Tennessee's Cedric Tillman plays WR like a power forward: NFL Draft Film Breakdown
In this film breakdown, we take a look at Tennessee Vols WR Cedric Tillman, one of the best X WR prospects in this draft.
Tillman had a slow start to his career, but burst onto the scene as a junior, going for over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 of his senior year, which effectively ended his season, despite him returning for the Vols' last 3 games. He has a rare combination of size and athleticism, standing at 6'3.5 213 lbs, with a really big frame and long arms. He snags the ball out of the air, and is elite at the catch point, playing like a power forward that boxes out and uses his size to his advantage. He is great at controlling his body and contorting himself near the sidelines, making him a true weapon on the outside. He has his drawbacks, like any prospect, but I see him as a guy that can become a true X WR in the NFL, if given the chance.
Strengths:
- Size and physicality: Tillman is a big receiver, which allows him to outmuscle defenders for contested catches and make plays in traffic.
- Hands: Tillman has shown good hands and is a reliable target for the quarterback.
- Improving route running: Tillman has shown improvement in his route running, which has helped him create separation from defenders and make big plays.
- Big-play ability: Tillman has demonstrated the ability to make explosive plays downfield, as evidenced by his 200-yard, 2-touchdown game against South Carolina in 2021.
Weaknesses:
- Consistency: Tillman has had some games where he has been relatively quiet, which suggests he may need to work on maintaining consistent production throughout the season.
- Blocking: While not a primary responsibility of a receiver, blocking is still an important part of the game. Tillman may need to work on improving his blocking skills to help support the running game.
- Durability: Tillman has not yet played a full season as a starting receiver, so his ability to stay healthy and play through injuries over the course of an entire season is unknown.
- Speed: While Tillman's size and physicality are assets, he may not have top-end speed compared to other receivers, which could limit his ability to create separation against faster defenders.
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