Profile: DeMarcus Milliner
Position: Cornerback
Location: Millbrook, Ala. – Stanhope-Elmore
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185 pounds
Recruiting Breakdown: Milliner quietly went through the process and he picked up offers from many top programs without making a big deal about it. He pulled in offers from schools like Auburn, Georgia, LSU, and Oklahoma before deciding Alabama was the school for him on Thursday. He wanted to end the process early and he is now a solid commitment for the Crimson Tide.
Strengths
Size: Not too many guys at his size can play the cornerback position at the level he can. He has great length with long arms to go with his height of 6-foot-1. He is also a rangy 180 pounds or now at this time and he will be able to add to that while maintaining his ability to move with receivers at a high speed. This will be a weapon of his that not many present on the edge.
Ball Skills: He has a great nose for the ball and when it is in his area, he makes a play on it. He knows when to go for the hit and he knows when to reach his hands out to take the ball away. He has played offense, so that helps him on the defensive side of the ball. His length helps make his better too because instead of just tipping a ball away, he has the opportunity to catch a ball that many may not.
Coverage Skills: He has great instincts in the secondary and he has shown that he could play safety or corner on the next level. In Tampa this spring, he locked down some of the top receivers in the country on the edge. He played loose and tight coverage just as strong and he showed the ability to close on the ball well, he does a nice jump going up for jump balls, and he has nice recovery speed.
Work Ethic: It is no secret that Milliner has his head on right. He knows what he wants, he knows what it takes to get it, and he will do whatever it takes to achieve it. He plays the game hard, he practices hard, and he is always focused on the task at hand. This is what truly takes his game to the next level because he works hard when being coached like he does when making plays on Friday nights. He goes full speed at everything he does.
Return Game: When Milliner picks a pass off, he does not just fall down. He looks for a big return and he knows what to do when he gets the ball in his hands. He has good vision, good awareness, and he has the speed to make a big play.
Weaknesses
Strength: There are some physical receivers in the SEC these days and Alabama likes to play a physical defense, so he will have to continue to develop strength in both his upper and lower body in the coming years. He has nice strength now for a high school senior, but he will just need to stay in the weight room, work on his pure strength, and build on to what he already has.
Experience: He has had more reps and time on the field in pads at safety than he has at corner, so more experience at corner will be important to him. He could play either spot in Kirby Smart’s defense, but he will just need more reps at corner, to learn the position a little more, and get a better understanding on how to line up, what to look for in a receiver, and things of that nature.
Summary
Alabama is getting a very intelligent defensive back that brings a lot of versatility. He is a long corner that could help at safety and he is a sure tackler with good hands, and great instincts. The size, speed, and skills are there for a future All-American in Tuscaloosa and he should only get better once he gets there and learns the Alabama system.
Chad Simmons is the Recruiting Analyst for the South Region and he can be reached at ChadSimmons@Scout.com.