Colorado Buffaloes safety Tedric Thompson has been drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. At pick 111 he was the third Buff taken in this year’s draft behind his defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon.
Thompson found the spotlight as part of the dominant Buffaloes’ secondary and one of the Pac-12’s best units. With a huge game against Utah that cemented his status as one of Colorado’s most dangerous playmakers Thompson nabbed two interceptions, recorded a sack and tallied four passes defended. More importantly, he sealed a Pac-12 South Championship for the Buffs with his final interception, reading the quarterback and racing halfway across the field to rip the football away from Utah.
He had an exceptional final season at Colorado, including 63 total tackles, seven interceptions and three tackles for loss. In 2016, he led the FBS in passes defended with 23, a title he shared with Witherspoon. Thompson earned second team All Pac-12 honors as a senior/
Thompson is a monster hitter, has impressive physicality and good size for his position. He possesses great awareness and the ability to read and adjust to offenses. He contributes all over the field, showing up wherever plays are developing. He controls routes and uses his impressive speed and hands to stay with receivers.
From BSN Denver’s Sam Weaver’s scouting report:
The Good: Thompson has the physicality and athleticism desired in an NFL safety. He has good hands, speed and size, standing at six-feet, 205 lbs. He is a smart athlete who adjusts to plays and can beat wide receivers for jump balls. He is constantly aware of the football. Thompson is a solid tackler and dependable cover guy. He is a durable athlete who played in nearly every game over four years at Colorado. He is an explosive playmaker and has a propensity for forcing turnovers. Thompson’s dominant play style and ability to disrupt offenses make him invaluable in the secondary.
The Bad: Thompson still has some improvements to make to truly be NFL ready. He occasionally struggles against the run, and has shown some hesitation in tackling that can result in missed opportunities.
