Good luck going through Kadeem Telfort.
The 6-foot-7, 322-pound offensive lineman is a brick wall:
If you’re lucky, you might be able to get around him sometimes, but that’s about it. That’s a 6-2, 220-pound defensive end Telfort stopped in his tracks in the video above.
Telfort was an anchor on a UAB offensive line that ranked first in Conference USA and eighth in the country with over 235 rushing yards per game last season. UAB running back DeWayne McBride also ranked first in the country with 155.7 YPG on the ground and was tied for third in the nation with 19 touchdowns.
Telfort started 11 games at left tackle on this dominant offensive front. He was able to showcase at the Shrine Bowl what he had put on display all season. Included in that display was his great ability to move laterally for his size. Matched with the way he’s able to stand his ground leaves him as a guy a quarterback wouldn’t mind having on their blind side.
Not only does his size give him an advantage on the line, but his length is another thing defenders have to worry about. Telfort has 36-inch arms and a wingspan that clears eight feet. Imagine trying to shed that block.
Interestingly enough, however, Telfort doesn’t have the biggest hands, measuring at just 8 4/8 inches. This could aid in the fact that he doesn’t utilize his hands as well as he should, which is one of the downfalls of his game.
There has been some chatter about the big guy’s effort, or rather lack thereof, at times, but this play says otherwise:
Opening the gap and taking two guys out of the play is just a part of what Telfort can carry with him to the NFL. That willingness and athleticism shown as he gets to the second level in front of his running back is also noteworthy while teams can feel comfortable about him getting out on a screen.
Telfort thrives much more in pass protection when he’s able to move and keep a defender at a distance with his length and his size. His subpar pad level and hand usage make him more liable as a run blocker. Regardless, he can still pave a path as shown above.
The Miami native was not invited to the NFL Combine but tested just OK during UAB’s Pro Day. His 24.5-inch vertical and his 19 reps on the bench press would have been tied for last at the Combine. His 8-foot broad jump would have been second to last, his 5.39-second 40-time would have ranked in the bottom five, and his times in the 20-yard shuttle (5.10 seconds) and 3-cone drill (8.65 seconds) would have put him in last among offensive linemen.
Once a member of the Florida Gators, Telfort was suspended for the entire 2017 season along with eight other teammates in a credit card fraud case. This probably stymied his development and ultimately lowered his future draft stock. Playing in C-USA instead of the SEC will do that.
Teams may be wary of Telfort’s past and his Pro Day numbers. Still, there are plenty of teams like the Jets and the Titans that could really use an offensive tackle.
Right now, he’s projected as a Day 3 selection, but where on that last day of the draft depends on how comfortable a front office feels about his potential, and there is plenty of it there.
