Devon Witherspoon, a projected top-10 pick, is 1 of 3 Illinois defensive backs drawing NFL draft attention

Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon stood on a sideline Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis doing an interview with NFL Community’s Stacey Dales whereas the highest defensive again prospects labored out.

Witherspoon, one of many highest-rated cornerbacks on this 12 months’s draft, was presupposed to be figuring out with them, however a hamstring problem prevented him from doing on-field testing. He instructed Dales the harm was “nothing critical” and he anticipated to work out for groups both at Illinois’ professional day on March 10 or throughout personal exercises.

However he clearly was dissatisfied.

“It messes with me,” he stated. “I need to be on the market with the blokes, the highest prospects all over the world. However I’ve nonetheless obtained to cheer my guys on, ensure they’re doing good within the drills.”

Witherspoon was one in all three Illinois defensive backs on the mix final week together with safeties Sydney Brown and Jartavius “Quan” Martin.

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After an All-America season in 2022 wherein he had three interceptions, 17 passes defended, 41 tackles and 2½ tackles for a loss, Witherspoon entered the week within the high 10 of mock drafts by NFL Community analyst Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN’s Mel Kiper. The final Illini gamers drafted within the first spherical had been defensive finish Whitney Mercilus and broad receiver A.J. Jenkins in 2012.

In a convention name earlier than the mix, Jeremiah stated he’s “an enormous fan of the blokes they’ve obtained within the secondary there at Illinois” and devoted loads of time to his appreciation for Witherspoon, who’s 5-foot-11 and 181 kilos. That began with Witherspoon’s instincts, pure really feel, consciousness and route recognition.

“He sees issues earlier than they develop,” Jeremiah stated. “Generally you may see guys which have the athletic potential, and generally you see guys that actually have studied movie they usually know the best way to play. And it’s not frequent once you see guys which have all that wrapped up collectively. He does. He’s a whole package deal that manner.

“I imply, I want he was 200 kilos. He’s going to be slightly bit lighter, however he simply pulls the set off. He doesn’t play with any hesitation. He performs with final aggressiveness and confidence and urgency.”

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Jeremiah went on to reward Witherspoon’s edge and power. Brown and Martin echoed these feedback when requested throughout their mix media periods about their teammate.

“He’s an final competitor,” Brown stated. “His willingness to play towards anyone and dominate is why he’s particular.”

Jeremiah additionally had flattering feedback for Brown and Martin, whom Kiper ranked because the third- and seventh-best safeties within the draft getting into mix week.

Martin, who had three interceptions, 14 passes defended, 64 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two pressured fumbles in 2022, dubbed himself “essentially the most versatile DB on this draft.” Jeremiah stated Martin may very well be a Day 1 beginning nickel within the NFL.

“He’s fast and fluid,” Jeremiah stated. “He can change instructions. He’s a bodily hitter. He reveals you his toughness. I’m curious to see what the pure velocity is. That’s the one field left for him to verify, however I believed he was any person that would are available and be a extremely good nickel straight away.”

When Martin spoke to the media Thursday, he famous he had heard questions on his velocity.

“I’m very assured in what I’ll run,” he stated. “I simply need to showcase my velocity, my potential, my agility.”

Martin made Kiper’s record of mix risers after he ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.46 seconds, third amongst safeties, and was finest amongst safeties within the broad bounce (11 toes, 1 inch) and vertical bounce (44 inches).

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In the meantime, Brown, who attended the mix with twin brother and Illini working again Chase Brown, made NFL Community’s all-combine group with a 4.47-second 40, a 10-10 broad bounce and a 40½-inch vertical. Jeremiah predicted sturdy testing for Brown, who had six interceptions, 13 passes defended, 59 tackles, 3½ tackles for a loss, a sack, a pressured fumble and a fumble restoration in 2022.

“He has nice vary,” Jeremiah stated. “You’ll see him undercut routes. He’s explosive. … He’s excellent on particular groups.”

All three defensive backs expressed appreciation for being on the occasion collectively. They represented an Illinois protection that ranked among the many finest within the nation in factors (12.8) and yards (273.5) allowed per sport below coach Bret Bielema, former defensive coordinator Ryan Walters — now the pinnacle coach at Purdue — and defensive backs coach Aaron Henry, who was promoted to defensive coordinator.

“It’s displaying we’ve obtained the very best DBs within the nation,” Martin stated. “Simply to have DBs rolling in yearly like that is nice, simply to showcase our potential and what the College of Illinois brings.”