Asher Allen predraft analysis

A look at the analysis of Georgia cornerback Asher Allen before he became the third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings.

Asher Allen, Georgia, 5-9½, 194 – Third-year junior … Was an outstanding return specialist in high school, scoring nine touchdowns on returns – seven punts and two kickoffs … A two-year starter who had 117 tackles, 12 passes broken up and three interceptions in that span … Set a school record for both kickoff return yards and average per return in 2008 … Has a very good backpedal and can flip and run deep down the field with receivers … Is strong in run support and has very good upper-body strength (see below) … Is quick to read and react and rarely gets caught out of position … Is able to avoid blockers and consistently make tackles … Played both on the outside and in the slot … Is a good open-field tackler … Has very small hands and has difficulty making interceptions – he had none in 2008 … Will allow receivers to eat up his cushion too quickly and has trouble forcing them off their routes … Has good, but not elite, speed to hang with NFL wide receivers for long distances … Doesn’t shed blockers once they get into his body … Ran a 4.48 40 at the Combine with 22 reps of 225 pounds, a 35-inch vertical jump and a 9-7 broad jump.

PROJECTION: An ideal fit in the Tampa-2 defense the Vikings run, if they get shut out in the first three rounds at cornerback he may still be available early in the fourth round. But with no fourth-round pick after the Sage Rosenfels trade, if the Vikings like what they see, they will have to make a move in the third.