Shyheim Battle, CB, NC State
Size:
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 195 lbs
Accomplishments:
Honorable Mention All-ACC (2021) •
“Shyheim Battle is a big, physical cornerback who has the toughness, confidence, and upside to be an effective press-man outside defender.”
Strengths:
Underneath zone instincts and vision
Click-and-close burst
Bump-and-run/press-man upside
Well-experienced (2,374 coverage snaps)
Concerns:
Long speed
Man coverage technique
Locating the ball downfield
Film Analysis:
Shyheim Battle brings a level of toughness that is appreciated from the cornerback position. He triggers downhill to make contact with receivers and ball-carriers without hesitation. He operates as a collision player as a tackler. I love his ability to quickly diagnose screens before they fully develop and run past would-be blockers to blow the play up before it starts.
He possesses a nice burst in click-and-close situations. When playing from depth (cushion/off-coverage), he can plant and drive downhill to meet the receiver at the catch point nicely. Battle’s overall closing burst is good. He can close the distance from trail position well on cross-field and underneath routes. His instincts and vision on underneath routes are impressive. He is a good zone corner who can take away Hi-Lo concepts by playing the halfway point between the two.
His best reps in off-man coverage come when he is patient and remains square, using one-inch steps to remain aligned with his target before breaking with them. There is developmental upside for him as a press-man-style CB. When he can land punches and dictate the action in the contact window, Battle can disrupt the receiver and QB’s timing to synchronize the route to the QB’s drop.
The biggest concern for Battle is his long speed. Explosive vertical receivers can win against him on deeper routes. In man coverage, he didn’t allow many catches despite a decent number of targets but it’s the average depth per reception where the concern was. He has some hip tightness that shows when attempting to swivel to turn and run with receivers. He stays in his backpedal too long and allows receivers to gear past him at top speed, immediately putting him in conflict.
When in phase down the field, he does not turn to locate the ball consistently. There are passes he can break up but he’s playing the receiver instead and doesn’t locate the ball in flight. When in press alignment, his jam technique is unrefined. He shoots and steps with the wrong hand/foot that can lock his hip when countered. He is too eager and can be overzealous when trying to get his hands on the target.
In conclusion, Battle projects as a backup/depth cornerback with developmental upside. Good coaching and emphasis on technique can push him up the depth chart to see the field more often. He can be a CB4/5 early as a rookie.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: North Carolina (2023), Virginia (2023), Notre Dame (2023), Louisville (2023)
