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Cedric Tillman NFL Draft Player Profile: Scouting Report, Stats for Tennessee WR
Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman Scouting Report and NFL Draft Outlook including Strengths, Weaknesses, Combine Results and Pro Player Comparison
www.the33rdteam.com
SCOUTING REPORT By Greg Cosell
Background:
Tillman came out of famed Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas as a 3-star recruit and did not become a starter at Tennessee until his redshirt junior season in 2021: 64-1,081-16.9-12 TD. Tillman’s 2022 season was significantly shortened by an ankle injury that required surgery and, as a result, he only played six games.Tillman lined up both to the field and the boundary in Tennessee’s offense almost exclusively on the outside. Tillman lined up predominantly outside the numbers, and he was featured on tunnel screens and hitch routes in addition to multiple in-breaking concepts. Tillman also ran vertical routes (post-and-go routes) in addition to stutter-goes where he got on top of corners.
Tillman showed physicality and competitiveness, defeating press coverage of Georgia corner Kelee Ringo. He also showed strong run-after-catch ability.
Positives:
- Big, physically imposing receiver who lined up almost exclusively outside on the right in Tennessee’s offense.
- Showed excellent off-the-snap quickness on his release to defeat press coverage without any route disruption.
- Also showed physicality to defeat press coverage and through the early part of his route stem; played big.
- Explosive burst off the ball when he had free access breaking down the cushion with speed and stride length.
- Stride length and speed to get on top of and run by corners. Showed understanding how to stack corners.
- Played fast with his stride length and body control. Strong and powerful on intermediate and vertical routes.
- Balance and body control to stop with few steps off free access vertical release and press vertical release.
- Showed physical competitiveness to make tough catches in the middle of the field; caught through contact.
- Size and body control to make tough contested catches on the sidelines. Showed traits to highpoint the ball.
- Competitive and physical run-after-catch; fought for yards and was tough to bring down in the open field.
Negatives:
- Not purely sudden or explosive in movement. Would not be considered elite. At times a little stiff in his lower half.
- Needs to become more refined and nuanced in breaks at the top of his route stem; did not always snap off breaks.
- Double caught some balls on routine catches; would like to see his hands consistently cleaner and stickier.
Bottom Line:
Tillman has the look and feel of an NFL receiver because of his size/stride length/physicality/competitiveness profile, and his 2021 video showed a receiver who played big and fast and powerful. Tillman lined up almost exclusively outside the numbers, and he showed the traits to be a boundary X at the next level due to his high-level physicality, competitiveness, excellent body control, strong hands and outstanding hand-eye coordination to make tough contested catches and to catch through contact.While Tillman was injured most of 2022 and therefore could not play to the same level, there is no question he has the physical and competitive traits to be a quality NFL receiver. My sense is he could emerge as a true No. 1 with the traits to win vs. man coverage as a boundary X. Overall, Tillman is a high-level prospect with all the needed traits to transition well to the next level. His size, physicality and competitiveness consistently stood out on video, and his toughness to catch through contact will allow him to effectively work the middle of the field.
Tillman played faster on video than his timed speed, and he showed the ability to get on top of SEC corners. So while he is not a true vertical dimension, he has the capability to win over the top. If you focus on Tillman’s 2021 video as the foundation of your evaluation and projection, you might see a little Mike Williams coming out of Clemson in the 2017 NFL draft with many of the measurables very similar, including size and 40 time.