Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU: 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Evan Bruner
Despite the recent injuries and play, it’s hard to not consider Derek Stingley Jr. as one of the best corners in the 2022 NFL Draft. His scouting report is below.
Name: Derek Stingley Jr.
Position: CB
College: LSU
Height: 6’1
Weight: 195 pounds
Background
Early on in Stingley’s high school career at Durham High School in Baton Rouge, it was evident that he was destined for the NFL. Along with being the highest-rated cornerback in the nation, Stingley also played on special teams and offense as a wide receiver. Stingley was named Louisiana’s Gatorade player of the year his senior season in 2018 and was one of the three finalists for the national player of the year award.
It’s no surprise that this resume made Stingley one of the most sought-after players in high school football. By signing day, he was the No.1 rated prospect in the entire 2018 class according to rivals and was ranked second according to 24/7 sports. After receiving over 30 scholarship offers and visits to three different schools, Stingley opted to stick with the hometown team committed to LSU.
Stats
There was no shortage of expectations or hype surrounding Derek Stingley Jr. when he first arrived on campus in 2019. But he proved early on that he was more than capable of living up to his recruiting ranking. As a true freshman, Stingley recorded six interceptions, 15 pass breakups, 38 total tackles to help LSU capture the national title. Stingley was masterful and was immediately pegged as the top cornerback for the 2022 draft.
Unfortunately, 2019 turned out to be the peak of Stingley’s collegiate career. Between injuries and inconsistent play, Stingley struggled to recapture the magic of his true freshman season. Stingly only played in 10 total games in 2020 and 2021 and had no interceptions and a meager five pass breakups.
Stingley was also a punt returner for the Tigers in 2019 and 2020. He returned a total of 23 punts for 260 yards. LSU relieved Stingley of his special teams duties after he suffered a concussion returning a punt in 2020.
2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Some prospects are better athletes than football players; others are better football players than athletes; and occasionally, there will be a prospect who possesses both incredible athletic ability and skills. This is why even after two seasons of struggling to stay on the field, and lackluster production, Stingley is still widely regarded as the top cornerback in this class.
It will be hard to find another defensive back in this draft that can match Stingley’s athletic profile. He ran a blazing 4.3 40-yard dash as well, recording a 42 inch vertical in high school. His SPARQ rating of 142.74 was the highest of any cornerback in his class and one of the best we have ever seen from a defensive back at the high school level.
These physical traits show up on film as well. Stingley shows excellent speed and change of direction. This also gives Stingley more room for error. He often uses explosiveness to close in on receivers and jump routes at a moment’s notice. Even when Stingley gets beat off the line, he has the closing speed to recover.
Stingley’s movement skills go far beyond straight-line speed. He is a natural in coverage and has the foot speed and flexibility to mirror receivers. Stingley is a very fluid runner and is able to make sudden cuts and breaks without losing speed. This ability is what makes Stingley so hard to shake in coverage and a big reason why he was used as a punt returner early in his college career.
Despite the lack of production in the last two years, Stingley’s ball skills should still be considered top-notch. His experience as an offensive player allows him to become a wide receiver when the ball is in the air. He has outstanding ball tracking for a defensive back and instincts to match.
Stingley can also be very physical in coverage. He has the size and length to be highly effective in press and uses hand fighting to disrupt receivers’ routes. With that said, his physicality in coverage has not translated as a tackler. Stingley will often get stuck on his blocker and allows himself to get taken out of the play. This is especially evident in the run game but can also be seen from time to time on passes.
Final thoughts
If it weren’t for the injuries and questionable effort, Derek Stingley Jr. would be as close as it gets to a bulletproof prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. In terms of physical talent, he is the best corner prospect since Jalen Ramsey. The problem is that talent only translated to one great year of film and production in college.
It’s hard to poke many holes in Stingley’s game. His length and athleticism should give him a great deal of versatility. He has the short and long speed to stick with quicker receivers and the size and physicality to deal with bigger ones. There isn’t anything that he isn’t physically equipped to handle at the next level.
Whoever takes the chance on Stingley in the 2022 NFL Draft will be selecting him for the promise he showed in 2019. All the tools are still there, and it’s hard to see anything other than injuries stopping him from flourishing in the NFL.