Ranked By: Joe 412 and John Toth
Photo courtesy of Gamecock Fanatics.
Darius Rush was not the cornerback from South Carolina that everyone talked about in 2022. Those accolades went to his teammate, Cam Smith. However, Rush opened the eyes of many scouts during Senior Bowl week with his cover skills and playmaking abilities.
In his senior season, Rush began to blossom. He had twenty-six tackles, two interceptions, and six pass break-ups, even when teams turned their sights away from Smith to face him. He is a strong tackler, has shown flashes at blitzing when given the opportunity, and has great closing speed.
His performance at the Senior Bowl was nothing less than stellar, demonstrating he has both the size and speed to play in the NFL. Though he doesn’t have the pedigree of Smith, Rush may end up being a steal in this year’s draft.
Here is a look at Darius Rush's pros and cons:
CB-: Darius Rush Measurables
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 196 lbs.
Hands: 9 1/2”
Arm: 32 3/4”
Span: 79 ¾”
40 Time: 4.38
Pros
Good NFL length
Good tackler, a plus on special teams
Very good at tracking the ball
Plays well in zone coverages
Cons
Not a man-to-man type of player
Struggles on multi-moves
Had bouts of inconsistency
Plays too upright
Change of direction issues
Final Analysis
Three weeks ago, Darius Rush’s name was not one that was being talked about in draft circles, but after what he showed at the Senior Bowl, scouts will be interested in how he tests at the combine.
Projected Draft Position
Darius Rush is rising up draft boards and could be a nice third day pick for a team like the Steelers who may sign a veteran in free agency and can take a chance on a riser like Rush.