2015 NFL Combine Preview: USC TE Randall Telfer

USC tight end Randall Telfer is headed to the 2015 NFL Combine in hopes of improving his stock in the upcoming NFL Draft.

What did he do at USC?

Telfer had a promising start to his career, starting five games as a redshirt freshman. He was third on the team with 26 receptions, a freshman record for tight ends, and caught a career best five touchdowns. He nabbed an All-Pac-12 honorable mention and was named to Phil Steele’s Freshman All-American second team.

As a sophomore Telfer split time with Xavier Grimble, starting nine games, but his production slipped as he dealt with injury. Still, he caught four touchdowns in 2012.

Injuries continued to affect his career in 2013, when a knee injury held him out of three games and slowed him for much of the season, despite eight starts. Making more of an impact as a blocker, Telfer only caught six receptions and one touchdown that year.

Returning for his senior season, Telfer started every game and stayed mostly healthy. He became an essential piece of USC’s pass protection strategy but still caught 21 balls and two touchdowns, earning an All-Pac-12 honorable mention along the way.

What’s his current draft stock?

Telfer will have to fight for a spot in the draft at this point in the evaluations and seems most likely to fall into the undrafted free agent category.

Telfer’s injury history is a major red flag for scouts on two levels: His production was greatly hindered in college and there is no guarantee it will be any different at the next level.

Still, there are some things working in his favor. He developed well as a blocker with the Trojans. On top of that, he has good size for a tight end and the promise he showed early in his career as a pass catcher could be a sign that he can carve a place for himself in the NFL.

What can he improve?

Showing off some speed at the Combine could be essential to convincing a team to use a pick on Telfer in the late rounds.

Early in his career Telfer displayed some exceptional pass-catching chops. Proving that he still has those in his locker during receiving drills would go a long way.

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