49ers 2019 NFL Draft prospect profile: Cornerback Amani Oruwariye
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers could end up taking a cornerback in Rounds 2 or 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft, and Penn State’s Amani Oruwariye might be a player to keep on the radar.
The San Francisco 49ers‘ situation at cornerback is very fluid heading into the 2019 NFL Draft.
Currently, the only guaranteed starter is the veteran, Richard Sherman, who just turned 31 years old and has two years remaining on his current contract. Opposite him, the Niners have three competitors for the starting job: Ahkello Witherspoon, Tarvarius Moore and the recently signed Jason Verrett.
It’s possible the number of investments San Francisco has made the past few years at the position is enough to deter general manager John Lynch from targeting another early in the draft.
That said, Verrett’s injury history and the inconsistencies seen from both Witherspoon and Moore last year could prompt yet another pick on a starting-caliber candidate here.
If so, Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye could be a player to watch in Rounds 2 or 3.
| Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | Def | Def | Def | Def | Def | Fumb | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FF |
| *2015 | Penn State | Big Ten | FR | CB | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| *2016 | Penn State | Big Ten | SO | CB | 10 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 30 | 30.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| *2017 | Penn State | Big Ten | JR | CB | 11 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 17 | 4.3 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| *2018 | Penn State | Big Ten | SR | CB | 13 | 39 | 11 | 50 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3 | -2 | -0.7 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Career | Penn State | 72 | 34 | 106 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 45 | 5.6 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 3/31/2019.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound four-year collegiate standout would seem to be an ideal fit in the Cover 3 zone-style scheme the 49ers operate. And with some ballhawk abilities in his pedigree, Oruwariye might be the long-term fix San Francisco is seeking.
If so, what kind of player would the Niners be getting?
Amani Oruwariye’s Strengths
Note the size Oruwariye possesses. That’s ideal for boundary duties, and Oruwariye especially thrived when asked to perform in zone duties.
Don’t overlook those seven interceptions the past two years with the Nittany Lions, either. His recognition and anticipation skills are top notch, and you can get the idea by checking out the video below:
Plus, not unlike Sherman, Oruwariye can win matchups by asserting himself at the line of scrimmage and bumping wide receivers off their routes. He’s not afraid to get in the mix as a run defender, either, and his tackling skills are sound enough to prevent this area of his game from being a major worry.
Amani Oruwariye’s Weaknesses
While Oruwariye is effective at jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage, if he gets beat, it becomes a problem.
Oruwariye doesn’t have the best recovery speed. And while he ran a sub-4.50 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine, his change-of-direction and bounce-back speeds are questionable at best. Simply put, he has to win the initial snap or he’ll be in trouble.
While his tackling is usually good, Oruwariye has shown some tendencies to give up yards after first contact. It’s still not a perfect aspect to his game, reflected by the fact he’s relatively inexperienced as a full-time starter.
At times, he’ll give up catches underneath as he’s keeping some distance to prevent his lack of recovery speed from being a liability.
How He’d Fit with the 49ers
In some ways, it’s not hard to see a far-off comparison between Oruwariye’s potential and Sherman’s abilities. There’s a good chance Oruwariye emerges as a shutdown corner, relying heavily on his on-field IQ and anticipation abilities — traits that made Sherman who he is at the pro level.
That’s the kind of defensive back the 49ers have been seeking to either pair with Sherman or, over the long run, eventually replace him when the Niners eventually look to move on.
Plus, one has to factor in the situation on the other side of the field. Verrett has played only five regular-season games dating back to 2016 and is signed on just a one-year deal. Moore’s conversion from safety to corner remains a work in progress, and it’s possible Witherspoon’s 2018 regression is more of an indicator of what’s to come.
If San Francisco feels the worst-case scenarios for its crop of boundary corners opposite Sherman are true, it wouldn’t be at all shocking to see Oruwariye be the target.
One would guess Oruwariye is a Round 2 target. Yet if he slips into the third round, the Niners could be enticed enough to grab him.
Or, possibly, they get comfortable enough to take him at No. 36 overall.
Next. 5 players 49ers should target in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. dark
The 2019 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET.