Tyrique Stevenson 2023 NFL Draft profile: Scouting report for the Miami CB

Tyrique Stevenson, behind only Derek Stingley Jr. and Andrew Booth as the No. 3 cornerback recruit in 2019, played the STAR position for Georgia, breaking up five passes in each of his two seasons, before moving on to Miami for 2021. Across 22 games with the Hurricanes, he recorded 11 PBUs, three interceptions and four tackles for loss.

Tyrique Stevenson, Miami

6-foot, 205 pounds; senior

Positives

+ Offers a stout build combined with 32 3/8-inch arms

+ Has the speed and physicality to ride receivers into the sideline, plus then he trusts his athletic ability to turn his head for the ball as he has that contact established

+ Showed significant improvement in his press-technique in 2022, not playing flat-footed and mirroring guys as they commited to the release

+ He also started throwing in some fake-jams, where you actually see receivers stumble because they expect the contact

+ Does not get anxious against delayed releases and won’t allow guys to clear his hip, latching his hands onto them, to feel the break coming

+ Refuses to allow receivers to get even with him on a vertical plane

+ Even if guys are able to get him turned the wrong way momentarily, with those long arms, Stevenson is able to stymie their momentum and get back into phase typically

+ Feels/anticipates breaks exceptionally well when he locked up with guys in man, understanding what to expect based on spacing as well as down and distance

+ There are very few wasted steps, and he’s well-coordinated overall in his footwork to redirect in off-coverage

+ Putting him in two-high shells, Stevenson has the speed to cap over vertical routes and he displays some pretty impressive burst forward out of a side-pedal

+ Rarely flips his hips prematurely when he’s playing off with outside leverage (quarters)

+ Understands and manages that space to the sideline very well, while not allowing route stems to pull him off his landmarks too much

+ His awareness in shell coverages has continued to get better, regularly falling off in zone and letting his length disrupt the catch point against nearby targets

+ Doesn’t get overwhelmed when offenses overload his side and he has to split the distance between multiple targets

+ On 40 targets his way last year, he only allowed 17 passes to be completed for 353 yards and three touchdowns, but also two picks of his own. And I’m pretty sure he was charged with a 64-yard TD vs. North Carolina, where I would think he had to come up into the flats and it was the safety’s responsibility in cover-two

+ Had a truly remarkable Senior Bowl showing, among a really strong corner group. How effective he was at landing stabs with the insane without compromising his position or allowing guys to get past his outside hip, anticipating routes and putting himself in position to make plays on the ball

+ Shoots inside of his receiver when he sees the run coming his way with a purpose

+ Uses his length well to keep receivers locked out in the run game and then shows the willingness to throw them off and get involved on the tackle

+ Constantly is coming up against underneath completions and scrambling quarterbacks or racing across the field, helping to stop offenses before they can move the chains or get explosive plays

+ You see some big hits as guys come into his area on out routes and crossers, as well as barreling down on RBs on flat routes that really pop off the screen

Negatives

– Can get a little too high in his pedal and take away explosiveness when driving back up the field. There are too many easy completions on slants hitches available when Stevenson is playing off

– You see guys create some separation down the post when he’s in match-zone, not gliding through his transitions or showing the sudden burst to recover and close that gap

– When guys do get a step on him, Stevenson can panic a little and tug the receiver’s jersey instead of trying to find the ball in the air

– Missed five of 30 tackling attempts this past season, due to just launching his body in ballcarriers, rather than wrapping and driving his legs

Stevenson is a player I’ve held in higher regard than most people over the last two-plus years. He then went to the Senior Bowl and put on a clinic through the first two days before missing one practice with an injury and ultimately returning for the game – which is a sign of his competitiveness.

The athletic tools and confidence have been there all along, but he really continued developing his game with Miami. I don’t believe he has premiere explosiveness or make-up burst you’d like to optimally see on the perimeter. But his anticipatory skills, technical growth and mindset for the position, make me believe he can be a plus starter there.

Grade: Late second round

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