Channing Stribling, CB, Michigan: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Oct 17, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines cornerback Channing Stribling (8) and Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr. (85) can’t get to the pass at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

A reserve for most of his career at Michigan, Channing Stribling was named a starter in 2016 and significantly enhanced his 2017 NFL Draft stock.

Player Summary

Channing Stribling, a 2013 three-star recruit, started 18 of 47 career games for Michigan. After spending the majority of his first three seasons as a backup, he became a full-time starter in 2016. As a senior he would be named second-team All-Big Ten after recording career highs in tackles, tackles for a loss, sacks, passes defended and interceptions.

For his career, Stribling recorded 68 tackles, six interceptions and 16 passes defensed. He played for two head coaches and three defensive coordinators in his college career. After his senior season, Stribling participated in the East-West Shrine Game and was invited to the Scouting Combine. He possesses adequate size on a slender frame with solid athletic ability.

Measureables

Height: 6’1” 1/4

Weight: 188 lbs.

Arm Length: 31.5”

Hand Size: 8.5”

Combine Numbers

40-Yard Dash: 4.60 seconds

Bench Press: 5 reps

Vertical Jump: 31.5”

Broad Jump: 9’6”

3-Cone Drill: 6.94 seconds

Short Shuttle: 4.56 seconds

Games Watched

2016: Florida State, Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin

Strengths

From press coverage, Channing Stribling displays very good hand usage as he keeps his feet still and delivers a solid punch to the receiver in order to disrupt the timing of the route. He mirrors the receiver well throughout the route from man coverage and forces the quarterback to throw into tight windows.

On this play against Wisconsin, Stribling demonstrates good decision making as he knows he has safety help deep. He mirrors the receiver’s route closely and quickly diagnoses the play. He then undercuts the route and gets his head around in time to see the ball coming his way. He finishes the play by making the interception.

As seen on the interception, Stribling stays aggressive and tracks the ball very well. Even when the receiver gets a step ahead, he uses his tracking skills and length to stay in the play. He possesses very good ball skills and play strength to win one-on-one battles and make a play on the ball to prevent a completion. Here are two examples of this as Stribling first uses his length to break up a pass even though he was initially beaten by the receiver.

In this example, Stribling, although only 188 pounds, is able to wrestle the ball away from Penn State’s Chris Godwin in the endzone.

Against the run, Stribling does a good job of setting the edge and forcing the ball carrier back inside. He’s a solid tackler who wraps up and prevents the ball carrier from gaining yards after contact.

Weaknesses

Channing Stribling possesses adequate change of directions skills as a result of stiff hips. This allows receivers to gain an early advantage in the stem of the route when Stribling bails or is unsuccessful with his jam at the line of scrimmage. This also hampers his ability to stay with quicker, agile receivers, especially from off coverage. His adequate change of direction also comes into play on throws underneath as his plant and drive slows his ability to close on the ball from off coverage.

Stribling is a marginal open field tackler as he takes marginal angles to the football and does not possess the recovery speed to close on the ball.

Stribling is marginal in run support as he struggles to disengage from blocks, which creates large running lanes for the ball carrier. Below is an example of this as the Florida State receiver (number 80), measuring in at 5’10” and 175 pounds, has no trouble sustaining his block of Stribling long enough to allow the running back to explode through the hole.

Overall

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Overall, Channing Stribling is a backup cornerback who wins with length and line of scrimmage skills. He’s not someone who possesses the change of direction skills or speed to play in the slot. He’s best suited for a Cover 2 defense in which he can press the receiver at the line of scrimmage to throw off the timing of routes while having safety help over the top.

Stribling is a projected day three pick in the 2017 NFL Draft whose length and physical style of play will intrigue teams who ask their cornerbacks to play physically and aggressively at the line of scrimmage. His career will begin as a special teams contributor who can fill in when needed in the secondary.

He still has room to grow, and having started just 18 games in college, is still very much a work in progress. He has a high ceiling and the potential to develop into a reliable cornerback at the next level.

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