Kamari Lassiter Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Tony Walsh/UGA Athletics)

School: Georgia

Class: Junior

Position: CB

HT: 6’0

WT: 180 lbs

Sideline Prospect Ranking: #49

Background: Kamari Lassiter was a 4-star cornerback out of Savannah, Georgia. Being ranked as a consensus top-300 player in his class while also being from a high school football hotspot meant that Lassiter gained plenty of attention early on in the recruiting process. Lassiter attended American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was listed by most outlets as one of the 10 best recruits in the state of Alabama. He helped lead his high school to the state championship game as a senior. Lassiter’s commitment ultimately came down to Georgia, Alabama, and Florida State amongst others. Ultimately, he chose Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs.

College: As a freshman, Lassiter served as a backup defensive back and a special teams ace. Georgia has had a stacked defense for years so he cannot be to blame for being stashed as a true freshman. His impact was felt on the defensive side of the ball in his sophomore year, starting all 15 games for Georgia. Totaling 38 stops in 2022, Lassiter has been a consistent presence on the back end of the defense. Lassiter became CB1 in Athens after Kelee Ringo went pro in 2023. Lassiter made a name for himself as one of the best playmakers in the SEC. He made All-SEC teams and All-American teams in his final season as a Bulldog.

Strengths: Kamari Lassiter is a ball hawking defensive back who can get a hand on the ball no matter his position. He sticks to the receiver’s hips and is not easily susceptible to double moves. Lassiter gets his head around to make a play on the ball rather than making a play on the receiver and committing a penalty. He breaks up passes that otherwise had no shot of being defended. He can play nickel as well as safety, but his man coverage skills are not best utilized at the safety position. Lassiter is a physical cornerback who is a factor in the run game as well. He is able to flip a switch and act almost as a javelin when launching himself towards the ball carrier. He can blitz off the edge and shed blockers to get to the quarterback with similar effectiveness to a true edge rusher.

Weaknesses: When covering deep routes in tight man coverage, Lassiter has tight hips. Receivers can blow by him using misdirection to create enough separation to make a play. He remains too physical throughout the route, leading to defensive holding and pass interference penalties. While he is aggressive and physical at the catch point, bigger receivers will beat him at the catchpoint. In zone coverage, he loses receivers when transitioning to a new assignment, receivers can find the soft spot in his assigned zone.

Conclusion: Lassiter is a physical and aggressive cornerback. If he can improve upon his zone assignments as well as getting less grabby down the field, he will become a coveted NFL cornerback.

Scheme Fit: Scheme Versatile

Ideal Role: Boundary CB

Best Team Fits: MIN, LAC, ARI

Player Comparison: Shaq Griffin

Player Grade: 83.3