Position switch? Why TCU safety Innis Gaines might be better suited as a corner in NFL
TCU’s Innis Gaines views himself as a “hybrid playmaker” in the NFL. He feels he can line up at every spot in the secondary.
“I can make plays from anywhere,” Gaines said. “I can play outside corner, nickel, strong safety, deep safety … I just like being by the ball. Wherever the ball is, I’m trying to get there.”
Gaines spent his college career at safety, making his presence felt when healthy. In the NFL, though, he could be an intriguing cornerback prospect.
At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Gaines would be a taller, lengthier corner that some teams covet these days. And it’s a transition that’s been done before.
Former Oklahoma State safety Tre Flowers, for instance, is now a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks. Gaines could follow a similar route as NFL teams have discussed that scenario with TCU safeties coach Paul Gonzales.
“A couple teams have asked about him at corner. They like the length and the ball skills that he has,” Gonzales said. “He’s very athletic and has a great skill set. And he’s got a high football IQ. He’s very instinctive, he has a knack for making plays and those things come out when you talk to him.”
Gaines wouldn’t be a complete stranger at cornerback, either.
He occasionally lined up at corner in practice to test his skills against Jalen Reagor, and even did it a few times in a game during the 2018 season when he covered Iowa State (and now Arizona Cardinals) receiver Hakeem Butler.
Gaines held his own against Butler in that Iowa State game, although most will remember his strip-sack that led to a 47-yard touchdown return by defensive end Ben Banogu.
At the end of the day, Gaines has a number of splash plays on film for NFL teams to evaluate. But, on the same hand, he is arguably the TCU player who had the most to gain if pro day would have been held instead of canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think Innis would’ve really helped himself and made guys go back to the film room and evaluate him closer,” Gonzales said.
Said Gaines, who had been training for pro day in Florida: “It was tough not having a pro day, but God has a plan. Once I get a chance to be on a football field, I can show what I’m worth.”
Gaines proved his worth when healthy for the Horned Frogs and should get an opportunity in the NFL. He’s not expected to be drafted this week, but could land an opportunity as an undrafted free agent. The NFL Draft is scheduled for Thursday-Saturday.
Gaines’ breakout moment came at the end of the 2017 season when he had a game-sealing interception against Stanford in the Alamo Bowl.
He rode that momentum into his junior season in 2018. He had 6.5 tackles for loss, including 3.5 TFLs against Ohio State, through six games before a season-ending injury.
Gaines returned last season and showed promising signs early on, such as making six tackles in a victory at Purdue. Once again, though, his season came to an abrupt end after eight games with a partial tear in his ACL.
Even though he had a couple injury-plagued years to close his college career, Gaines believes his best playing days are still ahead of him.
“Injuries happen. It’s a part of football,” Gaines said. “But I made plays on the field when I was out there. I do what ballplayers do. I feel my film speaks for itself in the long haul.
“I’m a sleeper in this draft. I’m going to be a steal. I’m going to ball out. I’m trying to be one of the best to do it.”
