NFL Comparisons: Class of 2021 Defensive Recruits
Football is a game of comparisons. Often times, players embody physical traits and skills that remind you of someone else, and their style of play. College recruiters and NFL scouts all draw comparisons of rising talent to players in which…
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Continue ReadingFootball is a game of comparisons. Often times, players embody physical traits and skills that remind you of someone else, and their style of play. College recruiters and NFL scouts all draw comparisons of rising talent to players in which they have seen translate to their level of play. Its a method of measuring and projecting what one would possibly look like if they develop correctly, and what their potential ceiling could look like. Here, we have listed three defensive players from the 2021 class who have caught our eye and have already drawn specific NFL comparisons.
David Daniel David Daniel 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Woodstock | 2021 State GA – CB (Woodstock) Comparison- Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos)
One of the first things that jumps out when watching Daniel’s film is his height and length. As a Junior in high school, Daniel is already 6’3 190 pounds, and these measurables are already being seen to be a positive impact in his game. Daniel is an aggressive, and very long corner who can move very well, and he also has top notch ball skills. His ability to track the ball and play well in coverage is unique for his age and reminds us of Justin Simmons for the Denver Broncos. They share a similarity in their build and their playing style, both using their height, size, and length to break up passes, and put themselves in great positions. It can also be noted that they both use their size to help them recover from missteps at times as well. As Daniel continues to develop, his work on his change of direction can help mold him into a player similar to what Justin Simmons has become.
Victoine Brown Victoine Brown 6'4" | 228 lbs | DL Grayson | 2021 State GA – DE (Grayson) Comparison- Danielle Hunter (Minnesota Vikings)
Victoine Brown Victoine Brown 6'4" | 228 lbs | DL Grayson | 2021 State GA ’s ability to fire off of the ball and terrorize quarterbacks can remind you of plenty of NFL defensive linemen. Brown’s ability to use his hands effectively, and to be able to be a positive impact in pursuit though- is even more special. His lateral movement and ability to use his length to his advantage before exploding on contact is comparable to Danielle Hunter. As you watch each of their film, not only do they have a similar build, but they both share the same ability to constantly be in the backfield or wherever the ball carrier is. Brown shows flashes of Hunter’s speed and ability to maneuver around different blocks by using his hands and feet to get downhill at a fast rate. While Hunter is a dominant force in the NFL, Brown can hope to further develop into this comparison, but will need to work on his inconsistencies getting out of his stance. While this can be a strength for him, if he wants it to continue to become factor at the next level, he will continue to work on such things.
Barrett Carter Barrett Carter 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB North Gwinnett | 2021 State GA – LB (Hapeville) Comparison- CJ Mosley (New York Jets)
We could re-watch Barrett Carter Barrett Carter 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB North Gwinnett | 2021 State GA ’s highlights for hours. Clemson got a steal because as a linebacker, Carter shows flashes of greatness. Carter flys around the football field, and knows how to come downhill controllably. This is often times very difficult for kids his age to do. With this, his aggressive style of play and ability to play instinctive football allows him to play very fast. As a result, upon contact, he often times hits offenders very hard. His ability to do such things, as well as his ability to move very well laterally reminds us of CJ Mosley. It’s very easy to see. They both move around the football field at a high rate and constantly find ways to be around the ball and disrupt the offense. The ability to play fast and aggressive draws the most comparisons, which makes this projection very exciting to watch in the future. As Carter goes on to play at Clemson in college, look for him to make a big difference for Dabo’s defense. Only then will we see how close this comparison can really turn out to be.