Fresh off the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Maryland second-team All-Big Ten cornerback Tarheeb Still’s next steps of his football journey are unfolding before his eyes.
Still doesn’t take his experience at the Combine for granted.
“It really meant a lot, first I would just say because as a kid that’s something you always think about and something you always dream about going to, something you always tell yourself you want to do,” Still said on Glenn Clark Radio on March 14. “And then actually getting able to go out there and compete and showcase my abilities, it was just amazing.”
Still chose to forego his final season of collegiate eligibility to enter the draft. Setting his sights to compete at the highest level drove him in Indianapolis, where he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash. Maryland’s Pro Day on March 29 is next up.
“I was happiest with being able to sit down and talk to teams, with being able to show my football knowledge, the way I present myself, things like that — also my competitive nature, going out there doing drills,” Still said. “Really Pro Day, I’m just going to go out there and show them that I can run and that I’m smooth doing drills on the field.”
Though he hasn’t been recognized as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, Still’s confidence in his performance never wavers.
“I feel like things will always handle themselves out. I do feel I deserve more recognition, but at the end of the day it’s not about how high you go,” Still said. “It’s really as long as you go, you’ve got to stay. … I just want to get an opportunity, get my shot and then just go make it happen.”
As a senior this past fall, the 6-foot 1, 196-pound cornerback totaled 45 tackles, two pass breakups and most notably five interceptions. He was one of only 18 players nationally to register at least five interceptions this season.
Still has never second-guessed his decision to play at Maryland throughout his four years.
“For me, I made a commitment to those guys in the locker room. Each year we had goals to reach. Every year I told those guys the things I wanted to accomplish and the things I wanted to do,” Still said. “Those guys in the locker room, I got really close with them and they were my brothers. We have a lot of ups and downs that we went through. I just love the guys on the team, love the coaches and I knew that was somewhere I wanted to be.”
With his time at Maryland in the rearview mirror, he is the proudest of the strong foundation that has been laid for the program. The Terps have won bowl games in three consecutive years and have put together back-to-back 8-5 seasons.
“It’s going to mean a lot, not only to me but for the guys that came in my year,” Still said. “Coming in, we just wanted to play. We wanted to get that out there, that we’re going to get this thing back rolling. I’d say guys really just took it personally. Every year we continued to grow, continued to get better and we continued to add pieces. The guys wanted to be heard. The Big Ten is hard conference to play in.”
An offensive player in high school, Still’s transition to playing on the other side of the ball in college was driven by his athleticism and natural instincts. He was on the same South Jersey high school team as Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary.
“Coming up playing receiver all throughout high school putting up numbers … I used to work out with [Leary] every day. He used to throw the ball a thousand miles an hour. I had to catch it,” Still said. “Transitioning to DB was kind of normal. … The biggest thing was understanding route concepts and where teams want to attack. It was just really how to take that away with leverage.”
New opportunities at the next level remain on the table for Still. His confident attitude resonates on the football field through his adaptability. Still was a kick and punt returner for Maryland in addition to his work as a defensive back.
“I really have the ability to play a lot of different positions and do a lot of different things on the football field,” Still said. “So I feel like if a team really does want to take the time and see my skill set, that I can do things with the ball, then I’m all for it.”
The next chapter for Still is unwritten, but receiving a call from the Ravens on draft night would be particularly special.
“That’d be great, being able to play with a guy like [Lamar Jackson] and also in a great place like Baltimore. Also, they’ve got a chance to make a run for it and win big,” Still said. “I would just say it would be amazing. Just to get an opportunity to play with those guys and take the field wearing the purple and black, it would be great.”
For more from Still, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox