Player: Tariq Woolen

School: UTSA

Height and Weight: 6’4”, 205

Combine Results:

• 40: 4.26
• Bench: DNP
• Vertical Jump: 42”
• Broad Jump: DNP
• 3 Cone: DNP
• Other Notes: Woolen was the second fastest CB and had the best vertical of the CBs by a large margin and was tied for first among all combine participants. Woolen showed insane athleticism for a corner of his size, and looked good in the on field drills as well. He was definitely a combine riser. 

Strengths: Raw potential, man coverage/mirroring, fluent hips, good tackler

Weaknesses: Lacks physicality, lack of experience, zone awareness

Projected Draft Day: Day 2/Day 3 

Player Comparison: Obi Melifonwu

Player Summary: Woolen is a prospect that has skyrocketed his value since the combine, and I can clearly understand why. This is a 6’4” corner who ran and jumped out of Lucas Oil Stadium. Who wouldn’t want a prospect with great size, speed, and explosive power like him. Here’s my issue though, he is not ready to play right now. Woolen is extremely raw. I’ve seen some mocks that have Woolen in the first round, and I just don’t see it. If he had better film I would say absolutely, but you are taking a massive gamble on upside if you take him in the first. Based on his raw potential I think he probably goes sometime during day 2, but based on tape he’s a day 3 prospect. Woolen needs time to sit under a good coach and some veteran corners. For me a team like the Dolphins or the Ravens could make a lot of sense. He could play in certain situations, but primarily sit and learn behind the likes of X and Byron or Humphrey and Peters.

In terms of the positives, his man coverage and ability to mirror and stay in front of his man is solid. He also has fluent hips and is a solid tackler. On top of raw potential there are different traits to work with. The biggest issues he has is that he lacks physicality and experience. Woolen wasn’t even a full time starter at UTSA, nor is the competition that he played that great. The other big issue I saw was his zone awareness. He seems to keep his eyes glued in the backfield and on the QB in zone and is unaware of the zone he is supposed to be covering. He needs to learn how to read his zone and the QB, and find balance.

I comped Woolen to Melifonwu because he is a small school prospect with great size, and improved his stock at the combine. I could also see a situation where a team may ask Woolen to switch to safety because honestly I feel like his physical traits mixed with his football skills probably fit being a safety more than a CB. Either way he is going to be a high reward prospect if you take a chance on him. His risk depends on where you choose to draft him.