NFL Hot Press: Cordrea Tankersley Receiving First-Round Buzz






Cordrea Tankersley Receiving First-Round Buzz

Updated Aug. 23, 2016
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

With the regular season nearly underway, NFL scouts are hitting the road as they start the evaluation process for the 2017 NFL Draft. Some scouts and teams do some studying on players 2016 tape before traveling, and as a result, there is buzz building about some players. There has been hype about Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor and USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson as top cornerback prospects, but another cornerback sources say they see as a future first-round talent is Clemson’s Cordrea Tankersley.  

In 2015, Tankersley was part of a tough defense and a strong cornerback tandem with Mackensie Alexander. Teams tended to avoid throwing at Alexander, and Tankserley held up well in coverage. He had five interceptions, nine passes broken up, and 48 tackles. Even if Tankersley’s listed numbers of 6-foot-1, 195-pounds are slightly exaggerated, he still has height and length to be an outside corner in the NFL. 

With Alexander in the NFL, Tankersley’s production could decline as teams could avoid throwing at him. Scouts say that while the media hasn’t given Tankersley a lot of attention, they view him as a potential first-rounder and are excited to see him this season.