Kevin Peterson, CB, Oklahoma State: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Kevin Peterson, a 2012 three-star recruit, originally committed to Oklahoma before ultimately deciding to attend Oklahoma State. He started 36 of 50 career games for the Cowboys, amassing 145 tackles, five interceptions and 23 pass break-ups.
He missed the 2015 season opener against Central Michigan for precautionary reasons after undergoing offseason knee surgery.
Peterson primarily lined up at the RCB position, however he was asked to shadow some of the top receivers on the OSU schedule.
He possesses adequate height/weight combination with a lean frame and good athletic ability.
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Measureables
Height: 5’10” 3/8
Weight: 181 lbs.
Arm Length: 31.5 inches
Hand Size: 8-5/8 inches
Combine Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.66 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.59 seconds
Bench Press: 14 reps
Vertical Jump: 35.5″
Broad Jump: 10’1″
Three Cone: 6.94 seconds
Short Shuttle: 4.31 seconds
Games Watched
2015: Baylor, Oklahoma, Ole Miss
2014: Florida State, West Virginia
Strengths
From press coverage, demonstrates very good line of scrimmage skills as he keeps his feet still and utilizes strong hands to jam the receiver and disrupt his route. Also possesses the quickness and fluidity to line up in press and bail at the snap as a result of good athletic ability. Solid mental processing from zone coverage, reads the QB and diagnoses the play quickly before reacting accordingly.
When playing man, mirrors his receiver well and forces the QB to throw into tight windows. Displays very good range with his ability to help out on receivers outside his zone.
A good example of this occurred this past season against Baylor. Peterson lines up at the top of the screen and is responsible for the underneath zone. He reads the play almost immediately and sprints back to help out the safety. The slot receiver is running a corner route and Peterson is able to meet him at the point of attack.
Both players get their hands on the ball and the contact forces the receiver to land out of bounds before he can get a foot down.
While he does a good job reading the QB from zone coverage, he also does a very good job of reading the WR from man. On the play just before the first clip, Peterson is one-on-one with Corey Coleman at the top of the screen. Coleman gets a free release as Peterson gives him a five-yard cushion at the snap.
Against one of the most explosive receivers in the 2016 NFL Draft class, Peterson is able to turn his hips quickly and stay close enough to where he can make a play on the ball. He displays elite football intelligence on this play as he’s watching Coleman the entire way. Reading his eyes and hands, Peterson is able to get his hands between Coleman’s and has the functional strength to separate the receiver from the ball.
Very good competitive toughness as he plays aggressive and isn’t afraid to be physical with larger receivers. Played through both knee and ankle injuries as a senior. Diagnoses the run quickly and displays a solid ability to disengage from blocks.
Peterson was responsible for covering some of the top receivers in college football over the past two years, including Kevin White (West Virginia), Josh Doctson (TCU), Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma) and Laquon Treadwell (Ole Miss). While he held all four receivers to less than 90 yards receiving, his best performance came against White in 2014. The seventh-overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft entered the game having gained more than 100 yards receiving in each of his previous seven games. Peterson held him to only three catches for 27 yards.
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Weaknesses
Marginal angular body position during back pedal, playing too tall which slows his ability to explode out of his stance and change directions. This is the biggest flaw in Peterson’s game and was exploited several times throughout his career. In the two clips below, you can see his hips and knees are out of sync. As a result, the receivers in both instances are able to get a step on Peterson with a simple slant route.
Adequate decision making skills on underneath routes, will take poor angles in an attempt to undercut the route rather than play his man. Did not force a fumble in college career as he doesn’t go for the ball when attempting a tackle. Marginal run support skills, he struggles to constrict running lanes and force the RB back inside. Must improve finishing skills as he missed too many open field tackles.
Overall
Overall, Kevin Peterson is a backup CB in a Cover 2 scheme in which he can read the QB from press or off coverage before making an aggressive play on the ball in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Is not a CB who should be left on an island outside the numbers. He’ll begin his career as a backup, likely a number three or four corner depending on his future team’s depth, but he has the traits to develop into a starter before long.
His high football IQ and competitive toughness should help him stick around in the NFL for a long time, even if he never becomes a true number one corner.
As far as the draft goes, I expect Peterson to come off the board on day three in either the fourth of fifth round. Any later than that and someone will be getting an absolute steal.