Dorian Strong, a cornerback from Virginia Tech, has emerged as an intriguing prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft. Standing at 6’0″ and weighing 185 pounds, Strong possesses a long, athletic frame that he leverages effectively in coverage.
2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
College Career
Strong’s journey at Virginia Tech showcases consistent improvement and significant achievements. As a true freshman in 2020, he played in all 11 games, starting five, and recorded 22 tackles, an interception, and five pass breakups. His sophomore year saw him start 10 games, amassing 23 tackles and six pass breakups. Despite an injury-shortened junior season in 2022, Strong bounced back impressively in his senior year.
In 2023, Strong started all 13 games, cementing his status as a lockdown corner. He tallied 25 tackles, eight pass breakups, and three interceptions. His outstanding performance earned him Second Team All-American honors from Action Network and a spot on the All-ACC Third Team. Strong’s final season in 2024 further solidified his draft stock, as he started 12 games, recording 32 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention.
Strengths
Coverage Skills: Strong excels in press-man coverage, utilizing his length and quick hands to establish leverage off the ball. His fluid hip flexibility and smooth transitions allow him to execute man turns with no wasted motion, staying in phase with receivers.
Ball Skills: Throughout his college career, Strong demonstrated exceptional ball judgment and reactions. He consistently makes plays at the catch point, forcing incompletions on contested catches. His impressive ball production is evidenced by his reliable hands and playmaking ability in the secondary.
Athleticism: Strong’s smooth athleticism enables him to swivel his hips and transition well on shorter routes. His proficient play speed allows him to effectively trail receivers on short and intermediate routes across the field.
Zone Awareness: When dropping into zone coverage, Strong displays heady awareness and instincts, effectively eliminating throwing windows.
Weaknesses
Size: At 185 pounds, Strong is somewhat undersized for the position, which may raise concerns about his ability to match up with larger NFL receivers.
Physicality: He needs to improve his physicality at the stem of routes to disrupt the timing and progression of opposing receivers.
Tackling: Strong’s tackling ability in open space is mediocre, often resorting to ankle-biting techniques that may not translate well to the NFL level.
Run Support: He lacks ideal engagement in run support, needing to place more emphasis on this aspect of his game to be a complete cornerback.
Long Speed: There may be concerns about his long speed when covering elite deep threats at the next level, potentially limiting his scheme versatility.
NFL Projection
Strong’s coverage skills and ball-hawking ability project well to the NFL level. His proficiency in press-man coverage and zone awareness provide valuable scheme versatility. These traits, combined with his fluid hip movement and anticipation skills, should allow him to compete for playing time early in his career.
However, teams will need to weigh his coverage upside against his physical limitations when projecting his role at the next level. Strong’s best fit would be in a defense that emphasizes press-man coverage and allows him to use his ball skills aggressively.
Given his skill set and potential, Strong is projected as a mid-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He offers potential as a starting outside cornerback with the right coaching. His length, ball skills, and press coverage ability make him valuable in man-heavy schemes. However, he must improve his technique, especially in downfield coverage, to avoid giving up big plays at the professional level.
In conclusion, Dorian Strong presents an intriguing package of skills that could translate well to the NFL. While he may need some development in certain areas, his coverage abilities and ball skills make him a promising prospect for teams looking to bolster their secondary in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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