25 Players in 25 Days: #15 Tyreek Chappell

Position: Cornerback
Classification: Redshirt Senior
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Listed Height: 5-11
Listed Weight: 180 lbs.

Key notes from Liucci’s thoughts on Chappell

• I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time talking about #7. When Tyreek Chappell was a three-star recruit, when you watched his tape on how dynamic he was... He was an athlete, and he was catching the ball as a receiver. If he were from Louisiana, he would have certainly been a four-star. You have to factor in the competition, but you just watch the athletic plays he was making. 
   
• He’s an NFL defensive back. Jimbo Fisher thought that since Day 1. Mike Elko has felt the same way. He was a big part of their plans last year. You talk about Elko and who he’s had at nickel over the years. He was putting guys out there due to a lack of roster depth when he got there. Elko has turned some guys who had no hope of the next level into really effective nickelbacks.
   
• When he got hurt, it shook up quite a bit what Elko’s plans were. Elko thinks he has an NFL defensive back out there. He’s a plug-and-play NFL defensive back in your secondary. He’s been starting almost from Day 1. Elko was out there coaching him as a freshman as the defensive coordinator. He was out there lining up against Alabama and LSU as a freshman. He had only been getting better.
   
• That injury was a crusher for them. He got injured in a non-contact practice. There was an air that left in the room when I heard. What’s interesting to me, and I'll be watching closely these next weeks, Chappell can be a difference maker at that nickel spot in Elko’s defense, but it's not outlandish to say he couldn't be your best corner. I think it is Will Lee III this year, but if those two guys are head and shoulders above everyone else at corner… Is it difficult to leave him off the island and say we need to figure out nickel again?
   
• You do have some guys that can do that, like Bravion Rogers, or does someone like Dezz Ricks or Julian Humphrey rise up? There are a lot of options on how that works out. I think a ton of that will depend on where Chappell falls in the cornerback room. If not, I think the preference would be to leave him at nickel where he could wreak havoc and where he can really matchup and cover most guys in that slot.

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