Tatum Bethune, LB, Florida State
Size:
Height: 5’11.5”
Weight: 229 pounds
Arm Length: 32 3/8"
Hand Size: 10”
Accomplishments:
Third-Team All-ACC (2023) • All-ACC Honorable Mention (2022)
“What Tatum Bethune lacks in mass he makes up for in instincts, physicality, and the eyes to make plays at the line of scrimmage.”
Strengths:
Flat-out ballplayer
Motor
Instincts
Stack/shed
Man coverage
Concerns:
Size
Top-end speed
Tweener
Film Analysis:
What Tatum Bethune lacks in mass he makes up for in instincts, physicality, and the eyes to make plays at the line of scrimmage. He’s a flat-out competitor that hunts for contact on every single snap. Aligned in the middle of the Florida State defense, Bethune showcases good awareness to diagnose run concepts before the ball is snapped. His feet are constantly moving pre-snap, often tapping defensive linemen into more fortuitous alignments.
Against the run, while Bethune won’t consistently shed blockers, the speed in which he fits the run fails to allow the opposition to establish angles, and thus, a block. Can sniff out alleys in the blink of an eye. Will short shoulder and bend around linemen to reduce the area from ball-carriers. Has no issue sticking his face in the mud on short down and distances, and arrives at contact with intelligent violence. Can miss tackles, but arrives with thump and showcases the ability to bring larger bodies to the ground consistently (Clemson). Excellent when scraping over the top, showcasing good lateral agility and the burst to explode downhill.
Against the pass, Bethune has experience in man versus RBs and TEs. Projecting him to stay hip-to-hip with NFL ‘F’ TEs would be rich at this point, but he has no issue staying glued to primary in-line weapons with a little less get-up-and-go. His athletic profile remains average and top-end burst to chase down higher-level athletes is not present. He’s comfortable working inside the contact window to disrupt timing off the line of scrimmage and will also provide another body in throwing lanes after identifying shallow crossers in zone. Instinctive to make plays on the football, as well.
Overall, Bethune projects as an immediate core special teamer due to his willingness to be physical and his pursuit angles in space. Defensively, snaps as a rotational piece at linebacker could be his quickest path to playing time. All in all, there won't be a team in football that will turn down the potential of grabbing an extremely competitive and instinctual athlete like Bethune in the latter rounds despite his lack of size and overall mass.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
Exposures: Miami (2023), Clemson (2023)
