Scouting Report: Gators CB Commit Wardell Mack

Analyzing the skill set of new Florida Gators cornerback commitment Wardell Mack.

Florida shocked much of the college football world when four-star cornerback and Marrero (La.) native Wardell Mack announced his commitment to the Gators on Monday afternoon. 

For a long time, most analysts believed Mack would either stay home with LSU or move west to join Texas. But Florida's Billy Napier and Corey Raymond were able to pluck one of the best prospects from The Boot, regardless of position, to join a secondary class that already includes Xavier Filsaime, Josiah Davis, and Teddy Foster.

Mack is an extremely versatile defensive back that primarily plays corner on the defensive end, but has also seen time in the slot and at safety and manned a ball-handling role offensively. 

All Gators analyzed Mack’s junior film to provide an in-depth perspective of his game.

Scouting Report: Gators CB Commit Wardell Mack

With ample athleticism, Mack has shined on both sides of the ball for the Patriots for some time. 

Offensively, Mack has mostly played wide receiver but also previously filled in at quarterback when his team needed him. Mack has displayed outstanding speed, wiggle, and quickness to force missed tackles before making his way to the end zone on numerous occasions.

As a receiver, Mack has flashed good hands and concentration to make catches in traffic and outside of his framework. Both of these skills translate well to the defensive side of the ball, as seen in his ability to track the ball in the air and make a play.

And while they haven't necessarily led to a high number of interceptions, Mack is as “lockdown” as cornerback prospects come thanks to the combination of these skills. Although he doesn't always take the ball away, he is in the correct position to prevent a catch more often than not. 

He plays a lot of press-man coverage and does a great job of mirroring the receiver, using his foot speed to stay square. He utilizes his elite length — standing at just over 6-foot, 182 pounds with 33-inch arms — to break up passes without drawing a flag. While Mack can get a little grabby at times, he trusts his athleticism and technique in order to get to his spot.

In off-coverage, Mack depends on his vision and instincts to quickly read the quarterback's movements and anticipate where they are going with the ball. Once he makes up his mind, Mack shows excellent burst to get out of his backpedal and make a play.

Recruiting services are all over the place regarding their opinions of Mack, with his overall ranking falling anywhere between No. 19 and No. 231 between On3 Sports, Rivals and 247Sports. 

But while the rankings vary, one thing is certain: Mack is an outstanding all-around player that, while still a bit raw in some areas, should develop into a premier college defensive back considering the abilities he brings to the table.

Pulling a prospect from Louisiana that LSU wants is never easy, but Florida was able to do just that, with Napier and Raymond’s ties to the area playing a huge part in Mack's recruitment. 

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