LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr is falling in the draft after he could have been top 3 pick in 2020

If school soccer had the one-and-done, cowl cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. of LSU could be getting into his third season within the NFL in 2022. He could be nearing his second contract after signing for $33.5 million in 2020 over 4 years with a $21.9 million signing bonus.

In LSU’s 15-0 nationwide championship season in 2019, Stingley was a consensus first workforce All-American after main the Southeastern Convention with six interceptions and was No. 2 nationally in passes defended with 21 underneath defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. He would have most definitely been the primary cornerback picked at No. 3 within the first spherical in 2020 behind LSU quarterback Joe Burrow to Cincinnati and Ohio State defensive finish Chase Younger to Washington.

However since he was not obtainable, Detroit took Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah with the third decide of the primary spherical in 2020 and paid him $33.5 million over 4 years with a $21.9 million signing bonus.

Since Stingley needed to stay at LSU by his junior season in 2021, he couldn’t be eligible for the draft till this 12 months on April 28. He ran a superb 4.37 time within the 40-yard sprint on Professional Day at LSU on Wednesday and regarded wonderful within the different varied drills as properly.

However he’s not thought of a high 5 decide and will even fall out of the highest 10 and nearer to the highest 20. He has not intercepted a move since 2019.

“He’s now going to be a high 10-12 decide,” NFL Draft knowledgeable Mike Detillier of WWL Radio in New Orleans mentioned Wednesday. “Derek would have been the third total decide in 2020. He was a greater prospect then than Okudah. He was essentially the most dominant freshman cornerback in my 36 years overlaying LSU. However for professional scouts, head coaches and normal managers, it’s about his long run well being and availability.”

For that purpose, he may fall to the second half of the primary spherical and make within the neighborhood of $15.6 million over 4 years with an $8.7 million signing bonus, which is what Alabama quarterback Mac Jones made because the No. 15 decide of the primary spherical made final 12 months.

LSU Tigers Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (7) celebrates throughout a school soccer sport between the LSU Tigers and the UCLA Bruins performed on September 4, 2021 on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.
(Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)

For the reason that summer season of 2020, Stingley’s inventory has fallen as has that of the LSU soccer program.

Shortly after LSU received all of it, Aranda grew to become Baylor’s head coach.

Then, Stingley had an odd, sudden sickness the evening earlier than LSU’s 2020 season opener towards Mississippi State and missed the sport. Mississippi State switch quarterback Ok.J. Costello threw for a SEC file 623 yards in a 44-34 win and LSU tumbled to a 5-5 season with the worst protection at school historical past underneath coordinator Bo Pelini.

Stingley’s mysterious sickness has by no means been confirmed publicly. It was mentioned solely that he had an “allergic response.” He returned to the lineup for the following seven video games, however after a 3-5 begin by the Tigers, he sat out the final two video games of the season with an ankle damage.

Stingley and LSU bought a brand new defensive coordinator in 2021 in Minnesota Vikings secondary coach Daronte Jones, however he had no main school defensive coordinator expertise, which rapidly confirmed. And Stingley by no means bought going both as he suffered a painful Lisfranc joint damage in his left foot throughout preseason practices. The Lisfranc damage is mainly torn ligaments in the course of the foot.

Stingley performed on the injured foot for the primary three video games of the 2021 season, however aggravated the damage at observe on Sept. 22, had surgical procedure and missed the remainder of the season. He was solely cleared to organize for the 2022 draft three weeks in the past.

He was requested on Wednesday how lengthy he has been one hundred pc wholesome.

“Uh, one hundred pc? Uh, uh, it’s been like a few days,” he mentioned.

Derek Stingley Jr. #7 of the LSU Tigers warms up previous to a sport towards the Central Michigan Chippewas at Tiger Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures)

And he ran a 4.37 within the 40!

“I can run sooner than that,” he mentioned. “I don’t really feel any soreness, so I’m good to go. I simply wished to indicate that nothing has modified throughout this previous 12 months. All of the groups noticed how I transfer after I confirmed them that I’m nonetheless me. The whole lot’s going to be good.”

A lot has modified, although. NFL groups are nonetheless very . There have been representatives from all 32 groups at LSU on Wednesday, together with defensive again coaches from Arizona, Atlanta, Detroit, the Los Angeles Chargers, the New York Giants, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Seattle. However they have an inclination to not need to spend a excessive decide on a participant with damage histories.

“Whenever you decide that prime, you’re on the lookout for essentially the most gifted and the cleanest prospect you’ll be able to decide. The query about him is being obtainable for a 17-game season. That’s what’s dropping him,” Detillier mentioned.

“Proper now, I’m not even targeted on that,” Stingley mentioned. “I’m targeted on these visits arising with NFL groups. I’ve numerous visits (with NFL groups) – 9.”

There are numerous questions round Stingley. For one, he most likely may have performed these final two video games in 2020. And may he have tried to play so rapidly after the foot damage? He performed the primary three video games final season and made the damage worse. He didn’t appear speaking about his LSU days on Wednesday.

“It was good,” he mentioned solely when requested about his expertise at LSU as this was his final day on LSU’s indoor observe discipline.

He was requested if he may elaborate. “It was good,” he answered.

With the one-and-done in school soccer, this interview may have been extra enjoyable two years in the past presently with that good season simply over two months eliminated and void of the lingering damage questions.

“Accidents, attempting to play by the foot damage, which affected his play, and really questionable defensive schemes by new defensive coordinators after Dave Aranda left took its toll,” Detillier mentioned.

Stingley has by no means regarded like he did in 2019 but. Neither has LSU, which fired coach Ed Orgeron lower than two years after the nationwide championship and changed him with Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly.

“He’s properly fitted to quite a lot of zone coverages, however must play with significantly better zeal and toughness in run assist,” NFL.com’s draft assessment said.

Stingley is out to show that incorrect, and it got here up when he spoke with Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley of the Chargers.

“He simply advised me his entire purpose for popping out right here was to see if I nonetheless had the dedication and simply the facility to go on the market and carry out,” Stingley mentioned. “When he noticed it, he mentioned that’s what he was ready to see, and that’s what lots of people try to see. They’re not frightened about that. They know what I’m.”