While he doesn't have the elite measurables of, say, Dee Milliner or Xavier Rhodes, Rutgers Scarlet Knights cornerback Logan Ryan had a very impressive collegiate career that has led some to think that he will be the second cornerback in school history to be a first-round pick, following in Devin McCourty's footsteps. After foregoing his senior season to enter the 2013 NFL Draft, Dan Kadar of SB Nation ranks Ryan as the third-best cornerback in the draft and the No. 29 overall prospect.
NFL Draft 2013: Logan Ryan prospect profile
In his sophomore and junior seasons, Ryan accumulated seven interceptions and 161 tackles before foregoing his senior season to enter the 2013 NFL Draft.
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In his junior season, Ryan recorded four interceptions, 17 passes broken up and 94 tackles as the Scarlet Knights finished the season with the fourth-fewest points allowed in the nation. In his sophomore season in 2011, Ryan finished with three interceptions, 13 passes broken up and 67 tackles.
Pros:
- Ryan is a very intelligent player who was very rarely out of position in the Rutgers secondary. He is adept at both man and zone coverage, as he understands his role in both.
- Despite measuring in at 6’0, 190 pounds, Ryan is aggressive in the run game and more than willing to take on blocks.
- Ryan is a very solid tackler and closes short distances quickly to bring down ball-carriers.
Here’s a video compilation of Ryan against UConn, from draftbreakdown.com:
Cons:
- Ryan uses a lot of contact in coverage to stay with receivers and at times doesn’t get his head around to locate the ball. These tendencies could lead to penalties in the NFL.
- He doesn’t have a particularly great amount of straight-line speed and may lack the second-gear necessary to stay with speedy receivers on the boundaries.
Quotables:
- SB Nation’s Assistant NFL Draft Editor, Matthew Fairburn, tweeted about Ryan’s draft prospects on Thursday:
A bit rough around the edges, but flashed fluid hips in coverage and locates the ball well.
- Following the 2012 season, Rob Rang of CBS Sports said that Ryan may be able to work himself into the first-round discussion:
As with any underclassman, Ryan will have to prove his size and straight-line speed to scouts to settle his final grade. With the NFL increasingly turning toward the passing game, he is one of several cornerbacks who could work their way into first-round conversation with an impressive showing in workouts.
College info/stats:
- Ryan was twice an All-Big East honoree before foregoing his senior season to enter the 2013 NFL Draft. He was also named an All-American by Pro Football Weekly for his 2012 season.
- Visit cfbstats.com for Ryan’s complete career stats with Florida State.
2013 NFL Combine performance:
Ryan didn’t silence doubters with a 4.5 40-yard dash, but it was an adequate performance. Considering the very unimpressive 4.59 from Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks, the 4.5 from Ryan could be enough to earn the Rutgers cornerback a spot in the late first round.
Ryan wasn’t particularly impressive in the rest of the drills, but he didn’t stand out as a disappointment either. Just blending in with the pack might’ve been good enough for Ryan, though.
Recent news:
- At a press conference announcing his decision to enter the 2013 NFL Draft, Ryan told reporters, including Dave Hutchinson of The Star Ledger, of his different approach to the position than most:
His cover skills combined with his physical play make him a much sought-after commodity.
“I hope it separates me,” Ryan said. “Cornerback is a prima donna position, but I feel like I approach the game very blue-collar like. I want to do it all. I love tackling.”
The majority opinion is that Ryan will land outside the first round as most have him slated as a second- or third-round selection. However, Dan Kadar and Matthew Fairburn of SB Nation think that Ryan can sneak in to the very tail end of the first round.
In SB Nation's most recent mock draft on Jan. 21, Ryan is slotted to go to the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 32 overall selection, which assumes that they beat the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII, as an addition to an already stout defense:
If the 49ers have a weakness, it is in the secondary. Logan Ryan is an impressive athlete who is a bit rough around the edges as a prospect. Ryan’s an aggressive player who would fit the mold of what San Francisco does on defense. He has a chance to land in the first round.
Other potential landing spots for Ryan include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins, each of whom have a big need at the cornerback position.
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