2016 NFL Draft: Kendall Fuller Scouting Report

There is not a more intriguing cornerback in the 2016 NFL Draft, as of now, than Virginia Tech’s Kendall Fuller.

The last name “Fuller” is going to be one that is known across the league for many years to come. In just one year, older brother Kyle Fuller, of the Chicago Bears, established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in all of football. The amazing thing is that Fuller played at such a high level with a horrible defensive line in front of him.

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While a hand injury did limit a part of his game, mainly his physicality at the line of scrimmage, Fuller was one of the best corners in the league in football. In the 2016 NFL Draft, his younger brother, Kendall, is a guy that can provide the same amount of hype.

Out of Virginia Tech, Kendall Fuller possesses all of the tools that are needed to be a successful cornerback. He needs more experience and he needs to fix certain aspects of his game, one being how he locks in on a player instead of the quarterback. However, Fuller has all of the traits that are uncoachable.

At 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, Fuller has decent size. He uses his body at the line of scrimmage very well. To go with his size, Fuller has good speed and agility. With these two natural skills, Fuller has the ability to keep pace and mirror opposing receivers. This play is the perfect of example of Fuller’s mirror skills and then his ball skills at the point of attack:

Fuller is extremely sudden in his moves. For a bigger cornerback, he has the ability to turn his hips with ease. This is a trait that is known as fluidity. Fuller can turn and run with faster receivers and he can break on the football as well when the ball is released from the quarterback’s arm. Here’s a clip of Fuller breaking on the football and returning the intercepted pass back for a touchdown:

Despite being one of the top cornerbacks in the nation, Fuller is still only 20 years old and the 2016 season will be a huge opportunity for him to work out his kinks. One flaw I have with Fuller is that he is extremely grabby throughout routes. It’s more of his swagger and his mindset, but the play won’t exactly translate well to the NFL if he doesn’t make some changes.

Another thing is that his body needs some shredding, just like any other prospect. Fuller is a little premature for his size. He’s yet to fill out his frame. But when he does, he’ll look the part. After all, many cornerbacks in the league stand in at 5-foot-10 and weigh 205 pounds.

Going into his junior year, Fuller will have a ton of pressure on him to turn into the complete product. One problem draft scouts may run into over the course of the scouting season will be Fuller and the defense he plays in.

In 2015, Virginia Tech, led by pass rushers Dadi Nicolas, Nigel Williams, and Ken Ekanem, will boast one of the best defenses in the nation. Because of that, some of Fuller’s statistics may be a bit inflated, but the reality is that he’s still amongst the best players in the nation and he’ll still be a top-15 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Next: 2016 NFL Mock Draft: Way too early predictions

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