NFL Draft: 5 Small School Prospects to Watch

Jan 21, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad running back David Johnson of Northern Iowa (7) carries the ball past South squad inside linebacker Stephone Anthony of Clemson (42) during South squad Senior Bowl practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

3 of 6

Jan 21, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad fullback Jalston Fowler of Alabama (45) catches a pass against safety Jaquiski Tartt of Samford (6) during Senior Bowl South squad practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports /

Jaquiski Tartt, S, Samford

Samford isn’t exactly a hotbed of NFL talent, but Jaquiski Tartt was well worth the trip for scouts. The hard-hitting safety has been climbing up draft boards during the postseason evaluation period and is poised to be one of the first players off the board at his position.

At his pro day, Tartt shined, posting 40-yard dash times of 4.53 and 4.47 seconds, he checked in with a 33-inch vertical leap, a 10-foot-3 broad jump and a three-cone drill of 7.03 seconds. At 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, those are phenomenal numbers that show his elite athleticism.

During his four-year career, Tartt was also very productive. He racked up 277 tackles, six interceptions, 20 pass break-ups and 6.5 tackles for loss. He was a three-time FCS All-American and has earned a reputation as a hard-working, dedicated leader.

Tartt isn’t the best safety in this class, but his athleticism and play-making ability are pushing him up boards. he won’t be a deep safety over the top of a defense, but he can cover in the mid-range, can assist against the run and is solid at reading quarterbacks and diagnosing plays effectively. Tartt won’t set any interception records, but he’ll separate more than a few receivers from footballs.

Expect him to come off the board on the second day, and don’t be surprised if he’s gone late in the second round.

Next: Kyle Emanuel

Home/NFL