2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Yusuf Corker





  • Yusuf Corker, 5-11/204

  • Safety

  • Kentucky


  • Yusuf Corker Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Physical force
  • Extremely tough and violent defender
  • Can serve as the eighth man in the box
  • Decisive to attack downhill
  • Bone-rattling tackler
  • Hard-nosed run defender
  • Has good-enough speed
  • Solid in intermediate zone coverage
  • Covers a lot of ground
  • Stays around the ball
  • Toughness
  • Special teams projection
  • Experienced against good college talent




  • Weaknesses:
  • Missed tackles
  • Can be overly aggressive
  • Pass-coverage limitations
  • Does not make many plays on the ball
  • Not a natural at free safety
  • Should not play man coverage on most slot receivers
  • Can bite on play-action
  • Limited in man coverage on tight ends


  • Summary: Over the past few seasons, Mark Stoops’ Kentucky program has produced a lot of tough football players, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Corker jumps out with his physicality, which made him one of the more violent defenders in college football over the past few years. He made an impact in 2019, with 74 tackles, an interception and four passes defended. Corker stayed consistent as a junior with 77 stops, two interceptions and two passes batted. In 2021, he collected 82 tackles and eight passes broken up.

    Against the pass, Corker is better in zone coverage in the short to intermediate part of the field. He has the speed to cover ground there, but he doesn’t have great range to be a deep centerfielder as a free safety. Corker is a real enforcer in the middle of the field, punishing receivers coming across the middle. As a strong safety, Corker could contribute some man coverage on tight ends. He would not be a good man coverage safety on a top receiving talent, but against the average tight end, Corker could contribute that way.



    Corker is a tough run defender who will deliver some bone-rattling hits and plays downhill looking to knock ball-carriers into next week. With his size and strength, Corker could contribute as the eighth man in the box and serve as a red-zone/goal-line run defender. He does a nice job of dodging blocks and getting to the ball-carrier when working through trash. He can, however, take some poor angles and be overly aggressive. That leads to some missed tackles, but with pro coaching, Corker could become more steady and cut down on that.

    Corker could potentially go as high as the third round in the 2022 NFL Draft. If he slips to Day 3, he should go in the fourth or fifth round. Corker looks like a backup safety who could be a core special teams contributor and have the potential to develop into being a starting safety.



    Player Comparison: D.J. Swearinger. Corker reminds me of Swearinger. They have similar skill sets, are almost identical in size, and play the game similarly with a physical style. Swearinger (5-10, 205) was up and down in the NFL, only playing well at times. Corker does not make as many plays in coverage as Swearinger did, and Swearinger did not miss as many tackles, but Corker is a similar striker and around-the-ball defender. In the NFL, Corker could end up being a similar caliber of safety to Swearinger.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2022 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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