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Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell
Strengths:
- Well-rounded cover corner
- Adept at not allowing separation
- Fast enough to run with speed receivers
- Plays well in off-man coverage
- Ability to run with receivers in their routes
- Change-of-direction skills
- Can play press-man coverage
- Enough size; well-put together
- Confident, has the man corner mentality
- Gritty; plays physical
- Dishes out some hard hits
- Willing tackler
- Good run defender
- Used to playing on an island
- Smooth backpedal
- Quick feet
- Upside
- Played well against elite competition
- Scheme versatile
Weaknesses:
- Has some stiffness
- Not especially big or fast
- Durability
- ACL repair in 2021
- Sports hernia surgery in 2024
Prospect Summary:
Over the past four seasons, Rakestraw was a SEC steady performer. As a freshman in 2020, Rakestraw won a starting spot and recorded 24 tackles with six breakups. Four games into his sophomore season, Rakestraw tore an ACL and missed the rest of the year. He returned in 2022, totaling 36 tackles, 12 passes broken up and an interception. In his final collegiate season, Rakestraw played well, recording 35 tackles, four passes broken up and a forced fumble.
For the NFL, Rakestraw is a smooth cover corner who is very skilled at not allowing separation. He is a natural man-to-man cornerback who can run the route and blanket receivers. While Rakestraw does not have great size, he is quick and twitchy to run with wideouts to keep them from getting open. Aided by his fluid agility, Rakestraw can flip his hips and run with wide receivers vertically and keep them from getting open downfield.
Thanks to his quality instincts and ball skills, Rakestraw does not have to resort to contact to break up passes. Instead, he is patient, doesn’t panic, and does a nice job of slapping the ball away. Soft hands, instincts, and body control make Rakestraw a real threat to pick off passes, and it can be very dangerous to throw his direction.
With his versatility for coverage, Rakestraw is able to play off man, press man, or zone. On top of being a well-rounded player, he is gritty and physical. Rakestraw plays with a real edge and swagger, seemingly enjoying contact and delivering hard hits on the opposition. Rakestraw also is a willing tackler in run support, displaying a willingness to fly to the ball to make tackles.
The big concern with Rakestraw is his history of injuries. He tore an ACL in 2021 and had sports hernia surgery after his college football career. As a result, some durability concerns are legitimate. From a skill-set perspective, Rakestraw has enough size and speed to be an NFL starter, but he is not elite in either of those areas. Rakestraw has some stiffness as an athlete as well.
Multiple team sources said they have Rakestraw as a second-day pick for the 2024 NFL Draft, but depending on how the draft unfolds, he might sneak into the end of Round 1.
Prospect Comparison:
Tre White. Team sources said Rakestraw reminds them of White coming out of LSU. White was a well-rounded cornerback in college and a late first-round pick in his draft class. Rakestraw is similar in his play and could be a late first- or early second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
RELATED LINKS:
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
