CB, Georgia
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 185 lbs
Class: Junior
Stokes joined Georgia as a three-star recruit in 2017 and has been a starter since his freshman year. He really found his feet in 2020, contributing four interceptions and allowing a QBR of 43.6 on his way to First Team All-SEC honours. Whilst he is some way from being the finished product, Stokes offers an interesting skillset that should translate well to the NFL.
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Strengths
One thing working in Stokes’ favour is his record over the last three years. He got his first starting experience as a true freshman in 2018 and has been consistently impressive since. Throughout his career, Stokes has allowed a completion rate of just 53.4 per cent on his 118 targets. In that time he has also contributed 19 forced incompletions and given up a career passer rating when targeted of just 62.6. For context, this is better than the likes of Caleb Farley, Patrick Surtain, and Jaycee Horn. His 2020 tape was encouraging against an SEC-only schedule, giving up just 145 yards on 28 targets.
Perhaps his biggest selling point is his ability to play press coverage. College corners don’t tend to play it a tonne, but Stokes has played over 400 snaps in press over the past two seasons. He has prototypical length and is comfortable jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. There are a number of teams who will covet this skillset highly in the draft. Stokes could be an excellent NFL corner in a scheme that plays to these strengths.
He also ticks the box as far as speed is concerned. In the run-up to the draft he has been timed as low as 4.24 in the 40-yard dash. This would rank amongst the fastest players in Combine history. The benefits of this kind of long speed are obvious and we rarely saw Stokes get beaten deep. He doesn’t get stacked downfield and has the burst to close on his receiver and make the play. He did not allow a completion of more than 20 yards this season.
Another aspect of his game that teams will like is his proficiency as a tackler. This has been a consistent part of his game throughout his college career and he has never missed more than two tackles in a season. His technique is excellent and he his large tackle radius helps him to wrap up his man. His length helps him to deconstruct from blockers and Stokes has been a solid run defender throughout his college career.
Weaknesses
The biggest problem facing Stokes with his transition to the NFL is contact downfield. He is an incredibly grabby corner who benefitted massively from the lack of illegal contact penalties in college. This just won’t work in the NFL and in his current state he will be a flag magnet. He uses his hands far too much and will need to adapt his technique if he is going to succeed at the next level.
The other issue will be his change of direction. Whilst Stokes possesses blazing straight line speed, he isn’t the most fluid corner. He can struggle when changing course and there is definitely some tightness in his hips. This was particularly obvious when Georgia used him in off-coverage and he would struggle if receivers challenged him on in-breaking routes. Stokes’ future is very much in a press-heavy role that allows him to utilise his long speed to cover the vertical tree.
Bottom Line
It is difficult to ignore the tape that Stokes has put together over the last three years. He has been a consistent presence on the Bulldogs’ defense and held his own against some of the best receivers in college football. His physical approach downfield will get him into trouble in the NFL though and his sub-par change of direction skills limit his appeal in certain defenses. Stokes may be a scheme-limited corner, but his proficiency in press and deep speed make him an intriguing prospect.
Big Board Rank: #70
Positional Rank: #11
