Prince Amukamara may not be the king of the 2011 NFL draft's cornerback class, but he'll earn a king's ransom as a potential top-10 pick. And he'd be happy to share the wealth with Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, who convinced him to switch from running back to defensive back.
"Definitely I think I owe him half of whatever I get," laughs Amukamara.
Given the premium prices commanded by star corners such as Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets and free agent Nnamdi Asomugha, who have commanded eight-figure single-season NFL salaries — not to mention the shorter shelf lives of running backs in the pros and a recent de-emphasis on that position in the early rounds of the draft — Amukamara could be forever grateful to Pelini despite his initial reluctance to switch to defense. After all, as a senior for Apollo High School in Glendale, Ariz., he rushed for 2,106 yards and 24 touchdowns.
But instead of a back, Pelini saw a Blackshirt.
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"As soon as I got there, I thought I would play running back," says Amukamara, who was mostly a special teamer for the Cornhuskers as a freshman in 2007, the year before Pelini took over in Lincoln.
"When coach Pelini got there, he was open to me playing offense but said, 'I can see you being a great defensive back and playing for a long time (in the pros).' "
His foresight was 20-20.
Amukamara mastered his new craft quickly enough that he was named the Big 12's defensive player of the year as a senior in 2010. He's also now steeped in the philosophy of the Blackshirts, the alias for Nebraska's defense.
"I like dishing it out better than getting hit," says Amukamara, who believes he's the most physical corner available. "Nebraska imparts that culture of being physical."
Amukamara — his parents are Nigerian, and he has five sisters (Princess, Precious, Promise, Peace and Passionate) — has the size (6-0, 206 pounds) and abilities in press coverage to make him a coveted NFL commodity. Despite his inexperience at the position, he's even drawn favorable comparisons to LSU's Patrick Peterson, who's widely considered the draft's top corner and is the No. 1-rated player by NFLDraftScout.com, USA TODAY's scouting service.
"He's even technically better than Peterson," says NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Rob Rang, who adds that Peterson's tendency to freelance is the only flaw in his sterling game.
However, Peterson is a terror with the ball in his hands and offers game-breaking return skills. Despite his offensive pedigree, Amukamara hasn't shown similar field-flipping skills and only had five interceptions at Nebraska, all in his junior season. But he was rarely challenged by Big 12 quarterbacks.
"I think I only had 18 receptions on me," Amukamara says of his 2010 campaign. "Not a lot of opportunities coming my way."
But he should get every chance to excel at the next level.
"The way that Prince plays the game compares to how Revis plays the game — a lot of man coverage, and they don't see the ball often," says NFL Network analyst Charles Davis, who recently spent time with Amukamara at Athletes' Performance in Phoenix. "Not saying these guys are the same, but that's how they play."
Amukamara has already met with the Carolina Panthers, who own the No. 1 pick, and is scheduled to make visits with 10 clubs in all, seven of them selecting in the top 10.
"I think his ceiling continues to rise," says Davis. "It would not shock me if he doesn't get out of the top 10. I know Houston (the Texans pick 11th) would love to have him; I'm not sure he's gonna get there."
Which means there's virtually no chance the Jets, who select 30th, will land Amukamara or Peterson, even if they'd love to pair one with Revis now that Antonio Cromartie's contract is up.
"They're both excellent players. The Nebraska kid is probably a little more physical. The other kid has got return ability and all the ball skills," said Jets coach Rex Ryan at the owners meetings last month in New Orleans. "They're both great players. I'd love to have both of them."
Teams in need at defensive back
Pittsburgh Steelers: Their fearsome front seven and pass-poor AFC North opponents can mask the secondary's deficiencies for long stretches, but they were exposed in Super Bowl XLV. A return to health by SS Troy Polamalu will obviously help, but there are issues at corner. Mainstay Ike Taylor is a free agent and will be 31 in May, and the Green Bay Packers openly admitted targeting Bryant McFadden and William Gay — and did so with great success. It's possible Pittsburgh's first two picks could be devoted to the back end of the defense.
Houston Texans: They surrendered 267.5 passing yards per game in 2010, worst in the NFL. CB Kareem Jackson arrived in the first round last year, but he still needs seasoning and assistance. CB Glover Quin might move to safety, but it's probably safe to say the Texans have two starting secondary spots and the nickel job up for grabs at this point.
Dallas Cowboys: Expensive veteran CB Terence Newman will be 33 on opening day, and wingman Mike Jenkins regressed badly in 2010 after earning a Pro Bowl invite the year before. The safety situation looks even more unsettled for last season's 26th-ranked pass defense.
Baltimore Ravens: Despite myriad injuries and advancing age, FS Ed Reed, 32, had another stellar season — but he won't be around forever. Free agent CB Chris Carr and S Tom Zbikowski may not be around at all in 2011 while CB Domonique Foxworth hopes to bounce back from reconstructive knee surgery after a training camp injury ended his 2010 season before it began.
Philadelphia Eagles: Teams had great success targeting Philly corners not named Asante Samuel in 2010. Longtime S Quintin Mikell may also be on the move.
Cincinnati Bengals: They've quietly enjoyed a dependable duo in CBs Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall in recent years. But pending the outcome of collective bargaining negotiations, Joseph could hit the open market at any time, and Hall may be able to ship off himself in 2012. Upgrades at safety could also be considered.
Cream of the crop: Best of the rest at defensive back
Patrick Peterson, LSU
• Height/weight: 6-0, 219
• Scouting report: Arguably the best player in the draft, he could be the first corner taken first overall. Return skills are a significant bonus. Could be the next Woodson, whether it's Charles or Rod.
• Insider's take: "He should be a consideration at No. 1. Typically you can't put that kind of money into a cornerback. But if they (add a rookie wage scale), you can take the best player at No. 1, especially as the NFL becomes more passer-focused." —NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Rob Rang
• Projected round: 1st
Jimmy Smith, Colorado
• Height/weight: 6-2, 211
• Scouting report: A self-proclaimed shutdown corner claiming he has superior ball skills to Nnamdi Asomugha, Smith is not lacking in ability or confidence. But he's also spent much of the predraft process trying to defuse questions about his off-field character and decisions.
• Insider's take: "The ability is there, just not the consistency. I've had some scouting friends tell me his abilities may surpass anyone in the draft." —NFL Network analyst Charles Davis
• Projected round: 1st/2nd
Aaron Williams, Texas
• Height/weight: 6-0, 204
• Scouting report: Is he a solid corner prospect — he played the position for the Longhorns — or is he the best potential safety in a draft lacking at the position? His size should enable him to play either spot. His speed isn't a concern, his ability to flip his hips is. He's also adept at blocking punts.
• Insider's take "He's one of those guys who is interchangeable — a hybrid. He can choose what he wants to play." —Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara
• Projected round: 1st/2nd
Brandon Harris, Miami (Fla.)
• Height/weight: 5-10, 191
• Scouting report: He isn't the most physical player, but he's an excellent athlete who also ran on the Hurricanes' track team. Confident and engaging yet accountable, good traits for a position fraught with risk on the field, especially against bigger targets who could exploit him.
• Insider's take: "He proved he's an elite speed guy. He's physical enough to play nickel, contribute immediately and eventually start in the NFL." —Rang
• Projected round: 1st/2nd
Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
• Height/weight: 6-1, 198
• Scouting report: Leg injuries essentially scuttled his senior year, kept him out of the Senior Bowl and limited him at the combine. But he turned in a strong pro day April 5 and seems to have recovered his 4.4 speed in the 40. Dowling could follow in the path of imposing and gifted but injury-plagued former Cavalier Chris Cook, a second-round pick in 2010.
• Insider's take: "He's even thicker than Cook. I love what he did in his workout." —Davis
• Projected round: 2nd
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Contributing: Jim Corbett
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