INDIANAPOLIS – Jason Tarver has attended 23 NFL Scouting Combines over the course of his coaching career.
In that time, Tarver has not only coached the linebacker drills during the workout portion of the combine, but also helped conduct prospect interviews for his organizations at the time. Tarver is in his fifth year with the Browns, and over the years has developed a system when it comes to learning all he can about potential prospects.
"The coach's role in this process is to find out what can he do and how do you help him get better," Tarver said. "We're one of 32 picking and my information on the player is just a piece, but I got to know how to help him if and when the Browns draft him. So, how does he learn and how can I help him get better? And what does he do well? It might be the mental that comes out of the interviews that he does really well. And then on the field, I don't want to form my final opinion on the field, but you just want to watch them move and give them a coaching point – did they do it and can they do it right away?"
Tarver said he begins his preparation just a few weeks before the combine, gathering background information on prospects and considering questions he wants to ask them in interviews.
"I prepare just by a little bit of video, but I don't want to finish my report because I don't want to be biased on certain players over other players. This is my first time in a lot of ways seeing them and preparing for them," Tarver said.
NFL prospects speak at their media availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Edge Mike Green, Marshall at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Linebacker Jalon Walker, Georgia at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Michigan at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Michigan at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Michigan at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Linebacker Jalon Walker, Georgia at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Colston Loveland, Michigan speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Mason Taylor, LSU speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Mason Taylor, LSU speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Edge Mike Green, Marshall at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Mason Taylor, LSU speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Colston Loveland, Michigan speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Linebacker Jalon Walker, Georgia at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Mike Green, Marshall at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Michigan at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Linebacker Jalon Walker, Georgia at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Michigan at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Mike Green, Marshall at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Linebacker Jalon Walker, Georgia at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Mike Green, Marshall at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Mason Taylor, LSU speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Linebacker Jalon Walker, Georgia at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Michigan at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham, Michigan at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
Tight end Mason Taylor, LSU speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Mason Taylor, LSU speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Colston Loveland, Michigan speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Colston Loveland, Michigan speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Tight end Mason Taylor, LSU speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
Defensive back Travis Hunter, Colorado speaks to the media during his availability at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27, 2025.
The Browns – and all 32 NFL teams – began interviews the night of Feb. 24 at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. Some interviews took place in the morning, while others occurred in the evening. Tarver said the interviews are set up in a rotational style with slightly different setups for informal and formal interviews. In the informal interviews, Tarver said they have 1-on-1 meetings with the players, which allow him to ask questions to find out who they are both as people and players.
"I'll say, 'Hey show me how you shed a block' and things like that and get into it with them," Tarver said. "And then make them draw their plays. And so, a lot of it is things I've just acquired over the years, different questions to ask them to get them talking because the coach's job – our job – is we don't know who we're going to get. But whoever comes in we have to have a relationship to help them be their best."
The structure changes for formal interviews. Those interviews have members of the organization such as Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski and for defensive players, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and the position coach.
Tarver said in those settings, the coaches prepare a video or a test. They'll have a prospect draw a defense on the board and ask the prospect questions. Then, specifically for linebackers, Tarver said he shows different forms of run and pass plays to see how a prospect can remember the calls or show what he did in that specific play.
"Also, their rushes – like with Jeremiah (Owusu-Koramoah) and our rushers, we're pretty good as linebacker blitzers, so I'll show two or three blitzes to see how they're doing and how they know it," Tarver said. "And ask them questions through the video and feedback. A lot of times while they're doing that, there's more questions generated by the people in the room or the young man."
Whether through the interview process or the 14 years of coaching the linebacker drills, Tarver has formed relationships with players across the league. It's one of the many benefits he values as being a part of the combine and the interview process.
"I love getting to meet all the linebackers in the group and all the defensive players," Tarver said.
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Senior Producer of NFL Films Greg Cosell joins Cleveland Browns Daily on location at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 26, 2025.
