Bears select cornerback Vildor in fifth round

[Staley Da Bear]

"You're getting an overall fundamentally sound cornerback that can play outside, inside, someone that's fluid, can play nickel, can play press, can play it all," Vildor said during a conference call with the media. "Just a cornerback that can pretty much do anything in the back end that you need him to do, somebody with amazing ball skills, good speed, good strength and just ready to compete every single Sunday."


Vildor credits his emergence at Georgia Southern to what he learned from position coach Corey Peoples, a former NFL player with the Eagles, especially in terms of technique.


"He really expanded my knowledge of the game, teaching me the ins and outs with him actually playing cornerback and playing in the league himself," Vildor said. "He installed that knowledge in me and I was able to carry it over to the field and be successful."


Vildor was slowed by an ankle injury he sustained last Halloween in a win over Appalachian State that forced him to pass two games. But the 5-11, 190-pounder fully recovered in time to participate in the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine.


"It was a little bit of an issue when I hurt it back in October," Vildor said. "It was still kind of lingering the rest of the season. Now, I'm fully good, I was able to compete in the Senior Bowl fresh, ankle feeling good, went to the combine, run fast, things like that. I looked good in my drills. I'm not even worried about my ankle anymore, I forgot all about it."


Vildor enjoyed testing his skills against some of the nation's top college players at the Senior Bowl. After a strong week of practice, he recorded an interception in the game.


"That was a great week for me just going to be out there and compete with a lot of guys from across the country," Vildor said. "I'm watching the draft and I'm seeing those guys go first round, second round, stuff like that. It was a big moment for me going out there to compete and showcase my talents—ball skills and all that. It really benefitted me."


Vildor further improved his draft stock at the NFL Combine, where he tied for third among cornerbacks with a 39.5-inch vertical jump and tied for seventh at his position with a 4.44 time in the 40-yard dash.