Avonte Maddox

A four-year starter at Pittsburgh, Maddox has experience across the formation, but played primarily man coverage at left cornerback for the Panthers. He led the team in passes defended each of the last three seasons and has the ball skills to take advantage of mistakes by the offense. Maddox doesn’t lack for toughness, but his lack of size/length shows up frequently, especially when matched against bigger receivers, struggling to counter slants, comebacks, etc. While he is a top-tier athlete with the speed and twitch required for the position, his testing numbers don’t always translate to the field, struggling with spacing in coverage. BACKGROUND: A three-star athlete recruit out of high school, Avonte (ah-VON-tay) Maddox was a three-sport star at Detroit’s Martin Luther King, competing in football, baseball and basketball. He was a cornerback on defense and do-everything slot receiver/running back on offense, accounting for 956 yards receiving, 717 yards rushing and 20 total touchdowns as a senior, adding four interceptions on defense. Maddox, who considered playing collegiate baseball, was considered a top-25 recruit in the state of Michigan and committed to Pitt over Purdue and several MAC schools. He found the field as a true freshman cornerback and started six games, posting 32 tackles and three passes defended. Maddox started all 13 games as a sophomore and had his most productive season with 75 tackles, 15 passes defended and three interceptions, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors. He started nine games as a junior and recorded 49 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 11 passes defended and three interceptions. Maddox started 10 games as a senior and finished with 27 tackles, 13 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two interceptions, earning a spot on the All-ACC Third Team. He accepted his invitation to the 2018 East-West Shrine Game.

in our view

Overall, Maddox has some appealing traits (athleticism, production, toughness) that will give him a chance, but he is built small and plays small, lacking the consistency desired by pro coaches

strengths

Outstanding top-end speed…flexible hips and balanced athleticism to pattern match early in the route…clean footwork and transition out of his pedal…not shy coming off his man to freelance and make a play on the ball…more passes defended (42) than starts (38) over his career…offensive playmaker in high school and it shows when he has a chance to attack the football, recording eight career interceptions (two returned for touchdowns)…low tackler with marginal play strength, but he finds ways to get his guy on the ground…finds the quarterback as a blitzer…played special teams at Pitt, blocking an extra point (Dec. 2015) and returning a kickoff for a touchdown…voted a senior captain with the football character that fits in a NFL locker room.

weaknesses

Pint-sized frame with below average length…too easily shielded from the catch point, struggling to gain body position…weak jam attempt and gives up inside position…turns his hips early in the rep, hindering his ability to get back into position…can be run off the top of routes and routinely late on comebacks…route awareness tends to run hot/cold and late to read and get his head turned…tough, reliable tackler in college, but finishing NFL ballcarriers will be a different challenge…lack of size leads to durability concerns, missing two games as a senior due to a right arm injury (Oct. 2017).

One of the top athletes in the state of Michigan

played only two years of football at Martin Luther King but was an incredibly versatile performer

played slot receiver, running back and defensive back and also returned kicks

on offense, averaged an impressive 27.3 yards per catch as a senior, totaling 35 receptions for 956 yards and 14 touchdowns

averaged 11.0 yards per rush with 717 yards and four TDs on 65 carries

a shutdown corner who helped the King Crusaders limit opponents to just 10.9 points per game

had four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns

also had two punt return TDs

Associated Press All-State

MLive.com Metro Detroit "Dream Team"

Detroit News first team All-Metro

led team to a 10-2 record and the semifinals of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state playoffs

rated the No. 6 overall prospect in Michigan by Scout, No. 15 by 247Sports and No. 22 by Rivals

played under Coach Dale Harvel

selected to play in the Ohio-Michigan High School Border Classic all-star game

also a standout in baseball and basketball.

Avonte Michael Maddox, born 3/31/96, is the son of Michael Maddox and Melanie Jackson

has two brothers and one sister

communication major.

2017

rushing
YPC	TD	YDS	CAR	LONG
4.0	0.0	8.0	2.0	7.0

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
1.0	0.0	0.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
4.0	1.0	27.0	0.0	11.0	4.0	20.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
16.0	16.0	1.0	0.0	16.0

2016

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	0.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
8.5	0.0	49.0	1.0	8.0	2.5	39.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
1.0	11.0	33.0	3.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
20.0	20.0	1.0	0.0	20.0

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
0.5	2.0	0.0	1.0	1.0

2015

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
1.0	10.0	30.0	3.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
89.0	182.0	6.0	1.0	30.3

puntReturns
AVG	NO	TD	LONG	YDS
6.0	8.0	0.0	25.0	48.0