Jowell Combay

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-1, 200 lbs. Taller than 54% and heavier than 86% of 2026 Safety prospects in the SEC Scouts database (200 with a listed size).

Play Style

He reads the quarterback from depth, plays with good spacing in single-high and split-safety looks, and closes fast once he picks a target. His length helps him break up passes on throws over the middle and up the seam. Against the run he works to the ball as a second-level tackler rather than as an attacking box player. After his senior year he said he had worked on the mental side of the game, meaning pre-snap recognition and communication, which fits a player who wins with instincts more than pure physicality.

Strengths

• Range in single-high coverage: one evaluation calls him an 'instinctive safety who plays with range in single-high looks and can rally to the football.' His length and reactions let him cover ground from the middle of the field to the sideline.
• Production on a winning team: 56 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions as a senior for an 11-2 state semifinalist. Most of that came in his first year at a new school, which shows he adjusted quickly.
• Versatility: Tennessee coverage described him as a 'very versatile' safety. His size and coverage skills give coaches options at deep safety, in the box, and possibly at corner (one depth-chart site lists him at CB).
• Broad recruitment: more than 30 FBS offers, including about 10 from SEC schools and Georgia, which suggests college staffs rated his film above his #586 national ranking.

Areas to Improve

• Strength and weight: he needs to grow from 190 to about 200+ pounds so he can take on blocks, finish tackles in the alley and hold up through an SEC season.
• Tackling consistency: 4 tackles for loss is modest for a safety his size. He should take better angles when coming downhill and break down under control in open space, so he finishes tackles instead of just getting runners to the ground.
• Man coverage in the slot: his best fit is reading plays from deep zones. To get on the field early he needs better footwork and hip turn against quick slot receivers.

College Projection

He enrolled at Tennessee as part of the 2026 class, which also includes safeties KJ McClain and Luke Thompson. In 2026 he is most likely a redshirt candidate who plays special teams (kick coverage suits his length and range) while he adds weight. He could compete for rotational snaps in 2027 and become a starter by 2028 if his strength develops. The one-position listing at corner suggests the staff may also try him there, which could change that timeline.

Best Fit

A defense that uses a lot of two-high shells and needs a long, smart deep safety who can rotate into a single-high middle-of-the-field role, like the quarters- and match-based coverage he is likely to play at Tennessee. He fits best where he can play from depth and use his range, and where a strong strength program can build him up to about 200 pounds before he has to make regular run fits in the box.