2020 NFL Draft: Top 5 nickel cornerback position rankings

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Darnay  Holmes Nickel

Scouting Report

Darnay Holmes out of UCLA is a player who comes packed with elite athleticism. There is a lot to like about what he has to offer because he plays the position with such a natural feel. Holmes gets a little lost in the Pac-12 as many people are in bed by the time his games come on or just simply choose to not watch UCLA football.

A glimpse at his athleticism can be given watching him be used a returner in his career at UCLA. Holmes has the foot speed to stay on top of routes without straining to overrun receivers and leave him susceptible to the back shoulder fade. He was the only player in 2018 who was able to consistently run stride for stride with Marquise Brown from Oklahoma (now of the Baltimore Ravens) and can keep that game in his back pocket to impress scouts.

Watching him go from his back pedal to driving downhill on routes is an explosive display of his change of direction abilities. He has the hip fluidity to open his hips and run without losing speed. Effortlessly flips his hip to stay in phase on routes without losing his eyes on the receiver. Holmes has shown some ability to be a solid and efficient tackler in space.

There’s some good film of him playing pressed in the slot and running with the slot fade which has become a weapon route for offenses. He shows good ball skills as a guy who can get off the ground to play the ball in the air and also effectively play through the hands of receivers.

Holmes has had his fair share of problems when facing bigger receivers and can be bumped off the route when trying to stay with them. His aggressive nature to make plays will cost him as he is willing to sacrifice his eye discipline in search of the big play and will spend too much time trying to fight with receivers for position downfield instead of just playing the ball.

He will also need to work on his ability to properly reroute defenders if he wants to succeed as an underneath defender. Overall, Darnay Holmes has very intriguing nickel abilities that can develop him into a star due to his fearlessness as a competitor and elite athletic abilities.