Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State | NFL Draft Scouting Report

When discussing the highest cornerbacks within the 2023 NFL Draft, it might be silly to not embrace Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes. The true junior has been one of the crucial productive, ball-hawking, defensive backs in school soccer for the previous two years. With one other stable season of manufacturing and development, Forbes boasts a scouting report that ought to earn him early-round recognition subsequent April.

Emmanuel Forbes NFL draft profile

A former broad receiver and cornerback for Grenada Excessive Faculty, Forbes tallied eight interceptions with two returned for touchdowns in his senior season alone. Though he began low on some recruiting websites, Forbes ended his highschool profession as a four-star prospect and the thirteenth cornerback within the 2020 class. Whereas attracting important consideration, the CB stayed dedicated to Mississippi State since Feb. 2019.

Forbes showcased his distinctive ball abilities instantly as a real freshman. Snagging an interception in his school debut, Forbes tallied 5 interceptions in 2020, with three returned for touchdowns. The Mississippi State CB set program information for interception touchdowns and interception return yards in a season. In the meantime, he earned Freshman All-SEC accolades along with being named to the AP All-Bowl crew.

Though his 2021 statistics weren’t as gaudy, Forbes continued to offer a devastating presence within the Mississippi State backfield. Enjoying throughout from now-Cleveland Brown Martin Emerson, Forbes tallied 59 tackles that included 5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 4 move breakups, and a primary profession pressured fumble. Forbes now heads into the season Mississippi State’s prime CB and one of many prime cornerbacks within the 2023 NFL Draft.

• Place: Cornerback
• Faculty: Mississippi State
• Present Yr: Junior
• Peak/Weight: 6’0″, 180 kilos

Forbes’ scouting report

Heading into his junior season, Forbes already boasts extra manufacturing than some cornerbacks have of their total profession. Whereas pure statistics could be deceptive, the Mississippi State CB has a scouting report that backs up these numbers with translatable expertise. Whereas there are some areas the place he can enhance this fall, let’s begin by wanting on the strengths of Forbes’ scouting report.

Forbes’ strengths

At 6’0″ and 180 kilos, Forbes won’t have probably the most bodily imposing body within the 2023 NFL Draft class. Nonetheless, he possesses respectable top for the place.

Forbes oftentimes showcases that he could be extra bodily than his slender body would counsel. The Mississippi State CB has been capable of contend on the catch level in opposition to even the tallest of opponents.

He’s aided on this capacity by two key parts of his scouting report. Whereas not possessing a measurement as of but, it’s clear from finding out tape that Forbes is blessed with spectacular arm size. This size has a number of advantages. Because it pertains to his protection capacity on the catch level, he’s capable of get his palms to the ball when it might be out of attain for some cornerbacks. In the meantime, he’s in a position to make use of his size to get his palms on his opponent early in press protection.

The second element that aids his capacity to contend on the catch level is spectacular vertical athleticism. Reportedly, Forbes logged a 44″ vertical bounce whereas at highschool. Frankly, that’s insane.

For reference, Tariq Woolen posted the best vertical bounce on the 2022 NFL Mix with a powerful 42″ leap. The Mississippi State CB’s capacity to leap for the ball is unimaginable, and one interception in video games studied was a results of this sheer vertical athleticism.

This is only one a part of an general engaging athletic profile. Whereas Forbes doesn’t possess elite velocity, he’s an extended strider who covers a considerable amount of floor. He’s lined a number of the extra explosive receivers on the school degree — Kayshon Boutte, Jameson Williams, and John Metchie III in video games studied — they usually haven’t been capable of fly previous him. Moreover, Forbes’s scouting report reveals an impressively fast backpedal. In the meantime, he has the hip fluidity to transition seamlessly from backpedal to run.

They are saying “sluggish toes don’t eat,” and Forbes has been feasting on SEC WRs for the previous two years. His mixture of velocity, quickness, and fluidity permits him to repeatedly act upon his spectacular soccer instincts. As a former broad receiver, Forbes seems to own understanding of route ideas. Combining intelligence and athleticism has allowed him to click on and shut with devastating capacity to undercut the move. The Mississippi State CB additionally showcases wonderful ball-tracking capacity to make a play on the ball.

Finalizing the strengths factor of his scouting report, Forbes is a keen contributor in a number of phases of the sport. In opposition to the run, he makes use of his size to try to shed blocks and try to take down the ball service. There are occasions when Forbes demonstrates an actual violence in his palms, visibly stunning his blocker. In the meantime, his capacity to eat up floor has seen him used to assault the QB, with a notable success in opposition to Devin Leary final fall.

Forbes’ areas for enchancment

Whereas Forbes has a powerful scouting report to this point, there are areas of enchancment for the Mississippi State CB to concentrate on this fall. If he continues to develop in these areas, it ought to solely improve his 2023 NFL Draft inventory.

Whereas praising Forbes’ fortitude in opposition to the run, that’s most likely his largest space for growth. Within the video games studied, there have been a number of examples of missed tackles whereas working in house. There was a mixture of points starting from incorrect angles, mistiming of the sort out, and a few suboptimal method demonstrated. Cleansing up this space of his sport will probably be key to enhancing Forbes’ inventory.

Whereas he demonstrates good soccer intelligence on the entire, there’s growth potential right here too. Within the video games studied, Forbes routinely didn’t navigate visitors nicely. There have been a number of examples of the Mississippi State CB colliding with teammates. This with proof each in opposition to the run and in protection.

From a technical perspective, because it pertains to protection, Forbes might be extra conscious of giving up the within to a receiver. Whereas he’s showcased the flexibility to pressure his man to the surface utilizing a mixture of size and physicality, there have been a number of situations of Forbes permitting his receiver to get inside and make a play on the ball.

Present draft projection for Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes

Whereas it’s early within the 2023 NFL Draft cycle, it seems like we’re in for one more wonderful cornerback class. There are some early headline names, whereas others — like Cam Smith and Antonio Johnson — are already build up a head of steam. At this second, Mississippi State CB Forbes isn’t a reputation that’s routinely included with the higher echelon.

It’s about time that modified. Along with his mixture of fluidity, intelligence, and elite ball abilities, Forbes must be one of many prime cornerbacks in school soccer this fall. His scouting report boasts schematic versatility which solely provides to his NFL draft worth. It will be a shock if he falls outdoors of the early Day 2 space at this level. The potential is even larger.