2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Marshall S J.J. Roberts

From now till the 2025 NFL Draft, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as attainable, inspecting their strengths, weaknesses, and what they will carry to an NFL franchise. These gamers might be potential top-10 picks, all the way in which right down to Day 3 picks and precedence undrafted free brokers. Immediately, a scouting report on Marshall security J.J. Roberts.

#11 J.J. ROBERTS/S MARSHALL – 5110, 192 kilos (Redshirt Senior)

Measurements

The Good

— Stable measurement and size
— Spectacular testing, particularly vertical and bench press
— Expertise taking part in nook and security
— Has performed in zone and man coverages
— Fast set off coming downhill
— Good ball abilities; will get his palms within the catch basket
— Stable vary from the deep security
— Seemed extra assured/snug as outdoors nook
— Good tackler close to LOS and when staying contained in the ball on outdoors runs
— Seemed extra assured/snug as outdoors nook

The Unhealthy

— Targeted on QB in beneath zone; loses routes runners behind him
— Play power is sufficient and marginal disengaging from blocks
— Excessive reduce/lengthy legs restrict his transition velocity
— Angles outdoors coming downhill are inconsistent
— Timing when tackling varies, resulting in misses
— Marginal jam in press protection
— Losses velocity with finding ball on deep throws
— Bodily receivers will win on the catch level

Bio

— Profession: 213 tackles, 120 solo, 6 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INT for 9 yards, 25 PBU, 5 FF, 1 blocked FG
— 2024: 94 tackles, 50 solo, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 14 PBU, 1 FF, 1 blocked FG
— 55 video games/23 at Marshall
— 2020: 2022 at Wake Forest; 2023-2024 at Marshall
— 2024 First staff All-Solar Belt
— Led Solar Belt convention in move break ups in 2024
— 2024 School Soccer Community All-American Honorable Point out
— Missed three video games in 2023 (damaged toe)
— 2025 Hula Bowl invitee

Tape Breakdown

J.J. Roberts is a defensive again with strong top and sufficient weight for the protection place. He has strong arm size and hand measurement. He has good velocity and athleticism and expertise taking part in security and nook.

Towards the move, when taking part in security, he aligned to the sphere facet of the formation, usually because the cut up or single excessive security. Taking part in in quite a lot of deep zone protection, he will get good depth and has strong vary from the one security look and good from the cut up security look.

He was strong because the robber coming downhill to remove the intermediate-level throws and had strong consciousness of route combos general. Additionally, within the matchup zone beneath him, he was strong mirroring the receiver. On screens, he performs underneath management and has strong hand placement when taking up blocks. He flows to the ball properly and tackles properly when he stays contained in the ball.

Go breakups in zone protection.

He can get downhill in a rush in opposition to the passing sport.

At Wake Forest, he performed proper cornerback in man and zone coverages. Primarily, he performed in an off-man look and displayed a clean again pedal, strong click on and shut, and velocity to run with the deep route. He has excellent aggressiveness and ball abilities in the case of breaking apart the passes, at all times making a play on the ball. In zone, he bought good depth and was conscious of his space. He appeared snug studying the quarterback and breaking into the ball from the beneath space.

Just a few move breakups from man protection.

Towards the run, when close to the road of scrimmage, he performs underneath management, takes strong angles, and is a wrap-up tackler as a keen run supporter. He doesn’t panic in area because the final line of protection and strong takes down the runner. Coming downhill, he can get there in a flash to chop down ball carriers earlier than they get began.

Roberts does his half to take down the operating backs.

When taking part in within the beneath zone, he focuses closely on the quarterback, making him sufficient at recognizing receivers coming via his space behind him. He’s marginal when disengaging from blocks and taking up the blocks too excessive. He’s excessive reduce and long-legged, slowing his transition on his turns. His angles to the skin when coming downhill versus the run or move are marginally inconsistent. Some are too shallow, letting the runner by, whereas others are too deep, permitting the in the reduction of. His tackling in area is sufficient. He’ll dive too quickly and too low, permitting the ball provider to slide by him.

Beginning his deal with too early and poor angles led to misses whereas tackling.

When taking part in press protection, his jam was marginal, his transition opening his hips was sufficient, and bodily receivers may out-muscle him on the catch level. Additionally, he loses velocity when he turns to search for the ball on deep throws.

Lacking with the jam and slowing when in search of the ball had been a part of his points in man protection.

Conclusion

Total, Roberts has good velocity, athleticism, and strong measurement. He has expertise taking part in in man and zone protection, each as a security and an outdoor nook. In zone, he performs with good depth, strong consciousness, and vary with strong instincts because the robber. At nook, he performed largely in off-man or zone protection, was good together with his click on and shut, and made effort to get his palms on the ball. He’s a keen run defender, will get downhill shortly, and is an efficient tackler when he takes good angles.

Areas to enhance embrace his angles when coming downhill, disengaging from blocks, and consciousness of receivers behind him in shallow zone protection. Bettering his timing when tackling in area, including play power, and retaining his velocity on deep routes may also assist him.

Roberts has plenty of expertise and examined extraordinarily properly, particularly within the explosion numbers (bench, broad soar, vertical soar). His expertise at security and nook could be very useful, and he has good particular groups potential. I felt he appeared extra snug as a nook and would match finest in a zone-heavy system. If he earns a roster spot, he may initially work on nickel/dime defenses and particular groups.

For a participant comp, I gives you Chase Lucas. He’s of comparable measurement and athletic traits with good ball abilities. He’s additionally a match for off-coverage, permitting him to make use of his instincts coming downhill, however he wants so as to add play power and enhance his tackling angles.

Projection: Late Day Three/UDFA
Depot Draft Grade: 6.3 – Sixth/seventh Spherical – Finish of Roster/Apply Squad
Video games Watched: 2022 – Vs Clemson, Vs North Carolina; 2024 – At Virginia Tech, At Ohio State, At Georgia Southern, Vs Georgia State