Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Cornellius “Tank” Carradine
Height: 6’4
Weight: 276 lbs.
Florida State University Seminoles
Strengths:
Standing at 6’4 and weighing in at 276 lbs., Cornellius “Tank” Carradine is an imposing sight as he has the prototypical size for a pass rusher regardless of defensive scheme. Carradine can sink his hips and shoulders better than anyone coming out this year which would help him get around the edge much quicker. Combined with an excellent motor, Carradine is a disruptive force to say the least and could cause a lot of NFL quarterbacks and all offensive coaches headaches for years to come.
Weaknesses:
This all being said, he tore his ACL against the University of Florida Gators thus ending his 2012 season so teams have to consider that and likely lower his draft stock. For as good as he is a pass rusher, Carradine struggles that much against the run game by getting manhandled a great deal in it and that will have to improve to become a true deadly weapon in the NFL. There are also questions in why didn’t he crack the starting lineup until an early foot injury to starting defensive end Brandon Jenkins, just like Bruce Irvin last season for the West Virgina Mountaineers.
Overall Analysis:
With the ACL tear, doctors and Carradine, himself, mentioning that he is ahead of schedule, so much so that he is having a private workout on April 20th to show teams what he can do. If Tank can bounce back from this knee injury and show his explosion he showed in 2012, he could be taken early in round two, or even sneak back into end of round one. In the beginning of his pro career, Carradine would flourish if he could come in as a rotational player with being a pass rushing specialist.
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