2021 NFL Draft: 10 Day 3 sleepers who could be pro studs
By Randy Gurzi
3. Tay Gowan, CB, UCF
Tay Gowan has some stuff that cannot be taught — size and instincts. Listed at 6-1 and 186 pounds, Gowan has 31.125-inch arms and he knows how to get them on the football.
Originally a member of the Miami Hurricanes, he transferred to UCF (following one season in community college where he had six picks for Butler Community College) where he ended up starting in 2019 and had 39 tackles with eight pass breakups, and two interceptions.
As good as he was, there were those who felt he needed to get better at mirroring receivers. He was unable to show any growth there as he opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19 — which included him already dealing with the virus at one point.
In the end, that could lead to him dropping into the third day of the draft but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have sensational upside. The question will be whether or not teams that utilize man coverage would be willing to pull the trigger.
While he does show great talent when it comes to the 50-50 ball, he’s a much better fit in zone coverages. Chances are a team that runs a Cover 2 or Cover 3 would be thrilled to land him.