Senior Bowl Risers
By David Johns
Nov 23, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste (16) and running back King Frazier (22) walk off the field after the completion of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Nebraska defeated Penn State 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Stanley Jean-Batiste, CB, Nebraska:
The NFL is a league of trends and fads. The latest: big, physical corners. Standing at 6’3, 220lbs., Jean-Batiste sure is trendy. It’s no secret that Bradley likes his secondary to be aggressive. Jean-Batiste fits that mold. We are seeing a complete shift in CBs. The days of the shifty 5-11 guys seem to be fading. Speaking of fading, defending the fade has become crucial in pass defense. Long corners have a better chance of batting down a fade in the end zone…say, like Richard Sherman. Now am I saying that the only reason Jean-Batiste is a “riser” is because he fits some kind of mold? No way. Last year at Nebraska, he had 4 picks (one returned for a TD), 12 passes broken up, 3 tackles for a loss and a sack. If he’s able to prove that he’s not stiff of hips and that he can play zone just as well as he plays press, then he could definitely find himself in the later half of the first round.