The Eagles selected CB Zech McPhearson on Saturday afternoon with their 4th round pick, 123rd overall.
Height/Weight: 5-11, 195
College Stats: 22 games, 104 total tackles, 4 INT, 15 PDs, 2 fumble recoveries at Texas Tech
Analysis: McPhearson fills a much needed role in the Eagles defensive side at corner. He sits in the Tier 2 defensive backs in this draft. The Columbia, MD native comes from an extremely athletic family and originally committed to Penn State for both football and baseball before transferring to Texas Tech. He has solid cover skills and should compete for a starting position on the team in 2021.
Scouting Reports:
Fluid athlete with twitchy body control and feet…able to flip his hips and redirect with little wasted movement…nice job establishing body position in
man coverage to pin receivers and find the football (see the first play of the 2020 TCU tape)…stays patient and composed in zone to maintain spatial relationships
with routes…plays with the "my ball" mentality at the catch point. Runs well, but doesn't have great make-up speed…will too easily abandon his pedal, getting his hips turned the wrong way.
Zechariah is the son of Gerrick McPhearson, who played defensive back at Boston College and for the New England Patriots, and brother of Gerrick Jr., a former Maryland cornerback and seventh-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Another brother, Derrick, played football at Illinois and also spent time in the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league system. Emmanuel and Ezekiel, two other brothers, played football and minor league baseball, respectively, and his sister plays soccer at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Given all that athleticism in McPhearson's family, it's no surprise he excelled for Tech the past two seasons. McPhearson was a first-team All-Big 12 pick in 2020, leading his squad with four interceptions and breaking up six other passes to go along with 53 tackle in 10 starts. He started 12 games in 2019, as well (51 tackles, 2.5 for loss, five pass breakups, two blocked kicks).
Slightly undersized cornerback who flashed cover skills the past two seasons. Instinctive, tough, and plays heads-up football. Quickly locates the ball in the air, has an explosive burst out of his plant, and possesses good hands for the interception. Fluid flipping his hips in transition, runs downfield with opponents, and correctly positions himself to break up passes.
Reads the receiver's eyes then works to get his head back around and find the ball. Battles opponents, gives effort defending the run, and does not back down from a challenge.
Highlights:
Zech McPhearson Texas Tech Junior Highlights (Instagram Edit) 2020
