The team at Vikings Territory has been busy working to get to know each of our newest Vikings draft selections and this week we will give you a chance to learn everything we know about these players through our reintroduction of the “Welcome to the Big Show” series.
Next Up: DB Jack Tocho
PERSONAL LIFE
Jack Tocho is a Charlotte, North Carolina native and the son of Kenyan immigrants. He played safety, cornerback and running back while in high school. The former three-star athlete ultimate signed with the North Carolina State Wolfpack over Ball State, Air Force and Army.
He finished an accounting degree in three years and was a consistent All-Academic ACC performer throughout his four years. The former North Carolina State cornerback is best known for being extremely intelligent as well as an excellent leader. Tocho annually received honors for his performance inside the classroom and was named captain of the Wolfpack for the 2016 season.
Tocho was a very mature student-athlete with a great football mind, who has made multiple trips to Africa during his young adult life.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
College Attended: North Carolina State
Collegiate Seasons: 4
Games Played: 45
Combined Tackles: 122
Sacks: 1
Interceptions: 6
Receptions or Pass Defenses: 26
Forced Fumbles: 0
Recovered Fumbles: 0
MEASUREMENTS
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 202 pounds
Arm Length: 31 5/8″
Hand Size: 9 3/8″
ATHLETIC TESTING
40-Yard Dash: 4.54 seconds
Bench Press: 21 reps
Vertical Jump: 35″
Broad Jump: 125″
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
STRENGTHS
- Highly regarded for on- and off-field Intelligence
- Sufficient Size for a professional safety
- Outstanding ball skills
- Positional instincts/Awareness
- Decision-Making/Play Recognition
- Pursuit angles and closing speed
- Press Coverage
- Zone Coverage
WEAKNESSES
- Substandard long speed and lateral agility
- Tackling Efficiency
- Man Coverage
- Athleticism
- Lateral Quickness
- Inconsistent Block Shedder
- Run Support
TALE OF THE TAPE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1kAhrgZZZE
Jack Tocho was a solid play-making press cornerback during his time at North Carolina State, but his skill set is likely better-suited for a zone safety role in the NFL. His intelligence translates well to field, as he is an excellent decision-maker, diagnoses plays quickly and is always well-versed in every detail of his playbook.
His ability to track the flight path of a ball; promptly commit to the optimal angle of pursuit; and attack the ball at its highest point with wide receiver-like pass-catching talent. That said, however, Tocho’s ball skills are really the only tool in his shed that consistently stand out in a positive way. He will need to clean up his tackling as well as multiple other aspects to his repett and hope that his instincts make up for his lack of speed and lateral athleticism.
SCOUTING REPORTS
Lance Zierlein – NFL.com: “Jack Tocho has good size and is an experienced press corner with a decent closing burst to the ball, but an inability to carry speed down the field could limit his scheme fits. The football intelligence and instincts are good enough but he has to prove he can run.”
Tony Pauline – Draft Analyst.com: “Tocho was a stalwart for North Carolina State and possesses the size, ball skills and versatility to line up in dime packages on Sundays.”
Pro Football Focus – Analysis Team: “In a cornerback class as deep as this, it’s tough to see Jack Tocho being drafted before the third day, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have value. He held his own pretty well against Clemson’s Mike Williams, who many expect to be drafted early in the first round, and showed a pretty strong skill set, especially when it came to reading and reacting to plays.”
SELECTION & REACTION
Round: 7th
Overall: 245th
Twitter Response:
I prayed for this opportunity! All GOD 🙏🏿 https://t.co/zxKAS5LfzZ
— Jack (@mojotocho) April 29, 2017
Tocho – Pack Pride: “It feels great [to be a Viking] and I want to absorb as much time as I can with people that have paved the way and that know a lot of information,” Tocho said. “To play under a coach like Coach Zimmer will just be very beneficial not only for my career, but for this team as well. Being a player, he has given me a role that I will be able to contribute well in.”
The initial expert analysis of Minnesota’s selection of Jack Tocho was pretty neutral across the board:
Mark Dulgerian – NFL.com: “The Vikings need some depth at safety and coaches may see Jack Tocho as a potential convert to that position.”
Steve Muench – ESPN: “A team captain who graduated in three years, Jack Tocho has enough length and top-end speed to provide depth in a press-heavy scheme.”
VT Readers – Poll: Vikings Territory readers did not specifically grade Jack Tocho, but as a whole, the 7th-round class (Stacy Coley, Ifeadi Odenigbo, Elijah Lee, Tocho) was awarded a “B” grade at a 49.22-percent rate and an “A” grade on 25.97-percent of evaluations. And one would have to believe Lee is significant reason for the very high opinion from voters.
THE VIKINGS FIT
Jack Tocho is by no means a favorite to make Minnesota’s 53-man roster, but the idea behind what Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer see in Tocho appears obvious. Tocho, who will transition from cornerback to safety, is at his best when he is able to survey a zone and react instinctively.
Combined with his sparkling ball skillz, Tocho, in a best-case scenario, would represent a play-maker in deep zone coverage while Harrison Smith aligns all over the defensive formation.
That said, however, the North Carolina State defensive back is more than likely a multiyear project, which means his rookie season will almost certainly be served on the Minnesota’s practice squad.
WELCOME TO THE BIG SHOW
DT Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
LB Ben Gedeon, Michigan
WR Rodney Adams, South Florida
TE Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
WR Stacy Coley, Miami
DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
DB Jack Tocho, North Carolina State
Statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference; Athletic Testing Results & Measurements courtesy of NFL.com; Spider Chart courtesy of Mockdraftable; Film Clips courtesy of Draft Breakdown.