In a day and age where NFL defensive coordinators love cornerbacks that are at least 5-11 or taller, Maurice Canady, formerly of the Virginia Cavaliers certainly has the scouts and draft prognosticators attention. While Canady has the prototype size for today’s NFL cornerback at 6-1 193 pounds, that isn’t the only attribute that helps him on the field.
In high school at Varina in Richmond, Virginia, Canady played multiple positions including wide receivers. He feels like his experience as a wideout has helped him become the player that he is today.
“Being a wide receiver really helped me out in the film room,” Canady said.” “I’m able to pick up on receivers’ routes more quickly because of the time I’ve spent there in high school.”
In four seasons in college at Virginia, Canady started 33 of the 44 games he was available. In those games, he recorded 148 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and five interceptions. Canady was a proven playmaker for the Cavaliers as he forced 10 turnovers, one for which was returned for a touchdown.
Canady has been preparing for the draft in Miami, Florida since a couple of days after Christmas because the Cavaliers did not qualify for a bowl game.
Many draft experts believe Canady will be selected in the fourth or fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but he isn’t worried about where he is selected.
“Guys have no idea where you’re going to fall into in the draft,” Canady said. “Unless you’re a top-10 pick, you really don’t know. I’ve done all I can do, so I will just have to wait and see.”
While Canady put up some solid numbers during his time in Charlottesville, his production was less than stellar in 2015. He did not have an interception during his senior season as he recorded 30 tackles and three tackles for loss.
Canady said teams threw his way less last season, which is the reason for the drop in his interception total. Another weakness an NFL scout has said about Canady is that “he is soft.”
On the NFL.com profile of Canady, the website said sources told them that Canady is soft and they have serious doubts about if his physical and mentally tough enough to play in the NFL.
Canady says it is an unfair label to place on him because NFL.com is the only website that has said that about him.
“Only one scout on the NFL.com website talked about my lack of physical ability,” Canady said. “If you talk to other scouts and writers, they feel like it is one of my strengths.”
In this year’s Senior Bowl, Canady played well as he erased the notion that he can’t become a press corner.
“I’m a student of the game and I love watching the game and I pick up on the schemes, Canady said. “I really didn’t run a lot of zone coverage in college because of our scheme at Virginia. But I know I can come on any team and learn their defense fast.”
Washington Redskins Josh Norman and the Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman are two of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Canady said he has patterned his game after both All-Pro corners.
I love Josh Norman and Richard Sherman and how they play in zone coverage,” Canady said.” “I think my game reflects theirs.”
If Canady is a draft day steal like Norman and Sherman, one of the 32 teams in the league will have a great shutdown corner for years to come.
Twitter: @antwanstaley
