During Days 2 and 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, as names were called out one after another, former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa remained composed, showcasing a characteristic that helped him stand out as one of the premier defensive backs in this year’s draft class.
Selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round with the No. 130 overall pick, Tampa was originally recruited by Iowa State as a wide receiver but eventually signed as a cornerback.
It turned out to be a career-defining switch, which helped solidify his path to the NFL.
“Switching to corner my first year of college, I knew I was good but it was like a little reset, just finding a new position and relearning a new position and everything,” Tampa said on Glenn Clark Radio May 1. “After I went through that, I would say about my junior year, the second game we played Iowa. I filled the stat sheet up and had a great game. I’m like, ‘OK, everything started to click for me.’ I could start playing fast. That’s the one point where I was like, ‘OK, I could do this.'”
Learning a new position at the college level was not something Tampa envisioned during his football journey, but it may have been the turning point he needed to get to the next level.
“It was crazy. It happened on a visit that I took to Iowa State,” Tampa explained. “It was strictly all receivers. I never had any corner conversations or anything. I went on a visit. My flight got delayed and I went to the camp the next day because why not?
“I did everything at receiver, then one-on-ones came. I knew a corner already there from my city and he was like, ‘Come get some reps,’ so I did some one-on-one reps at corner. A couple weeks later, I got a call from [head coach Matt Campbell]. He was like, ‘Would you mind playing it?’ I was like no, so I took it and ran with it.”
Hailing from St. Petersburg, Fla., Tampa earned first-team All-Big 12 and third-team Associated Press All-America honors in 2023. He also received second-team All-Big 12 accolades during as a junior in 2022.
Standing 6-foot-1 with a 78 5/8-inch wingspan, Tampa was physically one of the bigger cornerbacks in this year’s draft class. While at Iowa State, Tampa had 107 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 19 passes defensed.
Now that the draft process is over, Tampa can put aside any concerns about his draft position. Although the 22-year-old may not have gone as early as he would have liked, he is now a part of an organization that fits what he’s all about.
“Going through Friday night you’re just sitting there frustrated. You’ve got your family there, everybody’s together watching under one roof. You’re frustrated, all the names get called one by one,” Tampa said. “Fast forward to the next day and seeing the phone call is like a sense of relief a little bit but then also it’s time to get started. Nothing else matters. That’s how I felt when I saw the phone call. Of course, the emotions roll out but I just wanted to get started.”
The Ravens didn’t doubt Tampa’s tenacity and drive. Moreover, the organization seems to thrive on obtaining top talent through value picks later in the draft. Running back Justice Hill (fourth round, 2019), safety Geno Stone (seventh round, 2020) and cornerback Brandon Stephens (third round, 2021) are recent examples of that.
“I already had it on my mind just seeing every name just reminding myself, ‘OK, when I get there this is going to be on my mind from Day 1,'” Tampa said of falling to the fourth round. “I’m going to be using it as fuel every day, every workout, while I’m on the field, every game, every practice, it’s definitely going to be on my mind for sure.”
When reflecting on his strengths as a cornerback, Tampa says his ability to contribute in multiple ways sets him apart.
“I would have to say me personally, I’m a physical corner in every aspect, press man to get hands on to get receivers off the routes and being able to play the ball in the air and having good route recognition in zone and just playing fast and just having fast instincts,” Tampa said.
Despite sliding in the draft, Baltimore appears to be where Tampa was destined to end up.
“Just knowing that I’m coming to a great defense with a great scheme that fits me perfectly and I can play freely,” Tampa said. “Just getting to know the playbook, so as soon as I get that I can play even faster.”
For more from Tampa, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Iowa State Athletics