CB, Clemson
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 190 lbs
Class: Junior
Clemson cornerback Derion Kendrick has been one of the biggest risers if the 2020 class. Recruited as a receiver, Kendrick switched to corner in 2019 and has not looked back. He’s quickly become one of the nation’s best corners with an excellent chance to make it into the first round come April.
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Strengths
Kendrick was a five star receiving recruit in 2018 and drew comparisons to Sammy Watkins. He was the No. 4 ranked receiver in his recruiting class, putting him ahead of the likes of Jaylen Waddle and Ja’Marr Chase. He played out wide in his freshman year, with 14 catches for 202 yards, before transitioning to cornerback due to a lack of depth at the position. The athleticism and explosiveness you’d expect from a former receiver is evident when you watch him play corner for the Tigers.
Kendrick is an excellent athlete, with smooth hips and good speed. Despite his relative inexperience at the position he has performed extremely well. After an encouraging sophomore season, he has exploded onto the scene this year. This season he has allowed just seven catches on 21 targets, giving up a passer rating of just 44.5. His completion percentage allowed of 33 per cent ranked fourth in the nation amongst corners with more than 20 targets. His career passer rating when targeted of 65.8 is comparable to Patrick Surtain II, though admittedly on half the number of targets.
As you’d expect for a former receiver, Kendrick showcases excellent ball skills. He had five forced incompletions last year and has added three more in 2020. His instincts are excellent and his ability to see the game like a receiver helps him identify route concepts and react accordingly. He’s a good tackler too, with just five misses on 60 career attempts.
Another trait that is particularly encouraging is his ability in press coverage. Kendrick is comfortable getting physical with receivers at the line and makes the most of his powerful hands to jam and disrupt their release. This is always a trait that translates well to the NFL and will be a key part of any scout’s evaluation.
Weaknesses
Kendrick’s weaknesses won’t come as a surprise. Whilst he has excellent athletic traits, he lacks some of the nuance that comes from playing the position for an extended period. His route anticipation isn’t great and he doesn’t always process the game as quickly as you would like.
Another concern will be how grabby he can be downfield. He has improved on that this season though. After six penalties in 2019 he hasn’t given up one yet this season. That said, he can get away with more in college thanks to a lack of illegal contact penalties and that will need coaching out of his game.
Bottom Line
Kendrick is a really intriguing prospect. He is still raw but has put together some excellent performances and is consistently showing signs of improvement. He may not be the immediately pro-ready prospect that some of his classmates are, but he has significant upside and the potential to be amongst the very best corners in this class.
Big Board Rank: #18
Positional Rank: #3
