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Draft Focus: Gilmore Flying Under CB Radar
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Gilmore had eight career interceptions in three years at South Carolina, including four last season.
Name: Stephon Gilmore
Position: Cornerback
College: South Carolina
Height/Weight: 6-1/195
Age: 21 (born Sept. 19, 1990)
Honors: Gilmore was a third-team All-America in 2010 and was named first-team All-SEC by the coaches and media in both 2010 and 2011.
Strengths: Gilmore has great size for a cornerback, at least in height. His 6-1 frame makes him look more like a safety, but he has the quickness and ball-skills to the play the position. In the SEC, Gilmore has obviously faced some of the fastest athletes in the country, and more than held his own. He's got safety-like awareness, which makes him good in Cover 2 and zone schemes. He's a player that has improved significantly in each of his three college seasons and appears to have tremendous upside as he enters the NFL.
Weaknesses: The knock on Gilmore is consistency. Some games he looked like an All-America and others he barely looked All-SEC. Fortunately for him, his highs outweighed the lows, which is certainly life for a cornerback, battling the ups and downs. He's on the "thin" side at 195 pounds, so he's not ready to be a full-press corner just yet.
Where He's Headed: Gilmore is one of the more intriguing prospects because he's got a wide range of destinations. Some draft experts have him going in the second round, possibly even in the area of the Cowboys' 45th overall spot. Others see Gilmore has a first-round sleeper who could be picked as high as the middle of the first round. For the Cowboys, their interest in Gilmore might be if they decide to move down from the 14th spot and add additional picks. But it's not a given that Gilmore is considered the fourth-best cornerback behind Morris Claiborne (LSU), Jannoris Jenkins (North Alabama) and Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama).
How He Helps the Cowboys: Despite signing Brandon Carr, and having Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins on the squad, the Cowboys can always use cornerback help. It doesn't appear Frank Walker or Alan Ball will return in 2012 – neither free agent has signed yet. And Jenkins has one year left on his contract with Cowboys officials saying this week there is no rush to give him a new deal. Gilmore is long and athletic and rather young as well. Getting better at that position is a must, so if he's available at the right spot in the draft, Gilmore would be a good addition.
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Gilmore had eight career interceptions in three years at South Carolina, including four last season.
Name: Stephon Gilmore
Position: Cornerback
College: South Carolina
Height/Weight: 6-1/195
Age: 21 (born Sept. 19, 1990)
Honors: Gilmore was a third-team All-America in 2010 and was named first-team All-SEC by the coaches and media in both 2010 and 2011.
Strengths: Gilmore has great size for a cornerback, at least in height. His 6-1 frame makes him look more like a safety, but he has the quickness and ball-skills to the play the position. In the SEC, Gilmore has obviously faced some of the fastest athletes in the country, and more than held his own. He's got safety-like awareness, which makes him good in Cover 2 and zone schemes. He's a player that has improved significantly in each of his three college seasons and appears to have tremendous upside as he enters the NFL.
Weaknesses: The knock on Gilmore is consistency. Some games he looked like an All-America and others he barely looked All-SEC. Fortunately for him, his highs outweighed the lows, which is certainly life for a cornerback, battling the ups and downs. He's on the "thin" side at 195 pounds, so he's not ready to be a full-press corner just yet.
Where He's Headed: Gilmore is one of the more intriguing prospects because he's got a wide range of destinations. Some draft experts have him going in the second round, possibly even in the area of the Cowboys' 45th overall spot. Others see Gilmore has a first-round sleeper who could be picked as high as the middle of the first round. For the Cowboys, their interest in Gilmore might be if they decide to move down from the 14th spot and add additional picks. But it's not a given that Gilmore is considered the fourth-best cornerback behind Morris Claiborne (LSU), Jannoris Jenkins (North Alabama) and Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama).
How He Helps the Cowboys: Despite signing Brandon Carr, and having Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins on the squad, the Cowboys can always use cornerback help. It doesn't appear Frank Walker or Alan Ball will return in 2012 – neither free agent has signed yet. And Jenkins has one year left on his contract with Cowboys officials saying this week there is no rush to give him a new deal. Gilmore is long and athletic and rather young as well. Getting better at that position is a must, so if he's available at the right spot in the draft, Gilmore would be a good addition.
