Green Bay Packers draft prospect profile: CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
Player information:
- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
- 6-foot-0, 190 lbs
- Social sciences economics major and Detroit, Michigan native.
NFL Combine:
- 4.40 40yd dash
- 3.94 20yd shuttle
- 11.15 60yd shuttle
- 6.61 3-cone drill
- 123″ broad jump
- 36.0″ vertical jump
- 15 bench press reps
News & Notes:
South Carolina’s “Mr. Football” in 2008 as a game-breaking quarterback, Gilmore was recruited by Steve Spurrier to be a defensive back for the Gamecocks. That move paid off almost immediately. Gilmore started every game his freshman year, notching one interception and three sacks while earning Freshman All-American honors. By the time he was done with his junior season, Gilmore had registered 40 straight starts and was a first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American selection. Touted as a team leader with size (6’1″) and physicality, Gilmore is widely considered one of the draft’s top-5 cornerbacks. Compares to Charles Woodson.
What they’re saying about him:
Wes Bunting (National Football Post): “Is a “plus” sized corner with good quickness and fluidity. Needs to clean up his footwork in off/zone concepts, but has skill set to play near the line, check receivers and turn and run. Should be able to fight for a starting role during his rookie year in more of a zone scheme.”
Frank Cooney (CBSSports): “Gilmore plays with an astute awareness that makes him a dangerous defender to test. He is a vocal team leader who understands everybody’s role on defense and is especially effective in zone coverage where he seems to triangulate well, tracking both the quarterback and receivers. Gilmore is aggressive both going to the ball and coming up on the run, although he could use a little more bulk to hold up in the NFL.”
NFL.com (Combine): “Gilmore is a dynamic athlete who made a lot of plays at corner for South Carolina. He has the skill set to move to safety but is talented enough to challenge for a starting role at the corner position as a rookie. He is a football player who makes big plays and was among the SEC’s finest athletes.”
Video:
Video Analysis:
Isn’t afraid to step up and make a tackle on a bigger ballcarrier
Accomplished tackler
Needs work getting his hands on the receiver at the line of scrimmage
Plays too far off the receiver at times
Effective blitzer off the edge, times blitz well
Undaunted when asked to play in the box
Had problems covering Alabama’s Julio Jones, a first-round NFL pick
Hits harder than his weight would suggest
Zach Kruse is a 23-year-old sports journalist with a passion for the Green Bay Packers. He currently lives in Wisconsin and is working on his journalism degree, while also covering prep sports for The Dunn Co. News.
You can read more of Zach's Packers articles on AllGreenBayPackers.com.
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The play against Julio Jones reminded me of our defense against the Giants. Ouch!
Man he’d get lit up trying to chop tackle like he did early in the clip if he tries that crap in the NFL… He needs to change that. Needs to wrap up and drive on the ball carrier. He’s fast enough though. Anyone know which round this guy is projected to be picked? I’d be a player on this guy for round 5+ (MAYBE 4 depending on what’s available at that point) based solely on his high lights and his 40 time but I don’t know much about him beyond that. He looks like another project DB to me but he’d play special teams and he’s speedy.
NEVERMIND looked through some mock drafts he’s projected early second round pick. We need to go d line and LB first and second no way this guy is our second pick. Absolute earliest I would like us to touch Secondary is 3rd round.
Like the words, “accomplished tackler” used in conjunction with any defender being considered. If he drops to the 3rd maybe. Agree with Zack, DE and OLB first.