Ennis Rakestraw Jr. wants to set the tone for Lions defense – The Oakland Press

The Detroit Lions continued to strengthen their cornerbacks room on Day 2 of the NFL Draft with their selection of Ennis Rakestraw Jr. from Missouri. It marked the organization’s second straight selection of a cornerback, when it traded up to acquire Alabama’s Terrion Arnold at No. 24. overall in round one.

Rakestraw, the Lions’ pick at No. 61 overall, is a physical press cover corner who adds an extra layer to defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s self-described “violent” unit.

“I call myself the tone setter,” Rakestraw told reporters on Friday. “Our defense always called me the firecracker of the team, because hey, I’m a cornerback. But I come up and set that edge and hit you like a linebacker.

The tough defensive back certainly isn’t afraid to step up and make a tackle, a trait he consistently showed during his time at Missouri.

In 36 career games with the Tigers, he had 107 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss, 24 passes defensed and a single interception. Additionally, he excelled as a run defender, most notably earning a Pro Football Focus run-defense grade of 89.0 in 2023.

His physicality makes him a natural fit for the Lions defense. However, he wasn’t exactly confident he would be taken by Detroit after Arnold went to the Lions in the first round.

“Yes, it was in the air,” Rakestraw said. “And I thought during the process, since one of my visits was with them, and I like how coach (Dan Campbell) is, coach Campbell, his philosophy and the coordinator’s (Aaron Glenn) philosophy about physicality, I feel have that that’s what I bring. So I feel like it was a great match.

“Terrion, I didn’t feel like he was going to drop that low in the draft, so it was kind of crazy to see. But they got a great corner and I’m happy to be part of it. So I was kind of shocked that they picked me. But now we have to fix them.’

Adversity has fueled Rakestraw

Prior to Rakestraw’s senior year at Duncanville (Texas) High School, he was far from a highly touted prospect. He essentially had zero Power Five offers and was often categorized as undersized.

Additionally, as he entered his senior year, he attempted to attend an Under Armor football camp with some of his high school teammates. But upon arrival he was told he didn’t look like a Power Five athlete and was turned away.

This heartbreaking experience has motivated Rakestraw ever since, prompting him to be drafted on Friday night.

“I called my mom, (and) my mom picked me up (from camp). I cried in the car and made an ode to myself that for the rest of this year, every four- or five-star I meet is going to feel me, and I’m going to show them that’s the kind of guy I am,” said Rakestraw. “And I did that and I got to this point. It will always be a chip on my shoulder. I was born with it.”

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