Name: Cornellius "Tank" Carradine
Height: 6' - 4"
Weight: 274 lbs.
Class: Senior
Date of Birth: February 18, 1989 (24 yrs old)
High School: Taft High School
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Seminoles Career
Senior Year: Stepped into the starting lineup after Brandon Jenkins had a season-ending injury in the opening game....lead the team in tackles (80) before he got hurt....still finished the season as the 2nd leading tackler on the team....47 solo tackles (33 assisted), 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 9 QB hurries and 1 forced fumble in 12 games played.
Junior Year: Transferred from Butler Junior College....played in all 13 games as a rotational DE behind Bjoern Werner....had more total tackles than Werner (38 vs. 37).....8 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 1 QB hurry.
Butler Junior College: 26 sacks in two years of junior college football....signed with Florida State as the best DE JC prospect....was the top DE prospect in the Midwest out of high school.
2012 Senior Highlights
Strengths
+ Looks the part, chiseled with an ideal 4-3 frame and long arms
+ Very quick off the edge with good body bend and flexibility
+ Possesses raw strength and has the ability to set the edge as an anchor
+ High motor and rarely gives up on plays....makes his way toward the ball
+ Very active with a good nose for the ball as shown by his volume of tackles at his position
+ Good recognition skills and keeps his eyes on the ball
+ Plays with good pad level
+ Mixes it up using quickness and strength; has a good bull rush
+ Has all of the physical tools to be an elite pass rusher in the NFL
Weaknesses
- Comeback from ACL injury is a concern; injury occurred in November
- Needs to improve in run support
- Raw and still learning the position
- Needs to be better anticipating the snap; is a step slow
- One year starter
NFL Player Comparison: DE Justin Tuck New York Giants
Draft Analysis
Had it not been for the late season injury to Carradine's knee, he would have been considered by some scouts to be a better draft prospect than fellow Seminoles DE and projected top 10 pick Bjoern Werner. It could be argued that Carradine benefitted from playing opposite Werner this season, but the same could be said about Werner. Carradine has, in my opinion, the best set of tools of all of the base 4-3 DE prospects in the upcoming draft. Blessed with natural strength and agility, Carradine uses his quickness and high motor to bend the edge rushing the quarterback. He is still a bit raw and stiff as a player, but his learning curve for improvement has been impressive on a talent-laden roster at Florida State. He has shown to be a hard worker on and off the field. If he can increase his pass rushing repertoire and develop better snap anticipation, Carradine could develop into one of the better pass rushers in the NFL.
Raiders Outlook
If Carradine finished out the season healthy and participated in the offseason festivities, he very well could be in the mix at the current #3 slot for the Raiders. He has all the tools to become an elite pass rusher the Raiders have desperately lacked since Derrick Burgess. His injury and the uncertainty for immediate availability at the start of the season could impact his draft position. The ideal scenario would include the Raiders trading down from #3 and gaining a 2nd and 3rd round pick in return. Carradine could be available if given that scenario. Most of all, Tank Carradine fits the type of football player Reggie McKenzie is looking to fill the roster with. With the loss of Desmond Bryant and the imminent loss of Matt Shaughnessy would suggest that the Raiders will draft a DE to develop. Drafting someone like Carradine would be more than just that. He would represent a true draft day value who could become one of the league's better young pass rushers if he gets back to pre-injury form.
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