2023 NFL draft: 10 biggest defensive standouts from 2023 East-West Shrine & Senior Bowl weeks

#7. Tyrique Stevenson, Miami (Cornerback)

Chick-fil-A Kickoff - Alabama v Miami

Now switching over to a more heralded corner from the Senior Bowl, I think Tyrique Stevenson reminded some people why he was once a top-50 overall recruit in 2019 for Georgia. He also showed why he should be in the discussion for being an early day-two pick.

Across his two seasons with Miami, Stevenson picked off three passes and broke up another 11, but a third-team All-ACC mention last year was the highest honor he received.

I could have easily gone with Stanford’s Kyu Blu Kelly (who other than in his matchups against former teammate Michael Wilson at receiver had about as good a week as anybody at that position) and even South Carolina’s Darius Rush (who did have a couple of day three gaffs but was outstanding at anticipating and breaking on routes other than that). Yet, I landed with Stevenson, because I could really only come up with two “losses” for him.

Princeton WR Andrei Iosivas once got him to bite on a stick-nod on day one. But once on that rep, you saw the corner’s make-up speed shine, still being able to swipe at the ball just as it arrived (even though the catch was made). He did allow a touchdown once during one-on-ones against South Alabama’s Jalen Wayne (where he kind of gambled on a break and the hometown WR was able to haul in the pass over the top), but he also ran perfectly with him, turned and got both hands on the ball for another near-pick when those two went at it another time.

Basically every other rep for Stevenson, it was shut-down time. He was very effective at landing those jams with the inside arm, yet not allowing his receiver to get even with him on a vertical, continuing to work against opponents trying to arm-bar him. He was able to impede the progress of those guys across him regularly, but didn’t allow them to “cheat” against him later on in reps.

Stevenson also excelled when falling off in zone and letting his length disrupt the catch point (when quarterbacks tried to fit in balls over his head for those cover-two hole shots). On day two, he stayed right at the hip of a fourth down shot down the field and leaped for a 50-50 ball, which he nearly pulled in himself.

He appeared to have hurt his calf, but thankfully was okay. What I give him tons of credit for is that after missing day three (when he could’ve easily shut it down) he decided to still play in the game, and he did so well.