NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB
by Sam Monson
5/3/2008
 
There are some players every year that just seem to generate a buzz around themselves, and rise up draft boards prior to the NFL Draft. This year, one of the biggest stories is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (DRC). Cromartie has been flying up draft boards since his impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, and the fact that he is cousin to the San Diego Chargers' Antonio Cromartie, who has just completed a season in which he led the league in interceptions, doesn't hurt his stock either.
 
DRC spent his college career at little Tennessee St, as he attended four different high schools, and didn't begin playing football until his senior season. DRC was thrown into the starting line-up as a freshman, and soon began to dominate, showing genuine shutdown ability and the kind of speed and footwork that the NFL will love.
 
His talent has also caught the eye of a certain Mr Deion Sanders, who must recognise the resemblance that Rodgers-Cromartie's skill set has to his own. Deion has become something of a mentor and patron to Rodgers-Cromartie, and was in vocal form at the Combine on NFL Total Access, talking up his young protégé after every drill.
 
Rodgers-Cromartie has risen from being one of the top half-dozen corners in this draft; pencilled to go somewhere in the second round, to being a certain lock for the first round, and ranked by some in the top two cornerbacks available. Here's why:
 
What we like about DRC
 
Rodgers-Cromartie dominated at Tennessee St. He redefined the term 'shutdown corner' in an era where many believe it is no longer possible. In his 39 starts at corner, opposition QBs completed only 55 of 161 passes (34.16%) thrown at his receiver. Of those 161 passes, DRC picked off 11 of them, deflected 25, and held them to an average of 3.54 yards per passing attempt, the best by any defensive back in college over the last three seasons.
 
DRC also has the speed (4.33) and size (6'1, 182lbs) to take that game to the NFL and succeed. He has added value in the return game, possesses exceptional hands, ball skills and body control, and has the best footwork of any corner in this draft. His change of direction skills are first rate because he never takes false steps. He keeps his feet moving, and locates the ball in the air. He also showed at the Senior Bowl he is a capable form tackler.
 
NFL personnel also love to talk about 'bloodlines', and he does have a similar skill set to his cousin, Antonio Cromartie.
 
Question marks about DRC
 
Rodgers-Cromartie only really has two negatives, and they're not big ones. He played at a small school, so his level of competition wasn't great. Whilst that's true, he did dominate that level of competition, and continued to do so when it was stepped as high as possible at the Senior Bowl. The other knock on him is his size, at only 182 lbs. He is quite small, but has the frame to add weight, and has shown the ability to tackle well at that size.
 
Highlight of his college career
 
Ended his college career holding numerous team records, and became known for the big play on 3rd down.
 
Other snippets

• Rodgers-Cromartie also ran track for Tennessee St, winning conference championships in the 60 yard dash.

• DRC has also blocked several punts during his career

• He compares closely to his cousin, Antonio Cromartie

• Potential good fits: Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints