2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Julius Brents





  • Julius Brents, 6-3/198

  • Cornerback

  • Kansas State


  • Julius Brents Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Excellent height
  • Great length
  • Long arms – 34 inches
  • Good ball reaction
  • Strong finisher
  • Instinctive
  • Able to battle big receivers
  • Doesn’t panic when the ball is thrown at him
  • Quality ball skills
  • Physical
  • Plays the ball
  • Good tackler
  • Willing run defender
  • Supports run defense




  • Weaknesses:
  • Lacks speed
  • Deep speed could be a problem for him
  • Can get shook and juked by receivers
  • Lacks short area quickness
  • Lacks recovery speed
  • Can be beaten over the top


  • Summary: Kansas State was a tough football team in 2022, knocking off TCU and making it to a bowl game against Alabama. Defensively, the Wildcats were led by Brents and edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Brents recorded 45 tackles, four interceptions and four passes broken up on the year. In 2021, he picked up 49 tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups.

    For the NFL, Brents is a press-man corner who can play on the outside and line up against big receivers. Brents has quality ball skills, height and length, plus tackles well. He gets very physical with wideouts and use his length to jam them at the line. Brents does a nice job of battling receivers while avoiding penalties. However, there is no doubt that Brents should be protected from lining up against speed receivers as a pro. Brents lacks deep speed, and if a wideout gets free of him, Brents does not have the speed to recover.



    Brents is tough and a hard tackler who will contribute to run defense. With his physicality and aggressive demeanor, he will fire to ball-carriers to make tackles.

    Some team sources are projecting Brents to the third or fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Others, however, said they believe Brents will go in Round 2.



    Player Comparison: Sean Smith. Brents is reminiscent of Smith. It is a comparison that makes a lot of sense because Smith (6-3, 220) and Brents are very similar in size. Smith was a second-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and Brents could go in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft or a little lower. I think Brents could have a similar pro career to Smith.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2023 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2023 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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