With all the chatter about Ladarius Gunter and how he's looked in Packers OTAs and now mini-camp, I was curious to see what the scouting report on him looked like going into the NFL Draft.  Thanks to our good friend and super scout Dave-Te' Thomas of NFL Scouting Services, I have it for you. Dave-Te' Thomas is an NFL Draft Scout extraordinaire, producing the NFL Draft Guide the NFL hands out to the media and working directly with NFL teams as a scouting and talent evaluation consultant. 

LADARIUS GUNTER

Free Safety/Cornerback

University of Miami Hurricanes

#37

6:01.4-202

Montgomery, Alabama

Fort Scott Community College

Jefferson Davis High School

OVERVIEW

Coming off a solid junior season that saw the left cornerback start every game and make 46 tackles with three interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown vs. Georgia Tech, it appeared that the junior college transfer was on his way to a bright future.

Gunter’s 2014 season failed to come close to his 2013 exploits, starting one more game than he did as a junior, his tackle figures were reduced to 26, as he broke up six passes and intercepted two others, but was also scored upon four times. He did not really have a great postseason, first, at the 2015 Senior Bowl, then, followed by a highly disappointing performance at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine.

While teams are looking for those bigger, faster and stronger cornerbacks to cover the bigger, faster and stronger wide receivers that have been joining the NFL in droves during recent drafts, Gunter’s performance at Indianapolis has teams even wondering if he is capable enough to handle safety duties, as they are convinced his lack of foot speed will not translate to corner at the next level.

Of the Combine total of 54 defensive backs (free safeties, strong safeties, cornerbacks), Gunter’s 40-yard dash time of 4.69 seconds was third worst in that group. His 10-yard dash clocking of 1.68 seconds was the worst for all defensive backs in attendance. He also had the worst broad jump (9’-00”), the third worst three-cone drill (7.18) and the worst 20-yard shuttle (4.41) and 60-yard shuttle (12.44) within the group. He then put up the bar just twelve times in the 225-pound bench press, with just two other defensive backs failing to reach that mediocre mark.

The Montgomery, Alabama native had to enroll at Fort Scott Community College after he graduated from Jefferson Davis High School. His lone season in Kansas saw him start seven times at right cornerback, posting 24 tackles that included three stops for losses. He recovered one of the two fumbles that he caused, as he also picked off a pass that he returned 100 yards for a touchdown and broke up two other throws.

During his first season at Miami, Gunter shared right cornerback duties with Tracy Howard, starting five contests in 2012. He picked off one pass, deflecting six others as he also came up with 27 tackles (19 solos) to go with two fumble recoveries. He shifted to the left side, starting twelve times as a junior, posting a career-best 46 tackles while making three interceptions and knocking back nine other pass attempts.

The senior left cornerback added thirteen more starting assignments in 2014. He was credited with 28 tackles, picking off two throws and deflecting six others. He later accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious 2015 Senior Bowl to conclude his college career.

SCOUTING ANALYSIS

Teams will have to weight the “good, bad, ugly” when deciding where Gunter’s pro position might be. It is obvious that there are serious strength issues, if he is to operate as a safety. His marginal speed makes him suspect in attempts to capable handle man coverage assignments as a cornerback. He does have the size teams look for, but he showed at the Combine that he does not possess the flexible hips you look for in a boundary cornerback.

Gunter does read and react well to the ball in flight, and despite just adequate leaping ability, he did manage to deflect 23 passes and intercept seven others through 45 college appearances. He has decent high-point skills and soft hands to make the interception, along with some ability to make acrobatic plays on the ball, leaving hope that he can convert to free safety, rather than having to struggle as a cornerback.

Before he can shift inside, Gunter needs to add strength to his big frame. He is also not the most instinctive cover defender, as he takes some questionable angles and struggles to break down (poor body control as a tackler), perhaps due to questionable aptitude (struggled with academics earlier).

Gunter does not seem to have good natural cover instincts. He is inconsistent with his recognition skills and needs to do a better job of diagnosing the receiver’s routes. He looks lost in space at times and does not pick up new concepts quickly. The result is that he can be a quarter-count late to react in zone coverage at times.

Gunter has the size to match up one-on-one versus bigger receivers in the NFL, but definitely lacks the quickness. He does not have smooth hips and for a tall cornerback, he has to be conscious for sinking and opening better. He also has to plant-and-drive on the ball quicker. He displays a good burst out of his pedal and closing on the ball in front of him, leaving a chance he can adjust to life as a safety.

Gunter struggles when he has to change directions in an instant and on game films, he does not appear to turn-and-run without taking some wasted motion. He needs to become more consistent and polished with his footwork and press-technique. His awareness in zone coverage is also inconsistent.

Gunter does have good natural ball skills, along with impressive body control to adjust when the ball is in the air. He can generate an adequate short-area closing burst to the football and is showing progress in knowing when to play the ball (just not as effective when having to play the body). He can make some plays when laying out horizontally and times his jumps well to be a decent ball-hawk in sub packages as a slot corner.

Gunter seems to play better vs. the run, doing an adequate job of keeping outside leverage but he can be more consistent. He fills hard and is aggressive in run support, showing good toughness and overall willingness, but he does play a bit out of control at times and can improve his pursuit angles and open-field tackling skills. He also needs to improve lower body strength, as well.

CAREER NOTES

Gunter started 20-of-37 games at Miami, where he recorded 101 tackles (76 solos) with three stops for losses of 9 yards…Deflected 21 passes and intercepted six others for 151 yards in returns, including one touchdown…Recovered two fumbles and caused another…

Including his freshman season at Fort Scott College, he closed out his entire career with 125 tackles (94 solos) and six stops behind the line of scrimmage through 45 games, as he gained 251 yards via seven interceptions, scoring twice, in addition to breaking up 23 tosses while causing and recovering three fumbles.

2014 SEASON

Gunter started all thirteen games at left cornerback, recording 28 tackles (21 solos) with six pass deflections, gaining 18 yards via a pair of interceptions…Started at cornerback in season opener at Louisville, recording two tackles...Made second consecutive start of season vs. FAMU, recording two solo tackles...Added one tackle and one pass deflection in start vs. Arkansas State...Recorded season-high three tackles in start vs. Nebraska... Hauled in first interception of season vs. Duke...Added one tackle and one pass deflection vs. Blue Devils... Recorded four solo tackles in start vs. Georgia Tech...Registered second interception of season in start vs. Cincinnati returned it for 18 yards...Added two solo tackles vs. Bearcats...Had one tackle in start vs. Virginia Tech...Recorded two tackles and one pass deflection in start vs. North Carolina...Had one pass deflection in start vs. Florida State...Totaled four tackles and one pass deflection in start vs. Virginia...Credited with four solo tackles in start vs. Pittsburgh...Had two solo tackles in the Independence Bowl start vs. South Carolina...Earned letter.

2013 SEASON

Played in 12 games, making 12 starts at cornerback...Missed Pitt game due to injury... Tallied 46 tackles (36 solo), 2.0 TFLs, forced fumble, three interceptions and six pass deflections... Made four tackles in upset win over Florida...First interception of season returned for seven yards in win over Savannah State...Totaled season-high seven tackles and returned interception 30 yards for TD in win over Georgia Tech...Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week as he had six solo tackles, pass break-up and returned blocked FG for TD in comeback road win at North Carolina...Named ACC Specialist of the Week as he made five tackles at Florida State...Had four tackles vs. Virginia Tech, Duke and Virginia ... Forced fumble in loss vs. Virginia Tech...Tallied six solo stops vs. Louisville in Russell Athletic Bowl.

2012 SEASON

Played in all 12 games at defensive back, making five starts...Had 27 tackles, including 19 solo stops...Had one tackle in UM debut at Boston College...Also had 28-yard fumble recovery and return at BC...Had at least one tackle in each of final nine games...Tallied career-best eight tackles - all solo - vs. North Carolina...Returned career-first interception 15 yards vs. Virginia Tech...Had two pass deflections vs. Florida State and three more at Virginia.

2011 SEASON

At Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, Gunter was ranked as a three-star prospect at cornerback by Rivals.com and two-star prospect by Scout.com...Finished with 24 tackles (18 solos), three stops for losses of 5 yards, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, as he returned an interception 100 yards for touchdown while playing for head coach Curtis Horton.

INJURY REPORT

Gunter missed the 2013 Pittsburgh game with an undisclosed injury.

AGILITY TESTS

4.69 in the 40-yard dash…1.68 10-yard dash…2.75 20-yard dash…4.41 20-yard shuttle…

12.44 60-yard shuttle…7.18 three-cone drill…33 ½-inch vertical jump…9’-00” broad jump… Bench pressed 225 pounds 12 times…31 ½-inch arm length…9 5/8-inch hands…77 ¾-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL

Gunter lettered in football at Jefferson Davis (Montgomery, Ala.) High School.

PERSONAL

Gunter resides in Montgomery, Alabama.

PLAYER STATISTICS