2015 NFL Scouting Combine: DBs to Watch

The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine is well underway with interviews, medicals, and orientations. The defensive backs are the last group to go in the positional on field workouts, which occurs on Monday. The remaining positions have already done their stuff and left Indianapolis.

Cornerbacks

1. Marcus Peters 6'0 197 RS Junior Washington

- Peters is arguably the best corner in this draft on the field wise but the off field problems will be scrutinized heavily. He was kicked off the Huskies team midway through 2014 for multiple disciplinary reasons. Peters did seem contrite and asking for forgiveness during his press conference. Also stated that the choking situation was a misunderstanding. However I am not convinced that this isn't just a PR move to save face. He's better than teammate Desmond Trufant (who's had a great start to his career with the Atlanta Falcons).

2. Ladarius Gunter 6'1 202 RS Senior Miami

- Gunter had an outstanding Senior Bowl week. He wowed everyone with his hip control, speed, and ability to track the ball. He has the size that the NFL looks for in its corners since the Seahawks made it a trend with their tall secondary. As with all Miami prospects, no one knows how good they are until they leave the school. The program is a mess even with the NCAA cloud no longer hanging over them. LG could be Byron Maxwell 2.0.

3. Nick Marshall 6'1 207 Senior Auburn

- Marshall had a busy day on Saturday as he worked out with the QBs then stayed behind to do cornerback drills. As was the case in Mobile, he showed some rust (which is expected given the fact that he hadn't played the position in 3 years) but the potential is there. To his credit, he asked Senior Bowl coaches to move him to CB as a realization that he wasn't going to make it as a QB. Off the field history is alarming and he needs to convince teams that he's beyond the issues.

4. Quandre Diggs 5'9 196 Senior Texas

- Diggs could be Peanut Tillman 2.0 after it's all said and done. He's on the shorter side but makes up for it with good instincts and is a big hitter. He was the fiery leader of the youthful Longhorns defense that needed to be improve in hurry due to the offense not carrying their weight. NFL bloodlines are there as Diggs is the younger brother of longtime veteran and former Horn Quentin Jammer.

5. Jacoby Glenn 6'0 179 RS Sophomore UCF

- Glenn was somewhat of a surprise early entrant from the Golden Knights. He's a bit light given his 6'0 frame and needs to add weight. Excels as a run stopper but not very athletic going forward or backward. Glenn does have that ballhawk trait, however as he's collected 10 turnovers and 35 passes defensed in two years. Displays the proper wrap up tackle form on a consistent basis. Likely better off adding weight and converting to safety.

Safeties

1. Gerod Holliman 6'0 218 RS Junior Louisville

- The definition of a ball hawk. He had 14 interceptions in 2014 and was named the Jim Thorpe Trophy winner as a result. However, he's Michael Griffin 2.0 in run support aka not doing much and taking wrong angles consistently, much to the displeasure of his teammates. Holliman is a big hitter so there's that.

2. Tevin McDonald 5'11 195 RS Senior Eastern Washington

-  McDonald has some impressive NFL bloodlines as father Tim was a standout safety for the 49ers' dynasty teams and brother TJ is currently in the league. It has been a rocky career for Tevin as he was dismissed from his father's alma mater UCLA for (allegedly) failing three drug tests. He then transferred to Eastern Washington and kept a low profile. TM will need to interview well given his past indiscretions. Might get drafted off of bloodlines alone.

3. Jaquiski Tartt 6'1 221 RS Senior Samford

- Can he make a leap up the boards as a small school safety like J.J Wilcox before him? If there's a Titans comp for him, it's Marqueston Huff. Like our beloved Mr. Huff, Tartt struggled with being the lone single high safety that had to make the perfect read. He's not as athletic as Huff but a better tackler (coming out of college).

4. Derron Smith 5'10 200 Senior Fresno State

- Smith is a big hitter with a decent amount of range. In the past two years, he has 9 interceptions (15 career) and a boatload of tackles. He's an intelligent safety that can diagnose plays very quickly and execute the defensive counter properly.

Additional Notes

- It will be interesting to see how Landon Collins fares. Is he Mark Barron or Robert Lester?

- Will the FSU CBs PJ Williams and Ronald Darby recover their stocks after a horrendous 2014? Expect Darby to run fast, he ran track for the Noles in his spare time.

- The CBs I have an eye on are Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest) and Doran Grant (Ohio State)

- Can Detrick Bonner be the latest former Hokie defensive back to make something of himself? It's like Va Tech always has one drafted every year.