Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 192
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds (third-best among defensive backs)
Vertical jump: 38.5 inches
Broad jump: 11 feet (tied for third best among defensive backs)
Marshon Lattimore 2017 NFL Draft Profile
Marshon Lattimore seemingly exploded out of nowhere to become one of the most impact defensive backs in all the loaded Big Ten last season. Out of Glenville High School in Cleveland, OH, he was a top 50 recruit his senior year, ranking No. 44 by 247Sports.com and No. 45 by ESPN.com. In 2013, he accounted for 19 touchdowns his senior season as a defensive back and wide receiver. After offers from schools such as Alabama, USC, Florida State and many more, he chose the Buckeyes.
In his 2014 freshman year, he red-shirted after having surgery to address a leg issue. He played in seven of the team’s first eight games in 2015 but did not play after due to injuries in his legs again. Before the injuries, he notched five tackles and five pass break ups.
In his 2016 campaign, he was named a starting cornerback and shocked everyone with his star talent. He finished with 41 tackles, four interceptions and nine pass break ups. He was the Buckeyes best cornerback and formed a lethal duo with safety Malik Hooker. His best games came against Tulsa, where he recorded two interceptions and one for a touchdown, and Oklahoma, where he made an open field interception after out running the wide receiver. He also recorded nine total tackles in a crucial road victory against the Big Ten West champion Wisconsin Badgers.
Lattimore finished the season as a First Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and sixth in the Big Ten with four interceptions (second on the team). Lattimore has exquisite size, speed and strength. He is a great bump and run corner and can disrupt He is effective against the run, whether that be tackling or disrupting the opposing offensive blockers and shedding off blocks. He can quickly change direction with his fluid and quick hips, and has shown he has budding confidence.
Lattimore’s injury concerns from his first two seasons are worthy of skepticism. He must work on turning his head around and finding the ball and not relying on the receiver’s eyes. The defense he played with was surrounded by studs. The Buckeye’s disruptive defensive line often didn’t give the quarterback enough time to pass or leave Lattimore to play full coverage. Plus, he was benefited with arguably the best safety in the country, Malik Hooker, helping in coverage.
Strengths
- Excellent attitude, motor and shown confidence;
- Great ball skills;
- Fluid and fast hips;
- Length to deflect passes and pull down interceptions;
- Prevents big downfield plays;
- Solid run stuffer;
- Aggressive at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t allow separation from the receiver.
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t turn head around to find ball in coverage enough;
- Injury concerns at Ohio State;
- Lack of experience (1 full, starting year);
- Surrounded by NFL talent in Buckeyes defense;
- Didn’t have consistently high level receivers to cover.
NFL Comparisons: Vontae Davis, Terence Newman
Teams With Cornerback Needs: Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints
Projection: Early to mid-first round
Bottom Line
Lattimore has all the intangibles to be a starting cornerback right away, and one day a shutdown corner. What he will bring is size, speed and superb athleticism. His attitude and instilled confidence are unteachable traits that separate the good from the great. He is coming from arguably the best NFL ready football factory in college football and Urban Meyer has produced some excellent first round defensive backs in recent years. Lattimore has the potential to become another Bradley Roby or Eli Apple.
Teams will be cautious with his injury history and if it comes back to bother him in the pros. He is not a complete cornerback out of college, considering he specifically needs to work on getting his head around to defend passes. His footwork has been praised and criticized so it will be something to watch at the combine.
Lattimore can bring instant talent and improve any secondary. Whoever selects him should be in great need of a cornerback and instantly improve their secondary.
