Chigozie Anusiem consistently looks poised as he drops back in coverage.
The Colorado State cornerback certainly was ready for the moment when he had a turnover opportunity against Boise State this past season. The Broncos had the ball at their own 43-yard line midway through the second quarter, were up 14-0 on third-and-7, and were looking to score again.
But Anusiem got in the way of that. Beginning the play lined up over a receiver on the outside, he dropped back with his eyes and hips facing the backfield. The ensuing pass went beyond the intended receiver, but Anusiem was in the right position.
He had dropped back far enough that he caught the interception with ease and returned it about 10 yards. That play was one of many that helped CSU defeat Boise State.
Anusiem possesses a well-rounded skill set that could help him at the NFL level.
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Chigozie Anusiem Draft Projection
I project Anusiem will be selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. Teams like the Chicago Bears or the San Francisco 49ers would make sense.
Chigozie Anusiem’s 40 Time
Anusiem’s 40-yard dash time was 4.39 seconds, according to The Athletic. That would’ve tied for the eight-best 40 time among cornerbacks at the NFL Combine.
He had a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches, a vertical jump of 37.5 inches, a three-cone drill of 7.06 seconds, a short shuttle time of 4.42 seconds, and he bench pressed 14 reps.
Chigozie Anusiem’s Stats And Highlights
Anusiem was one of the top defensive backs in the Mountain West in recent seasons. He was on the all-conference honorable mention list the last two years.
Before Colorado State, Anusiem played at Cal from 2018 to 2021. In 25 games played and six starts, he totaled 40 tackles and seven pass breakups.
In 2022 at CSU, he posted 36 tackles, one for loss, and nine pass breakups. He allowed 22 catches on 47 targets for 228 yards, which gave him the fourth-best yards per reception number among cornerbacks in the Mountain West. This past season, he tallied 57 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, three passes defended, and one interception.
Chigozie Anusiem’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Anusiem’s playing style in the NFL will be similar to Kendall Fuller of the Miami Dolphins.
Anusiem is a good tackler in the open field and embraces physicality at the point of attack.
Though he could improve at shedding blocks, Anusiem is more than willing to help out in run support.
Among cornerbacks in this draft class who played at least 483 snaps, he ranked fifth in Pro Football Focus’ grades for tackling and 32nd for run defense.
Though he didn’t line up much in the slot, he has the speed and physicality to be a nickel in the NFL if a team asked him to move there.
Anusiem is also fast, as proven by his 40 time. He’s also fluid and comfortable when he drops back.
This past season, Anusiem allowed 31 receptions on 48 targets for 330 yards and four touchdowns. His 10.6 yards per reception allowed was the 28th-best in the draft class.
Anusiem has proven he has the potential to play an important role for a pro team.
