2019 NFL Combine: 10 players who showed out
By Joe Romano
Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
This defensive line class is absolutely loaded. That makes the combine more important than ever as players try to seperate themselves from the back. It is clear that the top two defensive tackles are Ed Oliver of Houston and Quiennen Williams of Alabama. Both of those players are locks for the top ten with Williams being in consideration for the top overall pick. After that, and an injury to Jeffrey Simmons, the door was open to join Clemson’s Christian Wilkins in the next tier of defensive tackles. Notre Dame’s Jerry Tillery made his case in Indianapolis this weekend.
Tillery is coming off an exceptional season for the Irish where he was unblockable at times in the middle of the defense. Coming in at 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds, Tillery has the frame to play both 1-technique and 3-technique depending on the defense. His 23 reps on the bench press was a little concerning but less so given his exceptional length at 34.5 inch arms.
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Where Tillery made his money was in the broad jump and three cone drill. Both of his scores placed him in the top ten of the class. His times and distances would look much better against the class if the NFL separated players more because Tillery is competing against 260 pound edge players. That being said, it is clear that at close to 300 pounds, Tillery is an exceptional athlete with explosive power both laterally and vertically.
After his performance this weekend we could be talking about a player in the late first round. He was always around that range given his tape. Now pairing that tape with a great showing at the combine and Tillery walks away a big winner of the weekend.