Jarrod Cann was an all-around great high school athlete, but he didn’t start playing football until his senior year. With such a small sample size of games and film to look at, how did he make it to an NCAA Division I FCS school like Central Connecticut State University? It has been quite the ride, to say the least.
Coming out of high school, Cann did not have the grades to play at the Division I level. Originally from Delaware, Cann went to Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia to get his grades up.
By the time he became eligible, he had missed the recruiting cycle. Cann had a few options. He could play at the Division II or III level, but he couldn’t afford it and he did not want to pay off a big student loan.
Instead, he went the JUCO route and attended Nassau Community College in New York. It was at NCC that Cann switched to the safety position. Up to that point, he had played wide receiver. After playing really well at safety, Central Connecticut State University was willing to take a shot on Cann and offered him a scholarship.
Cann had a successful career at CCSU. In three seasons, Cann has totaled 169 tackles and five interceptions, with four coming this past season.
Cann really became a leader at CCSU. It was something his coach pushed him to do, especially in his senior year.
“It was a turning point for me,” Cann said. “I really got to talk with the guys, back and forth. Try to lead more people from the position of where I was. I think that was the greatest thing I’m going to get out of that.”
Cann hopes the journey will continue to the NFL. In preparation for the draft, Cann is still getting up at 6 a.m. to practice with his team. He is also doing individual sessions with a trainer that helped prepare his cousin and Cleveland Browns safety, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, for the NFL.
Cann believes his leadership is one of his biggest attributes and is something an NFL team would appreciate about him.
“I’m definitely a leader,” Cann said. “If I come in, I would definitely lead in all aspects. Personality wise, physically on the field. I do it for my team. I do everything with a family perspective on things. I’m a big family guy.”
To Cann, football is more than just a game. He wants to help his teammates grow and be a positive influence in the locker room.
“I feel like overall, it is more than just a game,” Cann said. “I feel like I really connect with people. I feel like I can help change lives with that.”
As far as play on the field goes, one of the comments Cann has gotten from most of his coaches is that he plays hard and physical.
“I play with my heart out there,” he said. “I’ve worked hard to get that strength and the speed. I have all the physical tools to go out and make big plays out on the field.”
Cann brings a lot to the table. Whichever team picks him will be getting more than just a football player.
Jarrod Cann Scouting Report
Cann isn’t the tallest at 5-foot-11 but is well-built at 205 pounds. He has enough strength that not a lot of receivers will have an edge on him if they try to play physically. While he has good strength, his biggest asset is his speed.
His speed is at a track-level and really helps him on the football field. He has great range and can be seen zipping across the field to make plays after the ball leaves the quarterback’s hands. Even if he is out of position, which isn’t frequent, Cann will be able to make up for it with his blazing speed.
His man to man coverage is solid and when in zone coverage, does a good job reading the quarterback. Cann offers decent run support and is a sure tackler, who lays the occasional big hit on opponents.
While getting drafted isn’t 100% guaranteed, Cann’s speed should be able to get him in the door with an NFL team. He played well against Syracuse, which should help prove to teams he can play against higher levels of competition.
Full interview for Jarrod Cann:
*Josh Burris interviewed Johnson, while Joe DiTullio provided the scouting report.
Featured image by Steve McLaughlin Photography
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