STRENGTHS
Asante is a quick-twitch athlete, with the athletic talent and high football IQ, to play in any style of defensive scheme. He can play off the ball in zone or uptight in single coverage and is a solid tackler. Asante will come up and support the run. Because of his quick feet and football intelligence, he could play more multiple positions in a team’s defensive backfield. He has good hands to intercept the ball and the change of direction skills to make yardage after the interception.
CONCERNS
Asante plays smaller than his size because of his lack of bulk and not because of his height. His height is fine. He has long arms and legs but the lack of bulk in his lower and upper body is the real issue. He can bulk himself up but I believe it will take away from his speed and quickness because of his frame. Of course, that is just one person’s opinion and I am not a trainer so take my opinion for what it is…just an opinion.
BOTTOM LINE 2.81
If I’m correct about Asante’s lack of bulk to get bigger without it affecting his athletic talents, then that will be the issue that will affect what round Asante will be selected. If you play him out wide he will struggle defending against those big receivers for a 16-game schedule. If you play him in the slot, then every time a team needs yardage to make a first down they will run the ball right at Asante and he will get overwhelmed physically. If a team tries to make a safety out of him, once again, that lack of bulk to tackle in the open field will become an issue and will make him revert to making tackles that could be called penalties and also get him hurt. There is value in a player with Asante’s athletic talents and high football IQ for sure. But teams will have to decide that for themselves and that will affect his draft status and potential to impact for the next level. Asante definitely has 2nd round talent but it’s very hard to know at what point in the draft teams will value him personally and how he will fit into their system. My guess, it will be not until the 3rd or 4th rounds because, there are so many corners with length in this draft, that Asante could get lost in the shuffle. Any other draft I think his talent would overcome most teams’ concerns.
