2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

February 22, 2012 @ 16:38:09

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Keith Hernandez

Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard wrapped up his senior year and started preparing for the 2012 NFL Draft, but he will have to prove in workouts that he is capable of playing on the outside in the pros. 

Time to learn a new position?

Strengths

• Thick frame (5-foot-10, 204 pounds)
• Ideal zone-cover corner - understands how to sit on and jump routes
• Gets a tough jam at the line and has quick enough feet to stick with most receivers' moves
• Willing and competent in run support but has little experience
• Very good vertical jump
• Tireless in preparation for games
• Good recovery speed
• Sure tackler and takes smart angles to the ball carrier

Weaknesses

• Can play overly physical at times, leading to penalties and bites on double moves
• Lacks ideal height (5-foot-10)
• Average speed, at best - may have to be willing to move to free safety for some teams
• Will struggle downfield against tall receivers because of his height-speed combo
• Minor injury concerns (shoulder in 2009, hamstring in 2011)
• Ejected for throwing a punch in Nebraska's bowl game against South Carolina
• Suspect hands
• Ugly, vertical backpedal that will get him in trouble in the NFL

Expected draft placement

Dennard's workout numbers will go a long way in determining his draft placement and the position he will be asked to play in the NFL. Slow 40-yard dash times will all but seal his fate as a free safety.

For now, he is a low-end first-round pick consideration and shouldn't slide out of the early second round. The Cincinnati Bengals (No. 21), Detroit Lions (No. 23) and New England Patriots (No. 31) could opt for him.

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Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

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