10 Jun Preseason Scouting Notes: Deommodore Lenoir, CB Oregon
Senior | 5’11” 202 lbs | Los Angeles, California | October 6th, 1999
A corner with experience, effortless playmaking ability and a physical play style
Overview:
Deommodore Lenoir came to Oregon as a highly touted 4-star recruit, and quickly earned a contributing role in the secondary. As a freshman, Lenoir played in 13 games and continued to prove himself, playing in 13 as a sophomore and 14 as a junior. While only amassing five interceptions during that 40-game span, he made his presence felt, adding 21 passes defended and just over 100 tackles. Along with a number change from No. 15 to No. 6 in the 2019-20 season, Lenoir also dealt with a new defensive coordinator in Andy Avalos, who brought his hybrid 3-3-5 scheme to the Ducks defense. In this system, Lenoir almost always lines up on the left and right outside boundaries, occasionally sliding into the slot to blitz the d-gap.
Strengths of his Game:
– Fluid COD (Change Of Direction) and athletic profile overall
– Strong and able tackler
– Plays man coverage, specifically shadow man, competently at an NFL level
– Always has eyes on the QB and ball
– Causes havoc as a d-gap blitzer
– Natural and smart playmaker. Always looking to make the best play possible
– Satisfactory long speed. Not a burner, but can hang with most receivers and make breaks on the ball
– Has the hands, feet and play strength to jam in press
– Excels when asked to trust his play in zone
– Great body control when going up for the ball
Areas to Improve:
– Not a lockdown guy you trust on an island
– Needs more reps in press
– Makes business decisions every so often
– Extremely hesitant at times. Plays strong, but doesn’t finish plays with much aggression and conviction
– Instincts in zone and man are just a tad off at times – playing deep often helps hide this
Injury Concerns:
– Missed half a game versus Washington with an undisclosed upper body injury
Projection:
Lenoir is is a day two talent that might fall to day three based on this absolutely stacked corner class. He has shown nothing but consistently above average performances and a step to the next level in 2020 could see him solidify himself as a day two pick. There is some serious competition in the nation as well as the Pac-12, so this season will be an extremely important year for his stock.
What to Watch in 2020:
With 40 career games played, Lenior has proven that he can be a consistently reliable contributor. Now he needs to prove that his coverage skills, as well as the mental aspects of his game, are pro-ready. Lenoir and safety Jevon Holland form one of the best CB-Safety tandems in the NCAA, and it will be interesting to see how they progress in their second year in Avalos’ system.
- A native of southern Connecticut, Tim has been a passionate Cowboys fan since birth.
- Sports-Leisure Management major, knowledgeable in all aspects of sport and plans to get a career in this field.
- His interest in football has been life-long and he found his niche in scouting.
- Tim hopes to continue scouting and find his way into the pros or even as a college recruiter.