T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Size:
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 189 pounds
Arm Length: 32 1/8"
Hand Size: 9 5/8"
Accomplishments:
Second Team All-Big 12 (2022)
“T.J. Tampa’s length combined with his instincts project him to be a productive player in a zone-heavy scheme.”
Strengths:
Length
Willing tackler
Ball skills/tracking football
Instincts in zone coverage
Concerns:
Lower-body tightness
Playing man-to-man coverage
Film Analysis:
T.J. Tampa is a cornerback prospect who has good overall length and instincts, which aid him in being a productive corner in zone coverage.
In zone coverage at the snap, Tampa does a good job of tempoing his depth with the receiver and staying in phase to break up passes underneath on in-breaking routes. Tampa’s plant and drive plus his length allows him to get into the receiver and get pass deflections. On deeper routes, Tampa appears to have the speed to stay in phase with receivers and break up passes or intercept the football.
Tampa’s best trait as a player appears to be his natural football instincts. In zone coverage, he does a good job of route recognition. He can pass along routes or leave his zone to make a play on the football and he has the speed to carry receivers vertically up the field. His instincts also put him in place to make violent hits to knock the ball loose from receivers and he has developed a reputation of physicality at the corner position. Throughout Tampa's career, making plays in zone coverage has been the most productive part of his game.
The biggest concern for Tampa as a prospect is his ability to consistently play man-to-man coverage due to high pad level and hip tightness. The high pad level and tightness slow his transitions at times, and his ability to both flip his hips or transition downhill can be slowed by this issue. At the top of the route stem, receivers can create separation on in-breakers and crossing routes.
Overall, Tampa is a corner prospect who has good length and instincts that project well to zone defenses and should play a significant amount of snaps early on in his career.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Texas (2023), Oklahoma (2023), TCU (2023), Kansas (2023)
