Devon Witherspoon was not heavily recruited coming out of high school and was mostly overlooked by Power 5 schools. Illinois was the only Power 5 school to offer him. He earned a role as a true freshman and has taken long strides to get better every single year. Witherspoon’s physicality is his biggest defining trait and the one thing that NFL teams will rely on him for.
Devon Witherspoon
CB – Illinois Fighting Illini
HT: 5116
WT: 180
Year: Super Junior
High School: Pine Forest (Pensacola, FL)
Rating: N/A
Projected Draft Grade: Potential Day One Starter
Projection: 1st/2nd Round
Devon Witherspoon scouting notes
Pros:
- Good speed. Solid overall athlete. Accelerates very well.
- Good upper body strength, especially for the position group.
- Hips have gotten smoother every year at Illinois.
- Attacks downhill with serious force. Powerful at the point of contact.
- Reacts very well to breaks by the receiver.
- Very physical cornerback. Very hands-on, disruptive.
- Plays his tech well. Ballhawk in zone coverage.
- Promising press coverage ability. Physically demanding in press. Relentless.
Cons:
- Won’t test as a stellar athlete, but will be suitable.
- Wrap-up tackling leaves some room to be desired.
- He could draw a lot of flags at the NFL level.
- I’d like to see him play with better discipline.
