Warren Central's Juju Brents is home for combine with size NFL teams are looking for at CB

There's getting thrown into the fire, then there's what former Iowa cornerback Julius "Juju" Brents experienced during his introduction to the Big Ten.

Brents, a Warren Central High School grad, came to Iowa as a three-star safety prospect. Measuring 6-2 as a freshman, Brents had the length of a prototypical safety, but he found himself at cornerback opposite future NFL wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson on the road in Minneapolis for his first start.

Brents had help over the top from experienced safeties and future NFL draft picks Amani Hooker and Geno Stone, but the Indy-native and fellow true freshman Riley Moss relied on pure athleticism and instincts to survive their first starts as Hawkeyes.

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The Golden Gophers made plays through the air, recording 234 yards passing and three touchdowns, but the young Hawkeyes made plays of their own. Moss made the first two interceptions of his career against Minnesota quarterback Zack Annexstad. Brents made his first career interception against backup QB Seth Green. Stone sealed the 48-31 Hawkeyes victory with an interception on Minnesota's final possession.

"We was young kids at time," Brents said of himself and Moss during the 2018 season. "We were both 18 (years old). ... We just feed off each other, helping each other with different plays. Part of it was just us out there playing with athleticism not really knowing football yet, but it was ultimately just making plays, for sure.

"In the locker room, really great dude, friends with everyone," added Moss of Brents. "We both started as true freshmen, and I think we kind of have a bond with that. He's one of my good buddies. And I think he brings a lot to the corner position, especially being lengthy and tall and he can run as well."

Brents speed and length have made him an intriguing prospect dating to his days with Warren Central. Brents said some NFL teams question his lateral quickness because of his size, but he's back home in Indy at the NFL Combine ready to show his athleticism through combine testing.

At Warren, his slight frame and a few nagging injuries earned him the label of a late bloomer. Yet months after graduating, Brents was starting in the Big Ten. His ability to quickly adapt and produce came from playing at the eastside powerhouse. Brents left Warren the year before the Warriors' undefeated Class 6A state championship season. Former Purdue star and current Cleveland Browns receiver David Bell led the Warriors to the championship while playing on an injured ankle. Former Warren Central coach Jayson West said the culture at Warren and the ability to practice against players like David Bell helped Brents develop into an NFL prospect.

"Having to understand concepts and what skill players can do in space, route concepts, timing, speed of play and catch radius, all the things like that were the things that David prepared (Brents) for and vice versa," West said. "Iron sharpens iron. Whether it was one-on-one, half field, seven-on-seven or even 11-on-11 (competition) was always there. That's the best part, it was constantly there, you can never escape it. So, you had to adapt, improve and overcome."

Ever since the Legion of Boom terrorized offenses with lengthy defensive backs Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Brandon Browner, long corners have been en vogue among NFL defensive coordinators. Seattle Seahawks 6-4 rookie Tariq Woolen played receiver his first two seasons at the University of Texas San Antonio before switching to cornerback his final two. Seattle drafted Woolen in the fifth round, and a player projected to contribute on special teams fit Seattle's scheme like a glove, using his length and athleticism to lead the NFL with six interceptions and finish third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Brents played mostly zone coverage at Iowa. He transferred to Kansas State in 2021 and made 27 straight starts for the Wildcats. Brents' length, strength and IQ made him a natural for K State's press-man scheme. As a senior, he recorded 45 tackles, 3½ tackles for loss, four interceptions and eight total passes defended, earning him All-Big 12 First Team honors.

The fifth-year senior continued his impressive final season with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl. He measured at 6-3 with a record-setting 82⅞-inch wingspan, and his physicality at the line of scrimmage allowed him to dominate one-one-one drills against wide receivers.

Brents has the ability to play outside corner, modeling his game after taller corners like Sherman, A.J. Terrell and Pat Surtain. The former K State star is strong in coverage and he's a willing tackler in the run game, especially when coming with a head of steam from the slot.

Depending on his athletic testing, Brents' traits could make him an early Day 3 pick or earlier.

"When he was a sophomore, he scared me to death," West said. "He would rotate in with the ones, he's young and still developing, but he'd bring the house with him when he would come up and tackle. I'm like, 'Juju be careful!'

"But at the same time, you can't tell him that because he's got to play. We're preaching hammer versus nail and he's always going to be the hammer."

Playing in the NFL has been Brents' dream since he was six years old. Having a chance to perform at the combine in front of all 32 teams in Indy adds to the hometown kid's storybook journey.

"It's something I've dreamed of since I was literally a kid," Brents said. "Now actually being in these footsteps, being from this area is something that is indescribable. It's something I've been planning for, for a very long time."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL Scouting Combine: Cornerback Juju Brents has NFL size