Kermit Whitfield, WR, FSU: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Florida State wide receiver Kermit Whitfield has Olympic speed and it is without a doubt his biggest asset on the football field.

The senior is a legitimate contender to win the title of ‘fastest player’ at the NFL Scouting Combine. He may even break Chris Johnson’s record and win a private island. On his Florida State bio page, it states that Whitfield was the Florida 3A state champion in the 100m and 200m in 2012 and has a personal-best 100m time of 10.21

Strengths

Olympic speed, incredible balance, and short area quickness make Kermit Whitfield a menace with the ball in his hands. He can turn nothing into something with his elusiveness and if given the ball in space, the likelihood is that he will make a man miss and make positive yards.

Whitfield is incredibly versatile and was used inside, outside, on jet sweeps and reverses in Tallahassee. He also brings incredible value on special teams as a game-changing returner. He fights for extra yards and works back to help his quarterback in scramble drill situations.

Weaknesses

Whitfield’s diminutive frame (5’8″, 183lbs) will undoubtedly put some teams off. You wouldn’t want him running routes over the middle against linebackers, or contesting deep catches against NFL defensive backs either.

With regards to his route running, Whitfield relies far too much on his blazing speed. As Lance Zierlein says on NFL.com, his “routes are poor and he runs them with almost no attempt to fool defenders.”

Next: Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Projection: Round 6 – UFA

A dependable receiver for Everett Golson, Sean Maguire and Deondre Francois during his final two years at FSU, but if Kermit Whitfield is intent on becoming a better receiver, he needs to improve his route running. There is no denying his ability with the ball in his hands. If used correctly, there is no reason as to why Kermit Whitfield shouldn’t find success as a gadget player at the next level.