NFL draft profile: Ohio State CB Eli Apple, long-limbed cover man

Shutdown Corner is counting down the top 50 prospects in the 2016 NFL draft with a scouting report, quotes from NFL evaluators and a projection where they might be drafted.

24. Ohio State CB Eli Apple
6-foot-1, 199 pounds

Key stat: Third-year sophomore started 27 games for Buckeyes in two seasons and collected 86 tackles, 18 pass deflections, four interceptions, 7.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

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The skinny: Well-built, finesse corner who fits the mold of the type of cover man more NFL teams are seeking, Apple overcame a redshirt season in 2013 to become one of the more impactful Buckeyes defenders the past two seasons. After it was discovered that Apple suffered from an iron deficiency that sapped him of his strength and stamina, the problem was corrected and he started for a team that lost two games in two years. Apple finished the 2015 season by earning MVP honors in the Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame but was unable to complete his NFL combine workout because of cramping.

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Best-suited destination: Apple has the size, short-area quickness and transition skills to fit in teams that run man-under schemes or zone defenses such as cover-2 where he’s not asked to patrol a large portion of the field. The Seattle Seahawks have cornered the market on cover men Apple’s size, but with Pete Carroll’s coaching tree growing teams such as the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars also employ this type of defender. (Although the Falcons awkwardly asked Apple if he liked men in a combine interview that made the team look bad, so that could be a less likely pairing in light of that.) Other teams that seek taller, man-cover corers include the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs.

Reason he’ll rise in draft: This is the new type of corner that many teams are seeking, and the list of CB-needy teams is pretty high in the second half of Round 1. Although there is a pretty good crop of corners in this class, Apple’s length and high-level experience against NFL-caliber receivers will help his stock. The Buckeyes have produced good NFL defensive talent, and Urban Meyer’s history of sending defensive backs to the NFL is also solid. Apple’s potential to get better after a year or two in the NFL is very strong.

Reason he’ll fall in draft: Apple wasn’t a big playmaker in college, and his instincts — especially with the ball in the air — have been questioned by scouts. There were several times last season where he was turned around in deep coverage and lost track of his receiver (see Western Michigan’s Daniel Braverman). Apple also was very handsy in college, called for 11 penalties the past two seasons combined, but that number easily could have been doubled. In the NFL, that likely won’t fly. He also is a sub-par run defender (especially for his size), has been dinged for character question by some NFL teams and must have his health carefully checked out.

Scouting hot take: “I think he’ll need time, and I don’t like his technique; watch him in press-bail and you’ll see what I mean. He’s a bit soft. But those are the skills, the size and speed, teams are looking for.” — AFC defensive backs coach

Player comp: Johnathan Joseph, who struggled his first few years in the NFL before becoming a standout.

Expected draft range: Top-40 pick

Previous profiles

50. Ohio State WR Braxton Miller
49. Indiana OT Jason Spriggs
48. Florida DL Jonathan Bullard
47. Texas Tech OT Le’Raven Clark
46. Arkansas TE Hunter Henry
45. Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard
44. Michigan State QB Connor Cook
43. West Virginia S Karl Joseph
42. Michigan State DE-OLB Shilique Calhoun
41. Notre Dame WR Will Fuller
40. Pitt WR Tyler Boyd
39. Oklahoma State DE Emmanuel Ogbah
38. Alabama DE-DT A’Shawn Robinson
37. Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
36. Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
35. Alabama C Ryan Kelly
34. Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler
33. Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche
32. Georgia DE-OLB Leonard Floyd
31. USC S-LB Su’a Cravens
30. Alabama LB Reggie Ragland
29. Mississippi State DT-DE Chris Jones
28. Baylor NT Andrew Billings
27. Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith
26. Houston CB William Jackson III
25. Alabama RB Derrick Henry