Cornerback
Mike Rumph
College: Miami
Year: Senior
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190
Birthday: November 8, 1979
Strengths: Mike Rumph is a tall, speedy corner with long arms, tremendous cover skills and a burning desire to get better. To put it more succinctly, he’s a coach’s dream.
A starter since his freshman year, Rumph has worked hard to make himself a better cornerback. Hurricane coaches note he’s usually among the first to hit the field, and the last to leave it. Athletically, he’s ready to play on Sundays. He runs in the 4.4 range and has a 37-inch vertical leap.
Physical (he recorded 55 unassisted tackles in 1999), Rumph has excellent coverage skills, and reacts well to the ball. He’s an aggressive playmaker, but can afford to be, not only because he has the physical skills to make up for any mistakes, but also because he has the best secondary in college football backing him up.
Areas of concern: Physically, Rumph grades high, but mentally, he’s still raw and rough around the edges, this, despite 27 starts prior to this season. His technique will need refinement, but teams don’t throw at him too often, meaning the vast majority of his reps come during the week in practice, not on Saturdays.
And while his size is certainly an enticing asset, his frame’s a bit lanky and tight, and he sometimes has trouble staying with smaller, quicker wideouts, who can tie him up with moves.
Is he sponge-worthy?: Certainly. Wide receivers aren’t getting any smaller, so a physical presence like Rumph is definitely going to draw interest. That he can actually play is an added bonus.
Rumph is an excellent cover man, with long arms, good balance and lots of confidence. He’ll give up some plays because of his aggressiveness, but has the tools to turn a game around in your favor later on. Last year, he returned his only interception 45 yards for a score. A former track star, he has speed, he doesn’t mind getting physical and coaches love his dedication.
Mike Rumph’s career stats YEAR TAK INT PD FC-FR TD 2000 41 1 10 1-0 1 1999 75 4 4 0-0 0 1998 20 1 5 1-0 0 TOTALS 136 6 19 2-0 1 
Return to Houston Pro Football.com 
Rumph fired up for rematch with Lions
ABC Sports looks back at the game that forever changed Mike Rumph.
» Keyuo Craver
» Mike Echols
» Quentin Jammer
» Mike Rumph
» Lito Sheppard
