Stephon Gilmore Among 20 to Visit Dallas Cowboys Before 2012 NFL Draft
The Dallas Cowboys, like the other 31 NFL teams, are allowed to host 30 college players before the 2012 NFL draft. Dallas has already slated 20 of those prospects, as listed below.
Among those prospects is South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore, whose draft stock has been rising ever since the 2011 college football season ended. Gilmore was projected to be selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft in the last 7-round mock draft for the Cowboys here at Rant Sports, but now it appears he won’t make be available on Day 2 of the draft.
A quarterback in high school, Gilmore is a very intelligent cornerback with great ball skills and play recognition. The 6’0″ 190-pound speedster understands the concept of all coverage schemes and possesses the canny ability to bait opposing quarterbacks into making a bad throw.
Gilmore is very fast and has great vertical skills; he ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and recorded a 36″ vertical jump. This allows him to play tight coverage at the line and downfield, which often frustrates the receiver he’s covering and causes him to veer off his route.
The Cowboys could definitely use a smart, young defensive back like Gilmore to compete for playing time with Orlando Scandrick. Dallas’ top two corner spots are set with Mike Jenkins and Brandon Carr, but the No. 3 spot could use some improvement as Scandrick didn’t play up to his new contract in 2011. Gilmore not only could challenge Scandrick for the third spot on the depth chart, but can help Dallas out in nickel and dime packages as well.
Gilmore started at left corner in all 40 of his games at South Carolina, but frequently covered slot receivers when necessary and even played safety when the Gamecocks got crafty on defense. The Cowboys recently signed safety Brodney Pool to a one-year deal, but a versatile player like Gilmore could come in very handy in certain schemes.
Rob Ryan said he wants “DBs” and Gilmore is one of the best available in this year’s draft.
| Amini Silatolu | OG | Midwestern State |
| Casey Hayward | CB | Vanderbilt |
| Chase Baker | NT | Boise State |
| Chris Greenwood | CB | Albion |
| Cordy Glenn | OG | Georgia |
| Courtney Upshaw | OLB | Alabama |
| D.J. Campbell | FS | California |
| Doug Martin | RB | Boise State |
| Dre Kirkpatrick | CB | Alabama |
| Fletcher Cox | DT | Mississippi State |
| Harrison Smith | SS | Notre Dame |
| Jeff Allen | OG | Illinois |
| Korey Toomer | ILB | Idaho |
| Lionel Smith | CB | Texas A&M |
| Mark Barron | SS | Alabama |
| Peter Konz | C | Wisconsin |
| Ronald Leary | OG | Memphis |
| Ronnell Lewis | OLB | Oklahoma |
| Ryan Broyles | WR | Oklahoma |
| Stephon Gilmore | CB | South Carolina |
Follow Jeric Griffin on Twitter @JericGriffin or on Facebook at Jeric Griffin – Rant Sports
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