Ourlads' Profile:
2022 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about VERONE MCKINLEY III:
Oregon, 5105 198 4.49. Junior entry, two-year starter, Carrollton, TX. First-team All-Pac 12 and ESPN All-America in 2021. Versatile safety that has played in the box at nickel, deep safety in one and two high coverage, and boundary corner. Smart player that is rarely out of position. Spent most of 2021 quarterbacking the back end of the defense. Excellent footwork and agility. Easy pedal and smooth in transition he tracks well moving downhill and adjusts well in space to shifty ball carriers. Can get to the alley or perimeter in pursuit with precise angles. Easily flips his hips to gain ground in the deep zones. Has lateral range to chase across the field. Instinctive, he processes route combinations with vision to see multiple threats and the quarterback. Has been good at getting under intermediate routes as a flat defender. Sudden to break up on the throw he has made some big hits separating receivers from the ball. Solid ball skills he can get to the high point on interception opportunities and has been productive with eleven career interceptions. Shows mirror ability playing nickel but a big athletic receiver can give him trouble. Aggressive against the run, when in the box he can make plays close to the line. Can slip blocks on the move and make plays in space. Explosive tackling he normally gathers and wraps, but there has been some lunge and miss. Shorter arms show up at times in that failure wrap and bring down a ball carrier. Athletic bigger blocker can give him trouble. Lacks ideal size and length which could affect draft status. He is a solid football player who can play multiple roles in the NFL.
2021 stats: 77 T, 6 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF, 6 INT. Fourth/fifth round. (A-30 5/8, H-9 1/8, VJ-35, SS-DNP).