In this installment of the Recruit Notebook, we meet a talented CB who uses good athleticism and great skill to overcome a lack of size: CB Te’Cory Couch.

Bio

Like many players before him, Te’Cory Couch is a top tier cover corner who lacks ideal height. The Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna standout has continued to develop his outstanding cover skills throughout the course of a stellar prep career.

Couch does what you want a cornerback to do: cover guys well, and intercept passes when given the opportunity. The 5’9” 148lb Couch showcased these skills repeatedly in his HS career, most notably with 2 INTs (and it could have easily been 3) in Chaminade’s 2018 Florida 3A State Championship victory.

In his recruitment, Couch wanted a Miami offer, but that didn’t come for a while. Instead of waiting around for the Canes, Couch instead developed a relationship with other schools. First, he was committed to the Tennessee Volunteers in June of 2017, but that didn’t last long, as Couch decommitted in April 2018. That decommitment had the next move forward for Couch, who decided to commit to the University of Michigan at that time while on an Official Visit to Ann Arbor. Couch held that commitment for a little under 2 months, before finally flipping to the hometown Hurricanes in June, and that’s been that.

I know it may seem iffy that Couch was committed to 3 schools, but all are top-end P5 programs, and that speaks to his playing ability. A lesser player would not have had the opportunity to commit to so many high major programs, but Couch did. And, luckily for Miami, he decided his 3rd commitment was his last commitment and is locked in after signing with the Canes today.

Recruiting Ranking

On the 247sports composite, Payton is a 4-star prospect, the #31 CB Nationally in this class, #41 in the State of Florida, and #302 recruit overall.

Couch committed to Miami over several P5 offers, including Michigan (from whom he flipped to Miami), Tennessee, LSU, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

As a Player

Couch is your prototypical cover corner...except smaller. He’s 5’9” 148lbs so he’s both short and thin, and that will be a factor for him moving forward. Physical development is a must, since he’s not really gonna grow anymore or anything.

Couch is a master at reading and reacting to a receiver’s route. He just has an innate knack for understand routes, and has practiced and developed his skills to be a high quality cover guy.

Obviously, due to his lack of height and size, Couch is not really a factor in run defense. Sure, he’s made some tackles on runs to the outside, but if you’re relying on him to set the point of attack and physically overwhelm an offensive player, you’re asking Couch to do something other than what he’s good at doing.

Having been clocked at 4.51 in the 40 previously, Couch has very good speed and great short area quickness as well. He can cover ground swiftly, and has more than enough make-up speed to recover if beaten (which doesn’t happen very often, trust me).

Strengths

• Coverage ability
• Ball skills
• Speed
• Quickness

Weaknesses

• Size/height
• Physical development
• Run support

2019 Outlook

Much like Trajan Bandy before him, there’s a chance that Couch can work his way into a 6th DB/special teams role in 2019. However, due mainly to the fact that he’s under 150lbs, the more prudent path might be to give him a year to develop physically before putting him on the field in a Canes uniform.

Chances for a redshirt: 8/10

Couch is a really good cover guy, but that’s the extent of his college-ready game. I think that he’s going to take an RS in 2019, and work his way into the rotation with a more college-ready body in 2020 and beyond.

That’s it for this installment of The Recruit Notebook.

Go Canes