Jacob Parrish 2025 NFL Draft Kansas State CB Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, a skillful cornerback you need to know is Jacob Parrish. He’s a quick CB from Kansas State with excellent tackling ability. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Jacob Parrish 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jacob Parrish has been a steady presence in Kansas State’s secondary over the last three seasons, emerging as a reliable boundary corner with a knack for disrupting passing lanes. A former three-star recruit out of Topeka, Kansas, Parrish walked on at K-State with a chip on his shoulder and quickly earned a rotational role as a freshman before locking down a starting spot by his sophomore year. His blend of physicality, football IQ, and competitive toughness makes him a prospect worth watching for NFL teams seeking a versatile defensive back.
HT: 5096
WT: 191
40: 4.35
ARM: 3018
Strengths:
- Ball Skills: Parrish has a nose for the football, consistently positioning himself to make plays on the ball. He recorded five interceptions and 19 pass breakups over his last two seasons, showing natural hands and timing when contesting catches.
- Tackling: Despite not being the biggest corner, he’s a willing and effective tackler in run support. He wraps up well in space and doesn’t shy away from contact, with 108 career tackles (88 solo).
- Zone Coverage: Thrives in zone-heavy schemes, reading quarterbacks’ eyes and jumping routes with quick reaction time. His spatial awareness allows him to cover multiple receivers in his area effectively.
- Short-Area Quickness: Possesses a twitchy lower body, enabling him to mirror receivers on underneath routes and break on the ball with minimal wasted movement.
- Work Ethic: Coaches praise his relentless motor and film study habits. Often the first one in the facility and a leader in the secondary, setting the tone for younger players.
Areas for Improvement:
- Press Technique: Needs refinement in press-man coverage. He tends to get grabby when receivers gain leverage, which could draw flags at the next level. Hand placement and patience off the snap are areas for growth.
- Size Limitations: At his size, he lacks the ideal length and bulk to consistently match up with bigger, more physical receivers in the NFL (e.g., DK Metcalf types). He’s best against smaller receivers with similar frames or in the slot.
- Injury History: Missed three games in 2023 with a lingering hamstring issue. While he bounced back fully in 2024, durability against the NFL grind will be a question mark.
Conclusion:
Jacob Parrish is a scrappy, high-effort corner who brings consistency and playmaking to the secondary. While he needs to refine his technique and prove he can handle NFL speed, his football character and on-field production suggest he’ll carve out a role as a rotational defensive back with the potential to grow into a reliable No. 2 or nickel corner.
Parrish projects best in a defense that mixes zone and off-man coverage, allowing him to read and react rather than rely solely on press-man technique. A Cover 3 or Cover 2-heavy scheme (think Seattle or Tampa Bay) could maximize his instincts and short-area quickness. He’d also fit as a nickel corner in sub-packages, where his tackling and quickness can neutralize slot receivers and contribute on early downs.
Overall, like Trent McDuffie, Parrish lacks elite size and speed. However, he compensates with high football IQ, versatility, and toughness. He’s not as polished as McDuffie coming out of Washington, but the foundation is there for a similar developmental arc.
Round Grade: 3rd Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | Int | PD | FF |
| 2022* | Kansas State | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023* | Kansas State | 12 | 37 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024* | Kansas State | 12 | 40 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Career | 38 | 88 | 20 | 5 | 19 | 0 |
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