Azareye'h Thomas CB Florida State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Azareye'h Thomas CB Florida State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (48%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 20.4 DOB: 07/06/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (48%*) | |
| Age: 20.4 DOB: 07/06/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 81.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 76.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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66% |
| Run Defense: |
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73% |
| Coverage: |
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81% |
| Zone: |
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77% |
| Man/Press: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#229
Position rank:
#42
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| College Games: 34 College Snaps: 1407 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coby Bryant - Cincinnati |
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94% |
| Greg Newsome II - Northwestern |
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85% |
| Josh Jobe - Alabama |
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84% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Azareye'h Thomas, a cornerback from Florida State, hails from Niceville, Florida. The 6'2", 198-pound defensive back brings excellent size to the position. A four-star recruit out of high school, Thomas was highly touted by major recruiting services, earning top grades from Rivals and 247Sports.Thomas made an immediate impact at Florida State, seeing action in 11 games as a true freshman in 2022. He recorded 14 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, along with his first collegiate interception against Miami. His sophomore campaign in 2023 saw increased production, as he played in all 14 games with one start. Thomas racked up 29 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 10 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
A versatile athlete in high school, Thomas excelled on both sides of the ball. As a senior, he rushed for 421 yards, caught 33 passes for 438 yards, and scored 17 total touchdowns. Defensively, he added two interceptions and a fumble recovery, leading Niceville to the second round of the state playoffs. His junior year performance earned him Northwest Florida Daily News Large Schools Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Prototype length for the boundary corner spot, with a towering frame that casts a wide net in the defensive backfield and shrinks passing windows
- Position-flexible defender with the chops to play corner or safety, offering coordinators a Swiss Army knife for multiple looks in the secondary
- Natural hands and timing when the ball is in the air, translating his offensive experience into a nose for making plays on the ball
- Loose hips and smooth transitions in his backpedal, allowing him to stay in phase with receivers through their stem and break
- Instinctive zone defender who processes route combinations quickly and positions himself to make plays in space
- Plus run support from the corner position, showing the willingness to stick his nose in and make stops near the line of scrimmage
- High-character prospect with a strong work ethic, consistently earning academic honors and praise from the coaching staff
- Four-down value with the skillset to contribute immediately on special teams while developing his defensive repertoire
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Raw technician who relies more on physical gifts than refined footwork and hand usage, needing development in the nuances of the position
- Long-strider who builds to top speed rather than exploding off the line, potentially vulnerable to sudden breaks and quick-twitch receivers
- Wrap-up technique in the open field needs polish, occasionally leading with a shoulder or failing to drive through ball carriers
- Press-man skills are a work in progress, with room to improve hand placement and jamming technique at the line of scrimmage
- Limited starting experience at the college level raises questions about his readiness to step into a full-time NFL role from day one
Scouting Report: Summary
Thomas brings an excellent blend of length and athleticism to the table, making him an intriguing developmental prospect at the next level. His ability to high-point the ball and disrupt passing lanes with his wingspan gives him potential as a boundary corner, while his experience in various defensive alignments adds scheme versatility. However, his technique refinement lags behind his physical gifts, particularly in press-man situations.The Florida State product's positional flexibility is a double-edged sword. While it allows for creative deployment in multiple defensive packages, it also suggests he hasn't fully mastered a single spot in the secondary. His willingness to support the run and contribute on special teams will endear him to coaches, but his tackling technique needs polishing to consistently bring down NFL-caliber athletes in space.
Ultimately, Thomas is a high-ceiling prospect whose draft stock will hinge on a team's confidence in their ability to mold raw talent. His learning curve may be steep initially, but patient coaching could unlock a versatile defensive back capable of matching up with the increasing variety of pass-catchers in today's NFL. Teams will need to weigh his undeniable physical tools against his need for technical development when considering his place on their draft board.
How other scouting services rate Azareye'h Thomas (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
128.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
37.0
*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.