Panthers 2011 Draft Pick Profile: CB Brandon Hogan

After taking care of the Quarterback and interior DL positions, the Panthers focus moved to Cornerback.  With Richard Marshall apparently headed elsewhere, the Panthers turned their eyes to a highly talented CB from West Virginia, selecting Brandon Hogan with the first pick of the 4th round.  Hogan had a very productive career at WVU, displaying the instincts and skill set that could translate into a successful career with the Panthers, if he can stay out of trouble. 

Hurney on Hogan: "He's a very good player, a very, very good corner. His skill level is high. … Football is very important to him."   Watching him on film, I am in total agreement with Hurney.  He was considered a second round talent, but slid to the fourth because of an ACL injury and off-field concerns.  One thing everyone is in agreement on is that Hogan is 5'10.5" tall and weighs 192 lbs.  The majority of sites (Rotoworld, CBSSports, BleacherReport) report that he runs a 4.43 forty.  SI has it at 4.52.  I don't know where they're getting these numbers from, since he didn't run at the combine or his pro day because, well, he's recovering from ACL surgery.  I say majority rules, but either way he's fast.  In terms of size, he's 1.5" short of the magical 6' mark, but also 1.5" taller than Captain.  

Strengths
As a cover corner, Brandon Hogan displays a quick, smooth backpedal, keeping a good cushion between himself and the WR until the route unveils itself.  As a former QB, Hogan likes to watch the QB pre-snap, trying to get a read on where the primary route is going.  He keeps the play in front of him and an eye toward the backfield, then displays excellent closing speed when the ball is in the air.  He recognizes double moves and demonstrates good straight-line speed down the field and a good closing burst on the football once he gets his head around.

When playing press coverage, Hogan does a nice job being patient, sliding his feet and then hitting the inside release with his outside hand and rerouting the receiver off the line. He is tough to disengage from and loves to get his hands on his target. He exhibits impressive body control and physicality when asked to fight receivers vertically and knows how to go up and high point the play.

Hogan is a sneaky CB looking to make the big play, and often succeeding.  But, what separates him from other CBs, in my opinion, is that he's as tough as a female divorce lawyer (well, almost).  He loves playing football, and he really loves hitting.  One analyst used the term "chip on his shoulder," which appears to be a recurring theme for our draft class.  It is a fact, though, that the WVU defensive coordinator noticed how hard he could hit, and convinced him to switch from WR to CB. 

I feel sure that Hogan's tackling prowess is what drew the eye of Rivera.  If a receiver doesn't have the ball secured, Hogan brings the big hit to dislodge it. He's excellent at wrapping up or under-cutting, but the ball carrier is going down.  Hogan simply doesn't allow "yards after catch" on his turf, and he's also fearless in run support.

When at full speed, Hogan is a handful for opposing offenses. He started 33 games in the defensive backfield over his final three seasons at WVU, racking up 171 total tackles, 24 pass breakups, seven interceptions and four fumble recoveries.  As a freshman, he played wide receiver, after playing quarterback at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Va., leading his team to the state championship.

I urge you, if you haven't done so already, check out this video.

More on Brandon Hogan after the jump...

It just taught me that I had to grow up, you know. I made a lot of mistakes. I was young. I just can't mess up anymore ... go away from partying ... just get focused. It just taught me to grow up.