fights through receivers blocks well and is willing to take on linemen in the box. Identifies gaps and fills well. Consistent tackler. Goes for safe wrap up tackles rather than using his shoulder to knock the ball carrier over. Gives good effort in pursuit to chase the ball carrier. Aggressive player with some NFL traits, he needs to play smarter and with more patience in coverage to be a contributor at the professional level.
Scheme Fit:
Projects as a project player at corner in a heavy cover 3 based defense, but Battle would be a better long-term fit at safety at the next level based on his size and skillset.
Power Statement:
Battle is a big, physical defensive back that has his limitations, but has a skillset that can translate to the NFL in certain schemes. I would expect him to be a day three/priority UDFA who can make a 53 man roster.