Shaun Prater, Senior, Cornerback, Iowa
Overview:
Shaun Prater did not put up big numbers during his true freshman campaign in 2008, but just the fact that the cornerback saw the field at all is a relatively rare occurrence for a true freshman at Iowa. In all he tallied 11 tackles and broke up two passes that season. After missing a couple early games as a sophomore, Prater stepped right into a starting role and performed very well. In ten games he managed to tally 41 tackles and pick off two passes.
The 2010 season was Prater’s breakout year. Again he missed some time early in the year, this time just one game, but Prater still managed to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors as selected by the coaches and the media. Prater started to emerge as a solid cover corner who could also make the big play. Prater intercepted four passes during his junior campaign, including one against Penn State that he returned for a touchdown.
Final Projection:
Prater has a nice combination of size and speed. At 5-11 he is big enough to be a great corner in the NFL. He is also fast and can run a sub 4.4 40. Prater submitted his paperwork to the NFL Draft advisory committee following the 2010 campaign, but opted to return for his senior season. He would have likely been a mid-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, but could easily work his way into the second round with a good senior season.
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