JaMarcus King
Video by Jeff Tyner, analysis by Wes Mitchell
Evaluation by Matt O'Brien
What I Like: The first thing that stands out when watching King’s film is how aggressive he is at the line of scrimmage. He’s a natural in press man coverage – showing off good footwork and the quickness to mirror receivers at the snap of the ball. King has the speed and technique to keep up with faster receivers on vertical routes. He also puts himself in the right position to breakup passes, which stem from his good instincts, route recognition, and reactiveness. Those traits combine to give him the ability to excel in zone coverage, making King a versatile corner who can play in any defense. As a safety, I can tell you that having a corner like King provides a great deal of security in knowing that a receiver will not be free-releasing up the field, and compromising the defensive coverage as a whole.
Instant Impact? King’s length, coverage skills, and aggression will give him a chance to compete for a starting cornerback spot immediately for the Gamecocks. How well he performs right away will depend on how quickly he adjusts to the speed of the game in the SEC.
Rivals rating: King is rated as a 5.9 four-star, #7 overall in the 2016 junior college rankings – the exact same as Tony Bridges was rated in 2015 (Ole Miss standout cornerback.) If King can step in and have as big of an immediate impact as Bridges, which I expect he will, his high rating will be more than justified.