So far in this series we’ve detailed the pro prospects for Notre Dame’s slot receiver, Buck linebacker, and starting tight end. Up next, a blazing fast cornerback coming off a slightly disappointing senior season but going into workout season with a quickly improving stock.

SPECS

Name: Troy Pride
Position: CB
Height: 5-11 1/2
Weight: 194
Hometown: Greer, South Carolina

STATS

YEAR SOLO ASSISTED TACKLES PBU
2016 10 2 12 0
2017 14 18 22 2
2018 37 10 47 10
2019 27 13 40 6
TOTAL 88 33 121 18

BIO:

Pride was the top rated corner for the 2016 Notre Dame class and like his classmates Julian Love, Donte Vaughn, Jalen Elliott, and Devin Studstill, he was thrust into early playing time as a freshman. Pride made 7 starts over his first 2 seasons on campus but didn’t really stand out from the crowd, beyond being the fast guy, until his junior year.

In 2018, Pride teamed up with Love to form one of the top corner duos in the country. He set career highs across the board in tackles and pass break-ups and also intercepted a pair of passes. Going into his senior season big things were expected from Pride. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite live up to the hype in an All-American type of way but did use his skills to impress scouts in a big way at the Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS:

Elite speed. Pride has some of the best closing speed in the country and virtually never gets beat down the field by a fast receiver. Good at reading routes. Stays on the hip of the receiver with nice fluidity and ease. He can turn his hips and run and pivot back up-field really well. Has good arm strength to jam at the line and knock receivers off their route tree.

WEAKNESSES:

Mediocre tackler. Doesn’t use his muscular frame nearly enough to be a physical presence at corner. Pride can have a hard time getting off blocks against bigger receivers. Not nearly willing enough to wade through traffic and make tackles in the run game. Ball skills can be really poor at times. He can be frustratingly in good position and unable to break up a pass too many times throughout his career.

OVERVIEW:

As late as this past November it appeared Pride wasn’t going to be picked until day three of the NFL Draft following a disappointing senior season and some obvious flaws in his game. However, since he was one of the top overall performers at the Senior Bowl his stock has been soaring.

Pride is still a risky, yet high ceiling pick. At worst, he appears to be a low 4.3 burner in the 40-yard dash and there are rumors he could break into the 4.2 range, as well. On average, about one player per year at the NFL Combine runs that fast, for reference. Either way, Pride should be among the fastest 3 corners in the draft and maybe the fastest overall player at the Combine.

Should he truly be that fast it’s difficult to see him falling past the 3rd round. Someone is going to see his frame and speed and think they can coach him up to be a NFL starter.

PREDICTION:

3rd Round, 78th Overall to the Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta has taken Kendall Sheffield (111th overall) and Isaiah Oliver (58th overall) at corner over the last 2 drafts, plus 3 years of a large contract remaining for Desmond Trufant on the books. Still, corner is a need and this will be the Falcons’ 4th pick of the draft in this slot.

More scouting reports to come:

Tony Jones
Alohi Gilman
Jalen Elliott
Julian Okwara
Khalid Kareem
Jamir Jones
Chase Claypool