Antonio Cromartie

Regarded as one of the nation's top cornerbacks, Cromartie missed all of 2005 with a left knee injury suffered during the preseason. He is blessed with the perfect combination of size, strength and speed that had the Florida State staff calling him the finest athlete in the program since the Deion Sanders era. In addition to displaying his explosive quickness on the football field, Cromartie also showed off his speed as a member of the school's 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference championship track team. Cromartie attended Lincoln High School, where he was named USA Today's National Defensive Player of the Year and earned Parade All-American honors as a defensive back his senior season. He received a four-star rating from Rivals.com and ranked as the sixth- best prep cornerback in the nation. He was also named to their Southeast Top 100 and Florida Top 100 lists, to the All-Southern Team and as one of Florida's top 100 players by the Orlando Sentinel. He was voted as one of the state of Florida's top 100 players by the Florida Times Union. Cromartie led Lincoln to a 12-1-1 record as a senior and to the state Class 4A state title as a junior. In his final season, he had 30 receptions for 642 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 13 rushing attempts for 242 yards and three touchdowns on offense. He added 53 tackles and six interceptions as a cornerback and returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns on special teams. As a junior, he caught 28 passes for 483 yards and seven touchdowns and had 53 rushing attempts for 586 yards and six touchdowns. On defense, he had four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown his junior season. Cromartie was a forward on the basketball team, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game. He was also a star on the track team, where he was a standout in the 110-meter dash (career-best time of 14.1 seconds) and as a member of the 4X100 meter relay team. Cromartie was one of five true freshmen to letter for Florida State in 2003. He appeared in every game as a reserve left cornerback, producing 19 tackles (17 solos) with two pass deflections and a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown. He also excelled on special teams, gaining 568 yards on 24 kickoff returns (23.7 avg). He split cornerback duties with Bryant McFadden and Leroy Smith, starting one of twelve contests on the right side in 2004. Cromartie made 22 tackles (18 solos), scoring on a 61-yard fumble recovery and on a 40-yard interception return. He batted away six passes and picked off four others. He also returned 19 kickoffs for 435 yards (22.9 avg). Scheduled to start at left cornerback in 2005, Cromartie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a July workout and was forced to sit out the season. In 25 games at Florida State, Cromartie started once. He recorded 41 tackles (35 solos) with a stop for a 5-yard loss and returned a fumble recovery 61 yards for a score. He deflected eight passes and gained 111 yards with two scores on five interception returns. On special teams, he returned 43 kickoffs for 1,003 yards (23.3 avg).

once he develops better anticipation of the quarterback, combined with his speed, he should be capable of getting a good jump on the ball. he looks lost at times in zone coverage, as he is slow to look up receivers. in man coverage, he has the size and strength to jam and reroute the receiver. he is very confident in his closing speed to play off the receiver as wide as he does, but will have to shorten his cushion to combat the quicker receivers at the next level.

Cromartie will be drafted strictly on his potential and excellent athletic ability. His technique is as raw as sushi and there has to be a reason that such a talented athlete only started one game during his career -- a marginal feel for anticipating the play. His agility test numbers are very impressive, but Oakland Raider fans can still remember Phillip Buchanan putting up just as impressive numbers a few years ago. Buchanon flamed out as a first-round pick and is barely holding an NFL roster spot these days. Hopefully for the team that drafts this impressive athlete, history does not repeat itself with Cromartie.

positives

Has a rare-sized frame with good overall muscle development, tight abdomen, thin waist, good arm definition and excellent length, developed bubble, hamstring and calves...Strong athlete who is a speed burner with fluid lateral agility and change of direction skills...Has the power to compete inside the box and the hand strength to play off blocks and squeeze the rush lanes...Uses his size effectively to press and jam receivers at the line of scrimmage...Can mirror the receiver throughout the route and has the foot quickness and hip snap to break cleanly out of his backpedal...Has the ability to explode through tacklers on the kickoff return...Has the speed to accelerate and close on the ball, but is still developing a feel for taking proper angles...Shows the body control to adjust on the move and the leaping ability and natural feel to time his jumps when competing for the ball in flight...Still developing play awareness, but stays low in his pads and is quick to fill in run force...Has the potential to hit and punish ballcarriers with his strength...Makes nice adjustment to break down and fit when working in space.

cromartie is fast becoming a darling of pro teams that are greatly intrigued with his size, strength and speed. athletically, he ranks with the best in this draft, as he has outstanding leaping ability and excellent foot speed. however, before teams get too enthralled with him, he has only one game of starting experience at the collegiate level.

Cromartie has the loose hips to turn and stay tight on the receiver. He still lacks a feel for taking proper angles in pursuit, but will close on the ball once he is able to locate it. He will not hesitate to come down hill and support vs. the run, as he has the power to stall the running back and the hand punch to jolt and shed blockers.

negatives

Woefully short on playing experience, especially as a starter...Proved that his knee was healthy with an impressive showing at the Combine, but then failed to complete the agility tests when his leg muscles tightened...Slow to see the play develop, but will close quickly once he does recognize it...Looks uncomfortable in zone coverage, as he does not handle the switch-off well due to a lack of feel for route progression and spends a lot of time peeking into the backfield...Relies more on his speed and loose hips to stay tight on the receiver coming out of his backpedal, but looks choppy in transition and does not stay in his pedal for long...Will be drafted more for his athletic ability, as he lacks experience and production due to erratic playing time.

2005: Sat out the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a July workout.

Combine: 4.44 in the 40-yard dash

2.63 20-yard dash

1.58 10-yard dash

38-inch vertical jump

10'10" broad jump

33 ¾-inch arm length

10 ½-inch hands.

Attended Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.) High School, where he was named USA Today's National Defensive Player of the Year and earned Parade All-American honors as a defensive back his senior season

Received a four-star rating from Rivals.com and ranked as the sixth-best prep cornerback in the nation

Named to the Southeast Top 100 and Florida Top 100 lists, to the All-Southern Team and as one of Florida's top 100 players by the Orlando Sentinel

Voted as one of the state of Florida's top 100 players by the Florida Times Union

Led Lincoln to a 12-1-1 record as a senior and to the state Class 4A state title as a junior

In his final season, he had 30 receptions for 642 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 13 rushing attempts for 242 yards and three touchdowns on offense

Added 53 tackles and six interceptions as a cornerback and returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns on special teams

As a junior, he caught 28 passes for 483 yards and seven touchdowns and had 53 rushing attempts for 586 yards and six touchdowns

On defense, he had four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown his junior season

Was a forward on the basketball team, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game

Was also a star on the track team, where he was a standout in the 110-meter dash (career-best time of 14.1 seconds) and as a member of the 4X100 meter relay team.

Social Science major

Born 4/15/84

Resides in Tallahassee, Florida.