Good vision, great instincts… notable qualities to be a deterrent defender in the NFL.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. – Cornerback – 22 years old – Junior – Missouri
Height: 1m83
Weight: 85 kg
2023 stats: 35 tackles, 4 passes defended, one forced fumble
Estimated draft position: 1st-2nd round
NFL Comparison: Byron Murphy
Perseverance. This is undoubtedly the defender's watchword during his last four years on the Missouri campus. Arriving as a major recruit in the spring of 2020, the cornerback was slow to find his cruising speed, the fault of repeated injuries. But once healthy, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. transformed the face of his program, playing a big role in the Tigers' great season in 2023, with a qualification and victory in a major bowl.
An atypical profile in this 2024 class full of cornerbacks, his profile appeals for many reasons…
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Highlights
- Instincts and reactivity
- Support and fluidity of movement
- Aggression on the run support
The first thing that jumps out at you when you see Rakestraw play is undoubtedly his knowledge of the game. Facing the quarterback, the cornerback has very good vision, which allows him to often be present at the conclusion. Whether in anticipation or reaction, the Dallas native has the valuable instincts of the modern defender.
A well-shaped head enhanced by above-average physical attributes. The lower body is particularly a notable strength, due to its good support and sudden changes of direction which make it an eminently formidable player in zone coverage.
As a man to man, Rakestraw also has his say. With a compact physique, the player is not the type to shy away from a physical challenge and does not hesitate to be aggressive on his direct opponent, whether to cut off a passing trajectory or even provide support against the race.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.'s weak points
- Pure speed
- Injury history
- Any production
The player is complete, to say the least, but his flaws make him a player likely to divide within franchises. His time of 4.51 seconds in the Combine sprint is nothing infamous, but puts him behind many others in an NFL that likes to give pride of place to the vertical game. Does he have the ability to defend effectively in this area? Because by wanting to be voluntary and aggressive, the Tiger may be led to let his hands drag and concede unfortunate penalties on deep play.
Another important point: gross production. With all the activity he had on the Columbia campus, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was content with only one small interception in four academic years. Certainly, with regular injuries, in 2021 and 2023, but for such an instinctive player, the inability to punish opposing errors is a task.
Possible destinations
New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Detroit Lions.
A raw talent, an invested player, a hard worker… In 2023, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. will have revealed all his potential, with an ability to play on three attempts and to be as valuable in defense as on special teams. But his fairly unremarkable statistics undoubtedly emphasize the fact that Ennis Rakestraw Jr. may not have the stature of a number 1 cornerback at the next level.
His profile will allow him to become more experienced in virtually any defensive scheme, and it would not be surprising if a team that focuses heavily on coverage in press begins his services at the end of April.
