NFL Draft Profile: Roger McCreary, Cornerback, Auburn Tigers
#23
Pos: CB
Ht: 5110
Wt: 189
Hand: 0878
Arm: 2928
Wing: 7058
DOB:
Eligibility: 2022
Mobile, AL
Williamson High School
Roger McCreary
Auburn
Tigers
One-Liner:
Fluid, confident, feisty press cover cornerback with good technique and below average size.
Pros:
A feisty man cover cornerback, McCreary is technically sound, patient and confident when mirroring receivers. He rarely makes false steps and is patient at the line of scrimmage to not shoot his hands too early. McCreary consistently forces receivers towards the sideline and re-establishes contact at the top of routes. He possesses quick feet with flexible ankles and good hip fluidity to transition smoothly. His speed is above average. At the catch point, McCreary is confident and consistently able to make an attempt at playing the football. He gains outside leverage in run support and is a capable tackler in space.
Cons:
Lacking ideal length and size at size position leads to mismatches and McCreary being beaten out at the catchpoint. He is often unable to make a play from behind or establish positioning when downfield. Possessing average twitch at the top of routes, he allows separation against sudden wideouts. McCreary has to adapt to NFL rules and get his hands off receivers as he can get grabby occasionally. In past years, he has had mental lapses in off coverage. His motor in run support runs hot and cold.
Summary:
Fluid press cover cornerback with below-average size. McCreary is a feisty defender who plays with good technique and confidence. His lack of length causes him to be beaten out at the catchpoint and being more fluid than sudden allows twitchy route runners to create separation. McCreary projects as a solid second starter in a man coverage heavy secondary. He has the versatility to play at nickel cornerback as well.
Background:
Roger McCreary is the son of Felicia James and has one sister, Tadaisha. His uncle Angelo James played for the Philadelphia Eagles and he is studying in the College of Liberal Arts. He is a versatile cornerback prospect with unlimited production. He has eight interceptions and more than 100 tackles as a senior for Coach Dedrick Sumpter at Williamson High and also had more than 2,100 offensive yards. He was first team Class 5A all-state and a Rivals, 247Sports three star. McCreary was also a basketball and track letterman in high school.
In 2018, McCreary was a true freshman cornerback and first game action was vs. Alabama State. In 2019, he was a reserve cornerback playing an increased role. He had 36 tackles, 11 PBU for the season. He had an interception, and career-best 10 tackles at LSU in his first career start. In 2020, McCreary was a veteran who earned a starting spot at cornerback and was on the all-SEC fourth team (Phil Steele). He had 86 career tackles, interception, and forced a fumble. He held Elijah Moore to 16 receiving yards.
Grades:
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
2nd Round
Quotable:
"I feel like the best thing that stuck out with me that everybody noticed was my man coverage. It’s just me sticking on the No. 1 guy. My last season, I feel like I got better overall as a corner, because not only did I play (man) — I played zone and all that stuff. I feel like I became better overall as a player." - Roger McCreary on what he has heard from NFL scouts
2/10/22 - “He plays with an edge, he plays with a chip on his shoulder. A great profile of that was the Iron Bowl game against Alabama. He competed his tail off, got his hands on a bunch of balls. He’s feisty. He’s a good reactionary athlete so he can match routes. Just bottom lining it. Can he cover or can't he cover? Yes, he can cover.” – Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy
"A lot of guys look at me and say my arms are short or my hands small, but I do not play like that at all. I feel like I’m the best man corner cover in the draft, hands down. I'm really confident about that. Later in my senior season, I became better overall, playing off the ball, having more IQ, knowing where the ball is going to go and knowing my situation. I’m a cornerback that can adjust quickly in game situations." - Roger McCreary on what separates him from other cornerbacks in the draft
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