49ers.com runs down the list of top players in the 2016 NFL Draft. We continue our "Meet the Prospect" series with one of the most decorated players in this year's class, Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves.
First Glance
Hargreaves enters the draft with a gaudy list of accolades on his mantle. The cornerback was the National Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in high school, Most Valuable Player of the Under Armour All-American game and went on to earn First-Team All-SEC honors all three seasons of his collegiate career in Gainesville. He took home two All-American honors as well, as a sophomore and junior.
In 37 games total, Hargreaves amassed 118 tackles, 28 pass breakups and 10 interceptions. The talent at cornerback is loaded this year with the likes of Jalen Ramsey, Mackensie Alexander and Eli Apple to name a few, so where Hargreaves will go in the draft is difficult to predict.
The 49ers currently have Tramaine Brock, Kenneth Acker, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and Marcus Cromartie on their cornerback depth chart.
Measurables
Height: 5-10
Weight: 204
Arm length: 30 5/8 inches
Hand Size: 8 3/4 inches
NFL.com Pro Comparison
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden
Best College Game
Hargreaves helped Florida pull off a huge upset last fall over then-No. 3 Ole Miss. The cornerback recorded seven tackles and intercepted a pass as the Gators ran away with a 38-10 victory. Hargreaves' pick came midway through the fourth quarter on a 4th-and-15 play for Ole Miss that virtually sealed the win.
Combine Statistics
40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
Bench press: 15 reps
Vertical jump: 39.0 inches (fourth among DBs)
Broad jump: 130.0 inches (third among DBs)
3 cone drill: N/A
20-yard shuttle: 3.98 seconds (at Pro Day)
Mock Draft Connections
NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah – No. 12 overall pick (New Orleans Saints)
NFL Media's Charles Davis – No. 15 overall pick (Los Angeles Rams)
ESPN's Todd McShay – No. 15 overall pick (Rams)
What the Media is Saying…
"Hargreaves plays with a decisive reactor to maintain proper positioning and make plays on the ball (38 career passes defended), but his timing and spacing have room for improvement. Although he has only ordinary size, Hargreaves is above average in three main areas for the position: play speed, instincts and competitive toughness." – CBS Sports' Dane Brugler
"While scouts have voiced some concerns about Hargreaves' size and recovery speed, you won't find anyone who doesn't admire his competitiveness and consistency of production. Hargreaves has a level of suddenness and explosiveness in his movements that should always have him near the ball. With top-notch ball skills and exceptional instincts that drew praise from Alabama's Nick Saban, Hargreaves possesses the football makeup to become a Pro Bowl cornerback." – NFL.com's Lance Zierlein
Fun Fact
Last year before a game against Florida Atlantic, a soldier approached Hargreaves and asked if he would wear a bracelet to honor a serviceman who died in Afghanistan. The defensive back did not know either man but nevertheless agreed to the soldier's request. "He died in honor," Hargreaves said at the time. "He died doing a great thing for our country. I'm very honored, I'm very, very blessed to receive his bracelet and I'm going to wear it with pride." It wasn't a one-time thing either. Hargreaves wore the wristband for the remainder of the season as well. View a photo here.
Must-see Video
It's easy to see why @MikeMayock thinks Vernon Hargreaves has the best feet he's seen from a corner. #FloridaProDay pic.twitter.com/29e8ixZJPF — John Crist (@SaturdayJC) March 22, 2016
Social Spotlight
Hargreaves comes with a top-notch nickname for his side of the field.
