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- Mar 19, 2019
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He's also plenty crafty and experienced as a four-year starter, starting 44-of-50 career games. In that time, he totaled 146 tackles (6.0 for loss), 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, five interceptions and 43 (!) pass breakups.
According to Pro Football Focus, Gladney had more career forced incompletions on third down (19) than any other cornerback in the 2020 draft class.
Gladney really came into his own in 2018, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. According to PFF, he was No. 1 in the conference in lowest opponent passer rating allowed (46.9) with a minimum of 200 coverage snaps, and also No. 1 in the conference in only surrendering one reception per every 16.5 coverage snaps.
His aggressive style of play endeared onlookers again in 2019 as he was named First-Team All-Big 12.
Over the course of his collegiate career, Gladney has become a student of the game.
"I got a lot of playing time under my belt in four years," Gladney said. "Got smarter, way smarter. I'd say that's the biggest part."
Gladney will craft a specific gameplan for the stud receivers he's lining up against. He's very adaptable and doesn't just throw his fastball, so to speak.
"Studying film and watching what receiver I'm playing, some guys like handsy corners and some guys don't," Gladney said of his approach in press-man coverage. "So if you're a guy who don't (like handsy cornerbacks), I'm really gonna use my hands a lot then. If you're looking for that type of fight at the line, I'll try to mix it up and maybe not throw as much. It just depends on who I'm going against."