TJ Clemmings: 2015 NFL Draft Scouting Report
TJ Clemmings | Offensive Tackle | University of Pittsburgh | #68 | 6’5” | 309 lbs
Combine Results:
40 time – 5.14 (official) | 1.82 10-yard split
Arm Length – 35 1/8
Hand Size – 10 3/8
Bench– 22 reps @ 225 lbs.
Vertical Jump – 32.5″
Broad Jump – 9’3″
3-Cone Drill: 7.68
Short Shuttle: 4.54
When you sit down to take a look at TJ Clemmings, you’ll immediately notice his incredibly built frame. After weighing in at the Combine at a very respectable 6’5” 309 lbs., he showed he has the physical prerequisites for what scouts and executives around the league would like to see in a starting right tackle, possibly left tackle.
For those who aren’t familiar with Clemmings as a prospect, he’s a former defensive lineman who converted to offense at the end of the 2012 season.
What He Does Well
When scouting Clemmings you can’t help but notice the athleticism. He’s got solid footwork in pass protection, and uses his hips really well. He’s got long 35 1/8” arms that allow him to keep premiere EDGE rushers at bay. He’s not going to win every battle, but he’s a guy that’s competent enough at this early stage of his career to win you the war.
He rarely gets beat badly off the edge, and that’s due in large part to his rare athleticism for the position he’s asked to play. His ceiling might be the highest of all offensive tackle prospects in the 2015 cycle.
As mentioned before, Clemmings has solid footwork in pass protection. Combine that with great posture and lower-body strength, he’s one of the more consistent pass blockers in this class, as you can see below vs. Miami (FL)
Looking at the tape, you see a guy who’s very refined as a pass protector with a fluid first-step and the ability to maintain a square frame against the edge. Clemmings has extremely broad shoulders and keeps a wide base, making it difficult for defenders to swim around or rip underneath.
Here’s a few different things on tape that stuck out:
First Step / Posture in Pass Protection
Clemmings gets out of his stance well, keeps his frame wide, his kick steps are pushing out the defender, and he solidifies a wall for the QB to step up into (ultimately protection broke down on the blindside).
Hip movement and drive
You see here on this play that Clemmings comes firing out of his stance and immediately turns the defender inside with his hips and washes him down inside, creating a lane for the running back. That’s something you love to see, especially with a guy that has his frame.
Where Clemmings Can Improve
Clemmings has the classic struggle of over-extending in the run game, something made famous by Taylor Lewan when he was coming out of Michigan.
A lot of offensive tackle prospects struggle with this in variances due to their massive frames and the natural human inability to keep all of it structurally upright at all times.It’s not a major concern for Clemmings because it doesn’t hinder his overall performance on the field, and it’s not a consistent problem for him.
There aren’t many technical flaws in Clemmings’ game. For a player who’s only been on the offensive side of the ball for just over two years, he’s fundamentally sound as he should be at this point in time, and will surely only get better with the right coaching.
Prospect Overview
Clemmings is my third-overall prospect for the 2015 NFL Draft. He will be a high pick on Day One.