Richard LeCounte III 2021 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 5’-10 ½”
Weight: 196 pounds
School: Georgia
Richard LeCounte III 2021 NFL Draft Profile
After patrolling Georgia’s secondary for the past four years, Richard LeCounte III is hoping to take his talents to the next level via the NFL Draft. The versatile defensive back is coming off of a relatively disappointing season, although he wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination. Seeing the field for 283 snaps, LeCounte III finished his final season with 22 tackles, three assists, and six missed tackles.
LeCounte III originally joined the college football world as a five-star recruit out of Georgia. After receiving offers from essentially every major program in the country, the defensive back ultimately decided to stick with his hometown state. He played a small role as a true freshman before winning a full-time starting job as a Sophomore. Over the next two season, LeCounte III recorded a combined 110 tackles, 25 assists, and 23 missed tackles on a collective 1,615 snaps.
Strengths
- Can play multiple spots on a defense;
- Smart player that generally makes the right read on the quarterback;
- Instinctive player that trusts his judgement;
- Willing run defender that isn’t afraid to get dirty in the trenches;
- Long arms with ability to high point passes and break them up;
- Undercuts routes and can make a quarterback uncomfortable.
Weaknesses
- Jack of all trades, master of none;
- Unconventional build for the position and could struggle against NFL size;
- Not a sound tackler thanks to size limitations and unremarkable technique;
- Doesn’t have the speed to play deep in Cover 1;
- Pedestrian lateral agility with slow hips;
- Overall unremarkable athleticism caps his ceiling.
NFL Comparison: Steve Gregory
Teams With Need At Position: New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints
Projection: 3rd/4th Round
Bottom Line on Richard LeCounte III
Richard LeCounte III is the type of player that is going to get by on his mental ability, rather than his physical attributes. Playing multiple positions isn’t easy, yet the Georgia product demonstrated the mental fortitude required to play all over the defense. Not only did he move around, but he was never a liability. No matter where he was, he understood his job and what needed to be done on any given snap. On top of that, his above-average anticipation allowed him to close gaps and make plays on the ball by breaking quicker on the throw.
LeCounte III will need these mental traits, as his actual athletic ability as a football player is below NFL standards. Part of the reason LeCounte III moved around so much is because he would be exposed if he stayed at any one position for too long. He’s too slow to play deep in Cover 1, and he doesn’t have the size to consistently take down running backs. Ultimately, this combination makes LeCounte III project as a great backup and emergency starter, but nothing more than that.
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