Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 198 pounds
School: USC Trojans
Combine Performance Data
Vertical jump: 42 inches (fifth-best at 2019 Combine)
Broad jump: 11 feet, 4 inches (fourth-best at 2019 Combine)
Three-cone drill: 6.63 seconds (second-best at 2019 Combine)
20-yard shuttle: 4.01 seconds (third-best at 2019 Combine)
Marvell Tell III 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Marvell Tell III is a senior out of USC. He played in 10 games his freshman year, starting two, and recorded 36 tackles and four pass break-ups. He missed four of the games during his freshman year due to a broken collarbone. Tell started all 13 games during his sophomore year in a campaign that saw him record 43 tackles, two pass break-ups, and one interception.
The USC product had a breakout year as a junior, where he started 14 games and tallied 79 tackles, had three interceptions and had one defensive touchdown. His incredible season got him named to the First-Team All-Pac 12 team. Tell took a step back his senior year in which he started 10 games while tallying 56 tackles and just one interception. Despite the down year, he still received an honorable mention for the All-Pac 12 team.
Strengths
- impressive instincts and ability to diagnose opposing route schemes;
- fluid movements with minimal wasted motion;
- ideal length for the position;
- a quick player capable of going sideline to sideline;
- an above-average athlete all across the board.
Weaknesses
- poor tackling fundamentals;
- doesn’t possess the required NFL strength;
- probably needs to add 10-15 pounds;
- inconsistent effort and takes some plays off;
- doesn’t take ideal angles to the ball carrier;
- inconsistent player.
NFL Comparison: Tre Flowers
Teams With Need at Position: San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears
Bottom Line
Tell was a very frustrating player to watch throughout his time at USC. You just never know what version of him you’re going to get. After having a stellar junior season, the expectations were high for Tell going into his senior year.
Instead of seeing a player that worked on his deficiencies on the field, what you got was a player that seemed to rely on his athleticism alone. He would constantly take plays off and would give up on a play the moment he got engaged in a block or was beat deep. It’s hard to gauge his interest in football from watching his tape alone, but his lack of effort and physical growth are a cause for concern.
Due to his tall and lanky frame, he’d be better suited as a cornerback in the NFL as he simply doesn’t possess the ability to make open-field tackles or the top-end speed to help prevent the defense from getting beat deep. Tell is currently projected as a fourth to fifth round pick, but don’t be surprised if he falls further than that. You can put the best coaching staff in the world around Tell, but it’ll be up to him to fully commit to his craft and do the necessary work required to be a contributor at the next level. Look for him to be a special teams player for his first few years in the league.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
