Cedric Tillman Bio
Cedric Jashon Tillman, born on April 19, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American professional football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 215 lb (98 kg), he plays in a physical perimeter role and has emerged as a contributing member of the Browns’ receiving corps since entering the league in 2023.
A former three-star high school recruit, Tillman played college football at the University of Tennessee from 2018 to 2022, where he developed into one of the Southeastern Conference’s most productive pass catchers. The Cleveland Browns selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, and he has since continued to build his professional résumé.
Early Life and Background
Cedric Jashon Tillman grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bishop Gorman High School, one of the most competitive football programs in the western United States. He was rated as a three-star prospect during his recruitment by 247Sports, a rating that reflected his size and physical tools rather than early national acclaim.
Coming from a household with deep football ties, Tillman benefited from early exposure to the professional game. In February 2018, he committed to the University of Tennessee to play college football, choosing the Volunteers over other suitors and setting the stage for his development as a top-tier collegiate receiver.
Path to American Football
Tillman’s pathway to professional football ran through Knoxville, where he spent five seasons learning the Volunteers’ offensive system. He redshirted as a freshman in 2018 and, over his first three years at Tennessee, served primarily as a backup receiver, recording eight receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns from 2018 through 2020.
His development accelerated when he became a starter for the first time in 2021. That season marked his transition from a depth player into a featured weapon in Tennessee’s passing attack, and his production drew attention from NFL scouts evaluating the upcoming draft class.
Cedric Tillman Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
During his first three seasons at Tennessee, Tillman worked primarily behind established veterans, appearing in spot duty and special-packages roles. He scored his first college touchdown on September 14, 2019, in a 45–0 victory over Chattanooga, providing an early glimpse of his scoring potential.
In the final game of Tennessee’s 2020 season, he scored on a 46-yard touchdown reception in a 34–13 loss to Texas A&M. Though his overall numbers remained modest, the long touchdown offered proof of his downfield ability and helped position him for an expanded role the following year.
Tennessee Volunteers Breakthrough (2021)
The 2021 season represented Tillman’s arrival as a college star. He opened with a breakout game against longtime rival #4 Alabama, posting seven catches for 152 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in a 52–24 loss, highlighted by a 70-yard reception that brought the Volunteers within seven points in the fourth quarter.
He continued his ascent on November 13 against #1 Georgia, recording ten receptions for 200 receiving yards and one touchdown in a 41–17 loss. He became the first Volunteer to record at least 200 receiving yards since Cordarrelle Patterson in 2012. In the regular-season finale against in-state rival Vanderbilt, he produced his first multi-touchdown game as a Vol in a 45–21 victory. He closed the year in the Music City Bowl against Purdue with seven receptions for 150 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in a 48–45 overtime loss. His 12 receiving touchdowns ranked third in the SEC.
Senior Season at Tennessee (2022)
Tillman returned to Tennessee for the 2022 season rather than enter the 2022 NFL draft, a decision that allowed him to refine his craft against top competition. In Tennessee’s second game of the year, against #17 Pitt, he posted nine receptions for 162 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in overtime to seal a 34–27 victory on September 10.
An ankle injury sustained the following week against Akron affected his availability and limited his production. He returned against Kentucky on October 29 and, on November 19, scored two receiving touchdowns against South Carolina. He finished the season with 37 receptions for 417 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in six games before electing to enter the 2023 NFL draft and skipping the Orange Bowl.
Cleveland Browns Era (2023–Present)
Tillman was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round, 74th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft, beginning his professional career in the AFC North. In his rookie season, he appeared in 14 games and started three, finishing with 21 receptions for 224 receiving yards as he adjusted to the speed and complexity of the professional game.
In Week 8 of the 2024 season, he recorded 99 yards and his first two professional touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens in a 29–24 victory, a performance that signaled his growing role in the Browns’ offense. He later suffered a concussion against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 and was placed on injured reserve on December 31, ending his 2024 campaign with 29 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
On September 29, 2025, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Tillman would miss weeks due to a hamstring injury suffered in the team’s Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions. He was activated on November 8 ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the New York Jets, and he finished the 2025 season with 21 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tillman operates as a big-bodied perimeter receiver who excels at winning contested catches and stretching the field vertically. His 6 ft 3 in frame and physical style allow him to box out defensive backs, while his college track record of explosive yardage totals demonstrates downfield acceleration and reliable hands.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature accomplishments, Tillman became the first Volunteer since 2012 to post a 200-yard receiving game, and he tied program memory with a three-touchdown performance in the Music City Bowl against Purdue. In the NFL, his first two professional touchdowns came against the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, marking a career-defining moment in Cleveland’s rivalry series.
Cedric Tillman Career Wins
While the NFL does not record wins in the same manner as individual sports, Tillman’s professional milestones reflect an ascending trajectory. Across his first three professional seasons, he has accumulated 71 receptions for 833 receiving yards and 5 receiving touchdowns, according to career statistics recorded as of 2025.
NFL Highlights
Tillman’s most prominent NFL highlight came in Week 8 of the 2024 season, when he posted 99 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens in a 29–24 Cleveland victory. He also produced a game-winning overtime touchdown reception against #17 Pitt during his 2022 senior season, capping a 34–27 Tennessee win.
Other Wins and Performances
At Bishop Gorman, Tillman competed in one of the nation’s most decorated high school football programs, contributing to a winning culture that helped prepare him for the college level. His multi-touchdown performance against Vanderbilt and his 200-yard game versus Georgia stand among his most celebrated college achievements.
Cedric Tillman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tillman comes from a notable football family. His father, also named Cedric Tillman, played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars, giving the younger Cedric a direct connection to the professional ranks and early insight into the demands of an NFL career.
Personal Life
Public personal-life details beyond his immediate family are limited. Tillman, who grew up in Las Vegas and later moved to Tennessee and Ohio for his football career, has focused much of his public profile on the game itself.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented early challenges for Cedric Jashon Tillman. In Week 4, a hamstring injury sustained in a loss to the Detroit Lions sidelined him for several weeks, an announcement confirmed by head coach Kevin Stefanski on September 29, 2025. The injury interrupted what had been an ascending role within the Browns’ offense.
He was activated on November 8, 2025, ahead of the team’s Week 10 matchup against the New York Jets, allowing him to rejoin the rotation. He finished the 2025 season with 21 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns, contributing down the stretch as Cleveland evaluated its receiving corps.
Looking forward, Tillman remains under contract with the Browns and is expected to compete for a larger role in the offense as he continues to build chemistry with the team’s quarterbacks. With his frame, contested-catch ability, and proven production against top college competition, his trajectory suggests a player poised to expand his impact in the seasons ahead.
