The NFL Draft Report's "Final Analysis" Series - The Big Apple Welcomes Eli Apple to the Big Blue Family
ELI APPLE The Ohio State University Buckeyes #13 [SIZE=1em]6:00.5-199-4.40 [/SIZE][SIZE=1em]Voorhees, New Jersey Eastern High School[/SIZE]
The NFL Draft Report’s early first round dark horse candidate was The Ohio State’s Eli Apple, who had drawn keen attention from corner-needy Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, New York and Jacksonville. The first thing you notice about this Buckeye is his natural play-making instincts. He understands how receivers are trying to attack coverage and he is a master at reading quarterbacks' eyes when having to drop into zone coverage. He also does an excellent job of mid-pointing high-low routes.
Apple is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete with a sudden closing burst, especially when receivers catch the ball in front of him. He possesses that second gear needed to track the ball downfield and he’s fast enough to recover when gets caught out of position. Thanks to his fluid hips, he can make the smooth transition when forced to change directions quickly. When he stays under control and keeps his knees bent, is a good tackler in space.
Born Eli Woodard in Philadelphia, Apple was raised by his mother Annie Apple and stepfather Tim Apple in Voorhees, New Jersey, where he attended Eastern Regional High School until graduating in 2013. At the school, the youngster, who had always had a passion to become an NFL cornerback since first glancing at the game on television at age five, would become a five-star recruit during his prep playing days.
ESPN rated him the 11th-best high school player in the nation and he was rated the sixth-best cornerback in the country and the top prospect overall in the state of New Jersey by 247Sports. As a senior, Apple played both sides of the ball. His defensive skills produced 45 tackles, a pair of interceptions and seventeen pass deflections. He also caused three fumbles, as the hard-hitting cornerback also blocked a kick. On the other side of the field, he used his coverage skills to escape the jam, on the way to pulling down 39 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns.
It was during his time at Eastern High School that Eli underwent another change. Raised by his stepfather, Tim, since age two, he dropped the Woodard moniker and changed his name to Apple. “I am the man I am today because of his tireless love and commitment to our family,” Eli said in statement announcing his name change. “So it is with great pride and honor to carry his last name. I am truly blessed to be Eli Apple.”
The recruiting momentum that local Rutgers University managed to build with its incoming football class did not carry over to the first potential catch for the 2013 group. The program's loss of head coach Greg Schiano to the NFL six days before National Signing Day did not keep it from landing most of its top targets on February 1st. But defensive back Apple (still called Eli Woodard during the recruiting process), New Jersey's first standout to commit from the class of 2013, decided to pick Ohio State over a group of finalists that included the Scarlet Knights.
The cornerback announced that he had made a verbal commitment, picking Ohio State over Rutgers and Notre Dame after receiving close to 20 offers. The top-rated defensive back, according to Rivals.com, he stated at the time of his decision that even without any coaching changes at Rutgers, he still had set his sights on becoming a Buckeye.
But, that the decision was made easier by the departure of Schiano and his subsequent hiring of Jeff Hafley, Rutgers' recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach. "I probably wouldn't have committed until June. I really liked coach Schiano and Hafley," the Eastern High standout said. "And Rutgers is close by and all. But Ohio State is where my heart always was."
"Rutgers was a solid possibility for him," said Eastern coach Dan Spittal, adding that former Eastern defensive back Ryan Logan played for the Scarlet Knights. "He has a former teammate there in Logan. But with Greg (Schiano) leaving and coach Hafley leaving, that probably had something to do with Eli not choosing Rutgers." Apple had made unofficial visits to his three finalists and was sold on Ohio State after talking with Urban Meyer, who was entering his first season as the Buckeyes' coach.
"He went to Ohio State a few times and just became enamored with the place," Spittal said. "I guess meeting Urban there really sold him. He coached one of our kids, offensive lineman Phil Trautwein, at Florida. I had a relationship with Urban after meeting him when he spoke at Rutgers last year.
"We weren’t sure with the new staff coming in (at Rutgers) if they were still going to be interested in Eli and obviously they were. But Eli went out there (to Ohio State) this past weekend and he was ready to commit. And he’s satisfied with his decision."
Apple graduated from high school early and after he played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, he enrolled at Ohio State in January, 2013. He spent that season performing on the scout team, biding his time before emerging out of 2014 spring camp. But first, the youngster needed to hone his game.
Apple looked back at the 2013 season as a starting point, but he was also humbled by his first campaign. “Mentally and physically, I wasn’t ready at all,” Apple said, about his 2013 introduction to college football. “I wasn’t really strong enough to play out there. I was getting tossed around a little bit.”
The cornerback also started lagging as the workouts ensued, something that had never been a problem. In high school, he was used to “always being in the front” of wind sprints and other drills, he said. He didn’t have the gas for it at Ohio State — “I really wasn’t operating at full capacity as far as energy” — and finally he found out why. It was an iron deficiency in his blood, a malady the training staff helped him identify, along with the medical staff. “It was something that was getting worse, so it was something that had to get fixed,” Apple said.
Medication was found, and he said he had to take daily to keep it that way. Anyone could see when the treatment started kicking in. After his problem was pinpointed and treated at the start of 2014 spring practice in March, he rose steadily in performance, for example, dazzling the crowd at Student Appreciation Day with some great plays. The rise has carried over. “The more I play, the more experience I’m getting, the more confidence I feel like I’m getting, as well,” Apple said.
Apple also leaned on the tradition at Ohio State of older cornerbacks bringing younger ones along. His mentor was 2014 senior Doran Grant, who Meyer said was playing “at (an) all-Big Ten level” that season. “It’s one of those things where you have to raise your game up a notch every week, because you’ve got somebody like him who just goes so hard and has great preparation,” Apple said. “He’s taught me a lot of things,” such as “every play matters. You can never relax because the play that you do relax is the play the offense is going to attack you on. I’ve learned that (the hard way) a couple of times.
“He’s helped me with different techniques. He’s always on me to be watching film, getting massages (which are available to the team a couple of times each week) — we’re always together all the time, which is a great thing. It has really helped my development.”
As it turns out, the confidence of a cornerback can be measured: It’s the distance between him and the receiver at the snap when press coverage has been called. In that area, Apple showed during 2014 preseason drills that he could step forward. “I’m getting there, for sure,” the redshirt freshman said, prior to the 2014 season opener vs. Navy.
It’s a confidence game, the rules of which change dramatically from high school to college, where the receivers usually are bigger, faster and stronger. Apple was no instant sensation when he arrived at Ohio State in 2013. He had to improve in all facets to start gaining the kind of praise he’s getting from coach Urban Meyer. “He’s playing his best football since he’s been here,” Meyer said as the Buckeyes prepared for the 2014 season.
Apple played a major role in the team going on to win the national championship. He started all but one contest on the fifteen-game schedule, recording three interceptions while breaking up thirteen other tosses. He also posted 5.5 of his total of 53 tackles, behind the line of scrimmage. The Buckeyes would lead the Big Ten Conference with 25 interceptions and 55 pass break-ups, as their secondary was led by Apple’s dominance.
The two-time letter-winner would go on to start all but one of the 28 games he appeared in. As a sophomore, he earned All-American and All-Big Ten Conference honors, producing 33 tackles (23 solos) with two stops-for-loss. He deflected eight passes and intercepted another.
The Buckeyes cornerback proved that he could consistently break up passes when in position, as he also has the athleticism to reach around the receiver and disrupt the action without committing the penalty. When he breaks up those passes, more often it is the result of violent hits right as the ball arrives. While not a valid ball thief, he does have the natural hands to reach out and pluck the ball to make the tough interception.
Teams were very leery to fire the ball into Apple’s territory in 2015. However, he impressed scouts with his outstanding coverage skills, as he not only defended nine passes (including one interception), but only 14-of-67 passes targeted in his area were completed (20.9%). He delivered twenty third-down stops, three more on fourth-down snaps. Proving to be one of the most physical cornerbacks in college, he jammed/rerouted his main pass coverage assignments away from 38 incomplete passes last season, the second-highest total in the NCAA FBS ranks.
Soon after the Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, Apple announced that he would not be returning to school and had declared for the NFL Draft. “My time at the Ohio State University has prepared me to pursue another childhood dream: playing in the NFL draft. I’ve decided to forgo my last two years of eligibility and enter the NFL draft,” Apple wrote in a statement.
He joined teammates Darron Lee, Joey Bosa, Tyvis Powell, Jalin Marshall, Vonn Bell, Cardale Jones, and Ezekiel Elliott, as Buckeyes underclassmen who declared for the NFL draft. Ohio State finished the season with a record of 12–1 after defeating Notre Dame 44–28 in the Fiesta Bowl. Perhaps fitting, Apple was named defensive MVP of the game with five tackles and one pass break-up.
THE NFL DRAFT REPORT’S EXAMINATION OF THE 2016 NFL DRAFT CORNERBACK ELITE TALENT
Every year, fans become enamored with that great college “pass thief,” the guy who comes up with that big play that has the stands rocking. All too often, those defensive backs have holes in their game that does not get exposed until they are under the watchful eyes of the astute NFL fans. At The NFL Draft Report, we stress production over potential when evaluating talent. We feel that if the athlete can not develop in four years in college, there is doubt that the “porch light” will suddenly come on when they reach the pro ranks.
In this report, I closely break down and examine every statistical aspect that goes into making a quality cornerback. While most teams seem to feel that Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey might be a better fit at free safety, the Seminole is included in this report, along with Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander, Ohio State’s Eli Apple, Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III and Houston’s William Jackson III – all considered valid first round prospects. The link to this article could be found here;
http://nfldraftreport.sportsblog.com/posts/14394009/the-nfl-draft-report-s--by-the-numbers--series---before-an-nfl-general-manager-drafts-a-cornerback-in-the-first-round--they-might-want-to-check-out-these-numbers.html
APPLE SCOUTING REPORT
Body Structure…Apple has a muscular physique with defined upper body tone, tight waist and hips, good bubble, strong thighs, knotted calves and minimal body fat. His frame has room for additional growth without it affecting his very good timed speed. He has a large wingspan that he uses effectively to wrap and secure and the large, natural hands to make the interception. He possesses nice chest thickness and is a rangy type with tight skin and good biceps development, along with defined knot in his calves.
Athletic Ability…Apple has the ideal size you look for in a lock-down cornerback. He displays incredible athleticism and shows above average body control. It is evident that Apple is blessed with a load of athletic talent. He has exceptional quickness and speed, in addition to doing a fine job of keeping his feet on the move. He shows the agility and balance to redirect and the change of direction skills to work his way quickly to the perimeter. He has smooth hips and shows explosion out of his plant. He is smooth in his movements and runs with ease staying on the hip of the receiver working up field. He also has that strong hand punch to consistently reroute his opponent (see 2015 Northern Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers, Illinois and Michigan games).
Apple has that rare combination of power and quickness needed to excel in run force (made 18 tackles vs. the run last years, posting three touchdown-saving stops). He shows suddenness attacking the ball in front of him and quick feet to come up quick to plug the rush lanes or give a forceful shove on receivers trying to hug the sidelines. He has above average acceleration on deep routes and the ability to stay on the hip of receivers. He has excellent body control working in the box, doing a good job of using his hands to prevent blockers from attacking his body. For a player of his size, he runs with a quick stride.
The Buckeye can be explosive in and out of his breaks and looks very fluid changing direction, doing a nice job with his hip flip to accelerate and close on the play or mirror the receiver throughout the route (see 2015 Virginia Tech, Penn State and Illinois. He has the range and catch-up speed to recover when beaten and also shows very good jumping ability going after the contested pass. He has the flexibility and movement skills to slip through and avoid blocks in run support and is quick to redirect in backside pursuit.
Football Sense…Apple is a smart player vs. the pass, and shows no hesitation closing on the ball, especially when coming up into the box. He plays with good instincts and keeps his head on a swivel working in the zone and you can see that he is decisive getting through trash to locate the ball carrier (see 2015 Virginia Tech, Penn State and Notre Dame games). He is alert in zone coverage, doing a fine job of handling the switch-off. He is best when making plays in front of him, but shows the vision to track the ball over his shoulder on deep routes.
Apple is a good student of the game who puts in extra hours in the film room to study his opponents. He is very capable of handling the mental aspect of the game, demonstrating Ike Taylor-like (former Steeler) skills for his ability to scan the field and find the pigskin in flight. His knowledge of every secondary position could see him bring immediate value as a nickel back at the next level, but with the way he plays in run support along with fluid moves in his retreat playing in the zone, he could also provide quality production as a free safety/nickel back in sub packages, as he has more than enough range to play safety and is capable of making the coverage call and checks.
Competitiveness…Apple is very physical in press coverage, as his hand punch can not only consistently reroute receivers, but also shock and jolt bigger blockers with its power (on 67 passes targeted into his area in 2015, he rerouted/jammed receivers on 38 of those attempts). He is best when matched up against the opponent’s primary target, as he seems to relish the challenge. He plays until the whistle and performs with an aggressive, hard-hitting style. Rather than get frustrated when opposing offenses stood away from his territory in 2015, he has just gone about his business and the result was over one-third of his tackles happened at the opposite end of the field (of the 67 receptions by an opponent he was involved in, only ten were caught by his man coverage assignment throughout the 2015 season). He is not the type that will hang his head for long if beaten and he is a true competitor who will extend himself to make the play on effort.
Apple cares about one thing – winning and has no concerns about his stats. He just comes to play and has a solid work ethic. The coaches use him as a role model for the younger players to emulate. He has a quiet mentality to him on the field, but will not hesitate to get vocal in the huddle. He has added impressive strength to his game the last two years and is not the type to shy away from hard work in the training room. He will do whatever is needed to improve performance and has enough moxie and makeup to make the secondary calls.
Key and Diagnostic Skills…Apple is developing good timing and a feel to make plays on the ball. He shows excellent zone instincts and is quick to read and react to plays in front of him. He has solid ball anticipation on combo routes, but there are times he will rely more on technique than his athleticism to make the play. He is more alert in man coverage, breaking well on the ball, but when he plays in control and does not try to gamble so much, he is alert to pocket movement and does a good job of reading the quarterback. He has improved his timing and hand/eye coordination to get his hand up for the pass deflection, showing the potential to develop into a standout ball thief. He hits with a thud and is one of the better run defenders in the draft at his position.
Some teams prefer Apple as a boundary corner, reasoning that his hitting style, strength and range operating in the deep secondary might be suited for that position. But, it also has to deal with his excellence in zone coverage. He has a good feel for the quarterback and plays the center of the field with excellent range and vision. His field intelligence is evident in his ability to lend support vs. the run and understand the assignments of all of his team-mates. He is quick to locate the ball and excels when asked to work inside the box in run force. He has the uncanny knack for sifting out the ball and is rarely caught out of position.
Apple plays the ball very well and knows how to work through the receiver to bat the ball away or generate a strong enough hand punch to lock his man up at the line of scrimmage (see 2015 Northern Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers and Michigan games). He knows how to recognize blocking schemes and it is very difficult to fool him at the snap with misdirection or play action. He is not the type who will guess in zone coverage, knowing what he has to do and completing that assignment. His ability and knowledge of the defense will see him do a very good job of making adjustment calls. He is not the type that will get a little bit too confident in man coverage, as he refuses to yield a big cushion and prefers to stay closer on his assignments’ hips. With his football instincts, field vision and quick reaction to plays in front of him, he can be a shutdown and physical cornerback in the Ike Taylor (ex-Pittsburgh) mold at the next level.
Man Coverage Ability…Apple has outstanding closing speed and excellent hip flip to mirror the receiver throughout the route. He is very aggressive closing on the ball and has the hand punch and jolt to easily jam even tight ends at the line. He times his hits well and shows fluid turning motion to keep relationship and ride the hip of the receiver coming out of his breaks. He plays tight on his assignment coming off the line of scrimmage. He is consistent in his technique when backing off and even when he falls off his man on his bump technique, he is quick to recover. He is becoming very effective playing the trail, cover or cushion, showing good plant and drive ability to mirror the receiver. He is very smooth in his movements and has the speed to stay on his opponent. He has very good closing ability and is very active with his hands in order to press (Big Ten-best 38 reroutes/ jams in 2015).
The Ohio State system allows Apple to press often and he has the punch to impede the forward progress of the receiver at the line of scrimmage. He does a very good job of using his upper body strength and hands to jam, and while he plays with great confidence, he has had very good success when he tries to challenge his coverage assignment going up for the ball in flight (has a quick, yet fluid elevation process). He would much rather play his man coverage assignment tight, rather than allow a big cushion. He looks agile and well-balanced adjusting to low throws (has good scoop ability to haul in the low throws at the shoestrings) and times his leaps well along with knowing how to use his long arms to reach around to deflect the pass and is smart enough to know not to bite on play action or eyeball the quarterback too long.
Few teams have had much success vs. him working underneath, and he does have the acceleration to quickly recover if beaten. His size makes him capable of handling the larger receivers and most tight ends and he is quick to use his size to his advantage, as receivers struggle to shield the ball from him after the catch. He can reroute, flip and run, showing crisp stop-and-go action. Whether playing the man tight or loose, Apple somehow manages to be in good position to make the play.
Zone Coverage Ability…Apple shows good ball anticipation skills and can easily read the quarterback. He gets a good break on the ball, but needs to demonstrate better anticipation on combo routes. He will sometimes get too aggressive, causing him to lose relationship with his coverage assignment (see 2015 Western Michigan game). He shows the ability to sink under deep throws and plays like a veteran with good patience, as it is very rare to see him commit too early. He could eventually become a safety later in his career - for not only does he have strong hands, but he knows how to use his reach to get around the receiver to dislodge the ball (see 2015 Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois games). He is not the type that a receiver will be able to con and he never bites on play action. Still, he does show enough confidence that if he needs to, he knows he can gamble and jump a route.
Apple excels when it comes to spacing, doing a good job of breaking down and closing on plays in front of him. He uses his hands well to jam his opponent at the line and he is very alert when handling the switch-off assignment. He has the short area burst to make plays underneath and could eventually grow into a safety in the Brian Dawkins (ex-Denver) mold one day. He gets good depth in his pass drops and when reacting to the ball, he has a good concept for taking proper angles. He is good at reading and reacting to the quarterback and won’t bit on play action fakes. He is alert and sees threats, doing a nice job of quickly planting and driving on the ball. To date, Apple has not allowed any other receiver to come free when aligned in zone coverage.
Backpedal Technique…Apple is usually smooth in his pedal, showing a burst out of transition, but only when he keeps his pad level down. When he gets too tall, his footwork tends to get sloppy, relying then on his impressive speed to bail him out. He can really stick and close on the ball when he recognizes the play. He often plays his man tight, turning and running up field with good urgency. He is very consistent with his pad level and footwork, along with demonstrating the quick feet to recover. He shows fluid hips to plant and drive. The thing you see on film is his ability to close with a sudden burst.
Apple shows good hip snap and will not take extra steps in his backpedal. He stays under control in transition and has the quick feet to burst out and break on the ball with urgency. He looks fluid and can flip his hips, showing better change of direction than most defenders of his height. He hunkers down well in his backpedal and his loose hips let him turn and run with the receivers. You can see on game film that there is no leakage or wasted motion in his retreat. He shows no wasted motion, perhaps due to very loose hips that gets him out of his pedal in an instant.
Ball Reaction Skills…Apple can break and make plays on the ball in front of him. He is also very effective handling his assignments on combo routes. He has a very quick plant-and-drive step closing on the receiver and can be explosive doing this. He has made good strides improving his timing, and has a good feel for receivers before they can attack the coverage. He is very quick at reading deep routes, enough that he is confident to gamble and jump on the receiver’s double move. He has the valid speed and closing burst needed to get to the reception point on deep throws.
Apple has a decent total of interceptions (four) and pass break-ups (21), but what truly stands out is that he stays tight on a receiver’s hip, doing a very nice job of redirecting his man or jamming him at the line to prevent that opponent from progressing in the route (53-of-67 passes targeted into his area were incomplete after Apple applied pressure on the play).
The reason why so many of those passes thrown to receivers in his area fail to reach its target is due to his ability to jam or reroute his man with ease. He is quick to come up in the box and fill the rush lanes. He also excels at closing on the ball, showing the burst to make plays in front of him and the lateral movement to string plays wide. He has a good short area burst and closes with urgency. When he plays the ball, he will not hesitate to compete for it in traffic. He is also efficient at tracking the ball in flight. He times his leaps well and will make every effort to get to the ball. He is not the type who will get into trouble by allowing the receiver too much cushion, as he might bait them at times, but is equally effective at covering opponents trying to sit underneath to move the chains, as most offensive coordinators familiar with Apple were “smart” in 2015 to not go for the “home run” ball over the cornerback. He simply has that outstanding burst out of his pedal to consistently get to the ball (see his numbers on the Player Comparison Charts listed above).
Range and Recovery Skills…This is where Apple excels. When he does lose relationship with receivers on deep routes, he has confidence in his speed to catch up when his opponent gets behind him. He shows an above average trail technique and can cover ground quickly. His stop and go quickness is above average. His speed lets him cover up for mistakes, as his 4.52 timing on grass is the same when wearing his pads.
Perhaps because of the his aggressive nature, you will rarely ever see Apple give up too much cushion, as he is the type that prefers to stay on the hip of the receiver going deep. He has more than enough acceleration to recover if than man does manage to get behind him. He is best when covering ground with the ball in the air, as he knows how to track it and takes good angles to shorten the field. He has the burst to get back into deeper play. He really enjoys chasing down ball carriers on the corner, making him an excellent “eighth man” playing in the box (made three touchdown-saving tackles on 18 running plays last year. With his outstanding range, you will expect him to gamble often, but he likes the physicality of bumping and rerouting receivers. To truly appreciate him, you have to see his consistency covering ground with the ball in the air.
Leaping Ability…Apple has very good body control to run, jump and adjust to the ball in the air. He seems to have natural hands for the interception – just not enough picks to fully evaluate. He times his leaps well and gets good elevation going up for the ball, but will use his body more than try to extend for the ball outside his frame. He shows good ability to track the ball and adjust to it accordingly while in flight. He does this with a competitive attitude and knowing that if he will not make the interception, he can compensate by knocking the ball away at its high point.
Apple is fearless going for the ball in a crowd. He times his leaps well (38-inch vertical jump) and does a good job of attempting to catch it with hands extended away from the framework. His size and excellent elevation ability let him win most contested balls from the taller receivers. He can even do a good job of jumping on the run, as he is very fluid making body adjustments when he attempts to go vertical. He also appears to possess natural hands, along with the ability to extend and catch outside his framework (hands are receiver-like quality). He loves to fight for the ball, knowing that his athletic ability will let him get to throws even with opponents draped all over him.
Hands…Do not be fooled by his only four interceptions - while Apple will extend and snatch away from the frame, it is his natural hands and timing that could see him develop into a quality pass thief. If he gets his hands on the ball, it is usually caught by the cornerback. He is also very effective at using his hands to jam and reroute receivers at the line of scrimmage. His hand strength and activeness also come into play when he uses them to stave off and slip past blocks when working near trash. If he gets his hands on the ball, he will usually convert that opportunity into a turnover.
Run Defense…Apple hits like a linebacker and seems to relish playing inside the box. He stays low in his pads, extends his arms properly and keeps his base wide to wrap and secure. He has good body control in space and uses his size well to collide with the ball carrier. He also demonstrates the ability to keep his hands active in attempts to shed. He takes good angles to the ball, especially along the corners. He is better than most other college cornerbacks at getting involved vs. the run, as he will leverage and come to the line with little delay. He is a classic wrap-up tackler who works hard to dislodge the ball from his opponent. You have to love a cornerback that can contribute vs. the run and Apple has a lot of moxie, as you will never see him shy away from contact.
Tackling Ability…Apple delivers excellent pop behind his hits. He plays with good knee bend and has enough strength to take on the lead blocker and clog the rush lane. He is not afraid to face up to offensive linemen and will do anything he can to get the ball carrier to the ground. He is a truly violent striker who will not hesitate to square up and “put his hat” on the opponent. When he gets too upright, he does revert to arm- and grab-tackling, though.
When Apple keeps his base wide, pad level low and arms extended, he excels as a wrap-up tackler. He has enough strength to drive back the ball carriers and receivers on initial contact. He is good at making the open field tackles, showing little regard for his own body in order to make the play. He is very dependable working in the box, playing with good aggression to take on and shed blocks working through trash. He is very active with his hands when trying to shed.
When squared up in tight quarters, he has classic wrap-up technique that will again remind you of Ike Taylor and Charles Woodson. He takes good angles to tackle and will drag down with efficiency. He might not pile up tackles in bunches, but you have to look at his Player Performance Charts to really appreciate what he has to offer behind his hits (more and more often, offensive coordinators game-planned away from Apple’s area in 2015, as more than 30% of his tackles came away from his assigned area).
CAREER NOTES
Apple has started all but one of the 28 games that he appeared in for the Buckeyes…He finished his two-year tenure with 86 tackles (56 solos) that included 7.5 stops for losses of 15 yards…Broke up 21 passes and intercepted four others for 16 yards in returns…Recovered two fumbles and caused another.
2015 SEASON…Rated the top cornerback prospect in the draft (Jalen Ramey was rated as a free safety) by The NFL Draft Report, the All-Big Ten Conference first-team cornerback also earned first-team All-American honors from that scouting information service…Starting every game, the red-shirt sophomore posted 33 tackles (23 solos) with two stops for losses of four yards, as teams geared their offensive game plan far and away from the scrappy tackler…Also deflected eight passes and picked off another for an 8-yard runback…Allowed only fourteen receptions on 67 passes targeted into his area (20.9%), as he led the league and nation’s cornerbacks by rerouting his coverage assignments away from 38 of those attempts (56.72%)…Opponents gained 104 yards from those fourteen grabs, an average of 1.55 yards per attempt and 7.43 yards per catch…Allowed just four first downs receiving, posting twenty third-down stops and three more on fourth-down snaps… Came out of his assigned area to delivered four touchdown-saving tackles vs. the aerial game…In run force, he produced eighteen tackles, including three touchdown-saving hits that included two for losses and one at the line of scrimmage for no gain.
2015 SEASON GAME ANALYSIS
Virginia Tech… The 42-24 season opener win extends Ohio State’s streak to fourteen consecutive victories, thanks to the heroics of their sophomore cornerback, as Apple twice rerouted receivers away from deep passes…Late in the third quarter, he recovered a fumble by tailback J.C. Coleman that Ohio State would convert into a 53-yard end-around touchdown run by Braxton Miller to stake the Buckeyes to a 28-17 lead…Man Coverage Assignment-Apple did not allow Isaiah Ford to catch any of the four passes targeted to the receiver…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 128 yards, ten first downs and no touchdowns on 44 carries (2.91 ypc), as the opponent completed 15-of-25 passes (60.00%) for 192 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, finishing the day with 320 yards on a total of 69 plays (4.64 yards per attempt).
Northern Illinois…Apple delivered four tackles, but it was his interception return for eight yards five minutes into the game that set up Ohio State’s first scoring drive, good for a 31-yard field goal… Man Coverage Assignment-Apple did not allow Tommy Lewis to catch any of the six passes targeted to the receiver, rerouting his opponent away from three throws, as Lewis dropped another toss… Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 110 yards, six first downs and one touchdown on 43 carries (2.56 ypc), as the opponent completed 14-of-31 passes (45.16%) for 80 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing the day with 190 yards on a total of 74 plays (2.57 yards per attempt).
Western Michigan…Apple recorded a season-high six tackles, but was flagged twice, including once for pass interference…He dropped Daniel Braverman for a 3-yard loss after a second quarter catch in the backfield and killed both of WMU’s final drives by deflecting a third-&-12 pass with 3:36 left to play and then a fourth-&-goal toss on the game’s final snap…Man Coverage Assignment-Apple allowed three catches for 24 yards by Corey Davis, twice rerouting the receiver away from throws while posting two third-down hits and another on a fourth-down snap…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 169 yards, eleven first downs and no touchdowns on 41 carries (4.12 ypc), as the opponent completed 18-of-33 passes (54.55%) for 169 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, finishing the day with 338 yards on a total of 74 plays (4.57 yards per attempt).
Indiana…Apple’s heroics again saved a game, as he broke up a fourth-&-goal pass by Zander Diamont on the final play of a 34-27 decision…Man Coverage Assignment-Apple allowed one catch for 14 yards by Ricky Jones, twice rerouting the receiver away from throws while posting two third-down hits and another on a fourth-down snap…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 176 yards, five first downs and three touchdowns on 55 carries (3.20 ypc), as the opponent completed 17-of-36 passes (47.22%) for 226 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing the day with 402 yards on a total of 91 plays (4.42 yards per attempt).
Penn State…Apple only made three tackles, but one was a big one – taking down Saquon Barkley before the ball carrier could get into the end zone on a second quarter 18-yard run…His fourth-&-8 pressure of the pocket saw Christian Hackenberg try to escape before the quarterback was sacked by the Buckeyes’ Chris Worley for a 3-yard loss later in the first half…He also saved a touchdown when he raced to the opposite side of the field to tackle Chris Godwin after the receiver beat OSU’s Vonn Bell on a 56-yard pass play…Man Coverage Assignment-Apple did not allow Akeel Lynch to catch any passes, twice recording touchdown-saving tackles…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 195 yards, eight first downs and no touchdowns on 40 carries (4.88 ypc), as the opponent completed 7-of-13 passes (53.85%) for 120 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, finishing the day with 315 yards on a total of 53 plays (5.94 yards per attempt).
Rutgers…Apple recorded just one tackle, coming on an 18-yard catch by Leonte Caroo, but he rerouted the receiver away from four other tosses, including a trio that killed drives on third-down snaps…Man Coverage Assignment-Apple held Leonte Caroo to one catch on five targets, delivering three third-down stops…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 104 yards, six first downs and no touchdowns on 29 carries (3.59 ypc), as the opponent completed 13-of-27 passes (48.15%) for 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finishing the day with 293 yards on a total of 56 plays (5.23 yards per attempt).
Illinois…The only pass that was completed vs. Apple saw the cornerback tackle tailback Josh Ferguson for a 1-yard loss…He held his assignment, Malik Turner to no receptions, rerouting the receiver away from five tosses, including one that ended a third quarter series on a third-down snap…Man Coverage Assignment-Apple did not allow Malik Turner to catch any of the five passes targeted to his opponent…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 20 yards, four first downs and no touchdowns on 25 carries (0.80 ypc), as the opponent completed 23-of-47 passes (48.94%) for 241 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing the day with 261 yards on a total of 72 plays (3.63 yards per attempt).
Michigan…Both of Apple’s tackles came at the opposite side of the field, saving potential touchdowns after Wolverine receivers had beaten other OSU coverage defenders…He also rerouted his assignments away from six throws and wreaked havoc in the pocket to force a bad snap that was recovered for a 2-yard loss by Michigan as time expired…Earlier in the second quarter, he twice denied Amara Darboh opportunities to get to third-&-goal and fourth-&-goal pass plays…Man Coverage Assignment-Apple made two touchdown-saving tackles and twice denied Amara Darboh opportunities to catch passes in the end zone, rerouting his opponent away from six throws – two on third-down snaps and two more on fourth-down plays…Team Defensive Impact-Ohio State allowed 573 yards, three first downs and no touchdowns on 25 carries (2.28 ypc), as the opponent completed 25-of-47 passes (53.19%) for 307 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finishing the day with 354 yards on a total of 72 plays (4.92 yards per attempt).
Notre Dame (Fiesta Bowl)…Apple was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, as he not only recorded five tackles, but came up in run support to crush C.J. Procise and prevent a score near the goal line…He killed one drive by rerouting Chris Brown away from a third-&-10 pass play late in the first half…He also frustrated All-American Will Fuller, rerouting the receiver away from three deep throws in the first quarter.
2014 SEASON…Apple earned Freshman All-American honors from The NFL Draft Report, Athlon’s and Scout.com…The boundary cornerback started fourteen of the fifteen games he appeared in…Recorded three interceptions with thirteen pass deflections and delivered 53 tackles (33 solos) that included 5.5 stops for losses of eleven yards…Apple did not start against Michigan State because of a minor leg issue, but after continuing to loosen up on the sidelines, he was in the game by the time of the team's second defensive series…Recorded first collegiate interception vs. Virginia Tech and also had interceptions vs. Maryland and in the College Football Playoff national championship game vs. Oregon. He intercepted Marcus Mariota's final throw as a collegian; only the fourth interception thrown by the Heisman Trophy winner all season...Had some of his best tackling numbers during the Buckeyes' playoff run with five against both Wisconsin and Alabama and a career-high seven vs. Oregon.
AGILITY TESTS…4.40 in the 40-yard dash…2.59 10-yard dash…1.53 20-yard dash…4.08 20-yard shuttle…7.00 three-cone drill…38-inch vertical jump…10’-04” broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 13 times…31 3/8-inch arm length…9 3/8-inch hands…76 3/8-inch wingspan.
HIGH SCHOOL…Apple attended Eastern (Vorhees, N.J.) High School, playing football for head coach Dan Spittal…ESPN rated him the 11th-best high school player in the nation and he was rated the sixth-best cornerback in the country and the top prospect overall in the state of New Jersey by 247Sports…As a senior, Apple played both sides of the ball. His defensive skills produced 45 tackles, a pair of interceptions and seventeen pass deflections. He also caused three fumbles, as the hard-hitting cornerback also blocked a kick… On the other side of the field, he used his coverage skills to escape the jam, on the way to pulling down 39 receptions for 770 yards and four touchdowns.
PERSONAL…Apple is a Sports Industry major…Born 8/09/95 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania…Son of Annie and Tim Apple…Resides in Vorhees, New Jersey.
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