Seminoles CB Rhodes bolting for NFL
Florida State junior cornerback Xavier Rhodes told ESPN's Joe Schad that he will forego his senior season and enter the 2013 NFL Draft. He announced the news after the Seminoles 31-10 victory over Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl.
“I'm excited about it," Rhodes told the media Tuesday night. "But it depends on me and how I perform in the combine if I'm going to be a first-rounder."
Rhodes currently ranks as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 2 cornerback and No. 18 prospect overall, projecting as a first round pick. He tied for the team-lead in interceptions (3) in 2012, giving him eight over the past three seasons. Rhodes was a fourth-year junior, redshirting in 2009 after a hand injury sidelined him for most of the season.
A First Team All-ACC selection this past season, Rhodes is one of the most physical cornerback prospects at the college level, routinely pressing at the line of scrimmage. Listed at 6-2 and 217 pounds, he has the length and aggressive nature to match up well with bigger receivers at the next level. Rhodes is still a little rough around the edges and tends to get too physical in man coverage, but the physical tools will be extremely appealing to NFL teams on draft day.
