Raising Zona
FanSided

Arizona Cardinals 2019 NFL Draft: 10 small school heroes you need to know

By Avery Duncan

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Andy Isabella #23 of the Massachusetts Minutemen catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Maine Black Bears at Fenway Park on November 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Andy Isabella #23 of the Massachusetts Minutemen catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Maine Black Bears at Fenway Park on November 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 17: Bug Howard #84 of the North Carolina Tar Heels makes a fingertip catch against Jimmy Moreland #37 of the James Madison Dukes during the game at Kenan Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 17: Bug Howard #84 of the North Carolina Tar Heels makes a fingertip catch against Jimmy Moreland #37 of the James Madison Dukes during the game at Kenan Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Jimmy Moreland – CB, James Madison

There aren’t many small-school cornerbacks as accomplished as James Madison’s Jimmy Moreland. The cornerback won more awards in his final season at JMU than I have fingers. Those awards include FCS first-team All-American, FCS AP First-Team All-American, and CAA Defensive Player of the Year.

Although he didn’t earn an invite to the 2019 NFL Combine, he impressed scouts at the East-West Shrine Game and Reeses Senior Bowl. Measuring in at 5-foot-10 and 179-pounds, I project him to be a starter as a nickel cornerback by the end of his rookie year. But, he may also find success on the outside as he has shown the game for it and ran well in the 40-yard-dash (4.44) and showed explosive athleticism (39-inch vertical, 120-inch broad jump).

In college, Moreland can best be described as ball-hawk — he tallied 18 career interceptions and 63 pass deflections. Despite not possessing ideal size, he’s a physical player who’s not afraid to make a hit. He’s fluid, seems to have a knack for finding the ball in the air, and is incredibly explosive, which leads me to believe he’d find success as a boundary cornerback in a Cover-2 scheme.

Yes, he doesn’t have the size of a modern-day cornerback, but he sure acts like it. If you want a guy who is both fast and agile, can track the ball in the air, has hands like a wide receiver, will be physical first, will talk trash to opponents all game long, and has a mentality to shut down his opponents in every way possible.

Round projection: 3rd-5th round, he has starter upside at either the inside or outside, but he’s best set as a nickel. Due to the Cardinals need at the position, don’t be surprised if this is Keim’s CAA selection.

Home/Cardinals Draft