From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents Today, we’ll be profiling UAB OT Kadeem Telfort.
#77 Kadeem Telfort, OT, UAB (R-Sr.) — 6074, 322
Pro Day
Measurements
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Kadeem Telfort | 6074/322 | 8.5″ | 36″ | 86″ |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 5.45 | 1.89 | 5.10 | 8.70 | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 8’0″ | 24.5″ | 19 |
The Good
— Humungous frame with elite length and wingspan
— Rarely see him driven back with power; can set a good anchor
— Length allows him to get first significant contact and control the rep
— Has good pass pro reps against NFL-level pass rushers: Travon Walker, Nolan Smith, BJ Ojulari
— Exhibits enough power to create displacement in the run game
— Can clear out an entire side with down blocks
— Overpowers defenders at the second level
— Didn’t see him beaten to the outside with speed in games watched
— Mean streak shows when finishing blocks
— Excels at cut blocks down the line
— Only allowed one sack in 2022, per PFF
The Bad
— Struggles with any sort of inside counters
— Can get overextended on pass reps, opening the gate for inside pressure
— Struggles to sustain blocks at the second level, good initial pop but then falls off
— Has inconsistent hand placement that can put him in bad positions
— Punches sometimes can be too wide which resorts him to be grabby
— Poor agility shows up when working in space vs. smaller defenders
— Pro Day testing was extremely poor
Bio
— Started 28 of 31 career games at UAB
— Participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl
— 2022 first-team All-Conference USA
— 2021 Honorable Mention All-Conference USA
— 2022 team captain
— Did not play football until high school due to being too big for his age group
— Was a 4-star recruit out of Booker T. Washington HS in Miami, FL
— Signed with Florida but was suspended for the entire 2017 season after an investigation into credit card fraud involving Telfort and eight other players
— Played at two different JUCOs in 2018 and 2019 (Garden City Community College & Highland Community College)
— Came to UAB weighing between 360 and 370 pounds (down to 322 now)
— Has nine sisters (one older, eight younger)
— He’s the first person in his family with a college degree
— Graduated in August 2022 with a degree in General Studies
Tape Breakdown
When it comes to picking offensive tackles on day three, you want to look for players with unique qualities that could help them succeed in the NFL. Kadeem Telfort from UAB has those qualities – he’s a massive human being with a 6’7″ 322-pound frame and an 86″ wingspan thanks to his 76″ arms. Basically, he’s tough to get around. Telfort showed his skills in Birmingham and could be a good pick for a team looking for a bigger offensive tackle.
Telfort’s impressive physique aside, he has also showcased his abilities on tape. One aspect of his game that would likely appeal to Steelers OL Coach Pat Meyer: Telfort’s aggressive pass sets. Telfort seeks out significant contact early on in his reps and can effectively control his opponent throughout the entire play, leveraging his length and strength to his advantage.
He has an innate ability to keep defenders at bay and maneuver them like a steering wheel, without letting them get into to his chest. To demonstrate this, let’s take a look at three clips from Telfort’s game against the national championship-winning Georgia team in 2021.
Telfort’s pass-protection skills have also been evident against top talent, such as LSU’s BJ Ojulari, who is expected to be a Day-2 pick in this year’s draft.
Below are few examples.
For someone with Telfort’s size it’s not uncommon for them to struggle with speed rushers off the edge. But he consistently won those battles against SEC powers like LSU and Georgia.
However, Telfort has shown some struggles in dealing with inside moves and counters. Due to his aggressive pass-set nature, he can overextend himself. He lacks the agility and foot speed needed to reset, leaving him vulnerable to edge defenders who can beat him inside. This is an area where Telfort could improve his technique and awareness to better handle these types of situations.
This should be Telfort’s biggest area of focus as he transitions to the NFL. If he doesn’t address it, it’s likely that opposing teams will exploit it repeatedly once they see it on tape.
Another aspect of Telfort’s game that could use improvement is his hand placement. At times, his punches are inconsistent, and he can find his hands too wide or not square, putting him in awkward positions. Improving his hand placement would not only make him more effective in pass protection but also in run blocking.
Telfort’s size and strength also make him a force in the running game.
He has been frequently used on down blocks for outside run plays. His sheer size and power can clear out an entire side of the line of scrimmage, creating space for UAB’s running backs.
While Telfort may not be the most agile offensive tackle while moving in space, he has shown the ability to reach and overpower smaller defenders at the second level.
Putting it all together, Telfort is a successful combo blocker as well.
You can see the power he possesses and how easy he can displace defenders.
That power can also be used for bad intentions when Telfort gets a little angry. He’s not afraid to play through the whistle and plant someone into the ground.
While Telfort may not possess the quickness needed to execute seal blocks, he and UAB found a way to work around this by having him perform cut blocks instead. Telfort was highly accurate in his execution of cut blocks, effectively throwing his weight around and completing his blocks down the line of scrimmage.
Conclusion
When it comes to looking for day-three offensive tackle options in the NFL draft, you want someone with traits that you’re willing to bet on. Kadeem Telfort from UAB fits the bill with his massive 6’7″, 322-pound frame and 86″ wingspan. He’s tough to get around and has impressive pass-protection reps against some high-level opponents like Georgia and LSU.
He’s able to control the rep by getting first significant contact with his length and strength and doesn’t struggle with speed around the edge. That is impressive for someone of his size. Telfort is also a force in the running game, where he can create more than enough displacement to run behind. However, there are areas where Telfort could improve. He struggles with inside moves due to his lack of agility and tendency to overextend, and his hand placement is inconsistent.
Telfort is a solid day-three option with plenty of potential. He could spend some time on the back end of a team’s roster or practice squad and with some work on his technique and agility, I could see him developing into a solid swing tackle a year or two down the road.
Projection: Late Day 3/Priority Free Agent
Depot Draft Grade: 6.6 – Backup/Special Teamer (5th Round)
Games Watched: Georgia (2021), LSU (2022), Georgia Southern (2022)
