Xavier Rhodes Scouting Report CB Florida State University

Xavier Rhodes is an absolutely excellent cornerback prospect. The Redshirt sophmore could and perhaps should consider returning for his junior season where he can work his way into the conversation of being a lock for the top 10.  In 2010 Rhodes made a lot of plays in 2011 teams avoided him like the plague. For all of our other scouting reports go to our scouting report page

Measurables

6’2 215 pounds

(combine numbers to be posted when they become available)

40 yard dash has been said to be 4.56, but I’ve also seen sub 4.5 so who knows.

Stats (through 11/18/2011)

2011:

2010:

Pros

Great size…long arms and really effective at press coverage…Does a really good job of playing the ball in the air either breaking up the pass or picking it off…A good tackler who takes on and wraps up ball carriers…can flips his hips and run with the receivers…can shed the blocks of Wide receivers to make plays on the cornerback…does a good job of getting his head around to make plays on the football…pretty good instincts, but still developing…better when he is up on the line pressing…has good footwork off the snap

Cons

Sometimes you can catch him peeking which exposes him deep, but he usually has the speed to recover and make a play…Does not have elite track speed…Is he a safety or a cornerback?…been a little nicked up in 2011..

Player comparison: Antrel Rolle, New York Giants

Thoughts:

He is a safety with a cornerback skill set, much like Antrel Rolle of the New York Giants. This year Rolle has been called on to cover slot wide receivers because of the extraordinary amount of injuries in the Giants secondary and he has responded well. Rolle is also an effective blitzer, and a beast in run support. This is the kind of player Rhodes can be (maybe even better). There are times where Rolle can lose his concentration and kept beat deep or take bad angles on the ball, but he is very talented. Rolle also runs his mouth a lot and I’m not sure if Rhodes does that so there’s a difference too.

Rhodes has a dynamic skill set and the physical ability to play both the cornerback spot and safety at the N.F.L. level and in a system where he would get to do a lot of press he could be a shut down corenrback in this league. Aldon Smith went really high last year so it’s possible for Redshirt sophomores to go high, but Rhodes will likely return next season where he could sure up a top 10 selection in 2013

Bio

Coming off one of the best seasons by a freshman at Florida State. Big, physical corner at 6-2 who possesses speed and the ability to change direction on a dime as well as outstanding hands and ball skills. Has a chance to be one of the most dominant corners in the country. Will be part of one of the top cornerback tandems in the country with Greg Reid. Has garnered preseason All-ACC honors as a corner by several publications. One of four Seminoles to make the Bednarik Award list of 65 preseason candidates for the trophy presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club. Also one of 82 players named to the preseason list of Nagurski candidates, who are also contending for the nation’s most outstanding defensive player award presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Also a candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation’s top defensive back.

Video

2010 season (TMBdraft)

vs Clemson (mari0clp on youtube)