Cedric Jashon Tillman Bio
Cedric Jashon Tillman is an American professional football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 19, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tillman played college football for the University of Tennessee Volunteers before entering the NFL as a third-round draft pick in 2023. The Cleveland Browns selected him with the 74th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he has since become a contributor in their receiving corps. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 215 pounds, Tillman brings size and physicality to the wide receiver position. His career receiving statistics through the 2025 season include 71 receptions for 833 yards and 5 touchdowns in NFL competition.
Early Life and Background
Cedric Jashon Tillman grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bishop Gorman High School. Bishop Gorman has established itself as a nationally recognized football program that consistently produces collegiate and professional talent. During his high school career, Tillman developed into a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports, demonstrating the skills that would eventually earn him a scholarship to a major college football program.
Family football lineage runs deep in the Tillman household. His father, also named Cedric Tillman, played professionally in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars. This background provided Cedric Jashon Tillman with firsthand exposure to the demands and expectations of professional football from an early age, shaping his understanding of the game and his aspirations to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Path to American Football
After completing his high school career at Bishop Gorman, Tillman received interest from multiple college programs across the country. In February 2018, he made his college commitment, choosing to continue his football journey at the University of Tennessee. This decision aligned him with a program that offered both academic opportunities and a path to development at the collegiate level.
Tillman enrolled at Tennessee in 2018 and immediately entered a competitive environment. During his freshman season, he redshirted, using that year for physical development and adjustment to the college game speed. From 2018 to 2020, he served primarily as a backup receiver, accumulating eight receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns. His first college touchdown came on September 14, 2019, during a 45-0 victory over Chattanooga, marking his initial taste of collegiate success.
The 2021 season represented Tillman’s breakthrough year at Tennessee. He earned a starting role for the first time in his collegiate career and showcased his potential against top-tier competition. His most memorable performance came against fourth-ranked Alabama, where he recorded seven catches for 152 receiving yards and one touchdown, including a remarkable 70-yard reception that brought the Volunteers within seven points in the fourth quarter.
Cedric Jashon Tillman Career
Tennessee Volunteers (2018-2022)
Tillman’s progression through the Tennessee program demonstrated consistent improvement year over year. The 2021 season stands as his statistical peak in college, as he finished with 64 receptions for 1,081 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. His 12 receiving touchdowns ranked third in the SEC that season, highlighting his value within one of college football’s most competitive conferences.
His standout performances against ranked opponents defined his 2021 campaign. Against top-ranked Georgia on November 13, Tillman recorded 10 receptions for 200 receiving yards and one touchdown in a 41-17 loss. He became the first Volunteer to achieve at least 200 receiving yards in a game since Cordarrelle Patterson accomplished the feat in 2012. In the regular season finale against in-state rival Vanderbilt, he recorded his first multi-touchdown game as a Volunteer in the 45-21 victory.
Tillman concluded his college career with a spectacular performance in the Music City Bowl against Purdue. In the 48-45 overtime loss, he recorded seven receptions for 150 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Despite the team outcome, this performance solidified his reputation as a big-game performer capable of making significant contributions against quality opposition.
Rather than entering the 2022 NFL Draft, Tillman returned to Tennessee for his redshirt senior season. In the second game of 2022 against 17th-ranked Pittsburgh, he recorded nine receptions for 162 receiving yards and the game-winning overtime touchdown in a 34-27 victory on September 10. However, an ankle injury against Akron impacted his availability and production for much of the remainder of the season. He returned to action against Kentucky on October 29 and finished 2022 with 37 receptions for 417 receiving yards and three touchdowns across six games. Following the season, he declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns Breakthrough (2023)
The Cleveland Browns selected Tillman in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. This selection represented the beginning of his professional career and provided him with an opportunity to continue his development under an NFL coaching staff. The Browns valued his size, college production against elite competition, and bloodline as factors in their evaluation.
In his rookie season, Tillman appeared in 14 games and started three. He finished his debut NFL campaign with 21 receptions for 224 receiving yards, demonstrating the adjustment period typical for young receivers transitioning to professional competition. The experience gained during this season provided valuable lessons about NFL speed, route refinement, and playbook complexity.
Cleveland Browns Era (2024-Present)
The 2024 season marked Tillman’s emergence as a consistent contributor in the Browns offense. Week 8 proved to be a milestone moment when he recorded 99 receiving yards and scored his first two professional touchdowns in a 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. This performance demonstrated his ability to make game-changing plays at the NFL level.
However, the 2024 season ended prematurely due to injury. After suffering a concussion during the Week 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tillman was ruled out for the following week’s game against the Denver Broncos. He was placed on injured reserve on December 31, concluding his season with 29 receptions for 339 receiving yards and three touchdowns across 13 games.
The 2025 season brought new challenges for Tillman. He suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions. Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on September 29 that Tillman would miss weeks due to the injury. He was activated from injured reserve on November 8, ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the New York Jets. Tillman finished the 2025 season with 21 receptions for 270 receiving yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating resilience in returning from injury to contribute to his team.
Playing Style and Strengths
Tillman possesses the physical profile teams seek in a boundary receiver. At 6 feet 3 inches and 215 pounds, he offers size advantages in jump-ball situations and red-zone opportunities. His collegiate performance against Alabama and Georgia demonstrated his ability to win contested catches against physical defensive backs in one-on-one situations. His route-running has shown continued refinement from college to the professional level, while his blocking ability on the perimeter adds value to the team’s running game and overall offensive identity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Tillman has delivered several signature performances that underscore his capabilities. His 2021 breakthrough against Alabama, featuring a 70-yard touchdown reception that momentarily gave Tennessee hope against a top-five opponent, remains one of his most memorable moments. His 200-yard game against Georgia established him among the SEC’s elite receivers that season. At the professional level, his Week 8 2024 performance against the Ravens, resulting in his first multi-touchdown game, represented his arrival as a playmaker capable of impacting games consistently.
Cedric Jashon Tillman Career Statistics
Across his three seasons with the Cleveland Browns through the 2025 campaign, Tillman has accumulated 71 receptions for 833 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. His college career at Tennessee produced 109 receptions for 1,622 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns across 48 games played. The 2021 season represents his most productive collegiate year, with 1,081 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
NFL Highlights
His rookie season provided the foundation with 21 receptions for 224 yards. The 2024 season marked his most productive NFL year to date, as he recorded 29 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns before his season-ending injury. His career-high single-game performance occurred during the 2024 Week 8 victory over Baltimore, where he recorded 99 yards and two touchdowns. The 2025 season saw him finish with 21 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns despite missing significant time due to injury.
College Highlights
Tillman’s 2021 season stands as the centerpiece of his collegiate career. He earned recognition as one of the SEC’s top receivers, ranking third in the conference with 12 touchdown receptions. His 1,081 receiving yards that season placed him among Tennessee’s single-season statistical leaders. The Music City Bowl performance, featuring 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns against Purdue, showcased his ability to perform in high-stakes situations.
| Competition Level | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL (2023-2025) | 71 | 833 | 5 |
| College (2018-2022) | 109 | 1,622 | 17 |
Cedric Jashon Tillman Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Football runs in the Tillman family bloodline. His father, Cedric Tillman, carved out a professional career in the NFL, playing for both the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. This established a direct pathway and expectation for Cedric Jashon Tillman from an early age. Growing up with a father who understood the professional game’s demands provided him with unique insights into the work ethic, discipline, and mental preparation required to succeed at the highest level.
Personal Life
Tillman grew up immersed in football culture due to his father’s career. This upbringing influenced his decision to pursue football at the highest levels. His journey from Las Vegas to Tennessee and eventually to the NFL represents the continuation of a family legacy in professional athletics. While details of his personal relationships remain private, his focus on football development and recovery from injuries demonstrates his commitment to his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented Tillman with significant challenges as he worked to establish himself as a reliable target within the Cleveland Browns offense. After a promising start to the campaign, he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 during the loss to the Detroit Lions. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the injury would require multiple weeks of recovery, placing Tillman on the shelf during a critical stretch of the season.
His return came in Week 10 against the New York Jets after being activated from injured reserve on November 8. The time away from game action required him to shake off rust and reconnect with quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offensive scheme. Despite the interruption, Tillman managed to contribute 21 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns across the games he played. His ability to return from injury and remain productive reflects both his physical resilience and mental toughness.
The Browns offense continued its development under Stefanski’s leadership throughout the 2025 season. Tillman’s role evolved as he regained full health and trust within the offensive system. His two touchdowns on the season came at important moments, demonstrating his value as a red-zone target given his size and catch radius. Looking ahead, Tillman enters future seasons with the opportunity to build upon his foundation of 71 career receptions and establish himself as a dependable starting receiver in the NFL.