2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: A.J. Terrell

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A.J. Terrell, 6-1/195 Cornerback Clemson

A.J. Terrell Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Good height

Good length

Fast

Very good straight-line speed

Size to match up against big receivers

Solid tackler

Willing to help him run defense

Physical

Projects well as a press-man corner

Weaknesses:

Better athlete than player

Needs development

Technique could stand to improve

Lacks strength

Lean

Summary: Clemson has been churning out tons of NFL talent under Dabo Swinney, and Terrell is the program’s top defensive back for the 2020 NFL Draft. As a freshman backup, Terrell had an interception and seven breakups. He then showed a lot of upside in his first season as a starter in 2018. As a sophomore, Terrell helped Clemson win a National Championship as the other starting outside corner with Trayvon Mullen. Terrell produced well for the Tigers that season with 54 tackles, three passes broken up and three interceptions. In 2019, Terrell totaled 21 tackles with a pass broken up and two interceptions. He was solid, but unspectacular, for Clemson and then had a rough bowl game in which he was repeatedly picked on by LSU to end his collegiate career.

Team sources feel Terrell is a better athlete than a football player entering the NFL. Therefore, many have him graded in the second round even though he has a first-round skill set. Terrell has good height and length to go along with excellent speed. At the combine, Terrell illustrated how fast he is with a 4.42-second time in the 40-yard dash.

For pass coverage, Mullen has good size to him and has excellent straight-line speed for a big corner. He is a solid tackler and willing to help in run support. Terrell could stand to improve his route recognition, footwork, and overall technique. He is not overly instinctive, and his route recognition has room for improvement. In the NFL, Terrell might fit best as a press-man corner.

Terrell may not go in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but he looks safely to come off the board in the second round.



Player Comparison: Mike Rumph. Terrell and Rumph (6-2, 205) are similar in size. Rumph was a good tackler who had issues in coverage, and not having good technique ended up leading to him not panning out in the NFL.

2020 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2020 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Trey Adams, OT, Washington Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State Cam Akers, RB, Florida State Bradley Anae, DE, Utah Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn Joe Burrow, QB, LSU K'Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame Nick Coe, DE, Auburn Lloyd Cushenberry, C, LSU Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn Ashtyn Davis, S, California Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama Grant Delpit, S, LSU Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne Troy Dye, LB, Oregon J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State Jacob Eason, QB, Washington Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU Jon Greenard, DE, Florida Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA Robert Hunt, G, La.-Lafayette Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn Austin Jackson, OT, USC Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah Josh Jones, OT, Houston Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma Walker Little, OT, Stanford Jordan Love, QB, Utah State Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama Zack Moss, RB, Utah Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri Patrick Queen, LB, LSU Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson Trey Smith, OT, Tennessee D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

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