Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Sep 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs cornerback Damontae Kazee (23) defends a pass to California Golden Bears wide receiver Demetris Robertson (8) during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Player Summary

Damontae Kazee, a 2012 three-star recruit, started 41 of 53 career games for San Diego State. He started every game over his final three seasons and missed just one game (2013 versus New Mexico due to a concussion) in his career. He signed with the Aztecs despite receiving offers from Pac-12 schools Arizona State and Washington.

In his career, Kazee recorded 239 tackles, a school-record 17 interceptions, and 30 pass breakups. He was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016. After his final year with the Aztecs, Kazee was invited to the 2017 Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.

Rocky Long was both his head coach and defensive coordinator all five seasons. Kazee primarily played the right cornerback role in Long’s 3-3-5 defense. He possesses decent size on a lean frame and has outstanding athletic ability.

Measurables

Height: 5’10” 1/4

Weight: 184 lbs.

Arm Length: 30-7/8”

Hand Size: 8-5/8”

Combine Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.54 seconds

Bench Press: 11 reps

Vertical Jump: 34”

Broad Jump: 10’4”

Games Watched

2016: California, Fresno State, Houston, Wyoming

2015: San Jose State

Strengths

Damontae Kazee displays good athletic ability from press coverage as he flips his hips and bails quickly. He demonstrates a very good change of direction skills as he plants and drives to the ball from off coverage.

Once the pass is thrown, Kazee tracks well and displays solid range from zone coverage. He takes an aggressive angle to the ball and possesses the play strength to win one-on-one battles. Elite ball skills allow him to make a play on the ball and create turnovers. He amassed a school-record 17 interceptions in his career, including 15 over his final two seasons. He returned two of those picks for a touchdown.

On the final defensive play against California, Kazee showed off a variety of his strengths. From his right cornerback position, he lines up in off coverage. Reading quarterback Davis Webb the entire way, he breaks on the pass before the wide receiver looks back for the ball. With excellent plant and drive, Kazee can cut off the pass and come away with a game-saving interception.

In run support, Kazee gets downhill quickly and takes aggressive angles to the ball. He’s a solid finisher who isn’t afraid to throw his body around to bring down the ball carrier.

Kazee also has versatility as a punt returner. He returned five punts as a junior, one of which was taken back for a touchdown.

Weaknesses

Damontae Kazee exhibits weak line of scrimmage skills as he is ineffective at disrupting routes from press coverage. From off coverage, he starts off too upright and his marginal angular body position slows his backpedal. His overaggressive can be taken advantage of with play action passes as a result of adequate decision making.

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Kazee possesses adequate man coverage skills and struggles to mirror routes. As a result, he gives opposing quarterbacks a large window in which to place the football on shallow routes as he gives too much of a cushion to protect from being beaten deep. He employs this strategy as he does not have the straight-line speed to keep up with speedy receivers deep downfield. On this play against California, true freshman wide receiver Demetris Robertson blows by Kazee on a go route, resulting in a 59-yard touchdown.

Against the run, Kazee struggles to disengage from blocks and does a marginal job of setting the edge and forcing the ball carrier back inside. In the play below against Wyoming, Kazee, who is playing more of a safety role with no wide receiver to the left, reacts very slowly to the play and fails to protect the edge. Cowboys running back Brian Hill bursts through the hole and has an easy path to the end zone once he’s in the open field.

Overall

Overall, Damontae Kazee is a backup cornerback at the next level who wins with competitive toughness and ball skills. He’s not a CB who should be asked to press or left on an island against vertical threats with above average speed. As a result, Kazee is much better suited for a zone scheme where he can keep his eyes in the backfield than man.

This is a very deep cornerback class and the fact that Kazee is a projected fifth or sixth-round pick is proof. He’ll provide immediate depth to an NFL roster and should see the field very early in his career in sub packages.

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