Trey Wilson- 2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Positives:

+Ball Skills
+Speed
+Athleticism
+Fluid athlete
+Accelerates quickly

Negatives:

-Lacks strength
-Poor effort in run support
-Gives receivers way too much of a cushion
-Terrible in press coverage

Would you believe me if I told you that I have watched 3 Vanderbilt games in since Thursday? Writing 3 scouting reports on Vanderbilt players in one weekend is pretty unusual for me. The last prospect of theirs that I expect to scout, cornerback Trey Wilson, isn’t too productive, but has the physical tools for success in the NFL. I don’t think he’ll ever make much of his physical ability, though.

Wilson has solid measurables. He has average height and bulk, but he has excellent speed. Although his 4.45 40 is far from amazing, he looks like one of the quickest corners I have ever seen on film. He accelerates quickly and he has great long speed.

Wilson has good ball skills. He really has a knack for reading the eyes of the quarterback and jumping routes. He reaches top speed virtually no time, which allows him to jump routes with great ease. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a corner who can accelerate so quickly. He also has great athleticism with the ball in the air and has solid leaping ability.

Wilson is an extremely fluid athlete. His loose hips, incredible speed, and excellent recovery speed gives him the ability to stay with pretty much anyone in man coverage.

Wilson’s biggest issues are poor route recognition ability and questionable toughness & strength. Vanderbilt has had some good, fundamentally sound corners over the year (Myron Lewis, Casey Hayward), but Wilson doesn’t fit the bill. He’s not very tough at all, so he’s terrible in press man coverage, and struggles to cover anyone bigger than he is (Aaron Mellette is a good example). Wilson’s toughness (or lack thereof) is pretty well evidenced by his stats: only 30 tackles in 2011. He didn’t miss a game. He just can’t tackle anyone, he isn’t physical in coverage, and the fact that he plays so far off his man in coverage results in short passes being caught, followed by him missing a tackle, and the play becoming a long gain. If nothing else, he must stop giving his man such a large cushion. Wilson has the speed to stay with pretty much any receiver, but, as a result of his lack of strength and very questionable tackling, if someone makes a catch against him, he is guaranteed a missed tackle and a long gain. If Wilson doesn’t get any better at tackling, then he better prevent any catches from being made on his watch. But his lack of physicality in coverage stops that from ever happening. I don’t think he will ever be great in coverage.

Wilson, as mentioned before, is a terrible run stopper. 30 tackles is fewer tackles than any corner in this draft class who was a starter and didn’t get injured. He has no strength, he isn’t physical, and he absolutely cannot shed blocks to save his life. Wilson is a very poor run stopper.

Ultimately, I believe Wilson’s lack of physicality and strength will prevent him from ever being a great player. Someone will probably pick him, with the hope that he develops down the road, but I don’t see him getting better any time soon.

NFL Comparison: Crezdon Butler. I couldn’t think of a corner who is similar to Wilson and is slightly well known. If you want someone you have heard of, I guess the best comparison is a shorter, poor man’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Grade: 35 (worthy of a mid 7th round pick)

Projection: 44 (will be a mid 6th round pick)