Xavier Scott CB Illinois | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Xavier Scott CB Illinois
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Dual-Role Man CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 01/20/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.52 seconds (40%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Dual-Role Man CB | |
| Last Updated: 01/20/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.52 seconds (40%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 73.4 | |
| Tackling: |
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86% |
| Run Defense: |
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90% |
| Coverage: |
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74% |
| Zone: |
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72% |
| Man/Press: |
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73% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#160
Position rank:
#27
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| College Games: 29 College Snaps: 1657 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
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247 RATING: 84/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Mitchell - Northwestern |
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96% |
| Myles Harden - South Dakota |
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89% |
| Caelen Carson - Wake Forest |
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83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A late-blooming star in the Illini secondary, Xavier Scott's journey from multi-sport athlete at Dwyer High School to Big Ten ballhawk exemplifies the development curve NFL teams dream about. The Palm Beach Gardens native brought his basketball court instincts to the gridiron, where his fluid transitions and spatial awareness immediately translated. After seeing action in 11 games as a true freshman in 2022, Scott exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, leading the Big Ten with 11 pass breakups while starting 11 games. His junior campaign proved even more impressive, as he racked up four interceptions - including a pick-six against Kansas - while earning First Team All-Big Ten honors and a semifinalist nod for the Jim Thorpe Award.Despite missing spring practice time with a knee injury (partially torn ACL and meniscus), Scott showed incredible durability during the 2024 season, leading all Big Ten corners with 792 snaps played. His versatility became a calling card, taking snaps both outside and in the slot while moonlighting at safety in specific packages. The 5'11", 190-pound junior consistently punched above his weight class, matching up with tight ends and bigger receivers while maintaining his reputation as one of the conference's surest tacklers.
Beyond the stat sheet, Scott's preparation and football acumen shone through in crucial moments. His three-turnover performance against Kansas early in 2024 announced his arrival as a legitimate NFL prospect, while his consistent play down the stretch - including a pivotal interception in the regular season finale against Northwestern - cemented his status as one of the Big Ten's premier defensive backs.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Masterful at baiting quarterbacks in zone coverage, showing next-level processing speed and anticipation when reading routes developing in front of him
- Exceptional tackling technique for his size - brings controlled violence and rarely whiffs, evidenced by his 85.7 tackle grade that ranked fourth among Big Ten corners
- Natural feel for zone spacing allows him to float between assignments while keeping his eyes on the quarterback, particularly effective in Cover 2 shells
- Shows advanced route recognition from slot alignments, consistently staying in phase through stems and maintaining leverage against option routes
- Nasty competitor at the catch point despite size limitations - times his jumps perfectly and plays through receivers' hands with expert precision
- Quick-trigger processor against screens and swing passes, shoots gaps with conviction and rarely takes false steps when diagnosing play design
- Versatility to play multiple spots in the secondary adds significant value - comfortable both outside and in the slot with experience at safety
- Special teams demon who brings the same intensity to coverage units as he does defense - projects as four-phase contributor early in career
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Hip mobility becomes labored when forced to flip and run vertically - shows some stiffness transitioning out of his backpedal against speed threats
- Lean frame leaves him vulnerable against physical receivers who can lock him up and drive him out of running plays
- Can get caught peeking in zone coverage, occasionally losing track of crossing routes while trying to jump underneath patterns
- Press technique needs refinement - lacks the pure strength to consistently redirect receivers at the line and can get stacked early in routes
- Will occasionally get overaggressive jumping routes, leading to susceptibility against double moves and wheel concepts out of the backfield
Scouting Report: Summary
Scott is a scheme-diverse defensive back who will make his earliest impact from the slot, where his processing speed and short-area quickness can shine. His combination of football intelligence, positional flexibility, and special teams value should make him an immediate contributor in sub-packages while he develops the strength necessary for full-time outside work.His most natural fit comes in a zone-heavy system that will maximize his ability to read quarterbacks and break on the ball. Teams running Cover 2 or quarters-based schemes will particularly value his ability to match up with tight ends from the slot while providing reliable run support from depth. While hip tightness may limit his ceiling as a pure man corner, Scott's intelligence and competitive toughness suggest a long career as a valuable contributor.
The tape shows a player who consistently outperforms his physical limitations through preparation and instinct. In a league trending toward more complex coverage schemes, Scott's ability to process quickly and communicate adjustments will be highly valued. Expect him to come off the board in the fourth or fifth round, with the potential to outplay his draft position early in his career.
How other scouting services rate Xavier Scott (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
219.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
59.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.