‘One of the strongest kids in our program.’ TCU assistant sees high ceiling for Gladney
TCU safeties coach Paul Gonzales has fielded triple the amount of calls he normally does during the pre-draft process.
Much of it has to do with NFL teams being forced to rely more on film and college coaches input with pro days canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. Part of it also has to do with TCU’s secondary boasting a potential first-round pick in cornerback Jeff Gladney.
Gonzales was Gladney’s first position coach at TCU, working with cornerbacks in 2016 and 2017, Gladney’s freshman and sophomore seasons, before moving to safeties the past two seasons.
“Jeff’s drawn the toughest cover for the last three years,” Gonzales said. “His tape speaks for itself. He’s a guy who will go into an NFL locker room and find a way to improve their side of the ball.”
Gladney is projected as a possible first-round pick, although some teams may shy away from using a pick that high given his height (5-foot-10). But Gladney’s production on the field is hard to ignore.
This is a guy who had 15 passes defensed in each of the past two seasons. He finished his college career with 43 passes defensed, five interceptions and six tackles for loss.
Gladney showed he could play banged up, too, battling through a meniscus injury all of last season. As Gonzales said, Gladney is one of the toughest players physically and mentally.
“Jeff’s one of the strongest kids in our program,” Gonzales said. “He won the pound-for-pound deal on Night of Champions [TCU’s weightlifting showcase]. You’re not looking at a kid who is undersized, or weak. He’s a very strong kid. You mix that with his speed, I think he’s going to be fine at the next level.”
Analysts have described Gladney as a player with a “junkyard dog” mentality on the field.
“He’s physical,” Gonzales said, agreeing with the description. “He’s a great cover guy, too, and he’s smart. He’s going to help somebody out for sure.”
Big 12’s ‘down’ year?
The Big 12 produced the top overall picks in the previous two drafts, courtesy of consecutive Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks out of Oklahoma in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
The 2017 NFL draft saw the Big 12 just sneak into the top 10 when the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick, a selection that has obviously paid off.
But the 2020 NFL draft has the makings of being just the fourth draft since the league has been in existence (1997 was the first NFL Draft with Big 12 teams) in which the Big 12 does not have a top 10 pick.
The conference also didn’t have a top 10 selection in 2016, 2008 and 2000.
Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is viewed as the top prospect from the conference this year, but he’s not projected to land in the top 10.
