42. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 195
40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds
Bench Press: 15 seconds
Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches
Broad Jump: 129.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: A two-year starter for the Tigers in 2018 and 2019, Terrell put up 107 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and 26 passes defensed in his collegiate career. But what he’s most remembered for is his performance against LSU in the 2019 College Football Championship, in which he allowed five receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus. Thus, recency bias has taken some of the sheen off what was otherwise a very good tenure in a high-profile defense. LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase presented nightmare fuel for Terrell, over and over.
“Just great competition,” Terrell said of that game, when quizzed about it at the combine. “We started off strong and he got the best of me on some plays and it went back and forth. Every time we lined up, I couldn’t take a play off.
“Just knowing that there was a whole second half (to play). For me, it was just me being able to understand what happened and that game wasn’t over and having short-term memory at the position of cornerback was key. You can put your head down for too long, you just have to play the next play.”
Stat to Know: Take out his disaster against LSU, and Terrell allowed just 18 catches for 249 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the rest of the season.
Strengths: Yes, LSU did highlight a few concerns with Terrell, but in large part this is an NFL cornerback who has the movement skills, size and speed to be a man coverage corner to excel. Terrell has the background of playing in a scheme-diverse defensive system, and some of his biggest plays have come in zone coverage settings. His interception of Tua Tagovailoa in the National Championship Game two seasons ago is a great example of his awareness in zone coverage. He reads the eyes of the quarterback, peels off his initial threat and jumps the secondary route, and houses it for the opening score of the game.
Terrell also has ideal length and movement skills for the position. Those both showed up early against LSU, on this play against Chase on an in-breaking route:
Terrell’s wingspan enables him to get into the jam of Chase off the line of scrimmage, and then he is able to wrap around the receiver to disrupt the play at the catch point.
The movement skills are also impressive. Terrell can maintain his relationship with receivers all over the field, regardless of where the breaks take place in the route stem.
Weaknesses: While the matchup with Chase is perhaps overblown, and an example of recency bias when it comes to studying a player, it does highlight an issue for him: Physicality. Some of those plays that Chase made in the title game came at the catch point, where Terrell sometimes seems to lose on routes. The lack of physicality and strength also showed up on the first touchdown to Chase. The receiver – perhaps with the aid of a pushoff – was able to extend his separation and Terrell simply could not recover. He could also do a better job at tracking the football in flight. The big slot fade route from Joe Burrow to Chase early in the second quarter saw Terrell lose the football. He tried to make a play at the catch point but again, his physicality let him down.
Conclusion: Despite the struggles in the title game, Terrell is still a very solid cornerback. His awareness in zone coverage and ability to change directions well will serve him in the NFL. The play against Alabama is emblematic of hi mat his best: Playing in off coverage or zone technique, reading the quarterback and breaking on the throw. Defensive coordinators who like to matchup their cornerbacks to receivers will love his combination of length and long speed. He could be used on X receivers who are vertical threats.
Comparison: Terrell’s technique and ability to thrive playing off coverage is very similar to Darius Slay.