Big Board ranking: #7
Positional ranking: #2
Overview
Position: CB
College: Illinois
Class: Junior (RS)
Age: 22
Measurables
Height: 5’11 1/2”
Weight: 181 lbs.
Arm length: 31 1/4″
Hand size: 8 7/8″
Athletic testing
40-yard dash: N/A
10-yard split: N/A
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
Bench press: N/A
3-cone drill: N/A
Short shuttle: N/A
Strengths
Phenomenal instincts and play recognition. Very high football intelligence. Excellent movement skills with quick hips and feet. Above-average speed. Great burst and reaction time. Smooth opening up out of press coverage on outside releases. Exceptional quickness and acceleration allow him to be aggressive playing routes and recover on a double move. Drives to breakup throws in front of him without committing a penalty. Knows how to be physical without committing penalties in general. Outstanding route recognition in man coverage. High awareness in zone coverage. Quick to identify a throw and jump on nearby targets. Positions himself to make a play on the ball in downfield coverage and gets his head around at the catch point. Great ball skills. Experience in man coverage from both perimeter spots and the slot. Impressive ability to anticipate and sift through traffic. Takes excellent angles towards the ball. Wrap-up form tackler that shows zero hesitation versus the run. Will deliver crushing hits when given the chance. Aggressive towards the action. Eager to get off blocks and flow to the action. Fast as a blitzer. Plays with extreme confidence and competitive fire.
Weaknesses
Plays bigger than his size but has a thin overall frame. Clear issue with inside releases and seems to always play with outside leverage in press coverage. Fluidity in vertical transitions seem a bit clunky at times. Will come in too hot and miss tackles in space from further distances.
NFL comparison
Patrick Surtain Sr.
Conclusion
Overall, Witherspoon is an extremely intelligent and competitive cornerback with tremendous coverage ability. His willingness and effectiveness as a tackler should only increase his value both on the field and for the team as a whole.