NFL Draft Profile: Derion Kendrick, Cornerback, Georgia Bulldogs

NFL draft profile scouting report for Georgia cornerback, Derion Kendrick

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#11
Pos: CB
Ht: 5114
Wt: 194
Hand: 0918
Arm: 3100
Wing: 7400
DOB: 8/24/00
Eligible: 2022
Rock Hill, SC
South Pointe High School

Derion Kendrick
Georgia Bulldogs

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Pros:

Sweet footwork when pressing at the line of scrimmage. Crossover steps are always reactionary in the right direction. Maintains the edge on outside runs and has a quick trigger to fill lanes. Keeps calm and communicates well in zone coverage. Plays the pass through the hands of the receiver all the way to the ground. Eyes are disciplined in zone and maintains depth to the boundary. Willing tackler and will attack WR blockers with hands and pop with his pads. Good job mirroring in press despite the tendency to false step. Pad level stays at a common altitude in zone which allows him to break very well on the ball. 

Cons:

False steps in soft press can give the outside to a receiver. Needs to be more patient with that and play within the frame of the receiver instead of trying to make the first move. Lacks superior play strength which limits his ability in press-man and shedding blocks. Can do a better job using the sideline as his friend when he’s on an island. Will settle for getting in the face of the QB on blitzes instead of getting a hit on them. 

Summary:

Fleet-footed, versatile, technical corner who made a big jump from 2020 to 2021. Playing a multitude of coverages and techniques this season for the Bulldogs, Kendrick thrives in press bail and relies on his hip fluidity to keep in in the play while giving receivers a big cushion. His technique is solid in that press bail, off-man, and in zone coverage, but it could specifically use some work in press man. He has a tendency to give the outside by false stepping with his inside foot and then will pop his hips and pads vertical when transitioning the hips, but he’s a good athlete and can recover well. In the run game, he is very willing to make tackles and take on blocks but won’t pop off the screen with any strength. Despite this, his technique when shedding blockers is above average, and he doesn’t give up the alley very easily. Kendrick is a versatile corner but finds his best success in man coverage. He even has some experience at post safety, but likely projects as an outside corner who can play in any scheme. 

Background:

Full name Derion Rayshawn Kendrick. Top Receiver prospect turned cornerback at Clemson. Transferred from Clemson to the Bulldogs in Summer 2021. Played at South Pointe for coach by Strait Herron. Number 26 player in the nation by 247Sports, No. 30 player by Rivals and No. 62 player by ESPN. No. 4 wide receiver in the nation by 247Sports and No. 6 wide receiver by ESPN and Rivals. Was the top-rated player in South Carolina by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals…Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina. Won state title each of his four years in high school and played wide receiver as a sophomore and quarterback as a junior and senior. Played in the Shrine Bowl as a wide receiver. U.S. Army All-American Game participant and U.S. Army Player-of-the-Year Award finalist. Majored in parks, recreation, and tourism management at Clemson. Recipient of the Don Leebern, Jr. & Don Leebern III Football Scholarship.

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One-Liners

Fleet-footed, versatile, technical corner who made a big jump from 2020 to 2021. Off-man, press bail, or zone cover corner at the next level. 

Grades

Current Player Value/Potential Player Value

8.2/ 9.0

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