Jakorian Bennett NFL Draft Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5′-11″
Weight: 195 pounds
School: Maryland
2023 NFL Draft: Jakorian Bennett Scouting Report
Jakorian Bennett started out his college football career at JUCO powerhouse Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. In his first season in 2018, Bennett played in five games for the Blue Dragons in which he had three tackles, an interception, and two passes defensed. During his second season in 2019 in the Sunflower State, Bennett played in 10 games and had 22 total tackles (15 solo, seven assisted) while also forcing two fumbles, picking-off two passes, and defending against one.
After the season, Bennett transferred to the University of Maryland. In his first season in College Park, (which was the Covid-19 shortened season of 2020), Bennett played in four of the Terrapins five games. He had six tackles and defended against two passes. In his second season with the Terrapins, Bennett played in 12 of 13 games for Maryland, while recording 24 total tackles (23 solo, one assisted), while picking off an impressive, three passes and having a college career high of 11 passes defended against. In what would be his final season in Maryland, Bennett amassed 39 tackles (26 solo, 13 assisted), having two interceptions and once again reaching double digits for passes defended against, with 10.
Strengths
- Mostly sound biomechanics and footwork;
- Gives the receiver a limited area for catches, especially on deep routes;
- Is aggressive especially when contending for passes;
- Is explosive and effective on run defense;
- Has NFL-ready size.
Weaknesses
- Has a subpar recovery speed;
- Does not read play coverage correctly, and consistently;
- Has issues with balance and stability from backpedal to forward running transitions;
- Difficulty intercepting what should be easy passes;
- Has a penchant for committing penalties
NFL Comparison: Taron Johnson
Teams With Need At Position: Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders
Projection: Rounds 5-6
Bottom Line on Jakorian Bennett
Jakorian Bennett has the prerequisites to be an effective NFL cornerback. He has sound biomechanics and, for the most part, the footwork to match. Bennett limits the receiver’s catch window, especially on deep passes. He plays with a high level of physicality and explosiveness especially when contesting for passes or aiding in stopping the run.
Bennett will need to refine some of the minor, but nonetheless, significant weaknesses in his game if he wants to have a long NFL career. He has a below-average ability to get back to the ball, especially on button-hook and/or curl routes. His instincts, in terms of reading play coverage, are erratic. He will also need to increase his core and lower body strength in order to become more stable and balanced when transitioning from backpedal to sprinting forward. He also needs to show he can pick off passes that, during his college career, he should have picked off, easily, but failed to do so. Lastly, he cannot commit the number of penalties he committed in college, in the NFL, because he will not see the field at all if the issue persists.
Overall, Bennett seems to have more positive attributes to his game, than negative, and because of that, a team will use a pick on him in the upcoming draft in either round five or six.
Main Photo: Vasha Hunt – USA Today Sports
