OVERVIEW
Competed in the Junior Olympics as a sprinter and also played basketball as a California prep. Played all 38 games of his career. Started three games at flanker as an injury replacement for James Rodgers in 2017, with 31 receptions for 391 yards (12.6-yard average) and three touchdowns. Added eight kickoff returns for 179 yards (22.4). In 2012, started all 13 games at flanker opposite Steelers 2015 third-rounder Markus Wheaton and produced 67 catches for 1,151 yards (17.2) and five TDs. Hurt his ankle against Oregon and missed most of the Nicholls State contest. Won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver in 2013, when he established Pac-12 single-season records with 128 receptions and 1,730 receiving yards, which led the FBS, in 13 starts at flanker; he also had 16 receiving touchdowns. Returned 12 punts for 72 yards (6.0). Also had 61 career rushes for 340 yards (5.6) and two touchdowns. Owns Oregon State record for career touchdown catches (24). Team captain.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Light on his feet with terrific balance. Sinks his hips with ease and pops out of breaks to separate. Tracks and adjusts. Quick hands. Good concentration, body control and boundary awareness. Can turn a short throw into a long gain. Shows elusiveness, creativity and vision after the catch. Unafraid to play in the tall trees. Highly productive -- totaled 195 receptions for 2,881 yards (15.4-yard average) and 21 TDs in last two seasons. Confident and competitive. Has been exceptionally durable dating back to high school. Team captain. Will be a 21-year-old rookie.
WEAKNESSES
Size is just adequate -- lacks ideal strength and bulk. Vulnerable to the jam and reroute. Relatively small catch radius. Has small hands and double-catches some throws. Lacks elite, blazing speed to run by NSFL corners and safeties. Will struggle to play "above the rim" at the next level. Was not an impactful punt returner. Limited run strength. Poor blocker.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Rounds 1-2
BOTTOM LINE
Good size, speedy, nifty-footed receiver who was unaffected by the departure of Steelers 2015 third-rounder Markus Wheaton, establishing himself as a playmaker in his own right by leading the nation with 133 yards per contest as a junior. Projects as a useful slot receiver with run-after-catch ability and some utility as an outside receiver.
Strengths:
• Explosive play-maker
• Very fast
• Consistently gets separation
• Weapon on third down
• Great hands
• Intelligent
• Stretches the defense
• Forces teams to keep a safety deep
• Quick release off of the line
• Excellent route runner
• Tough
• Average size, but strong
• Plug and play; ready to contribute as a slot receiver
• High floor
• Upside
Weaknesses:
• Very average size
• Average size wing span
Summary:
Over the past two seasons, Tanner was one of the best wide receivers in the Pac-12 and the nation. Last fall, WalterFootball.com spoke with Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant, who said that Tanner was one of the most difficult receivers he had to cover in college. That was during Tanner' freshman and sophomore seasons when he played against Trufant, but Tanner was at his best as a junior.
In 2011 as a freshman, Tanner had 31 receptions for 391 yards and three touchdowns. He improved thos numbers in 2012 with 67 catches for 1,151 yards with five scores.
As a junior, Tanner took his game to another level as he and quarterback Sean Mannion lit up defenses throughout the season. Tanner hauled in 128 catches for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns. Tanner had a number of massive games in 2013, including performances against: Eastern Washington (13-196), Utah (9-210), San Diego State (14-141), Colorado (9-168) and Cal (13-232). Against Oregon, Tanner had 10 receptions for 110 yards, but had some issues getting separation from cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.
Tanner led the nation in receiving yards for the year and was second to Fresno State's Davante Adams in receptions and touchdowns. At the Combine, Tanner ran a blistering 40 time of 4.33 seconds with a tremendous 10-yard split of 1.5 seconds.
In the NSFL, Tanner should be a valuable weapon. He is a mismatch problem as a slot receiver who can stretch a defense vertically. Tanner is very fast running downfield and is a threat to burn cornerbacks over the top. He also is a good route-runner who has excellent hands. Tanner is Average size, but put together well. He is a tough receiver who battles defenders.
Even though Tanner is undersized, he can operate in the short and intermediate part of the field. Tanner gets separation on short routes and is a nice weapon on third downs. His slot-receiver capabilities could turn him into one of the better slot wide outs in the league.
Tanner' game should translate immediately to the NSFL. He is a plug-and-play pick as a slot receiver. With his speed and play-making ability, Tanner could be a late first-round or early second-round pick
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Post Draft Interview:
Most had you pegged as a late first, possibly early second round pick, how did you feel dropping as far as the sixth round?
I'll be honest with you, it hurt. I shook it off when the first round finished and I wasn't called upon, and I was kind of pissed during the second round when I wasn't called there either. After I wasn't picked up in those first two rounds I'll be honest with you, I turned off my TV. I was furious, I didn't hear anything for about another hour until I received a call from the legion asking if I would sign with them. First pick of the sixth round isn't where I had hoped to go, but I'm going to make the most of it, and I'm going to spit in the face of every team that passed on me not once but multiple times each.
I've heard rumours of you moving to the tight end position after being drafted as a wide receiver, do you fear the change or are you embracing it with open arms?
I was actually the one who walked into the managers office and told them straight up, "Hey, if there's another offensive position you envision me helping this team as, let me know and I will fill that void however necessary. I'm here to help a team win, and that means making sacrifices you aren't always comfortable with.
Being drafted by the Las Vegas Legion, can you tell me what is going through your head right now?
Well, I've heard I'm headed to the minors to hone my skills first, but I'm ready to take this team to the next level, we were piss poor last season, we had the worst record in the league, and it's not like we had very many high draft picks, so we needed to hit the nail on the head with each selection, and I promise you and I've promised them, taking me in the sixth round will prove to be the biggest draft steal of all time.
Well, thanks for answering these few questions for us Connor.
Absolutely no problem Jim, any time and any where, I'm always ready to answer a few questions for ya mate.
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Graded
Payout=$1,854,000
Competed in the Junior Olympics as a sprinter and also played basketball as a California prep. Played all 38 games of his career. Started three games at flanker as an injury replacement for James Rodgers in 2017, with 31 receptions for 391 yards (12.6-yard average) and three touchdowns. Added eight kickoff returns for 179 yards (22.4). In 2012, started all 13 games at flanker opposite Steelers 2015 third-rounder Markus Wheaton and produced 67 catches for 1,151 yards (17.2) and five TDs. Hurt his ankle against Oregon and missed most of the Nicholls State contest. Won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver in 2013, when he established Pac-12 single-season records with 128 receptions and 1,730 receiving yards, which led the FBS, in 13 starts at flanker; he also had 16 receiving touchdowns. Returned 12 punts for 72 yards (6.0). Also had 61 career rushes for 340 yards (5.6) and two touchdowns. Owns Oregon State record for career touchdown catches (24). Team captain.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Light on his feet with terrific balance. Sinks his hips with ease and pops out of breaks to separate. Tracks and adjusts. Quick hands. Good concentration, body control and boundary awareness. Can turn a short throw into a long gain. Shows elusiveness, creativity and vision after the catch. Unafraid to play in the tall trees. Highly productive -- totaled 195 receptions for 2,881 yards (15.4-yard average) and 21 TDs in last two seasons. Confident and competitive. Has been exceptionally durable dating back to high school. Team captain. Will be a 21-year-old rookie.
WEAKNESSES
Size is just adequate -- lacks ideal strength and bulk. Vulnerable to the jam and reroute. Relatively small catch radius. Has small hands and double-catches some throws. Lacks elite, blazing speed to run by NSFL corners and safeties. Will struggle to play "above the rim" at the next level. Was not an impactful punt returner. Limited run strength. Poor blocker.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Rounds 1-2
BOTTOM LINE
Good size, speedy, nifty-footed receiver who was unaffected by the departure of Steelers 2015 third-rounder Markus Wheaton, establishing himself as a playmaker in his own right by leading the nation with 133 yards per contest as a junior. Projects as a useful slot receiver with run-after-catch ability and some utility as an outside receiver.
Strengths:
• Explosive play-maker
• Very fast
• Consistently gets separation
• Weapon on third down
• Great hands
• Intelligent
• Stretches the defense
• Forces teams to keep a safety deep
• Quick release off of the line
• Excellent route runner
• Tough
• Average size, but strong
• Plug and play; ready to contribute as a slot receiver
• High floor
• Upside
Weaknesses:
• Very average size
• Average size wing span
Summary:
Over the past two seasons, Tanner was one of the best wide receivers in the Pac-12 and the nation. Last fall, WalterFootball.com spoke with Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant, who said that Tanner was one of the most difficult receivers he had to cover in college. That was during Tanner' freshman and sophomore seasons when he played against Trufant, but Tanner was at his best as a junior.
In 2011 as a freshman, Tanner had 31 receptions for 391 yards and three touchdowns. He improved thos numbers in 2012 with 67 catches for 1,151 yards with five scores.
As a junior, Tanner took his game to another level as he and quarterback Sean Mannion lit up defenses throughout the season. Tanner hauled in 128 catches for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns. Tanner had a number of massive games in 2013, including performances against: Eastern Washington (13-196), Utah (9-210), San Diego State (14-141), Colorado (9-168) and Cal (13-232). Against Oregon, Tanner had 10 receptions for 110 yards, but had some issues getting separation from cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.
Tanner led the nation in receiving yards for the year and was second to Fresno State's Davante Adams in receptions and touchdowns. At the Combine, Tanner ran a blistering 40 time of 4.33 seconds with a tremendous 10-yard split of 1.5 seconds.
In the NSFL, Tanner should be a valuable weapon. He is a mismatch problem as a slot receiver who can stretch a defense vertically. Tanner is very fast running downfield and is a threat to burn cornerbacks over the top. He also is a good route-runner who has excellent hands. Tanner is Average size, but put together well. He is a tough receiver who battles defenders.
Even though Tanner is undersized, he can operate in the short and intermediate part of the field. Tanner gets separation on short routes and is a nice weapon on third downs. His slot-receiver capabilities could turn him into one of the better slot wide outs in the league.
Tanner' game should translate immediately to the NSFL. He is a plug-and-play pick as a slot receiver. With his speed and play-making ability, Tanner could be a late first-round or early second-round pick
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Post Draft Interview:
Most had you pegged as a late first, possibly early second round pick, how did you feel dropping as far as the sixth round?
I'll be honest with you, it hurt. I shook it off when the first round finished and I wasn't called upon, and I was kind of pissed during the second round when I wasn't called there either. After I wasn't picked up in those first two rounds I'll be honest with you, I turned off my TV. I was furious, I didn't hear anything for about another hour until I received a call from the legion asking if I would sign with them. First pick of the sixth round isn't where I had hoped to go, but I'm going to make the most of it, and I'm going to spit in the face of every team that passed on me not once but multiple times each.
I've heard rumours of you moving to the tight end position after being drafted as a wide receiver, do you fear the change or are you embracing it with open arms?
I was actually the one who walked into the managers office and told them straight up, "Hey, if there's another offensive position you envision me helping this team as, let me know and I will fill that void however necessary. I'm here to help a team win, and that means making sacrifices you aren't always comfortable with.
Being drafted by the Las Vegas Legion, can you tell me what is going through your head right now?
Well, I've heard I'm headed to the minors to hone my skills first, but I'm ready to take this team to the next level, we were piss poor last season, we had the worst record in the league, and it's not like we had very many high draft picks, so we needed to hit the nail on the head with each selection, and I promise you and I've promised them, taking me in the sixth round will prove to be the biggest draft steal of all time.
Well, thanks for answering these few questions for us Connor.
Absolutely no problem Jim, any time and any where, I'm always ready to answer a few questions for ya mate.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Graded
Payout=$1,854,000