Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Cornerback/Free Safety 6' 1.4" 184 lbs. Speed: 4.33 (Official) Vertical Jump: 38.5 3-Cone: 6.74 Division 1AA: Tennessee State Senior |
The 2007 NFL Draft was a fairly strong draft for small school cornerbacks. The Saints shocked everybody when they seemingly reached for two small school cornerbacks: CB Usama Young in the 3rd round (66) and David Jones from Wingate in the 5th round (145). Corey Graham from New Hampshire was then selected in the fifth round (168) by the Bears. Rashad Barksdale was drafted in the 6th round (201) by the Eagles; Courtney Brown was selected in the 7th round (212) by Dallas (Brown is being converted to safety). Ironically, one of the highest rated small school cornerbacks for the 2007 NFL Draft was Hampton’s Travarous Bain and he wasn’t even drafted, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals.
So anything is possible when it comes to the NFL Draft, but one thing I do know is that Rogers-Cromartie will be the first small school corners selected in the NFL Draft and maybe even the first corner period. He isn't' without some room for improvement, at barely 180 pounds he will have to put on some more weight in the form of muscle mass. He has the frame for it, but it might take a couple years in an NFL weight training program to get his weight up to around 195-200 lbs. Until then he might get pushed around a little in the NFL. He has excellent ball skills, but how well he can come up and tackle will make or break him at the next level.
One of the highest rated cornerbacks for the 2008 NFL Draft is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Tennessee State. Rogers was dominant on the Division 1AA level and was a first team Division 1AA All American from Lindy’s, a first-team All-Ohio Valley pick, and on almost every other Division 1AA first Team All-American list in the nation. Rodgers is a ball hawk; he snatched a league-best six interceptions in 2006, to go along with his 47 tackles (35 solo). The senior from Bradenton Florida also recorded 13 passes defended, 2 Tackles for loss and 1 blocked kick.
This past season (2007) he was selected All-OVC. Rodgers-Cromartie finished the 2007 season with two interceptions, both returned for TDs (69, 71). On the year, he had 11 pass break-ups, 37 tackles (28 solo) and 2 TFLs (8). Additionally, Cromartie returned 33 kick-offs for 806 yards and 1 TD, and 4 Punt Returns for 16 yards. He also finished the year with 4 blocked kicks (3 FGs and 1 PAT). Two FG and 1 PAT blocks were game-savers (Jackson State-FG, Austin Peay-PAT in OT, Murray State-FG). He had 2 rushes on end arounds for 16 yards and 1 pass reception for 38 yards. On the season Cromartie accumulated 1,016 All-Purpose Yards (92.4 ypg).
That is all fine and dandy, a lot of defensive backs put up incredible numbers at the small school level, but what separates Rogers is his speed and athletic ability. Rogers has world class speed and jumping ability which will allow him to compete with the big boys in the NFL. Rodgers was named the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track Championships Top Male athlete after winning first place in the 60 meter dash (6.89 seconds), the Long Jump (25.75), and the High Jump (6-09.5). He also finished second place in the Triple Jump at (48-08).
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is a special NFL Prospect with nice size, speed and leaping ability. Before the 2008 Senior Bowl I would have given him a 3rd/4th round draft grade, but at the practices leading up to the game, and especially at the game itself Rodgers proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is as good, if not better than any division 1 defensive back in the entire nation. He was awarded the Under Armor New Prototype Award for his play in the 2008 Senior Bowl.
Update: He played mostly free safety at the Senior Bowl and he was probably the best defensive back on the field. He breaks fast on the ball, and even though he is tall and lanky, he has a low, smooth back pedal. What was really impressive though is the way he jumps up at the highest point to get the football. He doesn't look to knock the ball away like most defensive backs, when the ball is in the air he thinks it is his and he goes after it. He plays with great confidence and with his vertical jump he won't lose many jump balls in the NFL. We knew he had speed and height, but now we can see elite ball skills and that combination of talent could catapult him into being the first cornerback selected in the 2008 NFL Draft.
He had a great performance at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine, he weighed in at 6. 1 and 1/4 inches and 184 pounds, ran a 4.33 forty and had a spectacular 38.5" vertical jump to go along with his 6.74 second time in the 3-Cone drill. Cromartie will battle it out with Leodis McKelvin, Mike Jenkins and Antoine Cason to be the first cornerback selected in the 2008 NFL Draft.