The 2021 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Robert Rochell 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Cornerback
Size: 6-foot, 193 pounds
Class: Redshirt Senior
2019 stats: 5 interceptions, 2 passes defended
Rochell has become a solid draft prospect despite playing in the FCS. The cornerback is about to make the jump from the FCS to the NFL.
In high school, Rochell played both ways in Louisiana and decided to play for Central Arkansas in the FCS. He redshirted his first year on campus. In 2018, Rochell was able to break into the starting lineup. He had four interceptions with one pass defended. The Bears finished the year at 6-5. For the 2019 season, Rochell had five interceptions and two passes defended. His play helped the Bears get to the second round of the FCS playoffs. The 2020 season was abbreviated for the Bears, but Rochell did have a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
After a great FCS career, Rochell decided to move on to the next level. He is currently projected to be a second to fourth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Robert Rochell
Rochell has the necessary measurables to be an NFL cornerback. He stands at 6-feet and 193 pounds, which are both solid for the position. His 32.5-inch arms are great for a corner and help him have extended range when battling against bigger wide receivers. Rochell is a well-built prospect.
His athleticism is why he is on the NFL’s radar. He was a track star in high school, whose speed shows up on tape as well. Rochell can change direction decently and has solid recovery speed to catch up with receivers trying to separate. He also shows good jumping ability to help contest catches. Rochell has a solid overall athletic profile.
He has great ball skills that were demonstrated over his career. Prior to the 2020 season he had 10 interceptions in his career. He tracks the ball well and drives toward the football. Once there, Rochell has the necessary athleticism and length to make plays on the ball. It is easy to see that he played on the offensive side of the ball in high school because of his ball skills.
At the FCS level, Rochell didn’t get the chance to play against elite receivers every week. He was the best athlete on the field and was very rarely challenged at his level. Moving on from the FCS to the NFL will take some time for Rochell to adjust.
Rochell needs better technique work to become a more consistent corner. He needs to get his hands on wide receivers quicker and then stick with them. His initial job in press coverage is solid, but he loses the man shortly after. Improving his footwork should help with this issue.
His tendency to grab receivers will need to be fixed. He did it even though he didn’t need to against some FCS opponents. Rochell needs to trust his coverage and refrain from reaching out. If this doesn’t get fixed, he will be called for plenty of holdings and pass interferences at the next level.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Fourth Round Pick
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