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Louisiana is one of the biggest exporters in the nation. It’s fifth in the nation in exported goods and in 2018 sent out a record $67.3 billion of made-in-America goods that year. Things Louisiana is best known for exporting include petroleum, natural gas and, in LSU’s case, top notch defensive backs.
Patrick Peterson. Tyrann Mathieu. Jamal Adams. Tre’Davious White. All former Tigers. All current All-Pros in the NFL. In fact, Peterson and Mathieu were named to the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade Team.
LSU is DBU, plain and simple. And come Thursday night, DBU will have another one of its members join the league.
Kristian Fulton
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 197
Arm Length: 30 5/8”
Hand Size: 9 1/8”
40-time: 4.46
Vertical Jump: 35.5
Broad Jump: 123
3 Cone Drill: 6.94
20-yard Shuttle: 4.36
2019: 38 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 14 pass break ups
Throughout 2019, Fulton was kind of the forgotten man in LSU’s secondary. All eyes were on Grant Delpit, who was thought to be a top-five pick heading into the year, and freshman sensation Derrick Stingley Jr. who could have been a first round pick straight out of high school.
So while Fulton may not have had people talking about him going into the season, his play caught the eye of scouts. In the two years he played, he only allowed 48 catches while breaking up 20. And per profootballfocus.com, his coverage grades in 2018 and ‘19 were 89.7 and 86.8 respectively. Fulton also only allowed quarterbacks to complete 43 percent of passes thrown his way.
Despite the stellar completion percentage against number, there’s concerns that Fulton can and will get beat at the next level. Fulton allowed 453 yards last season and he doesn’t have the best make up speed if a receiver can blow past him. Fulton’s one of the better press corners in the draft, but is susceptible to double moves and he can be a little late reacting to the quarterback.
This is one of the few years when LSU has a 1st round defensive back but he’s not viewed as the class’ best DB. Objectively speaking Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah is the best corner in the draft and could hear his name called as early as pick number three. After Okudah, there’s a second tier and Fulton fits in that group.
Fulton isn’t as sure of a thing as Patrick Peterson or Jamal Adams, but he shouldn’t wait too long Thursday night to hear his name called.