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NFL draft profile: Florida State DB Jalen Ramsey, two-position star

Eric Edholm

Shutdown Corner counted down the top 50 prospects in the 2016 NFL draft with a scouting report, quotes from NFL evaluators and a projection where they might be drafted.

1. Florida State CB-S Jalen Ramsey
6-foot-1, 209 pounds

Key stat: Tallied 119 solo tackles, 23 passes defended, three interceptions, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries (both returned for touchdowns) in three years as a cornerback and safety.

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The skinny: Prep star in track and football who came back from microfracture surgery early in high school to become an elite prospect on the gridiron. After committing to USC, Ramsey reneged and went to Florida State, where he was an impact player right away in 2013 and became the first Seminole to start at corner as a true freshman since Deion Sanders in 1985. Ramsey played corner and safety as a freshman and then moved to the "Star" position (hybrid linebacker/safety) as a sophomore in 2014. He then moved back to corner as a junior in 2015 and was the team's defensive MVP and a team captain, all while competing with the school's track team and becoming an All America long jumper.

Ramsey tested through the roof at the NFL scouting combine and put on a show at his pro day, which was attended by some of the NFL's top evalutators and coaches. Teams also noted that Ramsey crushed the interview process, presenting himself as a driven, serious and impressive person as well. He has been linked to almost every team picking after the No. 3 spot and could be a Day 1 starter at corner, safety, nickel and on special teams.

Best-suited destination: Any team in the NFL would love to have a physical, athletically elite, competitive and instinctive defensive back who can impact the game on all four downs. Although he was used sparingly on special teams the past few seasons, Ramsey displayed terrific potential there — even going through the ordeal of switching jerseys before kickoff returns (Charlie Ward's retired No. 17) because the team's primary returner, Kermit Whitfield, also wore Ramsey's No. 8. There really isn't a defensive scheme that Ramsey couldn't make an impact in.

Upside: He has the chance to be a rare defensive back in the mold of Charles Woodson or Ronnie Lott, two-position stars who dominated at both. Ramsey is one of the best run defenders at his position in this draft class, can lock down with size and speed at receiver and has the ability to sniff out the ball in the rare occasions that teams throw in his direction.

Downside: His production (three interceptions in three seasons) is something to raise an eyebrow at, even if teams only tested him selectively. Ramsey also is a very physical player, and some of what he got away with at FSU might not fly in the NFL, where DBs often are limited in how much contact they can play with. Some scouts have said he's a better corner than safety; others have said the opposite, so his versatility might not quite translate the way it did in college.

Scouting hot take: "Best athlete, best pure football player I've scouted the past 3-4 years. Corner, safety, I think he can play either and be great.” — NFC area scout

Player comp: Patrick Peterson

Previous profiles

50. Ohio State WR Braxton Miller
49. Indiana OT Jason Spriggs
48. Florida DL Jonathan Bullard
47. Texas Tech OT Le'Raven Clark
46. Arkansas TE Hunter Henry
45. Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard
44. Michigan State QB Connor Cook
43. West Virginia S Karl Joseph
42. Michigan State DE-OLB Shilique Calhoun
41. Notre Dame WR Will Fuller
40. Pitt WR Tyler Boyd
39. Oklahoma State DE Emmanuel Ogbah
38. Alabama DE-DT A'Shawn Robinson
37. Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
36. Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
35. Alabama C Ryan Kelly
34. Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler
33. Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche
32. Georgia DE-OLB Leonard Floyd
31. USC S-LB Su'a Cravens
30. Alabama LB Reggie Ragland
29. Mississippi State DT-DE Chris Jones
28. Baylor NT Andrew Billings
27. Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith
26. Houston CB William Jackson III
25. Alabama RB Derrick Henry
24. Ohio State CB Eli Apple
23. Eastern Kentucky DE-OLB Noah Spence
22. Baylor WR Corey Coleman
21. Ohio State OT Taylor Decker
20. Kansas State OG Cody Whitehair
19. Michigan State OT Jack Conklin
18. Alabama DE-DT Jarran Reed
17. TCU WR Josh Doctson
16. Clemson CB Mackensie Alexander
15. Ohio State LB Darron Lee
14. Clemson DE Kevin Dodd
13. Cal QB Jared Goff
12. Clemson DE Shaq Lawson
11. Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell
10. North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz
9. Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley
8. Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III
7. Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins
6. Ohio State DE Joey Bosa
5. UCLA LB Myles Jack
4. Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott
3. Oregon DE DeForest Buckner
2. Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!