2022 draft: 5 sleepers 49ers must watch closely at NFL Combine
By Peter Panacy
2410. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Cornerback. Tariq Woolen. UTSA. 2. player
49ers draft sleeper No. 2: CB Tariq Woolen, UTSA
The 49ers may use their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on a cornerback, and that would be a wise move considering the deficiencies they have at the position.
Yet young defensive backs often struggle transitioning to the pros, and it’s never a bad idea to continuously infuse talent later in the draft, especially with the goal of reinforcing the depth chart and adding someone who can develop into a potential starter.
UTSA cornerback Tariq Woolen is an intriguing prospect. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, the converted wide receiver might be too raw to be considered a target on days one or two of the draft, although a strong NFL Scouting Combine could boost his stock.
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| 2017 | UTSA | CUSA | FR | WR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2018 | UTSA | CUSA | FR | WR | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | UTSA | CUSA | SO | WR | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| *2020 | UTSA | CUSA | JR | CB | 9 | 21 | 14 | 35 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| *2021 | UTSA | CUSA | SR | CB | 9 | 17 | 8 | 25 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career | UTSA | 39 | 24 | 63 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference
Generated 2/28/2022.
Typically, bigger-bodied defensive backs don’t have the ranginess or speed but make up for it with strength and size. Woolen is the antithesis of that, boasting good speed and the ability to converge quickly.
His combine workouts should showcase just how much that could be an X-factor in his development. And while his game is nevertheless raw, sometimes it’s simply worth banking on a player’s intangibles.