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Patrick Surtain II, @p_surtain2, is a 20 year old cornerback hailing from Plantation, Florida. Surtain is a 2x high schooo All-American, CFP national champion, unanimous college All-American, first team All-SEC and SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Surtain played his developmental years at American Heritage High School where he was dubbed a five star recruit, #1 CB recruit in 2018 and #5 overall in the class. Every one should know that he is the son of All-Pro Dolphins cornerback, Patrick Surtain.
A rare size/speed cornerback, Surtain is one of the best prototypical lockdown corner prospects to come through the draft in the last decade plus. Even outside of football, Surtain won a Florida State Championship in track in the 4x100 relay.
Surtain has always had higher expectations than most but his father persists that he “remains humble and steadfast” even given the hype that has surrounded him through his years. That would be the mentality needed for Surtain, as Minkah Fitzpatrick departed upon his arrival.
The first clip I want to show is PS2 against everyone’s favorite rookie, Justin Jefferson. Watch him immediately put hands on Jefferson, using his length to pin Jefferson to the sideline and as the route progresses, he’s able to flip his head and prepare himself for the throw.
In addition to the size/speed, Surtain has the eyes and reaction that you love to see from a lockdown corner. You’ll see here he immediately opens his hip on the cloud coverage and sees the orbit screen early which allows him to dive on the flat for a TFL.
Man up, press coverage is something Surtain excels dramatically in. Before the receiver can even plan his release, Surtain has hands on and uses his strength and length to leverage him to the sideline. Hips pop to run side by side with him and disrupts the timing route.
Even when in a bad position, Surtain is still stuck on the receiver, who makes a good move to attempt to box him out, but this is where length is so critical for lockdown guys like Surtain.
You can tell PS2 has elite pedigree when you see how sharp he does the simple things. Back pedal, hip flip, drive and his length helps him break up a pass on the receiver who had decent position to make this play.
Again, eye manipulation, closing speed and physicality allow Surtain to open up to the cloud concept and drive down on the flat route for the TFL.
The give and go is insane here. He’s running with the WR as if he’s running the route for him. Once he sees the play and pitch to the ball carrier, he hands off the receiver and comes down on the ball carrier for another big tackle.
Corner blitz here. He’s watching the pre-snap calls from the QB, selling his coverage status to the opposing offense and then BOLTS on the snap. The thing that works so well here. He’s not watching the ball for the snap, he’s watching his receivers first movement. SUBTLE!
Not a great route by the receiver here but Patrick plays it perfect. Hips open and he’s stuck on the hip pocket of the receiver so when the receiver isn’t ready to make a play, he ensures he is. Turnover!
Not only is this play insane, he’s in perfect coverage and Shea Patterson makes an even better pass. If it was anyone besides Surtain here, that’s a completion. Watch him re-route the WR at the line, run stride for stride with him stuck to his hip, and use his length for a PBU.
Re-routing is something you’ll here a lot with PS2. He’s elite at it. Watch his physicality at the LOS push the defender to the boundary and pin him to the outside. HIS HEAD WORK IS INSANE! Not just physical enough to do this, he flips his head to make a play.
Another feather in his cap is special teams play. Watch Surtain make the play on the boundary on a trick play here by Auburn. His discipline is beyond his years. The football IQ is off the charts.
Again, the physicality. Opposition wants to set up a swing screen and he’s initially blocked, works through the block, finds a football away from the ball carriers body and rips it for the turnover.
Watch how hands on Surtain is. Let’s his receiver dictate his release and still pushes him to the boundary and pins him there, flips the hips on the throw and the receiver is so stuck he can’t even make a play, allowing an easy pick for Surtain.
I can’t have a thread preaching physicality without a hit like this either.
All in all, Surtain has the intangibles, football IQ and pure ability to be a top 3 pick. I’d expect him to go in the 5-10 range though.
Best wishes on your future success and a healthy NFL career, @p_surtain2.
Best wishes on your future success and a healthy NFL career, @p_surtain2.
