The first step in Xavier Rhodes becoming a better football player was switching from receiver to cornerback in college.
Matthew Coller with 1500ESPN.com tracked down Rhodes’ former coach at Florida State, Terrell Buckley, who is now coaching defensive backs at Mississippi State for the backstory.
Buckley has continued to be a mentor for Rhodes, who set a career-high with five interceptions in 2016 and garnered his first selection to the Pro Bowl.
Coller opined that Rhodes and the Vikings defense limiting Odell Beckham, Jr. to a career-low 23 yards on Monday Night Football last October led to a considerable amount of recognition.