A three year starter for the Oklahoma Sooners, Zack Sanchez is a ball-hawking cornerback who can turn games around in a flash.
His consistent durability and production will cause defensive backs coaches to pound the table for him on draft day and cause headaches for opposing quarterbacks for many years to come.
Here’s a look at a projected day two draft pick, Zack Sanchez.
Measurables
Height: 5’11
Weight: 185 lbs
Arm Length: 31 3/8″
Hand Width: 9 3/8″
Workout Results
40 Yard Dash: 4.48 seconds
Broad Jump: 116″
Vertical Jump: 35.5″
Bench Press: 19 reps
Strengths
Right off the bat, you have to acknowledge Zack Sanchez’s ability to create turnovers. In three seasons he had 15 interceptions, 7 of which came in his final season with the Sooners. He creates those turnovers with excellent adjustments to the ball and by getting his hands up.
To complement the interceptions, Sanchez had 28 pass deflections over the course of three seasons.
He shows a smooth backpedal and good reactionary skills when mirroring receivers. He matched up well against Josh Doctson and TCU when he had two interceptions.
His straight line speed is also something to note. While he doesn’t play as quick as his 40 time may lead you to believe, he’s fast enough to keep up with receivers for a prolonged period of time.
Weaknesses
Zack Sanchez’s small frame is going to scare a lot of NFL executives. While he only missed a handful of games in three years, he’ll be playing against bigger, more physical receivers in the NFL.
He can also get turned around by crafty receivers and lose a step on quick intermediate routes.
Awards/Recognitions
Semifinalist for the Thorpe Award (2015)
Second Team All-American by Sporting News, Walter Campbell and USA Today (2015)
Third Team All-American by Phil Steele (2015)
All-American honorable mention by Sports Illustrated (2015)
All-Big 12 First Team by league’s coaches, AP and Phil Steele (2015)
Named All-Big 12 First Team by the league’s coaches, AP, 247Sports, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele (2014)
Semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (2014)
Freshman All-American by FWAA (2013)
Final Thoughts
While his size and fame will scare coaches, you can not deny the production and consistency Zack Sanchez showed for three years. He draws comparisons to Patrick Robinson, which may be a bit lofty. If he can stay healthy and fill out his frame, the talent level is certainly there.