Tarvarus McFadden - Florida State

Position: CB

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 198 lbs.

Year: Junior

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Experience: 2-year Starter

Measurables:

40yd dash: 4.67s

Broad jump: 121 in.

Vertical: 38.5 in.

3-cone: DNP

20yd. Shuttle: DNP

Bench Press: DNP

Career Notes:

McFadden only saw action in a handful of games as a true freshman in 2015 behind pro-bowler Jalen Ramsey. He only recorded a few tackles and did not make any plays on the ball in his short time on the field freshman year.

In his second year, McFadden was a menace to receivers and a nightmare for quarterbacks, racking up eight interceptions and defending six other passes. His meteoric rise from a freshman playing limited snaps to an NCAA interception leader garnered him accolades as a Nagurski award finalist and a spot on the All-ACC first team.

His junior season saw an uptick in defensed passes, totaling ten in thirteen games. However, he finished the season with no interceptions. With no picks, McFadden was left out of a lot of All-America lists and award conversations.

Injury Report:

McFadden underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason before the Fall of 2017. He missed no playing time as a result of his surgery.

Career Stats: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tarvarus-mcfadden-1.html

Analysis:

Man Coverage 4.15/5.0: McFadden’s physicality stood out as a big strength in his coverage, but it was not the only tool in his belt. He seemed to always get a hand on his man at the line of scrimmage and lured receivers into handfights at the break of a route. McFadden occasionally lost position against burners like Calvin Ridley, but more often than not he maintained stride with receivers on vertical routes. His physicality did work against him on more than one occasion and he was nicked with pass interference enough to make one worry if he can grow his game more cleanly in the open field.

Zone Coverage 3.25/5.0: McFadden was tested far more in 2016, for which he made quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson pay dearly. He situated himself far from receivers and could draw quarterbacks to attempt throws into windows that seemed more narrow than they really were. Often this resulted in incompletions and occasionally an interception, but skilled quarterbacks were able to float the ball over McFadden into Gruden’s proverbial “turkey hole.” His feet were patient and he kept his eyes on the quarterback, never straying from his assignment. McFadden was not easily manipulated by quarterbacks looking off the opposite side of the field. Playing next to Derwin James certainly helped in zone coverage, but McFadden did hold his own.

Against the Run 3.5/5.0: McFadden took good angles to the ballcarrier and often brought down his target. Many corners rely exclusively on dropping a shoulder to take out a runner’s knees, but McFadden was strong enough to wrap up and bring down running backs. He was not the most surefire tackler. Though he did have his fair share of whiffed tackles, he was not a liability. Often he was an asset. His strength allowed him to set the edge on wide receivers and even some tight ends, forcing running backs into traffic.

Speed/Quickness 4.5/5.0: Everything about McFadden’s athleticism short of his was just wicked on tape. His top speed kept him in every play, but his 40 time at the combine calls that play speed into question at the next level. His acceleration to get to that top speed widened his area of the field in zone coverage. He was not the most agile player, but he was flexible enough to stick with every receiver out of the break of a route without stumbling.

Impact Play Ability 3.0/5.0: The potential for production like he had in 2016 makes one believe that the kid has the potential to be special, but his 2017 showed a more reliable than explosive player. Also, his aggressiveness to get into the backfield on run plays proved to be too much to handle for a lot of SEC teams.

Summary:

Tarvarus McFadden provided physical and trustworthy man coverage. He also disrupted a lot of routes in zone with a bump at the line of scrimmage. He was not impenetrable and quarterbacks got balls by him. Once in a while he did not get his head around and one wonders about how that will fare at the next level. Most of the time, he did turn his head and bat a ball away or snag a pick. He lived in the hip pocket of receivers and used his size to bully guys to the perimeter to force narrow windows down the field. Whether or not you believe his 2016 interceptions were a fluke, he consistently made plays on the ball.

Overall Grade: 3.68/5.0

If drafted by the Packers:

In another draft, Tarvarus McFadden is probably a first round pick. This year, he is probably available in the second round. He is steal at that spot. The combination of attributes he brings to the table would land him a starting spot in Green Bay, something that comes at a premium in the second round. With the defense undergoing upheaval as Mike Pettine comes to town, McFadden offers some consistency at the cornerback position. We’re all well aware of the Packers’ struggles at defensive back: By the end of 2017, everyone on the secondary was hobbled, filling in for someone who was hobbled, or was HaHa Clinton-Dix. Having never missed a game, McFadden also brings a clean bill of health to the table. And for those who care about young potential, it’s also nice to know he will be 21 years old for the length of the 2018 season.

Video:

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