Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Strong was a three-star recruit from Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Marlboro. Md. in the class of 2020

Virginia Tech’s Mansoor Delane and Dorian Strong are one of college football’s most talented cornerback duos. Delane projects as a top 100 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Strong isn’t as physically gifted as his teammate but is still in consideration for a fourth round pick. He could slide to the fifth round in this deep cornerback class.

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Dorian Strong, CB Virginia Tech: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth-year outside cornerback from Upper Marlboro. Md.

Background: Strong was a three-star recruit from Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Marlboro. Md. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 1,448 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,424 for On3.com. Strong was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 73 grade out of 100. He played wide receiver and cornerback in high school. As a senior, he made 17 receptions for 425 yards and eight touchdowns. He totaled 33 tackles, two tackles for loss, seven interceptions (returned for 250 yards and four touchdowns), five passes defensed, and a blocked punt as a senior. Strong also punted 20 times for 640 yards with eight punts landing within the opponent’s 20-yard line. He also returned four kicks for 197 yards and returned five punts for 121 yards, scoring three total return touchdowns. As a junior, he produced seven tackles, three passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries on defense. On special teams, Strong punted 19 times for 604 yards with five punts landing within his opponent’s 20-yard line. He also participated in track and field. Strong’s father has a background as a competitive weightlifter.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed seven games in 2022 with a fractured right hand

Awards: 2023 Third Team All-ACC

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, minimal penalties, patient to mirror the receiver’s release in press, some firm punches stall receivers at LOS, one and two-handed punches re-route receivers, drives outside releases toward the sideline, mirrors and gets in phase on the receiver’s hip immediately out of press-man, smothers in-breaking routes, collisions to slow receivers down mid-route, excellent understanding of leverage in man coverage, plays outside leverage well when he has inside help, timing at the catch point, quickly diagnoses and attacks WR screens, swipes at WR stalk blockers to separate

Cons: Arm length might be questionable, lacking overall desired mass, punch accuracy in press needs to improve, some soft punches in press, lacks the twitch to mirror smaller & shiftier receivers, takes a beat to get his hips around to match sharp cuts, allows separation at the top of comebacks and curls, some tightness when attempting to decelerate and flip hips for routes breaking back down the stem, lacks elite top speed, stacked by more explosive receivers, stacked by Deion Burks a few times (2023), block deconstruction vs. stalk blocks is inconsistent, some missed tackles when he doesn’t break down, drops head and dives without wrapping up

Overview: Strong has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units. Virginia Tech has played him in most coverage roles, including press-man, soft shoe press, off-man and zone to the boundary and field. He’s a lean outside corner with limited mass and questionable arm length. Strong patiently mirrors the receiver’s release in press and throws some firm punches that stall receivers while they attempt to get off the line. He uses both one and two-handed punches to re-route receivers and forces outside releases toward the sideline to close throwing windows. The fifth-year corner’s punch accuracy in press is hit-or-miss, and his impactful jams are separated by a lot of soft contact that fails to disrupt the receiver. These soft jams put Strong at a momentum disadvantage and contribute to receivers threatening him vertically. He mirrors the receiver off the line and quickly gets in phase as a press-man corner. However, Strong lacks the twitch and elite agility to mirror smaller, more explosive athletes. He anticipates routes well to engulf in-breaking routes or re-route outside releases. The Maryland native remains engaged throughout the route to slow down the receiver without getting too handsy. Strong’s understanding of route concepts, double moves, and leverage help him overcome some physical limitations by keeping him technically sound against superior athletes. Some of those limitations stem from hip tightness. He needs an extra moment to get his hips around to match sharp cuts and allows separation at the top of comebacks and curls as he tries to decelerate and flip his hips. Strong lacks the elite top speed to stick with speedsters, which calls into question his ability to handle press-man snaps in the NFL. He times his contact at the catch point well to force breakups. The All-ACC selection quickly recognizes and attacks wide receiver screens. He swipes at stalk blocks, but his ability to deconstruct blocks is inconsistent because of his play strength. Strong doesn’t come to balance as a tackler consistently and misses tackles when he drops his head and dives without wrapping up.

Overall, Strong is a patient, technically-sound press-man corner who excels at mirroring releases and getting in phase. He has some hip tightness that impacts his ability to stick with natural separators, and his long speed doesn’t preclude him from being stacked. Strong’s football IQ covers for some of his athletic limitations.

Role & Scheme Fit: Outside corner in a Cover 2 scheme with some press opportunities

Round Grade: Fourth Round

Size: 6'1", 185 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 09-09-24

Updated: 11-03-24