A standout on the gridiron and hardcourt in Missouri, Mario Goodrich came to Clemson where he was a role player across his first three seasons. Goodrich earned a starting job as a senior in 2021 and delivered a season that earned him First-Team All-ACC honors. Goodrich brings good size, length, and athleticism to the table and is best utilized as a press/zone corner at the next level. Goodrich is highly disruptive in press coverage and does well to crowd releases, create jams, and take receivers off the menu. Goodrich is a smart processor in zone coverage where he does a good job of staying leveraged, spacing the field, reading the backfield, and squeezing routes. Goodrich is an outstanding run defender and tackler where his aggressive demeanor and physicality shine.

While his ball production in college was modest, my exposures to him showcased a player fully capable of disrupting at the catch point and coming off his landmarks to make a play on the ball in zone coverage. Goodrich should be a major asset on special teams where he is experienced across four phases at Clemson. When it comes to areas of concern at the next level, Goodrich isn’t a candidate for frequent usage in off-man coverage. He is a sufficient athlete but lacks the top-tier speed to truly be isolated on an island and tasked with carrying routes vertically down the field. I would also like to see more ball production, but I’d be surprised if that restricted him from being successful at the next level. He did force 18 incompletions (14 PBUs, 4 INTs) and was targeted 83 times in college, so while his volume of plays on the ball doesn’t stand out, the per-target numbers are excellent. A one-year starter, the biggest thing for Goodrich is just gaining more time on task and continuing to work to maximize his skill set and I like the trajectory he’s on.

Ideal Role: Developmental starting outside corner

Scheme Fit: Zone, press

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Joe Marino 

Games watched: Georgia (2021), Pittsburgh (2021), Wake Forest (2021), Florida State (2021)

Best Game Studied: Georgia (2021)

Worst Game Studied: Wake Forest (2021)

Man Coverage Skills: Goodrich is a sticky man corner that does a great job at the line of scrimmage to crowd releases, get his hands on receivers, and cap routes. His best moments in man come when he’s able to play press and disrupt routes early. While he’s a sufficient athlete, having him serve frequently in off-man coverage isn’t the way to maximize his skill set.

Zone Coverage Skills: See Above.

Ball Skills: Goodrich’s ball production has been modest in college, which is surprising given my exposures. I saw a player that was willing to make plays on the ball and work into throwing lanes with good technique. He was an accomplished receiver in high school and showcased good awareness of the football in the air.

Tackling: Goodrich is an exceptional tackler that is enthusiastic about it! I love his nose for the football and how he can finish outside of his frame. Overall, he does a great job of getting himself in good positions to tackle, aiming low, wrapping up, and bringing his feet through contact.

Versatility: Goodrich has played almost exclusively outside corner for Clemson with few reps elsewhere. He functions best in zone and press coverage and shouldn’t be considered for frequent off-man responsibilities. Goodrich is an outstanding tackler that will make an NFL run defense better and should be a major asset on special teams, where he is experienced in all four phases from his time in college.

Competitive Toughness: Goodrich’s story of being a highly-regarded recruit and playing sparingly across his first three seasons while earning a starting role as a senior and performing at a high level speaks to his competitive toughness. And then you watch him play and see him play off contact and tackle and it affirms that he is a true grinder. Goodrich is a high-level competitor in everything he does on the football field.

Functional Athleticism: Goodrich is at least a sufficient athlete but isn’t top tier. He has good speed, quickness, and agility with excellent body control. His athletic profile doesn’t present restrictions, it’s just not elite.

Football IQ: See Above.

Run Defending: Goodrich has the ability to make an NFL run defense better. He does a wonderful job of processing, triggering, and fitting the run. He is outstanding at playing through contact and tackling. He is an above average D-gap defender.

Length: Goodrich has good length and it shows up as a tackler, in press coverage, and with how he can influence passing windows. Perhaps his arms can be a touch longer for his projected role, but it’s a minor gripe given how good of a job he does at maximizing the length he does have.

SCOUT GRADES

TDN Consensus: 72.50/100 (Fourth Round Value)

Crabbs Grade: 74.00/100

Marino Grade: 73.50/100

Harris Grade: 70.00/100