Dorian Strong CB Virginia Tech | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Dorian Strong CB Virginia Tech
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/20/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.42 seconds (78%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.8 DOB: 03/14/2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 09/20/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.42 seconds (78%*) | |
| Age: 22.8 DOB: 03/14/2002 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 79.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 77.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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75% |
| Run Defense: |
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67% |
| Coverage: |
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71% |
| Zone: |
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63% |
| Man/Press: |
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71% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#282
Position rank:
#52
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| College Games: 48 College Snaps: 2609 | ||
ESPN RATING: 73/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 84/100
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Ovr Rank:
#1471
College Combine Results
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kelvin Joseph - Kentucky |
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88% |
| Josh Jobe - Alabama |
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85% |
| Alex Austin - Oregon State |
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85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Dorian Strong, a cornerback from Virginia Tech, has emerged as an intriguing prospect in the NFL Draft. Born and raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Strong made his mark at Dr. Henry Wise High School as a versatile player, excelling as both a wide receiver and cornerback. His senior year saw him rack up 425 receiving yards with eight touchdowns, while also contributing 33 tackles on defense.Strong's college career at Virginia Tech was marked by consistent improvement and significant achievements. As a true freshman in 2020, he played in all 11 games, starting five, and recorded 22 tackles, an interception, and five pass breakups. His sophomore year saw him start 10 games, amassing 23 tackles and six pass breakups. Despite an injury-shortened junior season, Strong bounced back impressively in his senior year.
In 2023, Strong started all 13 games, cementing his status as a lockdown corner. He tallied 25 tackles, eight pass breakups, and three interceptions. His outstanding performance earned him Second Team All-American honors from Action Network and a spot on the All-ACC Third Team, highlighting his impact in the competitive ACC conference.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional coverage skills, particularly excelling in press-man situations where he utilizes quick, heavy hands to establish leverage off the ball
- Fluid hip flexibility and smooth transitions, executing man turns with no wasted motion while staying in phase with receivers
- Strong ball judgment and reactions, consistently making plays at the catch point and forcing incompletions on contested catches
- Impressive ball production throughout his college career, demonstrating reliable hands and playmaking ability in the secondary
- Proficient play speed allows him to effectively trail receivers on short and intermediate routes across the field
- Quality change of direction skills help maintain leverage and cushion at the top of routes in man coverage
- Displays heady awareness and instincts when dropping into zone coverage, effectively eliminating throwing windows
- Competitive length allows him to play larger than his frame, compensating for average height and weight measurements
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized for the position at 185 pounds, which may raise concerns about his ability to match up with larger NFL receivers
- Needs to improve physicality at the stem of routes to disrupt timing and progression of opposing receivers
- Tackling ability in open space is mediocre, often resorting to ankle-biting techniques that may not translate well to the NFL level
- Lacks ideal engagement in run support, needing to place more emphasis on this aspect of his game to be a complete cornerback
- Long speed may be a concern when covering elite deep threats at the next level, potentially limiting his scheme versatility
Scouting Report: Summary
Strong's coverage skills and ball-hawking ability project well to the NFL level. His proficiency in press-man coverage and zone awareness provide valuable scheme versatility. These traits, combined with his fluid hip movement and anticipation skills, should allow him to compete for playing time early in his career.However, Strong's frame may limit his matchup options against larger NFL receivers. His tackling technique and run support engagement need refinement to become a complete cornerback. Teams will need to weigh his coverage upside against these physical limitations when projecting his role at the next level.
Strong's draft position will likely reflect this balance of skills and limitations. Teams that prioritize coverage ability and instincts over size may value him more highly. His best fit would be in a defense that emphasizes press-man coverage and allows him to use his ball skills aggressively.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
How other scouting services rate Dorian Strong (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
123.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
33.0
*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.