Kansas didn’t have a single player taken in the 2019 NFL Draft, but Bryce Torneden could change that trend with another season like his last. The junior safety was second on the Jayhawks in total (88) and solo tackles (61).
Although he only managed one interception (that he returned 39 yards for a score), Torneden proved to be an asset in coverage for the Jayhawks. PFF College ranked him one of the best coverage safeties in the Big 12 for his efforts in 2018.
Bryce Torneden was an animal in coverage for Kansas this season and wound up with the highest coverage grade among Big 12 safeties. pic.twitter.com/3GCnzmPdSQ
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 24, 2019
Being able to make tackles and play in coverage is the kind of versatility NFL teams demand from the safety position. And at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Torneden has that coveted combo of skills and size to get things done defensively.
Team records aren’t always indicative of the caliber of players on the roster, which is good news for Torneden. But if he’s able to sway a few games for the Jayhawks with his play, there’s no doubt he’ll be recognized as one of the better safeties in the 2020 NFL Draft.