OVERVIEW



JAQUISKI TARTT

Strong/Free Safety

Samford University Bulldogs

#6

6:01.3-223

Mobile, Alabama

Davidson High School

OVERVIEW

As his college career comes to a close, Tartt has fulfilled two promises he made to family members and is now on the cusp of realizing his own dream – playing in the National Football. As a youngster, Tartt bonded with his grandfather, Alfred Lewis, and the two were as close as two can be. Alfred would sit and watch his grandson’s exploits on the basketball court during Jaquiski’s days at Davidson High School, but the grandfather was also a diehard football fan.

Alfred Lewis passed away in 2009, never seeing Tartt on the gridiron. "He was like my best friend," Tartt said. "I was actually playing basketball for three years. I played football my whole life until I started playing basketball in the eighth grade and fell in love with basket-ball. After that, I was done with football.”

"The football coaches and my friends wanted me to come out and play, and he [Alfred] really wanted me to play. I really wanted to play again ever since he passed away, so I do this for his memory." Despite not even stepping on the field until practice started in August, Tartt earned a starting safety spot.

The athlete was well on his way to possibly earning a scholarship for his hoop exploits, but to honor his grandfather, he suited up for football during his senior prep campaign. The football “neophyte” registered 72 tackles (48 solos) with two interceptions, five pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

That performance enticed Mississippi State recruiters late in his senior campaign, but in-state Samford and head coach Pat Sullivan had recognized his football talent well before the MSU Bulldogs came knocking on his door. Besides, going to Samford would fulfill a wish of his mother, Cheryl Tartt, as the university was the school where she always wanted to go.

Cheryl is a traveling nurse, going as far as California for her job. She had always hoped to attend Samford, citing the excellence of their pharmacy program. "I didn't want to do the traveling (from Mobile to Birmingham), but she kept telling me it was a great school," said Tartt, who committed in December 2009 and stuck with his pledge to the Samford University Bulldogs program. "Coach (Pat) Sullivan is a good man and I wanted to come here."

The Samford coaches have to be highly pleased that Tartt’s commitment to “family values” led to a player who would eventually become a multiple All-American selection, rapidly develop into one of the most dominant “inside-the-box” defensive backs in the college football ranks.

Sullivan said that once Tartt started to figure out things at the college level, he quickly became a force. "He's just got that knack," the Bulldogs head coach said. "He reads things well. He's got great range for a safety and he can really run. He's a physical kid. That combination makes him a heck of a football player."

But it's off the field where Sullivan has been most impressed with Tartt – saying that his prize pupil is always focused on getting better on the field and working towards his degree, where he hopes to work for a computer mapping company or elsewhere in the geography field – that is, after he takes his next expected step up the “football ladder” by playing in the National Football League, knowing his grandfather would be with him in heart and soul.

"It's become so important to him," Sullivan said. "He listens to Coach Dee (defensive coordinator Bill D'Ottavio) and works at it every day. He has grown up as and matured as much as a person as he has as a football player."

Things did not fall into place on the Samford football field as quickly as Tartt had hoped once he arrived on campus in 2010. For a player who had dreams of being a Division I basketball player in high school, he nearly left Samford as a true freshman because he struggled with not playing, as the staff decided to bring him along slowly, having him spend his first year as a member of the scout team.

While red-shirting that year, Tartt had to not only deal with his teammates struggling through a losing season, but he also had to spend time in the doctor’s office due to a deep shoulder bruise that he suffered while trying to take on an offensive lineman in practice.

"That was my very first lesson I learned in college - don't ever try to take on a lineman," he said.

Before his thoughts of quitting the program would become a possible reality, Samford defensive tackle Jeremy Towns and the Bulldogs coaches convinced him to stick it out. "If it was easy, everybody would be doing it," Tartt said. "That's what Coach Davis tells us. He's right. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it, so I decided to stick with it."

Patience would be a “virtue” for Tartt in 2011, his first season lettering with the varsity. The coaches still wanted him to grasp the nuances of the game, relegating him to special team coverage duties until finally giving him his first extensive action during the seventh game on the schedule vs. Appalachian State. He registered a season-best eight hits, including a trio of third-down stops and also had a touchdown-saving tackle vs. the Mountaineers. He finished the year with 23 tackles (19 solos) while playing in ten contests.

After his freshman season, Tartt dedicated himself to training – training hard – with his sight set on becoming a more important part of the Bulldogs program in 2012. "He had ability," Samford defensive coordinator Bill D'Ottavio said. "Obviously, that didn't just suddenly emerge. It was a learning process. He worked very hard. He studied the game. He did it right. He got used to our system. He made plays and kept it going."

Tartt “kept going” all the way to the postseason awards circuit as a sophomore. The All-Southern Conference first-team selection was also named a finalist for the coveted Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the best defensive player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision ranks. He also became just the third defensive back (and 22nd overall) to earn All-American recognition, joining cornerbacks Marcus Durgin (1991-92) and Cortland Finnegan (2003 and 2005).

Tartt started all eleven games at free safety, tying Darion Sutton for the team lead with 94 tackles (57 solos), making four stops behind the line of scrimmage for the Bulldogs defense, as he also had four interceptions, scoring twice – once via a pass theft and again on a fumble recovery. He also posted ten tackles as a member of the coverage teams, taking down returners for losses three times.

Most youngsters would have rested on those laurels – not one Jaquiski Tartt. As soon as the season ended, the free safety was a regular in the training room. While he played at 220 pounds, he felt he needed to be in better shape. A “muscled-up” junior would take the field for Samford in 2013, appearing in twelve games as the starting free safety.

Tartt’s new physique was not the only thing he changed in 2012, shedding jersey #27 that he wore upon entering the school for #6 in 2013. He recorded a career-high 98 tackles (69 solos), deflecting nine passes while picking off another that he returned for a touchdown. His high performance level earned the All-Southern Conference choice yet another All-American accolade, joining Marcus Durgin, Cortland Finnegan and receiver Efrem Hill (2003-04) as the only Bulldogs to garner national honors in multiple seasons.

Tartt was named All-American and All-Southern Conference in 2014, turning his final performance into an invitation to play in the 2015 Senior Bowl. He recorded 62 tackles in eleven games as a starter, but after combining for nineteen pass deflections and five interceptions as a sophomore and junior, he had just one theft and one break-up during his senior season.

SCOUTING ANALYSIS

Tartt has outstanding size for a free safety and some teams could look to shift him to the strong-side, as he is the elite performer in the secondary playing inside the box. Other teams that utilize the Cover-2 scheme could try to bulk him up for a possible move to weak-side linebacker, as his frame is still developing and has room for at least another fifteen pounds without the additional weight affecting his overall quickness.

Tartt’s success as a downhill player is due to his in-stride acceleration. He is such a smooth, athletic mover that the staff has great confidence in his ability to play at the line of scrimmage. He runs with a normal stride and has the change of direction agility and body control to make plays at the opposite side of the field (has made 38 touchdown-saving tackles among his 277 total hits).

Tartt is a quick “read-&-react” type of player who is very decisive in recognizing the runs and passes in front of him. He is not the type that a quarterback can “sucker” out of position with misdirection or play action. He shows good anticipation and knowledge for taking angles when closing and has a knack for stepping into the passing lanes, evident by his interceptions and ability to keep the receivers from getting into their routes (with his press coverage skills, he prevented his assignment from getting to 75-of-182 passes into his area).

While most safeties are not required to handle one-on-one assignments, Tartt is a “different breed,” a defensive back with outstanding ability to mirror and run with the receiver over the middle and down field. He is often around the football, thanks to valid instincts and shows the loose hips to angle and flow to the ball, making eighteen touchdown-saving tackles out of his assigned area in pass coverage.

He has excellent foot quickness and flexibility in his backpedal, along with the timed speed to easily run with backs, slots and tight ends, demonstrating the good footwork out of his breaks, along with the burst and recovery speed to accelerate and recover when a receiver happens to get behind him.

With his footwork, he always seems to be in proper alignment to make plays on either the ball or the man, as he has the eyes to make quick reads and doing a great job looking up threats to get a good jump on the ball after the throw. He plays with leverage and excels at holding up the tight ends, backs and slot receivers working underneath, showing the low pad level and range to close in an instant.

Due to his years playing basketball, the Samford product is very smooth in his retreat skills, showing ease-of-movement heading backwards and never takes extra steps in transition. He is quick with his feet and has the ability to completely flip his hips from one side to another. He is exceptionally smooth coming out of his breaks and has the hip turn and flexibility to be explosive closing on the ball. He does play a lot in the press, but is too agile, balanced and smooth when moving to be considered just an inside-the-box type.

Tartt’s basketball skills come into the limelight with his tremendous success competing for the jump ball (26 passes defended and 75 reroutes/jams as a starter). He possesses outstanding timing and ability to make plays on the ball in flight, thanks to excellent flexibility and ball adjustment skills. He can elevate in an instant to reach the high point and will not hesitate to sacrifice his body to make the plays in a crowd.

Tartt has a very good feel for run support lanes and takes good angles to shorten the field and get to the flow of the ball in a hurry. When he flies to the football, he does so with intent to punish, leverage and control, whether at the line of scrimmage or in the open field. When taking on ball carriers, he arrives quickly and with purpose, knowing that he has the ability to deliver a blow and snap the runner’s head back.

CAREER NOTES

Tartt appeared in 44 games for Samford, starting each of the final 34 contests, as the free safety recorded 277 tackles (198 solos) with 10.5 stops for losses of 23 yards, recovering two fumbles, including one that he advanced 80 yards for a touchdown…Also caused one fumble, deflected 20 passes and intercepted six others for 167 yards in returns (27.83 avg), including two touchdowns…As a member of the special teams coverage units, he recovered two fumbles, delivered three stops-for-loss and posted sixteen tackles – ten as a member of the kickoff coverage unit and six more for the punt coverage squad…Tartt was directly involved in 173 running plays, collecting twenty touchdown-saving tackles, as he held those runners to 458 yards (2.65 ypc) and just eighteen first downs, as he made ten stops-for-loss, taking down twelve other ball carriers at the line of scrimmage for no gain, making 21 third-down hits and four more on fourth-down snaps…As a pass defender, he had 186 tosses targeted into his area, limiting his main assignments to 44 receptions (23.66 pass completion percentage) for 327 yards and only seventeen first downs, an average of 7.43 yards per pass completion and 1.76 yards per pass attempt (lowest figure for any 2015 draft-eligible safety). He rerouted or jammed his assignments away from 76 of those targeted passes (40.86%), as he collected 48 third-down stops and thirteen more on fourth-down plays, in addition to coming out of his area to record eighteen touchdown-saving tackles after opponents eluded other Samford defenders, along with upended five receivers at the line of scrimmage for no gain vs. the aerial game.

NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Career-Record Results…Among active players in the FCS, Tartt ranks six with 198 solo tackles, the 28th-best figure among all current college football players…His 277 total tackles placed 38rth his 26 passes defended (20 break-ups, six interceptions) rank 30th and his interception returns for touchdowns are 11th-best among active FCS competitors.

Samford Record Results…Tartt’s fumble recovery that he returned 80 yards for a touch-down vs. Georgia Southern in 2012 is not only the longest in school history, but also marked the first time a Bulldog advanced a fumble recovery for a score since Derek Slaughter ran one back 55 yards vs. Presbyterian (September 13th, 2007).

2014 SEASON

The consensus All-American and All-Southern Conference first-team choice started all eleven games at free safety, recording 62 tackles (53 solos) with an assisted stop behind the line of scrimmage…Gained 22 yards on an interception return and deflected another toss…Earned Buck Buchanan Award Watch List consideration…The senior was directly involved in 30 running plays, registering four touchdown-saving tackles while limiting those runners to 62 yards (2.07 ypc) and just one first down, making two third-down hits, along with three stops-for-loss vs. the ground game…Twelve of his tackles occurred inside the red zone…Tartt had 42 passes targeted into his area, as he came out of his assigned area to post four touchdown-saving tackles after opposing receivers had eluded other Samford defenders. He allowed just twelve receptions (28.57 pass completion percentage) for 68 yards, an average of 5.67 yards per pass completion and 1.62 yards per pass attempt (his pass attempt average yield is the lowest for any starting defensive back in college football), as he either rerouted or jammed his coverage assignments away from eighteen of those throws (42.86%), collecting nine third-down stops and two more on fourth-down snaps, along with taking down three pass catchers at the line of scrimmage for no gain and another in the backfield for a loss vs. the aerial game…Also made one tackle as a member of the Bulldogs’ punt coverage squad… The senior leads a Bulldogs unit that currently ranks seventh in total defense (279.9 ypg), second in pass defense (127.8 ypg), fourth in pass efficiency defense (95.98 rating) and first for fewest first downs allowed (114) in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.

2014 SEASON GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Texas Christian…Tartt was kept busy throughout the season opener, as he made seven of his total of eleven tackles vs. the ground game…One of the elite “inside the box” safeties in the collegiate game, five of those stops came inside the red zone, including one touch-down saving tackle.

Tennessee-Chattanooga…Tartt registered six tackles vs. the Mocs, including one that prevented a possible touchdown…Early in the first quarter, Jacob Huesman found C.J. Board with a flag pass and the split end eluded cornerback James Bradberry to break it open, only to be tackled by Tartt after a 35-yard pick-up into Samford territory.

Mercer…In a “too close for comfort” 21-18 decision, Tartt snuffed out a quartet of potential scoring drives, recording the sixth interception for his career while also preventing three aerial touchdowns, in addition to making eight solo tackles that included a pair of stops inside the red zone…For his performance, Tartt was named the National FCS Defensive Player of the Week by The NFL Draft Report.

Wofford…The Bulldogs fell to .500 for the season, losing for the third time in six games, despite seeing their free safety deliver a season-best ten tackles (6 solos) that included three stops behind the line of scrimmage, a trio of third-down hits and one more tackle that prevented a touchdown.

Furman…Tartt led a defensive effort that saw the Bulldogs record their second shutout for the season, downing the Paladins by a 45-0 score, as the safety was credited with six solo tackles…One of those stops leveled Andrej Suttles on a 5-yard punt return to begin second quarter action.

Concordia…For the third time in 2014, the Bulldogs denied their opponent any chance for scoring, as the Tartt-led defensive unit tied the school season-record for shutouts that was first set by the 1971 team…The senior paced Samford’s dominance, as they allowed the Hornets just 114 yards in total offense.

2013 SEASON

While most news services accorded Tartt All-American second-team status, the All-Southern Conference standout was rightfully placed on the All-American first-team by The NFL Draft Report, as that scouting service’s staff labeled the Bulldog “the hardest hitting safety” in the nation…Tartt rewarded that service’s faith in him by delivering a career-high 98 tackles (69 solos) through twelve starting assignments, having missed the Florida A&M clash with a minor injury…The junior assisted in one stop behind the line of scrimmage, as he deflected nine passes and intercepted another that he ran back 33 yards for a touch-down…Also registered three tackles for the kickoff coverage team…Tartt was involved in 68 plays vs. the run, holding the opponent to 214 yards (3.15 ypc), as he made eleven touchdown-saving tackles, took down one ball carrier for a loss and stopped five others at the line of scrimmage for no gain, allowing twelve first-down carries while coming up with nine third-down hits and three others on fourth-down snaps vs. the rushing attack…As a pass defender, he was forced to come out of his area to produce six touchdown-saving tackles after receivers had eluded other Bulldogs, as he had a total of 72 passes targeted into his area, yet limited his coverage assignments to sixteen receptions for 141 yards (22.22 pass completion percentage), an average of 8.81 yards per completion and 1.96 yards per attempt (yards-per-attempt average was the lowest for any safety in college and third-lowest among all defensive backs in 2013), as just eight of those grabs resulted in first downs. He also delivered 22 third-down stops, five more on fourth-down plays and rerouted/jammed his opponent away from 32 of those targeted throws (44.44%)…Among his 98 tackles, 23 came inside the red zone…Tartt switched to jersey #6 from #27 prior to the start of the regular season schedule, as he finished tenth in the nation in solo tackles (69) for a unit that ranked 24th in the FCS in passing defense (189.5 ypg), helping the Bull-dogs reach the playoffs for the first time since the 1992 season.

2013 SEASON GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Georgia State…Georgia State was entering the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks, but the Bulldogs handed GSU a 31-21 season opening loss, thanks to their free safety making a pair of touchdown-saving tackles among his five stops, along with killing another drive by intercepting a pass in the third quarter, returning it 33 yards for a touchdown to rally the team to a 14-14 tie…Tartt, named the Southern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week for his performance, had sparked a 24-point outburst by the Bulldogs with that pick-six.

Arkansas…Tartt followed with a five-tackle performance vs. the Hogs, including one that prevented a possible touchdown, when he leveled Jonathan Williams after the tailback burst through the Bulldogs front wall for a 46-yard scamper before being brought down by the safety at the Samford 8-yard line.

Southeastern Louisiana…Tartt returned to action with a nine-tackle performance, making five of his stops inside the red zone, as he also rerouted his coverage assignments away from six passes into his territory.

Western Carolina…In a 62-23 triumph, Tartt registered six tackles, assisting in one stop behind the line of scrimmage…He set the tone of the game when he upended Troy Mitchell for no gain on the contest’s first snap from scrimmage.

Georgia Southern…With Tartt collecting six stops, including a pair of touchdown-saving tackles vs. the heralded GSU running game, the Bulldogs gave the Eagles a “good-bye” before that organization headed to the FBS ranks in 2014, handing their opponent a 44-34 loss.

Wofford…An incredible performance by their free safety helped the Bulldogs hold off the Terriers for a 34-27 decision. Not only did Tartt register a career-high seventeen tackles (15 solos), the fifth time he reached double-digit stops in a game, nine of his hits came via third-down snaps and three more on fourth-down plays.

Tennessee-Chattanooga…Tartt earned Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, as he tied his career-high with a game-high 17 tackles, including thirteen solo stops, making four hits on third-down snaps and two more on fourth-down plays, in addition to posting three touchdown-saving tackles.

Jacksonville State (NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoff Opening Round)…

Back in the post-season action for the first time since 1992, Tartt posted twelve tackles (10 solos) in a 55-14 losing effort.

2012 SEASON

The Buck Buchanan Award finalist was also a consensus All-American and All-Southern Conference selection during his first season as the starting free safety…The surprise starter could not have made a greater impact, as he was not only named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week three times, but also took home Defensive Player of the Month (September) accolades…One of the nation’s leaders with a 33.0-yard average via four interceptions for 132 yards, including one touchdown, he also scored after scooping up a fumble and racing 80 yards into the end zone, the first time in five seasons that the Bulldogs had returned a fumble for a touchdown…Tied for the team lead with 94 tackles (57 solos), Tartt delivered seven stops for losses of 16 yards (three as a member of the punt coverage unit)…The red-shirt sophomore also deflected ten passes…Establishing his presence inside the box, the free safety was directly involved in 58 running plays, as the opponent gained 132 yards (2.28 ypc) with only three first downs, as Tartt registered three touchdown-saving tackles, along with seven third-down hits and another on a fourth-down snap, taking six runners down for losses and four more at the line of scrimmage for no gain vs. the running attack…Among the 63 passes targeted into his area, Tartt rerouted or jammed his assignments on 21 of those errant tosses (33.33%), allowing thirteen catches (20.63 pass completion percentage) for 110 yards and five first downs, an average of 8.46 yards per pass completion and 1.75 yards per attempt, as the Bulldog also came up with fourteen third-down stops and six more on fourth-down snaps vs. the passing game…Had fifteen tackles inside the end zone and on special teams, he not only made ten tackles (five each for the punt and kickoff squads), three of his stops on punt runbacks resulted in lost yardage.

2011 SEASON

Tartt appeared in ten games, playing behind Omar Johnson at free safety, recording 23 tackles (19 solos), including making two stops for the kickoff coverage team…Was also involved in seventeen running plays, taking three of those ball carriers down at the line of scrimmage for no gain, along with posting a trio of third-down hits and recording three touchdown-saving tackles vs. the ground attack…Allowed just three receptions among the nine passes targeted into his area, good for eight yards (2.67 yards per pass completion; 0.88 yards per attempt), collecting three third-down hits, as he stopped one receiver at the line of scrimmage for no gain, jostled with one other pass catcher to cause his opponent to drop the ball and rerouted others away from five other tosses.

2010 SEASON

Tartt red-shirted during his first season at Samford, retaining four years of college football eligibility…Was limited in practice with the scout team due to a shoulder injury.

INJURY REPORT

2010 Season…Missed a few practices when he injured his shoulder when taking on an offensive lineman.

2013 season…Sat out the Florida A&M clash with a shoulder contusion.

AGILITY TESTS

4.53 in the 40-yard dash…1.61 10-yard dash…2.67 20-yard dash…36-inch vertical jump… 10’-04” broad jump…32 3/8-inch arm length…9 7/8-inch right hand/10 ¼-inch left hand…78 ¾-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL

Tartt attended Davidson (Mobile, Ala.) High School, where he first lettered three times for the Warriors basketball team before joining the football squad for his senior season…

Tartt was the biggest surprise on the gridiron for the Warriors, as he stepped into the lineup at free safety when Chris Hughes was injured and even when the former starter returned, the staff could not justify placing Tartt on the bench. "He has been a great football player," said grid coach Fred Riley during the 2009 season. "After Chris went down we didn't know what we would get at that position, but Jaquiski stepped in and was a big surprise for us at that spot. Even with Chris coming back, we moved him to outside linebacker and kept Jaquiski at safety."…With Tartt producing 72 tackles (48 solos), two interceptions, five pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback pressure, the Warriors ranked 14th in the state of Alabama after compiling an 11-3 record that included a 6-1 mark during 6A Region I competition…One of the biggest plays by Tartt came in preserving a 14-12 victory over Theodore High. After the Warriors had gone 99 yards for the go-ahead touchdown drive, Theodore QB Chris Nelson took over at the 3-yard line, marching the team to the Davidson 5-yard marker, a 92-yard march. With 0:57 left on the clock, the quarterback was hit attempting to pass and the ball simply floated into Tartt’s hands in the end zone to snuff out a potential game-winning drive…In basketball, Tartt lettered three times and earned Mobile Press-Register High School Basketball All-Academic Team honors…At the 2010 Martin Luther King Roundball Classic, he scored eleven points vs. Murphy and fourteen more vs. Bryant. Later that year, his three-point shot sparked an 11-point run by the Warriors to rally and beat Baldwin County, 57-52. His fourteen points also proved to be the decisive factor in a 61-58 decision over Theodore High.

PERSONAL

Tartt is majoring in Psychology and also in Geography, spending part of his 2012 off-season working for the Alabama Power Authority…Son of Cheryl Tartt and Sean King, Sr…Born 2/18/92…Resides in Mobile, Alabama.

PLAYER STATISTICS

|DEFENSIVE STATISTICS |

|STATS |GP |

STATS |NO |YARDS |AVG |TD |LONG |NO |YARDS |AVG |TD |LONG | |2011 | 00 | 000 |00.00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 000 |00.00 | 00 | 00 | |2012 | 04 | 132 |33.00 | 01 | 65 | 01 | 080 |80.00 | 00 | 80 | |2013 | 01 | 033 |33.00 | 01 | 33 | 00 | 000 |00.00 | 00 | 00 | |2014 | 01 | 002 |02.00 | 00 | 02 | 00 | 000 |00.00 | 00 | 00 | |TOTAL | 06 | 167 |27.83 | 02 | 65 | 01 | 080 |80.00 | 00 | 80 | |

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