Special Teams Opens Door for Two NFL Draft Cats

They say there are three phases to a football game. There is offense, defense and special teams, the red-headed stepchild of the three. Even though those roles may appear diminished, athletes that perform well on special teams are still rewarded with steady NFL paychecks.

Special teams roles could be the long term vocation for a pair of NFL Draft Cats, Yusuf Corker and Quandre Mosely. Two Kentucky defensive backs in 2021, even if they cannot crack into a secondary rotation of an NFL team, they still have an opportunity to see the field regularly on Sundays.

Versatility Makes Mosely a Special Teams Fit

A junior college transfer to the University of Kentucky, Mosely did whatever UK needed him to do in the secondary. Receiving reps at cornerback and safety, he played in every game of his three-year career, including significant reps on special teams. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound athlete had 69 tackles, three for loss, 10 pass break-ups and three picks. Moving positions did not make him the most technically sound player, but he has the tools and experience to make an impact on special teams as an undrafted free agent.

“I’m fast. I got the height, the speed. I know the game, played multiple positions on the field, so whatever they need, I can do,” Mosely said prior to pro day. “That’s one of my big pushes is I can play special teams, gunner, pretty much every special teams. I know that can help me out too.”

Pro Day Numbers Help Corker

A former four-star recruit, Corker ended his Kentucky career with 37 consecutive career starts at free safety. While he lacked ball production with only three picks, he never shied away from contact, totaling 240 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Physically speaking, Corker provides everything an NFL team wants at safety, except length. Among his strong pro day numbers, Corker ran a 4.53 40-yard dash and recorded 23 benchpress reps at the NFL Combine. Standing at just 6-feet tall, it’s not ideal for a safety. However, he still has the tools needed to succeed on special teams. One NFL source recently told Freddie Maggard Corker could have a 10-year career as a special teams captain.

A two-time team captain at Kentucky, he checks all of the boxes to excel in the third phase of the game. Likely a late round selection, ESPN recently predicted Corker to San Francisco in the sixth round. We should know the fate of all of the former Cats not longer after the NFL Draft concludes Saturday night.