With the 24th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals have selected CB Darqueze Dennard out of Michigan State.
Position: Cornerback
Measurables: 5’11”, 199 lbs, 30 ¼” arm length, 9” hands
A multi-faceted athlete who lettered in both basketball and track in high school, Darqueze Dennard won the 2013 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. He started 14 games as a boundary cornerback for Michigan State last season, amassing 62 tackles (3.5 for a loss), ten passes defensed, and four interceptions on his way to becoming the first Spartan to win unanimous first-team All-American honors. The former Michigan State team captain sat out the drill portion of the NFL Combine due to a left hamstring injury.
Dennard has the prototypical muscular definition of an NFL cornerback, along with thick calves and thin ankles. He is deceptively fast due to great eyes and good ball anticipation. He shows good strength in press coverage, and his ability to read and react to patterns in the heat of the battle is very advanced compared to most cornerbacks transitioning to the NFL.
Check out Dennard's highlight video for a closer look into what he brings to the Bengals:
[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlM6SzXnk94[/embed]
