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NFL Draft Scouting Report: Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson

Clemson's speedy shutdown corner Cordrea Tankesley is evaluated for the 2017 NFL Draft.

Cordrea Tankersley- Clemson Tigers

Position: Cornerback
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 199
Year: Senior
Hometown: Beech Island, SC
Experience: Sr.-2 year starter

Measurables:

40yd dash: 4.40 seconds
Broad jump: 121 inches
Vertical: 29.5 inches
3-cone: 7.0 seconds
20yd. Shuttle: 4.32 seconds
Bench Press: 13 reps

Career Notes

After not seeing much playing time his freshman and sophomore years, Cordrea Tankersley started making a name for himself in 2015 when he recorded his first interception (5 total that year) along with 11 pass breakups. His development earned him the Renwick-Flanders Most Improved award as well as Third Team All-ACC honors. After Mackensie Alexander left for the NFL the Clemson Tigers looked to Tankersley to take over as the team’s primary corner and he didn’t disappoint.  Although his stats were virtually the same (4 INTs 11 pass breakups), Tankersley shut down most of the receivers he faced and played a critical role in bringing Clemson to the National Championship Game. His impressive senior season earned him First Team All American and First Team All-ACC honors and made him a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award.

Tankersley isn’t talked about much by the media, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’s not that good of a prospect. Clemson felt so confident in Tankersley that often times they’d leave him on an island in man coverage. Throughout the season Tankersley consistently smothered receivers in coverage, and only allowing a QBR of 42.2 from opposing quarterbacks per PFF.

 

Injury Report: 

No known injuries

 

Career Stats(click here): 

 

Analysis:

Against the Run-1.5/5

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first- Tankersley’s impact against the run is nearly nonexistent. Many times he’ll fail to diagnose a run play in the first place and will instead opt to cover a decoy receiver running a nine route until the play is over. If the play is being ran to the opposite side where he’s lined up, Tankersley doesn’t make an effort to chase down the ball carrier or at least occupy a blocker, which usually means he'll basically stand around until the play is over. If the play is being ran to his side, Tankersley will either get blocked out of the play, or he’ll attempt to make a low effort tackle. Often times, Tankersley will barely lower his pads when he tackles, rendering him about as resistant as a wet piece of paper to most running backs. Overall, Tankersley isn’t one of those players who will get his hands dirty against the run.

Man Coverage-4.5/5

As mentioned earlier, Clemson featured Tankersley as their “shut down” cornerback, and most of the time that’s exactly what he was. Tankersley was in man coverage for the majority of his snaps against the opposing team’s best receiver and it was rare to see him give up a catch. Like any good corner, Tankersley flips his hips well and has the balance necessary to react in time to the receiver’s route although I’ve seen him stutter on more than one occasion while backpedalling. Tankersley does an excellent job of reading the quarterback’s eyes while deciphering the receiver’s route at the same time. Another major plus is Tankersley’s outstanding length which allows him to succeed in press coverage and match up well against tight ends like Bucky Hodges, who he shut down last year in Clemson’s game against Virginia Tech. In addition, Tankersley shows good technique at the line of scrimmage to jam receivers and misdirect their routes. On the other side of the coin, Tankersley can get a bit grabby and I’ve seen him stumble from time to time while mirroring the receiver. However, these minor bugs in his technique can be coached out of him as he continues his career. Tankersley has all the tools he needs to become a shutdown corner at the NFL level.

Zone Coverage-3.5/5

Tankersley wasn’t featured in zone coverage very often, but he wasn’t a liability by any means when he dropped into zone. His play recognition skills are just as impressive as they are in man coverage, and he shows good discipline to stay in his zones. Tankersley suffers from the same mistakes in zone as he does in man, but he’s still effective in both types of coverages. While he specializes in man coverage, but he’d fit in a zone coverage scheme with the right coaching.

Speed/Quickness-4.0/5

Tankersley had an insane 40 time of 4.40 seconds at the combine which is flying for a man as tall as himself. However, his straight line speed doesn’t exactly translate on the field. While watching his tape I saw receivers get behind Tankersley on occasion which leaves questions about his deep speed, and while he does flip his hips well Tankersley isn't the smoothest mover in coverage. For the most part, Tankersley has good change of direction skills in coverage; the only route I saw him struggle to keep up with consistently were comeback routes. Tankersley’s speed and quickness is best comparable to the Packers very own Damarious Randall who ran a 4.46 at the combine in 2015.

 

Impact Play Ability-4.0/5

Cordrea Tankersley was one of the Tiger’s most important playmakers during their championship runs in the past two years. While he’s not thrown at often by opposing quarterbacks, when he is he makes them pay. Tankersley has some of the best ball skills I’ve seen in this class which allows him to makes spectacular interceptions and pass breakups. Some of the interceptions Tankersley makes are jaw dropping, which makes him a very exciting player in this draft class with high potential to make an impact during games.

Summary: 

Tankerlsey has the ability to become a shutdown corner in the NFL. His height allows him to match up well against taller receivers like AJ Green and Dez Bryant and his athleticsm enables him to keep up with smaller, shiftier receivers like Antonio Brown. From a technical standpoint Tankersley is very sound in coverage even if he has a few kinks to work out of his system. Tankersley's ball skills paired with his speed makes him one of the most special players in this class, even if his play against the run leaves much to be desired.

Overall Grade: 3.5/5

 

If Drafted by the Packers:

The Packers got killed by opposing QB’s last season, and it ultimately led to their downfall in the NFC title game. With Sam Shields recently being released, the Packers need a CB who can take his place in the shutdown role. If the Packers draft Tankersley, he can immediately step in as the starting boundary CB opposite Damarious Randall. Tankersley would help bring stability to a Packers defense that needs serious help in the secondary. While I wouldn’t consider him a first round target, Tankersley would be somebody worth trading up for in the second.

 

Video:

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Comments (7)

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Handsback's picture

March 31, 2017 at 02:51 am

Tankersley will probably go in the second round and I think that is where TT is going for his CB. I just think TT is looking at Moreau or Awuzie because of their overall game. Moreau will definitly slip, just not sure how far.

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Dzehren's picture

March 31, 2017 at 07:20 am

Guy looks good. We have a deep stable of athletic, fast, young but inexperienced CB group. We need a shut down #1 corner and this group will be fine for 2017. If you look at the roster CB is deep but no #1 currently on roster

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stockholder's picture

March 31, 2017 at 07:20 am

Tankersley Needs work. I would take Moreau first.

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jww061356's picture

March 31, 2017 at 07:21 am

I'm confused; the scouting report says he is "good at reading the quarterbacks eyes." Isn't this the same thing as "peeking into the backfield," a trait that Whitt tries to break Cbs of? Isn't this a quality that gets DBs burned? Can someone explain the difference to me?

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MITM's picture

March 31, 2017 at 12:19 pm

Peeking into the backfield is shunned because defenders are taught to read the offensive line, not the backfield. The offensive line at least 95% of the time, save for misdirection plays and draws will tell you which way the play is going, and if it is run or pass based off the direction they step to block or whether they are pass or run blocking. Reading the Quarterbacks eyes is referring to pass plays because basically a quarterback will never blindly throw to a spot he cant see or a spot that isnt in his line of vision. Its not something every db or lb prefers to do and is somewhat of a talent if you are able to do so. Ed Reed was famous for reading a QBs eyes. Hopefully that helps as i tried to put it simply for you.

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Icebowler's picture

April 01, 2017 at 07:56 pm

Do we really want anyone anywhere on defense that is allergic to tackling?

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Grant Shatzer's picture

April 01, 2017 at 10:07 pm

Fair point, but Sam Shields was an awful tackler and the Packers survived. It's not a deal breaker in my eyes.

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