CB B.W. Webb
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Wiry strong corner with a tenacious attitude. Aware zone corner, keeps his eyes in the backfield and reacts quickly to throws in his area. Athleticism jumps off the tape. Excellent ball skills. Displays the strong hands for interception. Impressive vertical jump to play the ball in the air and high-point passes. Has foot quickness to stay with his man after a cut. Explosive closing burst and click-and-close ability. Excellent recovery speed. Good length to wrap up receivers after the catch on quick screens. Willing tackler in the open field.
WEAKNESSES Average height for the position, and is thin in the hips. Plays a lot of zone and off coverage, lacks experience in backpedal. Seemingly does very little pattern-reading; focuses on the backfield and gets caught ball watching. Press coverage needs a lot of work – doesn’t shoot his hands and gets on his heels quickly. Also must show scouts he can find the ball in man coverage. Has played most of his games against a lower level of competition. Doesn’t like to fight through blocks and screens.
NFL COMPARISON Adam Jones
BOTTOM LINE Webb has been a star since picking off Virginia three times in the Tribe’s 2009 opening-weekend shocker. The four-year starter has the hands and cover skills (if average size) to be one of the top “small school” prospects in the draft. He projects as at least a reliable nickel back on defense and a regular contributor on special teams -– and possibly more (he has the athleticism and cover skills to play outside), much like recent third-round picks from smaller schools Dwight Bentley (Louisiana-Lafayette) and Lardarius Webb (Nicholls State). After showing he can hold his own at the Senior Bowl, and if he performs well at the combine, his stock could skyrocket to the third round or higher.