Pats Pulpit
Previewing the Patriots cornerback and special teamer heading into his second season in the NFL.
The New England Patriots’ 2024 NFL Draft had a clear focus: of the eight players selected by the team, seven were playing on the offensive side of the ball. The lone exception was sixth-round pick Marcellas Dial Jr.
Entering the league as a cornerback, Dial Jr. saw most of his action in the kicking game as a rookie. Now heading into Year 2, he might be in for a more extensive role.
Name: Marcellas Dial Jr.
Position: Cornerback/Special teamer
Jersey number: 27
Opening day age: 24 (12/6/2000)
Measurements: 5’11 3/4”, 190 lbs, 77 5/8” wingspan, 32” arm length, 8 7/8” hand size, 4.46s 40-yard dash, 7.29s 3-cone drill, 4.42s short shuttle, 40 1/2” vertical jump, 10’9” broad jump, 16 bench press reps, 7.18 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: England Patriots (2024-) | College: Georgia Military College (2019-20), South Carolina (2021-23)
A multi-sport athlete who played cornerback and wide receiver at Woodruff High School in Woodruff, SC, Dial Jr. did not get ranked as a recruit and received no FBS or FCS offers. He instead spent two years at Georgia Military College (although he only played in one season to the Covid-19 pandemic) and eventually was listed as a three-star juco recruit.
As such, Dial Jr. returned home and enrolled at South Carolina In January 2021. He spent three years as a Gamecock, appearing in 38 games with 29 starts. He registered 114 tackles, three interceptions as well as one forced fumble and sack each. His productive stint in Columbia set the stage for him getting selected 180th overall by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Dial Jr. played in all 17 games as a rookie, registering a combined 12 tackles between defense and special teams.
Strengths: At just under 6 feet and 190 pounds, Dial Jr. offers adequate size and length at the cornerback position. He combines his build with the straight-line speed to match receivers on vertical patterns and work his way downfield in kick and punt coverage. A former wideout, he has natural ball skills and a fell for attacking the ball either at the catch point or in ball carriers’ hands. He also has shown the competitiveness and physicality required to go up against NFL-level competition.
Weaknesses: Dial Jr. is neither the most explosive nor the most agile player. He is slow turning his hips, which puts him in a challenging position when back-pedaling, click-and-closing or pursing. His processing also needs improvement; at times, he finds himself out of position or overcorrecting previous mistakes because he does not seem confident in his read-and-react skills and route recognition particularly in zone coverage.
Stats: 17 games (1 start) | 60 defensive snaps (5.4%), 364 special teams snaps (83.3%) | 5 tackles, 0 missed tackles | 6 targets, 5 catches surrendered (83.3%), 45 yards, 1 TD | 7 special teams...
