Tyrique Stevenson 1 of 10 2023 draftees that helped themselves by transferring

Adam Gorney the Rivals.com National Recruiting Director named former Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson as one of “NFL Draft: Ten players that helped themselves by transferring.” Stevenson transferred to Miami prior to the 2021 season for an opportunity to play more outside cornerback.

Georgia signed Stevenson as the 35th prospect, the fifth-ranked player in Florida and the sixth-ranked CB in 2019 per Rivals. In two seasons at Georgia, Stevenson had 47 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and 10 pass breakups. Stevenson had 68 tackles, four TFLs, 0.5 sacks, three interceptions and 11 PBUs with Miami.

With good performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, Tyrique Stevenson exceeded his Draft projection in the third round when the Chicago Bears selected him in the second round last Friday night. Miami has had four transfers selected in the last four NFL Drafts. Expect that streak to continue in 2024.

Stevenson was a two-year starter at Miami and a leader on defense for the Hurricanes. Several projections have Stevenson competing to be a starter in his rookie season with Chicago. Playing with Georgia and Miami allowed Stevenson to become a versatile defensive back after playing in two different positions and systems.

"“The former four-star defensive back from Miami (Fla.) Southridge had a really promising start to his Georgia career where he saw the field often and finished with 47 tackles over 19 games in Athens. But rumors started that Stevenson was headed to the portal and he landed at Miami where his college career really took off.Stevenson was much more productive in Miami, where he totaled 68 tackles and three picks during two seasons. In a loaded cornerback draft that saw four drafted in the first round and another six picked in the second, Stevenson landed later in that second round.His production while at Miami was a big reason why he didn’t fall into the third or later.”"

Stevenson allowed a 47.2 completion rate in coverage in 2021 and 2022 which was the fifth best nationally according to Pro Football Focus via Alex Shapiro of NBC Sports Chicago. The Bears traded the 61st overall pick and a fifth-round pick that was 136 overall to Jacksonville in order to move up and draft Stevenson.

Stevenson was the highest-drafted Miami defensive back since CB Artie Burns was the 25th pick overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Burns played with Chicago in 2021 and Seattle last season. Stevenson joins running back Travis Homer and safety Adrian Colbert as former Hurricanes on the Chicago roster.