This is part one of a 20-day series. Over the next 20 days, Dr. SEC will publish a scouting report on 20 different recruits who recently signed with the Alabama Crimson Tide
There might not be another member of the 2014 high school football recruiting class who has bigger shoes to fill than Alabama’s newly committed five-star cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
His mother, Barbra, was a track star at the UAB and set the 400-meter record that stands today. His father, Bobby, was a two time All-American for the Crimson Tide who amassed 3,943 offensive yards and 40 touchdowns during his college career and was a Pro-Bowler for the Denver Broncos in the NFL.
However, Marlon is creating his own legacy and is not intimidated by the expectations that follow by playing at the same university that his father rose to greatness at.
While he displays some of the same physical traits that his father had (watch first play of the video below), Marlon plays a different position. Unlike his father, who was known for dragging defenders into the end-zone, Marlon is best at keeping opposing players out of the end zone.
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Marlon is one of the more complete and ready-to-play corners we have seen in recent years. He possesses all the ideal attributes you look for in a cornerback with elite instincts.
In perimeter run support, Marlon has great reaction time and loves to stick running backs with good pop. He looks comfortable playing near the line of scrimmage and is extremely feisty and near impossible to seal off on the perimeter. He transitions quickly and takes direct angles to the ball. He is not afraid of contact and makes opposing players think twice before coming his direction again.
In pass protection, he is very savvy with a good understanding of various coverages. Marlon is very fluid in his pedal, hips, and turns and may be the best in the 2014 class at breaking on the ball in front of him.
Watching Marlon on film, he rarely does not read the play quickly and correctly. His elite skills allow him to cover a ton of ground in a hurry. He closes hard and shows deceptive explosiveness on contact.
Don’t be surprised if Marlon grows into the safety position. That is what made him such a coveted football recruit. He has the tools and football IQ to play several positions but will be first round draft pick in the secondary.
What makes Marlon very special, in my opinion, is not only does he have great DNA, but he appears to have a great work ethic as well. He is the kind of defensive back that work so hard during the week, he feels he can shut down any wide receiver on game day.
No, he is not the next Bobby Humphrey at Alabama. Instead, he is the first Marlon Humphrey at Alabama, and the Crimson Tide will be far better for it.
Dr. SEC has a weekly radio program, The Waiting Room with Dr. SEC, that broadcast on 14 stations across five states and also has a daily radio program that airs on Bama Sports Radio. His daily writings are syndicated to newspapers and magazines. Visit his website at www.drsec.org and follow him on twitter at twitter.com/thedrsec
