Rasul Douglas’ career had seen slow but steady growth, but ended in an explosion of a true break out season. Douglas ended the 2017 season for the West Virginia Mountaineers with 70 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 8 interceptions. The 8 picks were tied for best in the nation. For his efforts, he was named to the All Big 12 First Team.
Rasul was not a top prospect coming out of East Orange, NJ. He redshirted his first season at Nassau Community College and struggled in his freshman season before making a significant jump in his sophomore season. His efforts were rewarded with a first team Junior College All-American selection and a bevy of major college offers.
Douglas turned down offers from Florida State and Louisville to attend West Virginia University. His career at West Virginia mirrored his junior college experience. After a relatively unimpressive junior year, Rasul broke out in his senior season.
At the combine, Douglas measured 6’2 and weighed in at 209. He measured out fairly long with 32 3/8" arms and 9 1/2" hands. It will be his length and not his speed that catches the eyes of NFL teams. Douglas ran a 4.59 forty.
Highlights
Strengths
Douglas is a long and rangy cornerback. By all accounts he shows excellent recognition of coverages and adapts well as plays develop. Douglas reads both routes and quarterbacks well. He uses his height and length well, as he shows in his ability to win balls in the air. Eight interceptions and 16 passes defended speak for themselves. He plays smart and hard, and competes on every play.
Weaknesses
Douglas is not a strong tackler. In college he did show the ability to get players to the ground, but it could be worrisome if this will be enough at the next level. He’s not fast and both his straight line speed and ability to recover will be tested by NFL receivers. One could question his limited starting experience, but his attitude and hunger to compete and learn should calm any reservations.
Possible Fits
Any team that is looking for a cornerback with good cover skills and a strong upside will be happy to take Douglas. The biggest decider of where he goes will be which teams are looking for a CB and who is still on the board. That sounds like a cop out, but that’s the way it goes in the early middle to middle rounds.
Outlook and Projections
Various mock drafts and grading sites project Douglas anywhere from the third to the sixth round. It would not be surprising to see Douglas taken in the middle of the third round, but he could slide if the right team with the right needs doesn’t come to the podium at the right time. It’s cliche, but you only need one team to put your name on the card. Given the right opportunity, Douglas could start almost immediately as a rookie.