2014 NFL Draft: Kyle Fuller Scouting Report

By Ryan Ratty on Tuesday, March 4th 2014
2014 NFL Draft: Kyle Fuller Scouting Report

There weren't many cornerback duos that were better than Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum in 2013. The pair combined to be one of the stingiest secondaries in college football. The better of the two is Fuller, but Exum has made it clear that he believes he's the best cornerback in the draft. Fuller was a fringe second round pick coming into the NFL Scouting Combine. But he turned heads with good numbers in Indianapolis. Let's take a look at eDraft's official scouting report on the prospect.

College: Virginia Tech

Ht: 6'0"

Wt: 190

Video

 

College Stats
Year Total Tackles Pass Deflections Interceptions
2010 32 6 0
2011 65 9 2
2012 52 7 2
2013 24 10 2

 

Strengths

 

Best in man coverage: Fuller has long arms that allow him to be effective in man coverage. He also is at his best when he's pressing at the line of scrimmage. Virginia Tech allowed Fuller in 2013 to play a ton of man coverage. NFL defenses are starting to press more at the line of scrimmage. Because of that, Fuller will find his way at the next level.

Body control: Fuller is good at turning his hips. He also has a good backpedal, which is something that is valuable for a cornerback. He uses his arm length and body control to cover some of the best receivers in the NCAA. Fuller has the physical traits to succeed in the NFL.

Experience: A four-year starter at Virginia Tech, Fuller has plenty of college experience against some good receivers from the ACC. His senior season was cut short to only three games, but he has played over 40 games during his time in Blacksburg.

 

Negatives

Zone coverage: I have raved about Fuller's man coverage skills, but his ability in zone coverage is pretty abysmal. He has also a bit aggressive, which could be a reason why he is subpar in zone coverage. He also needs to work on his route recognition.

Tackling: Fuller has a very slender frame for a cornerback. Because of this, he is prone to miss some tackles. But Fuller can also make a pop when he comes up for plays behind the backfield. Fuller has good vision, so he can see out run plays to his size. But, he needs to improve his ability to bring down players.

Durability: Fuller only played in three games in his senior season in college. I said earlier how Fuller is very thin. That could also be a reason for his injury issues. All in all, Fuller has missed 17 games in his college career. Fuller also pulled out of the Senior Bowl because of injuries.

 

NFL Comparison

Jason McCourty, Tennessee Titans: Many people have compared Fuller to McCourty, and I really can't agree more. Both are fast and both have long arms, but both tend to miss on tackes behind the backfield. McCourty is also much better in man coverage rather than zone coverage. It's easy to see why many have compared Fuller to McCourty. Also, both families have bloodlines in the NFL.

 

Draft Outlook

Fuller is still a raw prospect, but he has potential to be a good player. The Virginia Tech product plays with a lot of skill, but he has trouble with some parts of the game. He is nowhere near a complete player.

But with some seasoning in the NFL, Fuller could turn into a second cornerback in the NFL. His numbers at the combine have also brought up his overall draft stock.

 

Best Fits

I look toward a team in the middle of the second round that needs some help in the secondary, and the team that intrigues me is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dick LaBeau is in need of some contributors in the secondary, and Fuller could very well be on their board in the middle of the second.

Other possible fits include the San Diego Chargers, New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals.

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