Morris Claiborne Scouting Report

Only a junior (but expected to put his name in the 2012 NFL Draft), Claiborne has been one of the best cornerbacks in college football over the past two seasons. After playing sparingly as a freshman, the star cornerback broke out in 2010 and earned Second-Team All-SEC honors from both the Associated Press and the conference's coaches. He led LSU with five interceptions and 11 passes defensed. Through nine games as a junior (all wins for the top-ranked Tigers), Claiborne again leads the team with four interceptions and nine passes defensed. He had one interception in a 9-6 win over Alabama and returned it for 33 yards.

Claiborne has good size at 6'0'' and 185 pounds. He runs consistently in the 4.4s of the 40-yard dash and has been clocked as fast as 4.36 from that distance. Les Miles and company also line Claiborne up at kick returner due to his speed and elusiveness. He has returned 13 kicks for 383 yards, good for a 29.5 average, including one for a 99-yard touchdown. Claiborne is an outstanding cover corner and can go up against the best receivers in any league. He could add some bulk to his frame as heads into the next level and needs to improve against the run. With continued success at LSU and a good performance at the combine, Claiborne is in line to be a first-round pick.