Scouting report: Mike Mickens

6’0, 190 pounds | Cincinnati | Cornerback

Strengths: Mickens is a tall, rangy cornerback with solid athleticism. Can cover tall receivers and quick smaller receivers. Very smart player who has started since his freshman season. Good instincts. Reads routes very well, which helps him get a good break on the ball. Played in both zone and man coverage at Cincinnati. Good hands. Finished his career with 14 interceptions. Fluid hips that allow him to flip his backpedal and run with receivers.

Weaknesses: What sticks out immediately about Mickens is his slight frame. He’ll have to bulk up at least 10 pounds, but it’s unknown how that will affect his agility or speed. A lack of strength hurts Mickens at the line of scrimmage where he has trouble jamming. He can also be pushed around by bigger receivers in the air.
Final word: Mickens is a durable and very experienced cornerback prospect. While he’ll have to bulk up some at the next level, he is a good but not great cornerback. He doesn’t have great timed speed, but is quick and fluid in his movements. If he can get stronger, he could be a good starting cornerback in the NFL.
Round projection: 3