Email to a friend  Printer friendly version Related Resources • More Draft Prospects • NFL Mock Drafts About Football Subscribe to the Free Newsletter Your Email Address:

Position: Cornerback

School: USC

Status: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190

40-Yard Dash: 

Strengths: Will Poole has decent size, good ball skills, tremendous instincts, and great closing speed. He shows good technique, with a good backpedal and fluid hips... turns and runs smoothly. He's also a good tackler that enjoys hitting people and he's not afraid to come up to support against the run. He could also be used as a punt returner.

Another thing I like about this kid is that he always seems to come up big in the big games. Against Michigan in the Rose Bowl, he had 10 tackles, two sacks, five passes defensed and a forced fumble. In 13 games for the Trojans this season, he made 80 tackles, seven interceptions, and 19 passes defensed.

Weaknesses: There are some minor character issues because of his suspension from Boston College before transferring to Ventura Junior College and then ultimately to USC. The incident that got him suspended happened when he was 18 (four years ago), he admitted he was wrong and immature, and he has had no other serious issues since.

The fact that he started for less than one season at USC may be a small concern as well, but he did start 10 games for Boston College as a red-shirt freshman .

Projection: Will Poole is a player that makes big plays in big games. I could see him being selected anywhere from the middle of the first round to early in the second.

 ~ James Alder