NFL ANALYSIS
NFL ANALYSIS
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Devon Witherspoon
CB
Illinois
HT:
WT:
YR:
NO:
OVR RK
8
POS RK
2
FINAL GRADE
(High Upside Potential)
5114
181
JR
31
CEILING
High-End Starter
OVR RK
PLAYSTYLE AND SCHEME FIT
Witherspoon is a physical cornerback who is best suited for a press-man scheme. He has the size and length to match up against bigger and more physical receivers and can disrupt routes effectively. He's also effective in run support.
PASS GAME ANALYSIS
Devon Witherspoon is one of the more physical man-to-man coverage DB's in the 2023 NFL Draft class. The one key attribute you will hear about the most from scouts when they discuss Witherspoon is his nose for the football, which shows up on tape. He has excellent closing speed and is more proactive than he is reactive, which is a testament to his high football IQ and instincts. Witherspoon is great at attacking the catch point and getting a hand between the defender and the football with timing and precision. His game translates to the NFL level, where he will excel in a man-to-man scheme, but because of his excellent on-field awareness and proactive ability to close fast, he will be an asset in a zone-based scheme.
RUN GAME ANALYSIS
In the run game, Witherspoon plays like a safety. He will drive down hard on a runner from his outside spot or the slot and is an asset due to his willingness to play physically in non-passing situations. Witherspoon tends to go for the highlight reel hit. He will need to stay disciplined at the NFL level and worry more about making a clean tackle in space instead of trying to make a highlight reel hit.
FINAL REPORT
Witherspoon has ideal size and length for a cornerback, making him effective in press coverage and contested catch situations. He has good ball skills and can make plays on the ball in coverage. He is a physical cornerback who can disrupt routes. He has good strength and can be effective in run support. Witherspoon might need to dial back his aggressiveness at the next level. He can be handsy in coverage, and his aggressiveness to make a highlight reel hit in the run game could lead to explosive plays vs. better backs and receivers in the NFL if he is not careful.
Primary scout:
Brandon Lundberg
KEY STRENGTHS
Ball Hawk
Run Support
Instinctive
KEY WEAKNESSES
Handsy
Size
Aggressive
PLAYER COMPARISONS
Dre Kirkpatrick
Eli Apple
Marcus Peters
KEY POSITIONAL FACTOR GRADES
FBIQ (Elite)
Pos. Vers. (Very Good)
Discipline (Good)
KNOWN INJURIES