Tankersley ready to bring a Super Bowl to the Dolphins

Nikki Hood by Staff Writer -

Cordrea Tankersley is ready to help the Dolphins win a Super Bowl.

The former Clemson cornerback sat patiently through most of the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft, waiting for his name to be called. As the number of picks remaining in the third round waned, Tankersley began to wonder when his name would be called.

The Dolphins made his dreams come true, choosing Tankersley with the 97th overall pick.

“I knew my name had to get called sooner or later. As it got closer to that fourth round, I was definitely getting a little worried,” Tankersley said. “I was just wondering what was really going on after seeing a lot of corners - some of them I’ve never heard of in my life - starting to get picked ahead of me. It got a little frustrating and a little aggravating, but we got picked and it’s time to move one.”

The Los Angeles Rams had made it known that they were ready to make a move, but the Dolphins beat them to the punch.

“It’s the phone call I’ve been waiting on all of my life. It’s funny because the L.A. Rams called me just before the Dolphins, and they told me they were looking to pick me so to keep my phone close,” Tankersley said. “I had my phone next to me for five hours. As soon as I got off the phone with them, the Dolphins called and said, ‘We’re ready to take you with the next pick. You’ve been high on our list for a very long time, but we didn’t think you were going to be here in the third round, so we’re getting a steal. We’re going to go ahead and draft you and we’re hoping for great things out of you.’”

Now, he’s ready to get to work for the Dolphins, a team he wants to help win a Super Bowl.

“They’re definitely Super Bowl contenders. They went to the playoffs for the first time in quite a while last year,” he said”. I’m just glad I can be that extra piece for them. They went out and got everything they need - a d-lineman, a linebacker and then they got a cornerback in me. It’s good to go in and fill that role opposite of Byron Maxwell and bring a Super Bowl to the franchise.”

He will be playing his home games in Hard Rock Stadium, the stadium in which he scored his only career touchdown – a pick-six against the Miami Hurricanes in October of 2015.

“It’s funny because the only touchdown I’ve ever scored was in that Miami stadium,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have plenty of more. I haven’t even really thought about that. It’s crazy.”

Tankersley watched the draft with a small contingent of friends and family.

“I had a private party. It wasn’t all of my family. It was just the ones who have been there and had my back my whole life. I just had a private and secluded area in Augusta, Georgia, at the Marriott,” he said. “I had probably 20 people there and that’s all I really need. My circle is really small, but to see the excitement and the support those guys have for me whether it was first, second, third or fourth, they were all there for me. Just to see the excitement and tears on my mom’s face and the joy I brought to my friends, it was a special moment. You only get drafted one time so to have that moment was really special.”

He then had a special message for all Clemson fans.

“Thank you for everything. Thank you for the support,” Tankersley said. “Thank you to those who had my back the whole time. I know there were a lot of other fans out there who questioned me, but I’m glad I have your attention now. I just want to say thank you for the blessings and the opportunity that Clemson brought to me. I’m looking forward the next journey.”