Ethan Pocic, LSU
6-6, 310
Pocic played in six games as a freshman for LSU after enrolling the previous spring, and started nine of those games.
He started nine games as a sophomore, splitting time between guard and center, and was named second team All-SEC as a junior. He was named as an All-American and 1st team All-SEC pick as a senior.
The Good
He can play anywhere on the line with equal ability.
Hard worker with excellent aggression.
Smart.
Excellent hand work, and adjusts very well.
Has excellent ability as a solid blocker, and reds defenses very well. Knows when to help his teammates out.
Can get to the second level after finishing at point of contact.
Excellent leverage as a pass blocker.
Does not over commit. Very patient.
Excellent control in space, and works well on pull blocks.
Calls the plays from center.
The Bad
Does not have top flight strength, and is a bot tall for center, and may have to move to guard.
Plays with poor pad level, and stays too upright at times.
Can get bull rushed.
Lacks in upper body strength.
Defenders tend to get by him off his edges.
Final Overview
Pocic is the requisite smart player who can start at Center and call plays from the line. He also adds value as a utility lineman, as he has experience across the line. He has some issues with his overall core strength right now, but that can get worked out at the next level with a strong strength coach. Overall, if you need a center, he is by far the best available in this draft class, and with a little work, he could be a starter for years to come.
Friday, March 31, 2017
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Offensive Guard 5th-7th Round Prospects
5th-7th Round Guard Prospects
Erik Magnuson, Michigan: Zone blocker who lacks top end power. Could fit for a zone scheme team inside.
Greg Pyke, Georgia: Massive mauler who played some tackle. Needs better technique and discipline on next level.
Kyle Kalis, Michigan: Smart, with size and some ability, but lacks athleticism needed. Could be falling as we speak.
Jessamen Dunker, Tennessee State: Small school guy who started out at Florida, but was arrested and transferred out. Character concerns, but is an intriguing athlete who needs to get it all together.
Nico Siragusa, San Diego State: Phone booth blocker who lacks the ability to kick outside. Not much on pass blocking.
Ethan Cooper, Indiana (PA): Under recruited out of high school because of lacking academics. Changed his work ethic at IUP and things picked up. Massive prospect, but is a developmental guy right now. May drop out of draft as a UDFA, but someone will give him a shot.
Erik Magnuson, Michigan: Zone blocker who lacks top end power. Could fit for a zone scheme team inside.
Greg Pyke, Georgia: Massive mauler who played some tackle. Needs better technique and discipline on next level.
Kyle Kalis, Michigan: Smart, with size and some ability, but lacks athleticism needed. Could be falling as we speak.
Jessamen Dunker, Tennessee State: Small school guy who started out at Florida, but was arrested and transferred out. Character concerns, but is an intriguing athlete who needs to get it all together.
Nico Siragusa, San Diego State: Phone booth blocker who lacks the ability to kick outside. Not much on pass blocking.
Ethan Cooper, Indiana (PA): Under recruited out of high school because of lacking academics. Changed his work ethic at IUP and things picked up. Massive prospect, but is a developmental guy right now. May drop out of draft as a UDFA, but someone will give him a shot.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Isaac Asiata
Isaac Asiata, Utah
6-3, 323
He is the cousin of Matt Asiata, formerly of the Utes and currently of the Minnesota Vikings. He served a two year Morman Church mission, returning to football in 2013, and was a part time starter that season.
Asiata started every game from 2014-2016, mostly at LG, but played seven games at RG as well.
He was named second team ALL-PAC12 as a senior.
The Good
Massive frame that swallows defenders whole.
Versatile, as he can play both sides at guard, and can also play center.
Will out work everyone on the field.
Has a solid nasty streak.
Solid pad effort, and is very powerful.
Solid quickness, and makes good reads on defenses.
The Bad
Aggression gets to be to much at times.
Did not receive as many accolades as his peers in this class.
Hand work is all over the place.
Can be shown to lunge at times, and loses balance. Needs better body control.
Needs to be more disciplined and honed in.
Final Overview
Simply put, he needs to calm down some on the field. His nastiness is a good thing, but he needs to control it better. He played his best games against strong opponents in college, and has some very interesting skills, but overall, he just needs to get better focus and body control. If he can do these things, he has a bright future. He just needs some zen to go with his nasty.
6-3, 323
He is the cousin of Matt Asiata, formerly of the Utes and currently of the Minnesota Vikings. He served a two year Morman Church mission, returning to football in 2013, and was a part time starter that season.
Asiata started every game from 2014-2016, mostly at LG, but played seven games at RG as well.
He was named second team ALL-PAC12 as a senior.
The Good
Massive frame that swallows defenders whole.
Versatile, as he can play both sides at guard, and can also play center.
Will out work everyone on the field.
Has a solid nasty streak.
Solid pad effort, and is very powerful.
Solid quickness, and makes good reads on defenses.
The Bad
Aggression gets to be to much at times.
Did not receive as many accolades as his peers in this class.
Hand work is all over the place.
Can be shown to lunge at times, and loses balance. Needs better body control.
Needs to be more disciplined and honed in.
Final Overview
Simply put, he needs to calm down some on the field. His nastiness is a good thing, but he needs to control it better. He played his best games against strong opponents in college, and has some very interesting skills, but overall, he just needs to get better focus and body control. If he can do these things, he has a bright future. He just needs some zen to go with his nasty.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Danny Isodora
Danny Isidora, Miami
6-3, 306
After burning a redshirt season, Isidora missed 10 games as a freshman with a foot injury. He returned as a RS sophomore, and started for three solid years at RG. He was named second team All-ACC as a senior in 2016.
The Good
Exact frame NFL teams look for when it comes to the interior line.
Long arms are a plus.
Very agile, and can be a leader on pull blocks.
Can block into the second level, and seems to always be thinking a step ahead.
Solid pass protector.
Footwork is adequate.
The Bad
Plays with a wide base, which takes away from his power, and makes him vulnerable to a solid bull rush.
Gets walled up, and sometimes has a problem getting a good push off of the snap. A bit of a mauler.
Body control needs some work, especially in space.
Not a first rate run blocker, as he can get walled off and fights too much to push through.
Final Overview
If Isidora can get his base narrowed up, he may play right into a need as a pass blocking guard with plus agility. If he fails to narrow up his base and maximize his strength, he will struggle on the next level. It all comes down to that. He shows some skills to be a plus OG in the league, but he has some technical issues to iron out first.
6-3, 306
After burning a redshirt season, Isidora missed 10 games as a freshman with a foot injury. He returned as a RS sophomore, and started for three solid years at RG. He was named second team All-ACC as a senior in 2016.
The Good
Exact frame NFL teams look for when it comes to the interior line.
Long arms are a plus.
Very agile, and can be a leader on pull blocks.
Can block into the second level, and seems to always be thinking a step ahead.
Solid pass protector.
Footwork is adequate.
The Bad
Plays with a wide base, which takes away from his power, and makes him vulnerable to a solid bull rush.
Gets walled up, and sometimes has a problem getting a good push off of the snap. A bit of a mauler.
Body control needs some work, especially in space.
Not a first rate run blocker, as he can get walled off and fights too much to push through.
Final Overview
If Isidora can get his base narrowed up, he may play right into a need as a pass blocking guard with plus agility. If he fails to narrow up his base and maximize his strength, he will struggle on the next level. It all comes down to that. He shows some skills to be a plus OG in the league, but he has some technical issues to iron out first.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Jordan Morgan
Jordan Morgan, Kutztown
6-3, 309
As a LT, Morgan was named PSAC offensive athlete of the year in 2016, which is incredibly rare for an non skill position player.
Morgan was named All-PSAC as a sophomore, and then was named to the small school All-American teams as a junior and a senior, and was a finalist for the Gen Upshaw D2 OL of the Year award as a senior.
The Good
Body type is perfect for the NFL. Long arms are a plus.
Technique seems solid out of the snap, and his footwork is top shelf.
Under recruited out of high school in Philadelphia, and should not be penalized for playing D2 football.
Works well in space, and can drive to the next level.
Nasty streak is at a desired level.
Solid punch power with arm extension, keeps defenders out of his frame.
The Bad
Does not always play with good balance, and ducks his head at times.
Can be seen in film lunge blocking.
He normally did not play against players with great size, and may need an adjustment to that in the NFL.
Needs to play with consistency between pass block and run block. Technique shifts between the two, and not always in a good way.
Final Overview
Morgan's main concerns are his lunge blocking and his overall technique between the run and pass. He will need some time to get used to playing bigger defenders off the snap, and that will take some time. He will likely shift into guard as he gets used to the size across from him, but do not be shocked to see him back at tackle in a few seasons. He is an intriguing prospect as of now.
6-3, 309
As a LT, Morgan was named PSAC offensive athlete of the year in 2016, which is incredibly rare for an non skill position player.
Morgan was named All-PSAC as a sophomore, and then was named to the small school All-American teams as a junior and a senior, and was a finalist for the Gen Upshaw D2 OL of the Year award as a senior.
The Good
Body type is perfect for the NFL. Long arms are a plus.
Technique seems solid out of the snap, and his footwork is top shelf.
Under recruited out of high school in Philadelphia, and should not be penalized for playing D2 football.
Works well in space, and can drive to the next level.
Nasty streak is at a desired level.
Solid punch power with arm extension, keeps defenders out of his frame.
The Bad
Does not always play with good balance, and ducks his head at times.
Can be seen in film lunge blocking.
He normally did not play against players with great size, and may need an adjustment to that in the NFL.
Needs to play with consistency between pass block and run block. Technique shifts between the two, and not always in a good way.
Final Overview
Morgan's main concerns are his lunge blocking and his overall technique between the run and pass. He will need some time to get used to playing bigger defenders off the snap, and that will take some time. He will likely shift into guard as he gets used to the size across from him, but do not be shocked to see him back at tackle in a few seasons. He is an intriguing prospect as of now.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Taylor Moton
Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
6-5, 319
Moton was a first team All-Michigan player coming out of high school. He redshirted in 2012, and started every game at RT for the next two seasons. He played RG as a junior, and then moved back to RT as a senior, earning 3rd team All-MAC.
The Good
Moton has a huge, solid frame, and plays like it. Has long arms and big hands.
Plays with solid pad level and hip bend off of the snap.
Drives his blocks to the next level.
Works hard and plays his best against the best competition.
Cannot be bull rushed.
The Bad
Played three years at RT, but is a stronger prospect at RG, where he played just one year.
Hand work is solid, but he is more of a mauler than a puncher.
Footwork is not great. Does not keep feet chopping under him during blocks.
Base width is all over the place. Reacts slowly to blocks at an angle. Needs target right in front of him to get it right from the snap.
Can get fooled by what a defense is throwing at him.
Not overly athletic.
Final Overview
When you look at his deficiencies, you get concerned about how much work he needs. That said, if you look at him playing guard in 2015 as compared to playing tackle, most of those deficiencies appear aimed at him playing tackle. He is much more suited to playing right guard in a power scheme, and could be a backup tackle. His future, however, is aimed inside, as compared to how he stood up to Ohio State in 2015, where he controlled the line in his area. This guy can play, and he does need some work, but I see him as a developmental prospect for about a year before rolling into a starting job in year two or three.
6-5, 319
Moton was a first team All-Michigan player coming out of high school. He redshirted in 2012, and started every game at RT for the next two seasons. He played RG as a junior, and then moved back to RT as a senior, earning 3rd team All-MAC.
The Good
Moton has a huge, solid frame, and plays like it. Has long arms and big hands.
Plays with solid pad level and hip bend off of the snap.
Drives his blocks to the next level.
Works hard and plays his best against the best competition.
Cannot be bull rushed.
The Bad
Played three years at RT, but is a stronger prospect at RG, where he played just one year.
Hand work is solid, but he is more of a mauler than a puncher.
Footwork is not great. Does not keep feet chopping under him during blocks.
Base width is all over the place. Reacts slowly to blocks at an angle. Needs target right in front of him to get it right from the snap.
Can get fooled by what a defense is throwing at him.
Not overly athletic.
Final Overview
When you look at his deficiencies, you get concerned about how much work he needs. That said, if you look at him playing guard in 2015 as compared to playing tackle, most of those deficiencies appear aimed at him playing tackle. He is much more suited to playing right guard in a power scheme, and could be a backup tackle. His future, however, is aimed inside, as compared to how he stood up to Ohio State in 2015, where he controlled the line in his area. This guy can play, and he does need some work, but I see him as a developmental prospect for about a year before rolling into a starting job in year two or three.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Dan Feeney
Dan Feeney, Indiana
6-4, 305
Feeney has seen work at both RG and RT at Indiana, including a chunk of time at RT as a senior due to injuries on the IU line.
Feeney redshirted his second season in Bloomington due to injury, but the injury has not become a long term issue.
He was All-Big 10 honorable mention as a freshman, all conference as a sophomore and junior, and made first team All-America as a senior.
The Good
Solid interior pass protector, who gets good leverage and has solid arm length for a guard.
Has a very solid nasty streak.
Footwork is very good working inside or out.
Very aware of what defenses are doing, cannot easily be fooled.
Solid and powerful punch move.
Will fit in perfectly with zone blocking schemes.
First rate pulling guard.
Patient, and does not over commit to contact.
Solid blocker on screen plays.
Very smart.
The Bad
Plays a bit too upright, and has a slim lower body.
Can get knocked off balance by frame being too narrow at his base, and plays with a poor pad level.
Does not get a solid push off of the snap.
Has had some concussion issues that may need to be reviewed.
Final Overview
Feeney is a rock solid character prospect who has been a four year starter on a team that has generated a solid running game reputation. The question with him is as to whether or not he can evolve beyond a zone only guard, because if he cannot, he certainly falls in the draft. He has some very good versatility, but I see him as a right side guy for his career, without much left side up sell. Still, he is skilled enough to become an eventual starter on the right side at either guard or tackle.
6-4, 305
Feeney has seen work at both RG and RT at Indiana, including a chunk of time at RT as a senior due to injuries on the IU line.
Feeney redshirted his second season in Bloomington due to injury, but the injury has not become a long term issue.
He was All-Big 10 honorable mention as a freshman, all conference as a sophomore and junior, and made first team All-America as a senior.
The Good
Solid interior pass protector, who gets good leverage and has solid arm length for a guard.
Has a very solid nasty streak.
Footwork is very good working inside or out.
Very aware of what defenses are doing, cannot easily be fooled.
Solid and powerful punch move.
Will fit in perfectly with zone blocking schemes.
First rate pulling guard.
Patient, and does not over commit to contact.
Solid blocker on screen plays.
Very smart.
The Bad
Plays a bit too upright, and has a slim lower body.
Can get knocked off balance by frame being too narrow at his base, and plays with a poor pad level.
Does not get a solid push off of the snap.
Has had some concussion issues that may need to be reviewed.
Final Overview
Feeney is a rock solid character prospect who has been a four year starter on a team that has generated a solid running game reputation. The question with him is as to whether or not he can evolve beyond a zone only guard, because if he cannot, he certainly falls in the draft. He has some very good versatility, but I see him as a right side guy for his career, without much left side up sell. Still, he is skilled enough to become an eventual starter on the right side at either guard or tackle.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Dion Dawkins
Dion Dawkins, Temple
6-4, 314
Dawkins got some limited starting experience as a freshman, and then played solidly as a starter in his sophomore year, but that season was cut short by a foot injury. He was charged with assault in a nightclub incident, served in a diversionary program, and then had all charges dropped, and never served a suspension in the process. He finished All-AAC as a junior and a senior.
The Good
Powerful upper body and lower legs.
Is not easily bull rushed.
Quick from his set into his stance. Uses solid footwork to get into his base, and does not get too wide or narrow.
Shows skill in both pass protection and run blocking.
Started for three seasons at LT, giving him some versatility.
The Bad
Does not have solid hand technique, and can get caught holding and grabbing.
Does not always have perfect leverage off the snap, and can depend too much on core strength alone.
Head level is often too low.
Has some lack of athleticism issues, such as being stiff in the hips.
Blocking angles can be sloppy.
Final Overview
Dawkins has a career on the left side in college, but because of some of his lacking technique, I see him on the right side heading into the NFL: He has some qualities that show he can be coached, but he has got some work to do before he ever sees the left side. He has versatility at guard or tackle, but guard is something that will be fairly new, being he played mostly tackle in college. Playing him inside will help bury some of his deficiencies until he works those out.
6-4, 314
Dawkins got some limited starting experience as a freshman, and then played solidly as a starter in his sophomore year, but that season was cut short by a foot injury. He was charged with assault in a nightclub incident, served in a diversionary program, and then had all charges dropped, and never served a suspension in the process. He finished All-AAC as a junior and a senior.
The Good
Powerful upper body and lower legs.
Is not easily bull rushed.
Quick from his set into his stance. Uses solid footwork to get into his base, and does not get too wide or narrow.
Shows skill in both pass protection and run blocking.
Started for three seasons at LT, giving him some versatility.
The Bad
Does not have solid hand technique, and can get caught holding and grabbing.
Does not always have perfect leverage off the snap, and can depend too much on core strength alone.
Head level is often too low.
Has some lack of athleticism issues, such as being stiff in the hips.
Blocking angles can be sloppy.
Final Overview
Dawkins has a career on the left side in college, but because of some of his lacking technique, I see him on the right side heading into the NFL: He has some qualities that show he can be coached, but he has got some work to do before he ever sees the left side. He has versatility at guard or tackle, but guard is something that will be fairly new, being he played mostly tackle in college. Playing him inside will help bury some of his deficiencies until he works those out.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Forrest Lamp
Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
6-4, 309
Lamp has played both LG and LT for WKU, and is equally as impressive at both spots. He earned All-CUSA honorable mention as a freshman and as a sophomore, and finished as an All-Conference election for both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he was named as a third team AP All-American.
The Good
Solid build, and very athletic. Scored a TD in his final game at WKU.
Uses solid footwork techniques, and can block outside while shifting back inside to handle up the middle rushers.
Stays low, and his technique seems solid. Keeps his pads low, hips bent, and head in right spot.
Hand work in pass protection is solid, using decent punch power.
Solid reader of defenses.
The Bad
His frame is maxed out, so adding bulk is unlikely.
Arms tend to be on the shorter side.
Has not blocked in a pro style offense.
Is not as adept as a power blocker in the run game. Really limited to pass blocking duties mostly.
While hand work is mostly productive, defenders can get to his frame first, and he has to readjust to get reset.
Final Overview
Lamp is a very smart, very efficient blocker who has experience at tackle and guard. I can see him playing either side of the line, inside or out, as his career continues. He has a ton of value in the first round, and his ability to play almost anywhere on the line defines him as having some of the best value of any offensive lineman in the draft. His deficiencies are mostly coachable items, so I see very little risk here.
6-4, 309
Lamp has played both LG and LT for WKU, and is equally as impressive at both spots. He earned All-CUSA honorable mention as a freshman and as a sophomore, and finished as an All-Conference election for both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he was named as a third team AP All-American.
The Good
Solid build, and very athletic. Scored a TD in his final game at WKU.
Uses solid footwork techniques, and can block outside while shifting back inside to handle up the middle rushers.
Stays low, and his technique seems solid. Keeps his pads low, hips bent, and head in right spot.
Hand work in pass protection is solid, using decent punch power.
Solid reader of defenses.
The Bad
His frame is maxed out, so adding bulk is unlikely.
Arms tend to be on the shorter side.
Has not blocked in a pro style offense.
Is not as adept as a power blocker in the run game. Really limited to pass blocking duties mostly.
While hand work is mostly productive, defenders can get to his frame first, and he has to readjust to get reset.
Final Overview
Lamp is a very smart, very efficient blocker who has experience at tackle and guard. I can see him playing either side of the line, inside or out, as his career continues. He has a ton of value in the first round, and his ability to play almost anywhere on the line defines him as having some of the best value of any offensive lineman in the draft. His deficiencies are mostly coachable items, so I see very little risk here.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
2017 NFL Draft Profile: 5th-7th Round Offensive Tackles
5th-7th Round
Javarius Leamon, South Carolina State: Has some ability, but technique, hand and footowrk need work. Developmental prospect who needs a year or two before being ready to go.
Will Holden, Vanderbilt: Three year starter with short arms and lacking lateral quickness. Will likely be a right side guy, but has some upside and value.
Adam Bisnowaty, Pittsburgh: Injury history and lack of overall athleticism will plague him. Play really dropped after a back injury, and he was a shell in 2016. Pure mauler, but that's it.
Zach Banner, USC: Will likely have to kick into playing RG in the NFL. Body is huge, and he has lost control of it at times. Lacks pure athleticism.
Justin Senior, Mississippi State: Strong hands and upper body, but lacking lower body power and footwork is a mess. Got destroyed in post season workouts.
Dan Skipper, Arkansas: Has played both tackle spots. The tallest tackle in the draft (6-10), but that could cost him physical leverage on the next level. Has a future as a backup swing tackle, but that is where it may end.
Conor McDermott, UCLA: A soft player with a general lack of aggression. Nothing stands out on film, and played on a team that finished next to last in the FBS in run production in 2016. Not strong enough for next level play, but size gets him drafted more than likely.
Javarius Leamon, South Carolina State: Has some ability, but technique, hand and footowrk need work. Developmental prospect who needs a year or two before being ready to go.
Will Holden, Vanderbilt: Three year starter with short arms and lacking lateral quickness. Will likely be a right side guy, but has some upside and value.
Adam Bisnowaty, Pittsburgh: Injury history and lack of overall athleticism will plague him. Play really dropped after a back injury, and he was a shell in 2016. Pure mauler, but that's it.
Zach Banner, USC: Will likely have to kick into playing RG in the NFL. Body is huge, and he has lost control of it at times. Lacks pure athleticism.
Justin Senior, Mississippi State: Strong hands and upper body, but lacking lower body power and footwork is a mess. Got destroyed in post season workouts.
Dan Skipper, Arkansas: Has played both tackle spots. The tallest tackle in the draft (6-10), but that could cost him physical leverage on the next level. Has a future as a backup swing tackle, but that is where it may end.
Conor McDermott, UCLA: A soft player with a general lack of aggression. Nothing stands out on film, and played on a team that finished next to last in the FBS in run production in 2016. Not strong enough for next level play, but size gets him drafted more than likely.
2017 NFl Draft Profile: Roderick Johnson
Roderick Johnson, Florida State
6-7, 298
Johnson was a three year star at LT for the Seminoles, and was ACC Lineman of the Year all three seasons. He has been the starter every game since midway through his freshman season.
The Good
Exceptional, tall build, with long arms that he uses to great skill.
Very good at kicking out to meet edge rushers.
Also very good at run blocking, and has decent explosive power at the point of attack.
Works well in space, makes all adjustments necessary.
Has high awareness, knows how to read a defense.
Good hand work.
The Bad
Technique needs work, plays with his upper body out in front of him, and is a leaner and lunger.
Lacks first rate body control, and gets all over the place.
Footwork is sometimes sloppy, and he can trip over his own feet it seems.
Seems to be sloppy with his blocking angles.
Does not always play with the athleticism that he has.
Final Overview
Johnson is a bit of an enigma. He has exceptional athletic ability, but yet he does not display that at all times on the field. When he is good, he is great, but it sometimes seems as if his athleticism has a switch, and when it goes to the off position, he becomes a total mess. It would seem that there is sometimes a mental block that does not allow him to be the best that he can be, but yet the effort is there. He seems like a mid range prospect with some decent pedigree right now, but he definitely will need some work.
6-7, 298
Johnson was a three year star at LT for the Seminoles, and was ACC Lineman of the Year all three seasons. He has been the starter every game since midway through his freshman season.
The Good
Exceptional, tall build, with long arms that he uses to great skill.
Very good at kicking out to meet edge rushers.
Also very good at run blocking, and has decent explosive power at the point of attack.
Works well in space, makes all adjustments necessary.
Has high awareness, knows how to read a defense.
Good hand work.
The Bad
Technique needs work, plays with his upper body out in front of him, and is a leaner and lunger.
Lacks first rate body control, and gets all over the place.
Footwork is sometimes sloppy, and he can trip over his own feet it seems.
Seems to be sloppy with his blocking angles.
Does not always play with the athleticism that he has.
Final Overview
Johnson is a bit of an enigma. He has exceptional athletic ability, but yet he does not display that at all times on the field. When he is good, he is great, but it sometimes seems as if his athleticism has a switch, and when it goes to the off position, he becomes a total mess. It would seem that there is sometimes a mental block that does not allow him to be the best that he can be, but yet the effort is there. He seems like a mid range prospect with some decent pedigree right now, but he definitely will need some work.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: David Sharpe
David Sharpe, Florida
6-6, 343
Sharpe was a three year player at Florida, and started the last 26/27 games at LT for the Gators. He played in nine games as a freshman as a backup at tackle. Sharpe was a high school basketball star, but chose football after graduating from high school in the Jacksonville area.
The Good
Built like a brick wall of a mountain.
Long arms that do not get lost in his bulk.
Thick, powerful legs that can drive.
Solid length that belies his actual size.
Solid hand work, hands are powerful.
Knows how to stay within the frame of a defender to drive them back.
A real mauler, can destroy oncoming rushers.
Solid pull blocker for a guy his size.
The Bad
Not very flexible. More of a straight line mauler than an athletic, fluid blocker.
Does not get his pads down, can get cut under by defenders.
Bends at the waist, not at the knees.
Does not get up the field very well. Stops at the point of attack.
Footwork is not the greatest.
Final Overview
Sharpe is a pure maul blocker who is one hit and done. He will not get up the field, and isnot much on the perimeter on kick out or bubble screen blocking. I see him more suited to playing inside at guard, but he has no experience there. I would say that best case scenario is as a rotational blocker who can maul at the point of attack, but doesn't have much more in the basket. He's your guy on short yardage.
6-6, 343
Sharpe was a three year player at Florida, and started the last 26/27 games at LT for the Gators. He played in nine games as a freshman as a backup at tackle. Sharpe was a high school basketball star, but chose football after graduating from high school in the Jacksonville area.
The Good
Built like a brick wall of a mountain.
Long arms that do not get lost in his bulk.
Thick, powerful legs that can drive.
Solid length that belies his actual size.
Solid hand work, hands are powerful.
Knows how to stay within the frame of a defender to drive them back.
A real mauler, can destroy oncoming rushers.
Solid pull blocker for a guy his size.
The Bad
Not very flexible. More of a straight line mauler than an athletic, fluid blocker.
Does not get his pads down, can get cut under by defenders.
Bends at the waist, not at the knees.
Does not get up the field very well. Stops at the point of attack.
Footwork is not the greatest.
Final Overview
Sharpe is a pure maul blocker who is one hit and done. He will not get up the field, and isnot much on the perimeter on kick out or bubble screen blocking. I see him more suited to playing inside at guard, but he has no experience there. I would say that best case scenario is as a rotational blocker who can maul at the point of attack, but doesn't have much more in the basket. He's your guy on short yardage.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Julie'n Davenport
Julie'n Davenport, Bucknell
6-7, 318
Davenport was a seriously under recruited prospect out of high school who did not receive a single FBS offer. He started all 44 games for the Bison at LT, and earned All-Patriot League honors all four years, and was named to several All-American teams on the FCS level.
The Good
Excellent arm length, and knows how to use them.
Has mastered hand work, and uses hands and arms effectively.
Athletic and will kick out to meet edge rushers head on.
Can kick out on pulls and screen protect with ease.
High character guy, was team captain for two seasons.
The Bad
Lower level of competition will concern some teams,
Footwork needs some help, plods rather than glides at times.
Will lean or lunge when blocking, causing him to lose some blocks.
Can plant his feet rather than churn them to keep block active.
Does not always move to the next level with ease.
Plays with his pads too high at times.
Final Overview
Davenport is a special kind of project. He has all of the physical traits necessary on this level, but he needs some work on technique, and will need an adjustment period to get used to the level of play, as it is a long jump from the Patriot League to the NFL. He needs work on his feet, and his overall blocking technique, but he is a smart kid, is coachable, and has high character, so he can be molded fairly quickly. I see him as an immediate backup with long term starting potential. He is the requisite diamond in the rough.
6-7, 318
Davenport was a seriously under recruited prospect out of high school who did not receive a single FBS offer. He started all 44 games for the Bison at LT, and earned All-Patriot League honors all four years, and was named to several All-American teams on the FCS level.
The Good
Excellent arm length, and knows how to use them.
Has mastered hand work, and uses hands and arms effectively.
Athletic and will kick out to meet edge rushers head on.
Can kick out on pulls and screen protect with ease.
High character guy, was team captain for two seasons.
The Bad
Lower level of competition will concern some teams,
Footwork needs some help, plods rather than glides at times.
Will lean or lunge when blocking, causing him to lose some blocks.
Can plant his feet rather than churn them to keep block active.
Does not always move to the next level with ease.
Plays with his pads too high at times.
Final Overview
Davenport is a special kind of project. He has all of the physical traits necessary on this level, but he needs some work on technique, and will need an adjustment period to get used to the level of play, as it is a long jump from the Patriot League to the NFL. He needs work on his feet, and his overall blocking technique, but he is a smart kid, is coachable, and has high character, so he can be molded fairly quickly. I see him as an immediate backup with long term starting potential. He is the requisite diamond in the rough.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Antonio Garcia
Antonio Garcia, Troy
6-6, 302
Garcia was a four year player for Troy, and started 36/37 games at LT for the Trojans. He missed half of his RS freshman season to a knee injury, but never seemed to suffer because of it long term. He was an honorable mention All-Sun Belt pick as a junior, and made first team All-Sun Belt as a senior. He was under recruited coming out of high school.
The Good
Very good athlete. Quick and mobile for a big guy.
Played basketball in high school, and still uses those footwork skills now.
Quick enough to meet edge rushers head on, very fast to kick out to meet an outside blitz.
Stays in front of blockers, very difficult to move around or flank him.
Keeps his feet set, will not get pushed off a block.
Works well in the phone booth.
Uses his physicality to overwhelm opponents.
Fluid and can get from block to block with ease.
The Bad
Plays too high at times, and does not get his pads down.
Looks a little wiry sometimes.
Does not have explosive lower body strength.
Sometimes has to battle to stay on blocks and constantly readjust to them rather than dominating from the outset.
Still needs work with his hands.
Can get beat when he lunges at blocks.
Needs bulk, but frame is iffy as to whether he can carry more weight. Has always played on the lighter side.
Final Overview
On film, Garcia often looks like the real deal, but there are concerns. His frame may not be able to carry much more in terms of bulk without slowing him down. He lacks functional lower body strength and can get pushed around, but he is a scrapper who stays in the fight every down. He does tend to hold at times as he gets pushed around, but that is just him fighting through his deficiencies. With some work, I see Garcia as a rotational tackle, but his overall lack of bulk could scare some people off. One other thing is that he ran out of a college offense system, and he may need work in a more traditional offensive set.
6-6, 302
Garcia was a four year player for Troy, and started 36/37 games at LT for the Trojans. He missed half of his RS freshman season to a knee injury, but never seemed to suffer because of it long term. He was an honorable mention All-Sun Belt pick as a junior, and made first team All-Sun Belt as a senior. He was under recruited coming out of high school.
The Good
Very good athlete. Quick and mobile for a big guy.
Played basketball in high school, and still uses those footwork skills now.
Quick enough to meet edge rushers head on, very fast to kick out to meet an outside blitz.
Stays in front of blockers, very difficult to move around or flank him.
Keeps his feet set, will not get pushed off a block.
Works well in the phone booth.
Uses his physicality to overwhelm opponents.
Fluid and can get from block to block with ease.
The Bad
Plays too high at times, and does not get his pads down.
Looks a little wiry sometimes.
Does not have explosive lower body strength.
Sometimes has to battle to stay on blocks and constantly readjust to them rather than dominating from the outset.
Still needs work with his hands.
Can get beat when he lunges at blocks.
Needs bulk, but frame is iffy as to whether he can carry more weight. Has always played on the lighter side.
Final Overview
On film, Garcia often looks like the real deal, but there are concerns. His frame may not be able to carry much more in terms of bulk without slowing him down. He lacks functional lower body strength and can get pushed around, but he is a scrapper who stays in the fight every down. He does tend to hold at times as he gets pushed around, but that is just him fighting through his deficiencies. With some work, I see Garcia as a rotational tackle, but his overall lack of bulk could scare some people off. One other thing is that he ran out of a college offense system, and he may need work in a more traditional offensive set.
2017 NFl Draft Profile: Garrett Bolles
Garrett Bolles, Utah
6-5, 297
Bolles was a troubled teen in high school, and managed to turn himself around to enroll at Snow College (JC) in Utah, where he became a two time all-conference selection. He then transferred to Utah as a junior, and earned All-PAC 12 honors.
The Good
Serious athlete with excellent footwork.
Hard worker, has come to appreciate his ability.
Flows through blocking progressions. Hits the point of attack and moves downfield.
Athletic enough for slide blocks and can kick out quickly to pull as well.
Excels going against edge rushers, and quick enough to meet them head on.
Has the ability to add bulk to his frame.
Aggressive and powerful, and has a serious nasty streak.
The Bad
Does not have explosive lower body power, and will absolutely need to add bulk.
Does not have the best physical technique right now, gets too high on blocks, and does not have pad level mastered as of yet.
Still needs work with his hands, does not have the best punch power just yet.
Older prospect, will be 25 on opening day.
Final Overview
Bolles is a first rate tackle coming out of college, but he still has some work to do, and may have to open his career on the right side until he masters more techniques and learns to become a better overall player. He could be a left tackle in about three years, reasonably speaking. With that in mind, his potential is only limited by his advanced age coming into the draft. There is no luxury of time in his development. Big picture, he could be a very solid starter for the right team.
6-5, 297
Bolles was a troubled teen in high school, and managed to turn himself around to enroll at Snow College (JC) in Utah, where he became a two time all-conference selection. He then transferred to Utah as a junior, and earned All-PAC 12 honors.
The Good
Serious athlete with excellent footwork.
Hard worker, has come to appreciate his ability.
Flows through blocking progressions. Hits the point of attack and moves downfield.
Athletic enough for slide blocks and can kick out quickly to pull as well.
Excels going against edge rushers, and quick enough to meet them head on.
Has the ability to add bulk to his frame.
Aggressive and powerful, and has a serious nasty streak.
The Bad
Does not have explosive lower body power, and will absolutely need to add bulk.
Does not have the best physical technique right now, gets too high on blocks, and does not have pad level mastered as of yet.
Still needs work with his hands, does not have the best punch power just yet.
Older prospect, will be 25 on opening day.
Final Overview
Bolles is a first rate tackle coming out of college, but he still has some work to do, and may have to open his career on the right side until he masters more techniques and learns to become a better overall player. He could be a left tackle in about three years, reasonably speaking. With that in mind, his potential is only limited by his advanced age coming into the draft. There is no luxury of time in his development. Big picture, he could be a very solid starter for the right team.
Monday, March 27, 2017
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Ryan Ramcyzk
Ryan Ramcyzk, Wisconsin
6-6, 310
Ramcyzk turned down FBS and FCS offers out of high school to attend a technical college in his hometown. After a year of that, he returned to college to play at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he earned all-conference for two seasons at the D3 school. He then transferred to Wisconsin, and after a required redshirt season, he exploded onto the scene for the Badgers and earned All-Big 10 honors in his only season with the Badgers. He did have hip surgery after the bowl game.
The Good
Ramcyzk is a power blocker, who explodes off of the snap with excellent pad levels and athleticism to keep himself on a pivot at the hips to change course in the process of blocking.
Excellent fundamental blocker, and plays smart.
Very fluid athlete with top shelf body control, glides nicely for a big man.
Foot work in run game is impressive. Uses his feet to gain leverage and drives forward.
Knows how to use his hands in punch mode, and can slide in zone blocking schemes, with hands always at the ready.
Does not commit too early, or lunge on blocks, and keeps his back and head level.
Reads blitzes well, knows how to react.
Has been coached very well along the way. He knows what he is doing.
The Bad
Does not have excellent arm length, and uses his hand work to make up for it.
He is a little thin for a power left tackle.
Can be a bit stiff or over-technique in his approach, and can be more cerebral than aggressive.
Narrow base limits his slide protect and kick outs.
Has not worked out since the bowl game, as he recovers from a torn labrum in his hip.
Final Overview
Ramcyzk may very well be the most pro ready in the tackle group, and may have slightly more value than Robinson based on the offense he has played in at Wisconsin, and because he received what was obviously top flight coaching. His football IQ seems higher at this point than Robinson, but both have some major qualities to bring to the table. I would draft Ramcyzk early in the first round without missing a beat. He shows amazing promise, and looks NFL ready right now.
6-6, 310
Ramcyzk turned down FBS and FCS offers out of high school to attend a technical college in his hometown. After a year of that, he returned to college to play at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he earned all-conference for two seasons at the D3 school. He then transferred to Wisconsin, and after a required redshirt season, he exploded onto the scene for the Badgers and earned All-Big 10 honors in his only season with the Badgers. He did have hip surgery after the bowl game.
The Good
Ramcyzk is a power blocker, who explodes off of the snap with excellent pad levels and athleticism to keep himself on a pivot at the hips to change course in the process of blocking.
Excellent fundamental blocker, and plays smart.
Very fluid athlete with top shelf body control, glides nicely for a big man.
Foot work in run game is impressive. Uses his feet to gain leverage and drives forward.
Knows how to use his hands in punch mode, and can slide in zone blocking schemes, with hands always at the ready.
Does not commit too early, or lunge on blocks, and keeps his back and head level.
Reads blitzes well, knows how to react.
Has been coached very well along the way. He knows what he is doing.
The Bad
Does not have excellent arm length, and uses his hand work to make up for it.
He is a little thin for a power left tackle.
Can be a bit stiff or over-technique in his approach, and can be more cerebral than aggressive.
Narrow base limits his slide protect and kick outs.
Has not worked out since the bowl game, as he recovers from a torn labrum in his hip.
Final Overview
Ramcyzk may very well be the most pro ready in the tackle group, and may have slightly more value than Robinson based on the offense he has played in at Wisconsin, and because he received what was obviously top flight coaching. His football IQ seems higher at this point than Robinson, but both have some major qualities to bring to the table. I would draft Ramcyzk early in the first round without missing a beat. He shows amazing promise, and looks NFL ready right now.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Cam Robinson
Cam Robinson, Alabama
6-6, 322
Robinson was a three year starter for the Tide, and was a five star high school All-American, and was a top five recruit coming out of high school during his recruitment period. Robinson was a freshman all-american in his first season with the Tide, and was then a consensus All-American as a junior, and was first team All-SEC twice. He played in two national title games in three years, winning one, and losing the other this past season.
The Good
Robinson has a perfect frame for the position, and has functional power and pop off of the snap and explodes into his blocks.
He meets aggression with aggression on every snap, and blows gap holes open between tackle and guard like a pro.
Can progress from block to block very well, and does not get zeroed in on one opponent in any given play. Can take on multiple defenders in layers.
Has very skilled footwork, and gets past the point of attack. A real hunter/killer on the second level and beyond.
Solid arm extension.
Works very well on edge rushers and can kick out to meet the charge.
Works all the way through a play until the whistle blows.
The Bad
Does not always play with good balance, and has some technique issues still where he will lean into a block, or lunge into one, which loses the advantage.
Seems anxious to lay down a hit in a bock and move onto another defender rather than finishing one off before moving on.
Because of lunges, he ends up on the ground too much.
Does not always do a great job on reading the edges/blitzes.
Commits early on certain plays, and misses nuances because of it.
Final Overview
Robinson is one of the most athletic players in this draft, but he still has some work to do when it comes to technique. Playing in Lane Kiffin's offense was probably not a helpful thing for Robinson, because he did not get a ton of training for a pro offense. He may best fit early in his career at left guard or right tackle before kicking over to finish his career as a franchise left tackle, as he learns some basic pro offense nuances. That being said, if he does the work, and gets good coaching, he should be a franchise offensive tackle for years to come in the big picture.
6-6, 322
Robinson was a three year starter for the Tide, and was a five star high school All-American, and was a top five recruit coming out of high school during his recruitment period. Robinson was a freshman all-american in his first season with the Tide, and was then a consensus All-American as a junior, and was first team All-SEC twice. He played in two national title games in three years, winning one, and losing the other this past season.
The Good
Robinson has a perfect frame for the position, and has functional power and pop off of the snap and explodes into his blocks.
He meets aggression with aggression on every snap, and blows gap holes open between tackle and guard like a pro.
Can progress from block to block very well, and does not get zeroed in on one opponent in any given play. Can take on multiple defenders in layers.
Has very skilled footwork, and gets past the point of attack. A real hunter/killer on the second level and beyond.
Solid arm extension.
Works very well on edge rushers and can kick out to meet the charge.
Works all the way through a play until the whistle blows.
The Bad
Does not always play with good balance, and has some technique issues still where he will lean into a block, or lunge into one, which loses the advantage.
Seems anxious to lay down a hit in a bock and move onto another defender rather than finishing one off before moving on.
Because of lunges, he ends up on the ground too much.
Does not always do a great job on reading the edges/blitzes.
Commits early on certain plays, and misses nuances because of it.
Final Overview
Robinson is one of the most athletic players in this draft, but he still has some work to do when it comes to technique. Playing in Lane Kiffin's offense was probably not a helpful thing for Robinson, because he did not get a ton of training for a pro offense. He may best fit early in his career at left guard or right tackle before kicking over to finish his career as a franchise left tackle, as he learns some basic pro offense nuances. That being said, if he does the work, and gets good coaching, he should be a franchise offensive tackle for years to come in the big picture.
Friday, March 24, 2017
2017 NFL Draft Prospectus: Tight Ends
1st Round
OJ Howard, Alabama
David Njoku, Miami
2nd Round
Gerald Everett, South Alabama
Evan Engram, Mississippi
3rd Round
Adam Shaheen, Ashland
Jordan Leggett, Clemson
4th Round
Jake Butt, Michigan
Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
Jonnu Smith, Florida International
Michael Roberts, Toledo
Cole Hikutini, Louisville
5th Round
Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State
6th Round
Eric Saubert, Drake
7th Round
Anthony Auclair, Laval (Canada)
UFA
Taylor McNamara, USC
Pharoah Brown, Oregon
Johnny Mundt, Oregon
Evan Bayliss, Oregon
Billy Freeman, San Jose State
Connor Cella, Rice
Josiah Price, Michigan State
Sean Culkin, Missouri
Tyrone Swoopes, Texas
OJ Howard, Alabama
6-6, 251
Howard was a four year player at Alabama, although he could have gone to the draft a year ago. As a freshman, he put up a line of 14-269-2, and averaged 19.21 yards per reception.
As a sophomore, He caught 17-260-0, and averaged 15.29 YPR. He came in as a junior and doubled his production, posting 38-602-2, averaging 15.84 YPR on the season.
As a senior, He posted 45-595-3, and averaged 13.22 YPR.
The Good
One of the most athletic players in the draft, and probably better than some of his early numbers may suggest. He is a rare first round lock for a TE, and is one of those immediate impact types of players.
Very fast for a TE, with first rate hands, and has length to go get most passes.
Tracks the ball like a WR.
Cannot be defended in the passing game by a LB, and DBs have match up issues with him.
Very creative in space, and can break a long gain on any given play.
Excellent body control, and can readjust on bad throws high or low.
Rare pass catching TE who can also block like a pro.
The real deal.
The Bad
He is a pretty straightforward receiver, and does not string many moves together.
Can lack aggressiveness at times.
Needs more reps on the field, as Alabama under used him in 2016.
Some question his competitive nature.
Final Overview
I don't get how anyone would question his overall competitive nature, but I will say that Lane Kiffin rarely used him properly. Howard is an absolute first round talent who can be one of the best in the league once he gets his bearings. He is probably one of the prospects in this draft that I am personally most excited about.
David Njoku, Miami
6-4, 246
Njoku played just two seasons at Miami after redshirting as a freshman to transition from WR to TE As a freshman, he posted 21-362-1, and averaged 17.24 YPR in 13 games. As a RS Sophomore in 2016, he dropped a line of 43-698-8, and averaged 16.23 YPR.
The Good
Despite his overall size, he can still play outside at WR when needed.
Has room on his frame to bulk up further, which could improve his overall game as a blocker.
Very precise, sharp cuts on routes.
Creates separation easily, and creates major mismatches.
A major creator in the open field, and excels in YAC.
Major leaping ability to go get after the high throw.
Knows where the seams are against zones and finds the soft spot, will camp out there.
First rate hands.
He can line up anywhere on the field and excel.
Plus blocker.
The Bad
Severely limited sample size, as he only started in nine games in two years.
Still learning how to play TE, and thinks like a WR too much.
Footwork on blocking is still a work in progress, and may be a better receiving option than straight up blocker.
He can lose focus on some plays, leading to drops.
Still learning route tree from TE perspective.
Lacks lower body explosion, needs more on his frame.
More raw than anything else, depends on being a freakish athlete over knowledge of what he is doing.
Final Overview
As a pass catching TE, I think that Njoku, despite his lack of overall experience, could be a nice, late first round addition for anyone needing a TE who is not the best as a pure blocker in the trenches. Get him wide, and let him run, and allow him to block downfield as a decoy, because that is where he will excel right now. He will learn the rest later, but he has amazing talent potential, and could develop into being a star.
Gerald Everett, South Alabama
6-3, 239
Everett is a former high school basketball player who only picked up football as a senior in high school. He attended Hutchinson CC to further learn the game, and then transferred to UAB, but was focred out when the Blazers cut their program, which eventually landed him at South Alabama, a program that has had luck with traditional TEs in their short history.
Everett was the leading receiver for the Jaguars in 2015, as he posted a line of 41-575-8, with an average of 14.02 YPR. As a senior in 2016, he posted 49-717-4, with an average of 14.63 YPR.
The Good
Very athletic with solid bust off of the line.
Can get deep and past safeties who are sitting in zone coverage, and gets good separation off of the snap. He can run for a big guy.
Creates easy mismatches with his size and athletic ability, and demands DB coverage. LBs cannot cover him well.
Works well over the middle and against zone schemes.
Has first rate hands, and turns several catches into longer gains.
Solid blocker on screen pass plays.
Solid moves, and can create in the open field. Hard to tackle.
Very aggressive player.
The Bad
Inexperience is still an issue. Has not played the game for very long.
He does not run routes well, and just tends to roam into position.
Despite his size and burst, he still gets jammed sometimes.
Final Overview
If you are looking for overall value, and cannot get Howard or Njoku, this is your guy. He will need some coaching, but the physical traits are there. He runs like a pro, can catch the ball, and blocks like an angry beast. Any of the mental parts that may be missing are only due to inexperience, so he just needs to be coached and to get on the field. He has success written all over him.
Evan Engram, Mississippi
6-3, 234
Engram was a rare four year player at Ole Miss, and was one of the most productive players in the nation during his time with the Rebels.
As a freshman, he missed a month with an ankle injury, but still managed to post a line of 21-268-3, averaging 12.76 YPR. As a sophomore, he put up a line of 38-662-2, averaging 17.42 YPR. His numbers dipped a bit as a junior, as he posted 38-464-2, with a 12.21 YPR average, but returned for his senior season, when he exploded for a line of 65-926-8, with a YPR of 14.25.
The Good
Freakish athlete with a major explosion off of the snap. Incredibly fast.
Efficient runner with very little in the way of wasted movement.
Very good footwork while running.
Excellent body control, and gets to the ball everywhere.
Will kill in the seams, and can get deep.
LBs will not be able to cover him due to his speed and athleticism.
Can line up in the slot and go to work.
Has immediate impact written all over him.
The Bad
Is not a first rate receiver against the zone, and does not know where to find the soft spot against it just yet. Has to be hit on the move, and does not have first rate ability in reading of defenses.
Does not do a solid job of protecting the ball with his body.
Smallish for a TE, and is kind of a tweener.
Has had focus issues, and has been known to have some drops.
Does not always get to the ball with his hands, and sometimes uses his body too much.
Is not a first rate blocker.
Final Overview
As far as pass catching TEs go, Engram is pretty solid, and is part of a loaded upper half of the draft at this position. He is not, however, a complete package end who can do it all. He is not a blocker, and you have to use him as a motion TE to get out and run routes. If you can afford a pass catch only TE, he could be the guy you want.
Adam Shaheen, Ashland
6-6, 278
Shaheen was a former basketball prospect who attended Pitt-Johnstown out of high school to play hoops. After one season, he transferred to D2 Ashland to play football. As a sophomore, he was the third string end, and posted 2-85-0. As a junior, he broke the all time D2 record for the TE position by posting 70-803-10. He posted 57-867-16 as a senior in 2016.
He is a two time AFCA D2 All-American.\
The Good
The obvious is his size. He is built like a moving mountain, but does not look over sized.
Displays good footwork, which comes from having played hoops.
Excellent moves, and cuts very well.
His speed defies his size.
Smart player who wastes little unnecessary movement.
Has played all over the field.
Solid body control, and was a red zone threat.
Reads defenses quite well pre snap.
The Bad
Still learning as a run blocker, and has not mastered it yet.
Level of competition may be a factor in his success.
Despite his size, he can still get jammed at the line.
Is more mechanical than natural at times.
Is still learning to work in space as a runner.
Final Overview
Right now, he is a super sized pass catcher with some amazing traits, especially in the red zone. He will get coached up in terms of blocking. In terms of what he brings to the table right now, I ignore any shortcomings and will wait until he gets to work with an NFL staff, and I will take the chance. He just has too many intangibles to be ignored.
Jordan Leggett, Clemson
6-5, 258
Leggett was a four year player and starter for the Tigers, and has appeared in two national title games, winning one. As a freshman, he posted a line of 12-176-2, and averaged 14.67 YPR. As a sophomore, he posted 14-161-1, averaging 11.5 YPR. He started a total of nine games his first two seasons.
As a junior, he started in all 15 games, and posted 40-525-8, and averaged 13.13 YPR. He was part of the national championship team of 2016, and posted 46-736-7, with a YPR average of 16.
He was an All-ACC selection and Mackey award finalist in 2016.
The Good
His size is the thing of legends when it comes to the TE position.
Has lined up all over the field.
Dependable receiver, has not had drop issues in college.
Solid body control, works very well in tight space, and knows how to find the seams in zone coverage.
Works well over the middle of the field as a receiver.
Can break the big play on occasion, and plays his best against the best competition.
The Bad
Will not sell out as a blocker, and effort is not always there.
Has called himself lazy in the past.
Does not always give consistent effort from one game to the next, and does not turn it on for the smaller games.
Is not a great route runner, and seems mechanical when asked to work in a specific role.
System guy, and may not see the same numbers on the next level in a traditional set.
Despite having decent speed, he lacks explosion off of the snap.
Gets knocked off routes easily, and can get jammed with lack of effort.
Will not get to every football, so you had better get it in the right spot on the pass.
Poor ball security after the catch.
Shows limited to zero aggression.
Final Overview
Leggett is a pass catch only TE who is completely useless as a blocker. He has a hero/big play syndrome, where he only shows all effort when he is the center of the play. He has had some solid production, but he has got to get it together in the pros, or he will be eaten alive quickly. He will need some coaching up, and he also needs a good boot in his ass to get his head where it should be. He has all of the intangibles, but nobody is sure about the head. If he wakes up, he will be a steal. If he continues to loaf, he will flame out quickly.
Jake Butt, Michigan
6-5, 246
Butt was a four year player for the Wolverines, and finished as a second team All-American two times.
As a freshman, he played behind Devin Funchess, and posted 20-235-2, and averaged 11.75 YPR. As a sophomore, Butt became the number one TE, and finished with a line of 21-211-2, with a YPR average of 10.05.
As a junior, Butt really started finding his way, as he posted a line of 51-654-3, and he finished with 12.82 YPR. He continued his strong play as a senior, posting 46-546-4, with a YPR of 11.47.
He ended up finishing his senior season with a torn ACL against Florida State in the Citrus Bowl.
The Good
Has the requisite size for an NFL TE, and has the hands to go along with it.
Tough working in traffic and over the middle. Will move the chains.
Protects the ball well in traffic, and uses his body as a shield while catching it.
Works hard to get off the snap cleanly, and has several moves to help him get free.
Expert zone reader, and finds the seams and soft spots.
Very aggressive runner after the catch, runs with a purpose.
The Bad
Not very athletic, and can look a bit lumbering in his routes. Not a fluid athlete.
Not very fast in the open field. Hits first gear and gets stuck there.
Will not force mismatches on the field in the passing game, as he is strictly traditional.
Slow to kick out in blocking against faster edge rushers.
Is a good, but not great blocker.
Will have to be coached up in run blocking in the NFL.
Final Overview
The combined scouting services average him out as a fourth round pick, but had he not torn up the knee in the bowl game, he would have probably received a second round grade. Butt is a high character guy who will work his tail off for anyone who takes the chance on him in the draft. If you like traditional, bull in a china shop typed ends, this guy is your guy. He will not let you down, but don't expect a super athlete, because he is not that guy.
Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
6-6, 257
Hodges was a three year player for the Hokies, and started all three seasons as well after making a move from QB.
Hodges started as a freshman, and finished with a line of 45-526-7, and had an average of 11.69 YPR. He finished second on the team in receiving that season.
As a sophomore, he posted 40-530-6, and averaged 13.25 YPR. He finished third on the team in receiving that season.
He came back as a junior in 2016, and posted 48-691-7, and averaged a career high 14.4 YPR, and again finished third on the team in receiving.
The Good
Solid size/speed combo, and plays more like a WR than a TE. Competes with first rate game speed.
Excellent leaping ability as a receiver, and can get to the high throws.
Can line up outside, and also excels across the middle of the field.
Will be able to be used all over the field as a receiver on the next level.
Deep play threat, and can beat LBs in coverage with ease. Gets to the next level against safeties.
Solid moves, and excellent tracker on long throws. Can break the big play.
Excellent downfield blocker.
Understands defenses, and knows how to read them.
The Bad
Is still learning the position, as he has only played TE for three years.
Can get jammed at the line.
Does not run crisp routes, and can get lost in traffic.
He lets the ball get to his body too often, and does not extend for the catch enough.
Does not extend plays after the catch well, and is easy to bring down.
Is not aggressive or powerful enough to be a dependable blocker at the point of contact just yet.
Final Overview
Hodges is another super athlete at the TE position who can excel as a receiver, but is still very raw as a blocker. Some teams prefer this kind of player here, but that is only on teams who use the spread. Hodges is coachable, and is a smart athlete who will pick things up in time, so if you have the ability to get him in the mid rounds, take a shot. He should develop nicely down the line.
Jonnu Smith, Florida International
6-3, 248
Smith was a four year starter at TE for the Panthers, and was the team's leading receiver for his first two seasons.
As a freshman, he finished with a line of 39-388-2, with an average of 9.95 YPR. As a sophomore, he finished with 61-710-8, with a YPR average of 11.64.
He missed four games as a junior as a result of a knee sprain. He managed to post a line of 36-397-4, with a YPR average of 11.03. He played in just eight games that season.
He recovered from his injuries to return as a senior, as he posted 42-506-4, with a YPR average of 12.06. He missed one game that season due to a domestic incident where his girlfriend doused him with a pot of boiling water because " he was not spending enough time with her".
The Good
Smith is a solid pass catching Tight End who plays with aggression and burst.
He can hit the seams and get open on the second level when covered by LBs.
Plays with solid game speed.
Overall speed is good.
Will gain YAC and make short gains longer with solid moves.
Solid strength as a blocker.
The Bad
Has had some drop issues, and can be a body catcher.
Does not do a good job of coming back to the football.
Needs work when shielding the football on receptions.
Is not a great route runner, just kind of roams into pass routes.
Is maxed out on frame size.
May not be big enough to be an in line blocker.
Final Overview
Smith, overall, is a decent pass catching option, but will never be a front line blocker. He may be more suited for H-Back work rather than being a traditional TE, and he definitely needs work on route trees, progressions, and his hand work. He has some intriguing tools, but is not a lock down instant impact player based on the issue for finding a place to have him work comfortably on the next level. He has enough to get drafted, but he is not for every system or scheme.
Michael Roberts, Toledo
6-4, 270
Roberts was a four year player for the Rockets, but really only developed into a front line starter as a senior in 2016. Roberts grew up with several issues but overcame his problems to eventually work his own way into Toledo without a scholarship, and he eventually earned one.
He played as a freshman, but did not record a reception.
As a sophomore, he posted some numbers with a line of 4-65-2.
He got more involved as a junior, posting a line of 21-234-4, and he averaged 11.14 YPR.
As a senior, he really exploded onto the scene to be named first team All-MAC. He posted a line of 45-533-16, and averaged 11.84 YPR.
The Good
Nothing has ever been handed to this guy. He has worked for everything he has.
Over 80% of his career receptions have gone for 1st downs, and 35% of his receptions in 2016 went for scores.
Has a wide net for catching the football, and decent body control for a big guy.
Has excellent red zone skills, and became a favorite target in that area in 2016.
Excellent lower body power.
Works zone defenses very nicely.
The Bad
Has only one real season of major production in college.
Not a great runner, and lacks top flight speed for a TE.
Sloppy blocker. Will over pursue on blocks and whiff. Edge rushers can beat him. He does not adjust well, and needs targets right in front of him to win the blocking game with consistency.
Final Overview
Roberts came out of nowhere in 2016 to have a major season for the Rockets, but that means we have a limited sample size to gauge what he can be. On paper, he shows all of the necessary credentials to do well on the next level, and his blocking issues tend to be his areas of most needed attention. If that can be ironed out, he could be on his way to eventually working his way into a starting job in a couple of seasons, but he needs some work to get there. Once he gets a shot, he should do just fine. This kid has been through some things, and he knows how to work through them. This should be no different.
Prospects Rounds 5-7
Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas: A developmental target who is good in the red zone, and underneath against the zone. Was popped for shoplifting at a Belk department store, and was suspended for the bowl game in 2016. Good at a lot of things, but not really great at any.
Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State: Can be used anywhere, but finding a spot for him will be tough as he played a hybrid position in college. More of an H-Back multi-tool than a standard Y TE in the NFL.
Eric Saubert, Drake: Two time All-American on FCS level, with 17 TD receptions in last two seasons. Solid NFL build, with serious red zone skill. Still has focus issues, and will drop the football. A real developmental prospect that needs some serious work.
Anthony Auclair, Laval (Montreal): A top prospect out of Canada, he showed excellent skill at the East West Shrine Game, and checks all the boxes for the position. He is a real diamond in the rough, and may be a huge surprise on the next level.
UFA Prospects
Taylor McNamara, USC: Numbers were not great in college, and he has a long way to go.
Pharoah Brown, Oregon: Off-field incidents and on field injuries derailed apromising career.
Johnny Mundt, Oregon: Never saw much time until his senior season.
Evan Bayliss, Oregon: Has some skills, but saw limited action with Ducks.
Billy Freeman, San Jose State: Had one eye popping season as a junior, then disappeared as a senior.
Connor Cella, Rice: 44 receptions over final two seasons as an Owl.
Josiah Price, Michigan State: Solid blocker, has 11 scores over last two seasons.
Sean Culkin, Missouri: Mainly a blocking option as an H Back, does not score.
Tyrone Swoopes, Texas: Former QB moving to TE for NFL shot. Athletic, but very raw.
OJ Howard, Alabama
David Njoku, Miami
2nd Round
Gerald Everett, South Alabama
Evan Engram, Mississippi
3rd Round
Adam Shaheen, Ashland
Jordan Leggett, Clemson
4th Round
Jake Butt, Michigan
Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
Jonnu Smith, Florida International
Michael Roberts, Toledo
Cole Hikutini, Louisville
5th Round
Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State
6th Round
Eric Saubert, Drake
7th Round
Anthony Auclair, Laval (Canada)
UFA
Taylor McNamara, USC
Pharoah Brown, Oregon
Johnny Mundt, Oregon
Evan Bayliss, Oregon
Billy Freeman, San Jose State
Connor Cella, Rice
Josiah Price, Michigan State
Sean Culkin, Missouri
Tyrone Swoopes, Texas
OJ Howard, Alabama
6-6, 251
Howard was a four year player at Alabama, although he could have gone to the draft a year ago. As a freshman, he put up a line of 14-269-2, and averaged 19.21 yards per reception.
As a sophomore, He caught 17-260-0, and averaged 15.29 YPR. He came in as a junior and doubled his production, posting 38-602-2, averaging 15.84 YPR on the season.
As a senior, He posted 45-595-3, and averaged 13.22 YPR.
The Good
One of the most athletic players in the draft, and probably better than some of his early numbers may suggest. He is a rare first round lock for a TE, and is one of those immediate impact types of players.
Very fast for a TE, with first rate hands, and has length to go get most passes.
Tracks the ball like a WR.
Cannot be defended in the passing game by a LB, and DBs have match up issues with him.
Very creative in space, and can break a long gain on any given play.
Excellent body control, and can readjust on bad throws high or low.
Rare pass catching TE who can also block like a pro.
The real deal.
The Bad
He is a pretty straightforward receiver, and does not string many moves together.
Can lack aggressiveness at times.
Needs more reps on the field, as Alabama under used him in 2016.
Some question his competitive nature.
Final Overview
I don't get how anyone would question his overall competitive nature, but I will say that Lane Kiffin rarely used him properly. Howard is an absolute first round talent who can be one of the best in the league once he gets his bearings. He is probably one of the prospects in this draft that I am personally most excited about.
David Njoku, Miami
6-4, 246
Njoku played just two seasons at Miami after redshirting as a freshman to transition from WR to TE As a freshman, he posted 21-362-1, and averaged 17.24 YPR in 13 games. As a RS Sophomore in 2016, he dropped a line of 43-698-8, and averaged 16.23 YPR.
The Good
Despite his overall size, he can still play outside at WR when needed.
Has room on his frame to bulk up further, which could improve his overall game as a blocker.
Very precise, sharp cuts on routes.
Creates separation easily, and creates major mismatches.
A major creator in the open field, and excels in YAC.
Major leaping ability to go get after the high throw.
Knows where the seams are against zones and finds the soft spot, will camp out there.
First rate hands.
He can line up anywhere on the field and excel.
Plus blocker.
The Bad
Severely limited sample size, as he only started in nine games in two years.
Still learning how to play TE, and thinks like a WR too much.
Footwork on blocking is still a work in progress, and may be a better receiving option than straight up blocker.
He can lose focus on some plays, leading to drops.
Still learning route tree from TE perspective.
Lacks lower body explosion, needs more on his frame.
More raw than anything else, depends on being a freakish athlete over knowledge of what he is doing.
Final Overview
As a pass catching TE, I think that Njoku, despite his lack of overall experience, could be a nice, late first round addition for anyone needing a TE who is not the best as a pure blocker in the trenches. Get him wide, and let him run, and allow him to block downfield as a decoy, because that is where he will excel right now. He will learn the rest later, but he has amazing talent potential, and could develop into being a star.
Gerald Everett, South Alabama
6-3, 239
Everett is a former high school basketball player who only picked up football as a senior in high school. He attended Hutchinson CC to further learn the game, and then transferred to UAB, but was focred out when the Blazers cut their program, which eventually landed him at South Alabama, a program that has had luck with traditional TEs in their short history.
Everett was the leading receiver for the Jaguars in 2015, as he posted a line of 41-575-8, with an average of 14.02 YPR. As a senior in 2016, he posted 49-717-4, with an average of 14.63 YPR.
The Good
Very athletic with solid bust off of the line.
Can get deep and past safeties who are sitting in zone coverage, and gets good separation off of the snap. He can run for a big guy.
Creates easy mismatches with his size and athletic ability, and demands DB coverage. LBs cannot cover him well.
Works well over the middle and against zone schemes.
Has first rate hands, and turns several catches into longer gains.
Solid blocker on screen pass plays.
Solid moves, and can create in the open field. Hard to tackle.
Very aggressive player.
The Bad
Inexperience is still an issue. Has not played the game for very long.
He does not run routes well, and just tends to roam into position.
Despite his size and burst, he still gets jammed sometimes.
Final Overview
If you are looking for overall value, and cannot get Howard or Njoku, this is your guy. He will need some coaching, but the physical traits are there. He runs like a pro, can catch the ball, and blocks like an angry beast. Any of the mental parts that may be missing are only due to inexperience, so he just needs to be coached and to get on the field. He has success written all over him.
Evan Engram, Mississippi
6-3, 234
Engram was a rare four year player at Ole Miss, and was one of the most productive players in the nation during his time with the Rebels.
As a freshman, he missed a month with an ankle injury, but still managed to post a line of 21-268-3, averaging 12.76 YPR. As a sophomore, he put up a line of 38-662-2, averaging 17.42 YPR. His numbers dipped a bit as a junior, as he posted 38-464-2, with a 12.21 YPR average, but returned for his senior season, when he exploded for a line of 65-926-8, with a YPR of 14.25.
The Good
Freakish athlete with a major explosion off of the snap. Incredibly fast.
Efficient runner with very little in the way of wasted movement.
Very good footwork while running.
Excellent body control, and gets to the ball everywhere.
Will kill in the seams, and can get deep.
LBs will not be able to cover him due to his speed and athleticism.
Can line up in the slot and go to work.
Has immediate impact written all over him.
The Bad
Is not a first rate receiver against the zone, and does not know where to find the soft spot against it just yet. Has to be hit on the move, and does not have first rate ability in reading of defenses.
Does not do a solid job of protecting the ball with his body.
Smallish for a TE, and is kind of a tweener.
Has had focus issues, and has been known to have some drops.
Does not always get to the ball with his hands, and sometimes uses his body too much.
Is not a first rate blocker.
Final Overview
As far as pass catching TEs go, Engram is pretty solid, and is part of a loaded upper half of the draft at this position. He is not, however, a complete package end who can do it all. He is not a blocker, and you have to use him as a motion TE to get out and run routes. If you can afford a pass catch only TE, he could be the guy you want.
Adam Shaheen, Ashland
6-6, 278
Shaheen was a former basketball prospect who attended Pitt-Johnstown out of high school to play hoops. After one season, he transferred to D2 Ashland to play football. As a sophomore, he was the third string end, and posted 2-85-0. As a junior, he broke the all time D2 record for the TE position by posting 70-803-10. He posted 57-867-16 as a senior in 2016.
He is a two time AFCA D2 All-American.\
The Good
The obvious is his size. He is built like a moving mountain, but does not look over sized.
Displays good footwork, which comes from having played hoops.
Excellent moves, and cuts very well.
His speed defies his size.
Smart player who wastes little unnecessary movement.
Has played all over the field.
Solid body control, and was a red zone threat.
Reads defenses quite well pre snap.
The Bad
Still learning as a run blocker, and has not mastered it yet.
Level of competition may be a factor in his success.
Despite his size, he can still get jammed at the line.
Is more mechanical than natural at times.
Is still learning to work in space as a runner.
Final Overview
Right now, he is a super sized pass catcher with some amazing traits, especially in the red zone. He will get coached up in terms of blocking. In terms of what he brings to the table right now, I ignore any shortcomings and will wait until he gets to work with an NFL staff, and I will take the chance. He just has too many intangibles to be ignored.
Jordan Leggett, Clemson
6-5, 258
Leggett was a four year player and starter for the Tigers, and has appeared in two national title games, winning one. As a freshman, he posted a line of 12-176-2, and averaged 14.67 YPR. As a sophomore, he posted 14-161-1, averaging 11.5 YPR. He started a total of nine games his first two seasons.
As a junior, he started in all 15 games, and posted 40-525-8, and averaged 13.13 YPR. He was part of the national championship team of 2016, and posted 46-736-7, with a YPR average of 16.
He was an All-ACC selection and Mackey award finalist in 2016.
The Good
His size is the thing of legends when it comes to the TE position.
Has lined up all over the field.
Dependable receiver, has not had drop issues in college.
Solid body control, works very well in tight space, and knows how to find the seams in zone coverage.
Works well over the middle of the field as a receiver.
Can break the big play on occasion, and plays his best against the best competition.
The Bad
Will not sell out as a blocker, and effort is not always there.
Has called himself lazy in the past.
Does not always give consistent effort from one game to the next, and does not turn it on for the smaller games.
Is not a great route runner, and seems mechanical when asked to work in a specific role.
System guy, and may not see the same numbers on the next level in a traditional set.
Despite having decent speed, he lacks explosion off of the snap.
Gets knocked off routes easily, and can get jammed with lack of effort.
Will not get to every football, so you had better get it in the right spot on the pass.
Poor ball security after the catch.
Shows limited to zero aggression.
Final Overview
Leggett is a pass catch only TE who is completely useless as a blocker. He has a hero/big play syndrome, where he only shows all effort when he is the center of the play. He has had some solid production, but he has got to get it together in the pros, or he will be eaten alive quickly. He will need some coaching up, and he also needs a good boot in his ass to get his head where it should be. He has all of the intangibles, but nobody is sure about the head. If he wakes up, he will be a steal. If he continues to loaf, he will flame out quickly.
Jake Butt, Michigan
6-5, 246
Butt was a four year player for the Wolverines, and finished as a second team All-American two times.
As a freshman, he played behind Devin Funchess, and posted 20-235-2, and averaged 11.75 YPR. As a sophomore, Butt became the number one TE, and finished with a line of 21-211-2, with a YPR average of 10.05.
As a junior, Butt really started finding his way, as he posted a line of 51-654-3, and he finished with 12.82 YPR. He continued his strong play as a senior, posting 46-546-4, with a YPR of 11.47.
He ended up finishing his senior season with a torn ACL against Florida State in the Citrus Bowl.
The Good
Has the requisite size for an NFL TE, and has the hands to go along with it.
Tough working in traffic and over the middle. Will move the chains.
Protects the ball well in traffic, and uses his body as a shield while catching it.
Works hard to get off the snap cleanly, and has several moves to help him get free.
Expert zone reader, and finds the seams and soft spots.
Very aggressive runner after the catch, runs with a purpose.
The Bad
Not very athletic, and can look a bit lumbering in his routes. Not a fluid athlete.
Not very fast in the open field. Hits first gear and gets stuck there.
Will not force mismatches on the field in the passing game, as he is strictly traditional.
Slow to kick out in blocking against faster edge rushers.
Is a good, but not great blocker.
Will have to be coached up in run blocking in the NFL.
Final Overview
The combined scouting services average him out as a fourth round pick, but had he not torn up the knee in the bowl game, he would have probably received a second round grade. Butt is a high character guy who will work his tail off for anyone who takes the chance on him in the draft. If you like traditional, bull in a china shop typed ends, this guy is your guy. He will not let you down, but don't expect a super athlete, because he is not that guy.
Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
6-6, 257
Hodges was a three year player for the Hokies, and started all three seasons as well after making a move from QB.
Hodges started as a freshman, and finished with a line of 45-526-7, and had an average of 11.69 YPR. He finished second on the team in receiving that season.
As a sophomore, he posted 40-530-6, and averaged 13.25 YPR. He finished third on the team in receiving that season.
He came back as a junior in 2016, and posted 48-691-7, and averaged a career high 14.4 YPR, and again finished third on the team in receiving.
The Good
Solid size/speed combo, and plays more like a WR than a TE. Competes with first rate game speed.
Excellent leaping ability as a receiver, and can get to the high throws.
Can line up outside, and also excels across the middle of the field.
Will be able to be used all over the field as a receiver on the next level.
Deep play threat, and can beat LBs in coverage with ease. Gets to the next level against safeties.
Solid moves, and excellent tracker on long throws. Can break the big play.
Excellent downfield blocker.
Understands defenses, and knows how to read them.
The Bad
Is still learning the position, as he has only played TE for three years.
Can get jammed at the line.
Does not run crisp routes, and can get lost in traffic.
He lets the ball get to his body too often, and does not extend for the catch enough.
Does not extend plays after the catch well, and is easy to bring down.
Is not aggressive or powerful enough to be a dependable blocker at the point of contact just yet.
Final Overview
Hodges is another super athlete at the TE position who can excel as a receiver, but is still very raw as a blocker. Some teams prefer this kind of player here, but that is only on teams who use the spread. Hodges is coachable, and is a smart athlete who will pick things up in time, so if you have the ability to get him in the mid rounds, take a shot. He should develop nicely down the line.
Jonnu Smith, Florida International
6-3, 248
Smith was a four year starter at TE for the Panthers, and was the team's leading receiver for his first two seasons.
As a freshman, he finished with a line of 39-388-2, with an average of 9.95 YPR. As a sophomore, he finished with 61-710-8, with a YPR average of 11.64.
He missed four games as a junior as a result of a knee sprain. He managed to post a line of 36-397-4, with a YPR average of 11.03. He played in just eight games that season.
He recovered from his injuries to return as a senior, as he posted 42-506-4, with a YPR average of 12.06. He missed one game that season due to a domestic incident where his girlfriend doused him with a pot of boiling water because " he was not spending enough time with her".
The Good
Smith is a solid pass catching Tight End who plays with aggression and burst.
He can hit the seams and get open on the second level when covered by LBs.
Plays with solid game speed.
Overall speed is good.
Will gain YAC and make short gains longer with solid moves.
Solid strength as a blocker.
The Bad
Has had some drop issues, and can be a body catcher.
Does not do a good job of coming back to the football.
Needs work when shielding the football on receptions.
Is not a great route runner, just kind of roams into pass routes.
Is maxed out on frame size.
May not be big enough to be an in line blocker.
Final Overview
Smith, overall, is a decent pass catching option, but will never be a front line blocker. He may be more suited for H-Back work rather than being a traditional TE, and he definitely needs work on route trees, progressions, and his hand work. He has some intriguing tools, but is not a lock down instant impact player based on the issue for finding a place to have him work comfortably on the next level. He has enough to get drafted, but he is not for every system or scheme.
Michael Roberts, Toledo
6-4, 270
Roberts was a four year player for the Rockets, but really only developed into a front line starter as a senior in 2016. Roberts grew up with several issues but overcame his problems to eventually work his own way into Toledo without a scholarship, and he eventually earned one.
He played as a freshman, but did not record a reception.
As a sophomore, he posted some numbers with a line of 4-65-2.
He got more involved as a junior, posting a line of 21-234-4, and he averaged 11.14 YPR.
As a senior, he really exploded onto the scene to be named first team All-MAC. He posted a line of 45-533-16, and averaged 11.84 YPR.
The Good
Nothing has ever been handed to this guy. He has worked for everything he has.
Over 80% of his career receptions have gone for 1st downs, and 35% of his receptions in 2016 went for scores.
Has a wide net for catching the football, and decent body control for a big guy.
Has excellent red zone skills, and became a favorite target in that area in 2016.
Excellent lower body power.
Works zone defenses very nicely.
The Bad
Has only one real season of major production in college.
Not a great runner, and lacks top flight speed for a TE.
Sloppy blocker. Will over pursue on blocks and whiff. Edge rushers can beat him. He does not adjust well, and needs targets right in front of him to win the blocking game with consistency.
Final Overview
Roberts came out of nowhere in 2016 to have a major season for the Rockets, but that means we have a limited sample size to gauge what he can be. On paper, he shows all of the necessary credentials to do well on the next level, and his blocking issues tend to be his areas of most needed attention. If that can be ironed out, he could be on his way to eventually working his way into a starting job in a couple of seasons, but he needs some work to get there. Once he gets a shot, he should do just fine. This kid has been through some things, and he knows how to work through them. This should be no different.
Prospects Rounds 5-7
Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas: A developmental target who is good in the red zone, and underneath against the zone. Was popped for shoplifting at a Belk department store, and was suspended for the bowl game in 2016. Good at a lot of things, but not really great at any.
Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State: Can be used anywhere, but finding a spot for him will be tough as he played a hybrid position in college. More of an H-Back multi-tool than a standard Y TE in the NFL.
Eric Saubert, Drake: Two time All-American on FCS level, with 17 TD receptions in last two seasons. Solid NFL build, with serious red zone skill. Still has focus issues, and will drop the football. A real developmental prospect that needs some serious work.
Anthony Auclair, Laval (Montreal): A top prospect out of Canada, he showed excellent skill at the East West Shrine Game, and checks all the boxes for the position. He is a real diamond in the rough, and may be a huge surprise on the next level.
UFA Prospects
Taylor McNamara, USC: Numbers were not great in college, and he has a long way to go.
Pharoah Brown, Oregon: Off-field incidents and on field injuries derailed apromising career.
Johnny Mundt, Oregon: Never saw much time until his senior season.
Evan Bayliss, Oregon: Has some skills, but saw limited action with Ducks.
Billy Freeman, San Jose State: Had one eye popping season as a junior, then disappeared as a senior.
Connor Cella, Rice: 44 receptions over final two seasons as an Owl.
Josiah Price, Michigan State: Solid blocker, has 11 scores over last two seasons.
Sean Culkin, Missouri: Mainly a blocking option as an H Back, does not score.
Tyrone Swoopes, Texas: Former QB moving to TE for NFL shot. Athletic, but very raw.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: UDFA Prospects Tight End
UDFA Prospects
Taylor McNamara, USC: Numbers were not great in college, and he has a long way to go.
Pharoah Brown, Oregon: Off-field incidents and on field injuries derailed apromising career.
Johnny Mundt, Oregon: Never saw much time until his senior season.
Evan Bayliss, Oregon: Has some skills, but saw limited action with Ducks.
Billy Freeman, San Jose State: Had one eye popping season as a junior, then disappeared as a senior.
Connor Cella, Rice: 44 receptions over final two seasons as an Owl.
Josiah Price, Michigan State: Solid blocker, has 11 scores over last two seasons.
Sean Culkin, Missouri: Mainly a blocking option as an H Back, does not score.
Tyrone Swoopes, Texas: Former QB moving to TE for NFL shot. Athletic, but very raw.
Taylor McNamara, USC: Numbers were not great in college, and he has a long way to go.
Pharoah Brown, Oregon: Off-field incidents and on field injuries derailed apromising career.
Johnny Mundt, Oregon: Never saw much time until his senior season.
Evan Bayliss, Oregon: Has some skills, but saw limited action with Ducks.
Billy Freeman, San Jose State: Had one eye popping season as a junior, then disappeared as a senior.
Connor Cella, Rice: 44 receptions over final two seasons as an Owl.
Josiah Price, Michigan State: Solid blocker, has 11 scores over last two seasons.
Sean Culkin, Missouri: Mainly a blocking option as an H Back, does not score.
Tyrone Swoopes, Texas: Former QB moving to TE for NFL shot. Athletic, but very raw.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Tight End Prospects Rounds 5-7
Prospects Rounds 5-7
Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas: A developmental target who is good in the red zone, and underneath against the zone. Was popped for shoplifting at a Belk department store, and was suspended for the bowl game in 2016. Good at a lot of things, but not really great at any.
Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State: Can be used anywhere, but finding a spot for him will be tough as he played a hybrid position in college. More of an H-Back multi-tool than a standard Y TE in the NFL.
Eric Saubert, Drake: Two time All-American on FCS level, with 17 TD receptions in last two seasons. Solid NFL build, with serious red zone skill. Still has focus issues, and will drop the football. A real developmental prospect that needs some serious work.
Anthony Auclair, Laval (Montreal): A top prospect out of Canada, he showed excellent skill at the East West Shrine Game, and checks all the boxes for the position. He is a real diamond in the rough, and may be a huge surprise on the next level.
Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas: A developmental target who is good in the red zone, and underneath against the zone. Was popped for shoplifting at a Belk department store, and was suspended for the bowl game in 2016. Good at a lot of things, but not really great at any.
Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State: Can be used anywhere, but finding a spot for him will be tough as he played a hybrid position in college. More of an H-Back multi-tool than a standard Y TE in the NFL.
Eric Saubert, Drake: Two time All-American on FCS level, with 17 TD receptions in last two seasons. Solid NFL build, with serious red zone skill. Still has focus issues, and will drop the football. A real developmental prospect that needs some serious work.
Anthony Auclair, Laval (Montreal): A top prospect out of Canada, he showed excellent skill at the East West Shrine Game, and checks all the boxes for the position. He is a real diamond in the rough, and may be a huge surprise on the next level.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts, Toledo
6-4, 270
Roberts was a four year player for the Rockets, but really only developed into a front line starter as a senior in 2016. Roberts grew up with several issues but overcame his problems to eventually work his own way into Toledo without a scholarship, and he eventually earned one.
He played as a freshman, but did not record a reception.
As a sophomore, he posted some numbers with a line of 4-65-2.
He got more involved as a junior, posting a line of 21-234-4, and he averaged 11.14 YPR.
As a senior, he really exploded onto the scene to be named first team All-MAC. He posted a line of 45-533-16, and averaged 11.84 YPR.
The Good
Nothing has ever been handed to this guy. He has worked for everything he has.
Over 80% of his career receptions have gone for 1st downs, and 35% of his receptions in 2016 went for scores.
Has a wide net for catching the football, and decent body control for a big guy.
Has excellent red zone skills, and became a favorite target in that area in 2016.
Excellent lower body power.
Works zone defenses very nicely.
The Bad
Has only one real season of major production in college.
Not a great runner, and lacks top flight speed for a TE.
Sloppy blocker. Will over pursue on blocks and whiff. Edge rushers can beat him. He does not adjust well, and needs targets right in front of him to win the blocking game with consistency.
Final Overview
Roberts came out of nowhere in 2016 to have a major season for the Rockets, but that means we have a limited sample size to gauge what he can be. On paper, he shows all of the necessary credentials to do well on the next level, and his blocking issues tend to be his areas of most needed attention. If that can be ironed out, he could be on his way to eventually working his way into a starting job in a couple of seasons, but he needs some work to get there. Once he gets a shot, he should do just fine. This kid has been through some things, and he knows how to work through them. This should be no different.
6-4, 270
Roberts was a four year player for the Rockets, but really only developed into a front line starter as a senior in 2016. Roberts grew up with several issues but overcame his problems to eventually work his own way into Toledo without a scholarship, and he eventually earned one.
He played as a freshman, but did not record a reception.
As a sophomore, he posted some numbers with a line of 4-65-2.
He got more involved as a junior, posting a line of 21-234-4, and he averaged 11.14 YPR.
As a senior, he really exploded onto the scene to be named first team All-MAC. He posted a line of 45-533-16, and averaged 11.84 YPR.
The Good
Nothing has ever been handed to this guy. He has worked for everything he has.
Over 80% of his career receptions have gone for 1st downs, and 35% of his receptions in 2016 went for scores.
Has a wide net for catching the football, and decent body control for a big guy.
Has excellent red zone skills, and became a favorite target in that area in 2016.
Excellent lower body power.
Works zone defenses very nicely.
The Bad
Has only one real season of major production in college.
Not a great runner, and lacks top flight speed for a TE.
Sloppy blocker. Will over pursue on blocks and whiff. Edge rushers can beat him. He does not adjust well, and needs targets right in front of him to win the blocking game with consistency.
Final Overview
Roberts came out of nowhere in 2016 to have a major season for the Rockets, but that means we have a limited sample size to gauge what he can be. On paper, he shows all of the necessary credentials to do well on the next level, and his blocking issues tend to be his areas of most needed attention. If that can be ironed out, he could be on his way to eventually working his way into a starting job in a couple of seasons, but he needs some work to get there. Once he gets a shot, he should do just fine. This kid has been through some things, and he knows how to work through them. This should be no different.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Jonnu Smith
Jonnu Smith, Florida International
6-3, 248
Smith was a four year starter at TE for the Panthers, and was the team's leading receiver for his first two seasons.
As a freshman, he finished with a line of 39-388-2, with an average of 9.95 YPR. As a sophomore, he finished with 61-710-8, with a YPR average of 11.64.
He missed four games as a junior as a result of a knee sprain. He managed to post a line of 36-397-4, with a YPR average of 11.03. He played in just eight games that season.
He recovered from his injuries to return as a senior, as he posted 42-506-4, with a YPR average of 12.06. He missed one game that season due to a domestic incident where his girlfriend doused him with a pot of boiling water because " he was not spending enough time with her".
The Good
Smith is a solid pass catching Tight End who plays with aggression and burst.
He can hit the seams and get open on the second level when covered by LBs.
Plays with solid game speed.
Overall speed is good.
Will gain YAC and make short gains longer with solid moves.
Solid strength as a blocker.
The Bad
Has had some drop issues, and can be a body catcher.
Does not do a good job of coming back to the football.
Needs work when shielding the football on receptions.
Is not a great route runner, just kind of roams into pass routes.
Is maxed out on frame size.
May not be big enough to be an in line blocker.
Final Overview
Smith, overall, is a decent pass catching option, but will never be a front line blocker. He may be more suited for H-Back work rather than being a traditional TE, and he definitely needs work on route trees, progressions, and his hand work. He has some intriguing tools, but is not a lock down instant impact player based on the issue for finding a place to have him work comfortably on the next level. He has enough to get drafted, but he is not for every system or scheme.
6-3, 248
Smith was a four year starter at TE for the Panthers, and was the team's leading receiver for his first two seasons.
As a freshman, he finished with a line of 39-388-2, with an average of 9.95 YPR. As a sophomore, he finished with 61-710-8, with a YPR average of 11.64.
He missed four games as a junior as a result of a knee sprain. He managed to post a line of 36-397-4, with a YPR average of 11.03. He played in just eight games that season.
He recovered from his injuries to return as a senior, as he posted 42-506-4, with a YPR average of 12.06. He missed one game that season due to a domestic incident where his girlfriend doused him with a pot of boiling water because " he was not spending enough time with her".
The Good
Smith is a solid pass catching Tight End who plays with aggression and burst.
He can hit the seams and get open on the second level when covered by LBs.
Plays with solid game speed.
Overall speed is good.
Will gain YAC and make short gains longer with solid moves.
Solid strength as a blocker.
The Bad
Has had some drop issues, and can be a body catcher.
Does not do a good job of coming back to the football.
Needs work when shielding the football on receptions.
Is not a great route runner, just kind of roams into pass routes.
Is maxed out on frame size.
May not be big enough to be an in line blocker.
Final Overview
Smith, overall, is a decent pass catching option, but will never be a front line blocker. He may be more suited for H-Back work rather than being a traditional TE, and he definitely needs work on route trees, progressions, and his hand work. He has some intriguing tools, but is not a lock down instant impact player based on the issue for finding a place to have him work comfortably on the next level. He has enough to get drafted, but he is not for every system or scheme.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Bucky Hodges
Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
6-6, 257
Hodges was a three year player for the Hokies, and started all three seasons as well after making a move from QB.
Hodges started as a freshman, and finished with a line of 45-526-7, and had an average of 11.69 YPR. He finished second on the team in receiving that season.
As a sophomore, he posted 40-530-6, and averaged 13.25 YPR. He finished third on the team in receiving that season.
He came back as a junior in 2016, and posted 48-691-7, and averaged a career high 14.4 YPR, and again finished third on the team in receiving.
The Good
Solid size/speed combo, and plays more like a WR than a TE. Competes with first rate game speed.
Excellent leaping ability as a receiver, and can get to the high throws.
Can line up outside, and also excels across the middle of the field.
Will be able to be used all over the field as a receiver on the next level.
Deep play threat, and can beat LBs in coverage with ease. Gets to the next level against safeties.
Solid moves, and excellent tracker on long throws. Can break the big play.
Excellent downfield blocker.
Understands defenses, and knows how to read them.
The Bad
Is still learning the position, as he has only played TE for three years.
Can get jammed at the line.
Does not run crisp routes, and can get lost in traffic.
He lets the ball get to his body too often, and does not extend for the catch enough.
Does not extend plays after the catch well, and is easy to bring down.
Is not aggressive or powerful enough to be a dependable blocker at the point of contact just yet.
Final Overview
Hodges is another super athlete at the TE position who can excel as a receiver, but is still very raw as a blocker. Some teams prefer this kind of player here, but that is only on teams who use the spread. Hodges is coachable, and is a smart athlete who will pick things up in time, so if you have the ability to get him in the mid rounds, take a shot. He should develop nicely down the line.
6-6, 257
Hodges was a three year player for the Hokies, and started all three seasons as well after making a move from QB.
Hodges started as a freshman, and finished with a line of 45-526-7, and had an average of 11.69 YPR. He finished second on the team in receiving that season.
As a sophomore, he posted 40-530-6, and averaged 13.25 YPR. He finished third on the team in receiving that season.
He came back as a junior in 2016, and posted 48-691-7, and averaged a career high 14.4 YPR, and again finished third on the team in receiving.
The Good
Solid size/speed combo, and plays more like a WR than a TE. Competes with first rate game speed.
Excellent leaping ability as a receiver, and can get to the high throws.
Can line up outside, and also excels across the middle of the field.
Will be able to be used all over the field as a receiver on the next level.
Deep play threat, and can beat LBs in coverage with ease. Gets to the next level against safeties.
Solid moves, and excellent tracker on long throws. Can break the big play.
Excellent downfield blocker.
Understands defenses, and knows how to read them.
The Bad
Is still learning the position, as he has only played TE for three years.
Can get jammed at the line.
Does not run crisp routes, and can get lost in traffic.
He lets the ball get to his body too often, and does not extend for the catch enough.
Does not extend plays after the catch well, and is easy to bring down.
Is not aggressive or powerful enough to be a dependable blocker at the point of contact just yet.
Final Overview
Hodges is another super athlete at the TE position who can excel as a receiver, but is still very raw as a blocker. Some teams prefer this kind of player here, but that is only on teams who use the spread. Hodges is coachable, and is a smart athlete who will pick things up in time, so if you have the ability to get him in the mid rounds, take a shot. He should develop nicely down the line.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Jake Butt
Jake Butt, Michigan
6-5, 246
Butt was a four year player for the Wolverines, and finished as a second team All-American two times.
As a freshman, he played behind Devin Funchess, and posted 20-235-2, and averaged 11.75 YPR. As a sophomore, Butt became the number one TE, and finished with a line of 21-211-2, with a YPR average of 10.05.
As a junior, Butt really started finding his way, as he posted a line of 51-654-3, and he finished with 12.82 YPR. He continued his strong play as a senior, posting 46-546-4, with a YPR of 11.47.
He ended up finishing his senior season with a torn ACL against Florida State in the Citrus Bowl.
The Good
Has the requisite size for an NFL TE, and has the hands to go along with it.
Tough working in traffic and over the middle. Will move the chains.
Protects the ball well in traffic, and uses his body as a shield while catching it.
Works hard to get off the snap cleanly, and has several moves to help him get free.
Expert zone reader, and finds the seams and soft spots.
Very aggressive runner after the catch, runs with a purpose.
The Bad
Not very athletic, and can look a bit lumbering in his routes. Not a fluid athlete.
Not very fast in the open field. Hits first gear and gets stuck there.
Will not force mismatches on the field in the passing game, as he is strictly traditional.
Slow to kick out in blocking against faster edge rushers.
Is a good, but not great blocker.
Will have to be coached up in run blocking in the NFL.
Final Overview
The combined scouting services average him out as a fourth round pick, but had he not torn up the knee in the bowl game, he would have probably received a second round grade. Butt is a high character guy who will work his tail off for anyone who takes the chance on him in the draft. If you like traditional, bull in a china shop typed ends, this guy is your guy. He will not let you down, but don't expect a super athlete, because he is not that guy.
6-5, 246
Butt was a four year player for the Wolverines, and finished as a second team All-American two times.
As a freshman, he played behind Devin Funchess, and posted 20-235-2, and averaged 11.75 YPR. As a sophomore, Butt became the number one TE, and finished with a line of 21-211-2, with a YPR average of 10.05.
As a junior, Butt really started finding his way, as he posted a line of 51-654-3, and he finished with 12.82 YPR. He continued his strong play as a senior, posting 46-546-4, with a YPR of 11.47.
He ended up finishing his senior season with a torn ACL against Florida State in the Citrus Bowl.
The Good
Has the requisite size for an NFL TE, and has the hands to go along with it.
Tough working in traffic and over the middle. Will move the chains.
Protects the ball well in traffic, and uses his body as a shield while catching it.
Works hard to get off the snap cleanly, and has several moves to help him get free.
Expert zone reader, and finds the seams and soft spots.
Very aggressive runner after the catch, runs with a purpose.
The Bad
Not very athletic, and can look a bit lumbering in his routes. Not a fluid athlete.
Not very fast in the open field. Hits first gear and gets stuck there.
Will not force mismatches on the field in the passing game, as he is strictly traditional.
Slow to kick out in blocking against faster edge rushers.
Is a good, but not great blocker.
Will have to be coached up in run blocking in the NFL.
Final Overview
The combined scouting services average him out as a fourth round pick, but had he not torn up the knee in the bowl game, he would have probably received a second round grade. Butt is a high character guy who will work his tail off for anyone who takes the chance on him in the draft. If you like traditional, bull in a china shop typed ends, this guy is your guy. He will not let you down, but don't expect a super athlete, because he is not that guy.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: Jordan Leggett
Jordan Leggett, Clemson
6-5, 258
Leggett was a four year player and starter for the Tigers, and has appeared in two national title games, winning one. As a freshman, he posted a line of 12-176-2, and averaged 14.67 YPR. As a sophomore, he posted 14-161-1, averaging 11.5 YPR. He started a total of nine games his first two seasons.
As a junior, he started in all 15 games, and posted 40-525-8, and averaged 13.13 YPR. He was part of the national championship team of 2016, and posted 46-736-7, with a YPR average of 16.
He was an All-ACC selection and Mackey award finalist in 2016.
The Good
His size is the thing of legends when it comes to the TE position.
Has lined up all over the field.
Dependable receiver, has not had drop issues in college.
Solid body control, works very well in tight space, and knows how to find the seams in zone coverage.
Works well over the middle of the field as a receiver.
Can break the big play on occasion, and plays his best against the best competition.
The Bad
Will not sell out as a blocker, and effort is not always there.
Has called himself lazy in the past.
Does not always give consistent effort from one game to the next, and does not turn it on for the smaller games.
Is not a great route runner, and seems mechanical when asked to work in a specific role.
System guy, and may not see the same numbers on the next level in a traditional set.
Despite having decent speed, he lacks explosion off of the snap.
Gets knocked off routes easily, and can get jammed with lack of effort.
Will not get to every football, so you had better get it in the right spot on the pass.
Poor ball security after the catch.
Shows limited to zero aggression.
Final Overview
Leggett is a pass catch only TE who is completely useless as a blocker. He has a hero/big play syndrome, where he only shows all effort when he is the center of the play. He has had some solid production, but he has got to get it together in the pros, or he will be eaten alive quickly. He will need some coaching up, and he also needs a good boot in his ass to get his head where it should be. He has all of the intangibles, but nobody is sure about the head. If he wakes up, he will be a steal. If he continues to loaf, he will flame out quickly.
6-5, 258
Leggett was a four year player and starter for the Tigers, and has appeared in two national title games, winning one. As a freshman, he posted a line of 12-176-2, and averaged 14.67 YPR. As a sophomore, he posted 14-161-1, averaging 11.5 YPR. He started a total of nine games his first two seasons.
As a junior, he started in all 15 games, and posted 40-525-8, and averaged 13.13 YPR. He was part of the national championship team of 2016, and posted 46-736-7, with a YPR average of 16.
He was an All-ACC selection and Mackey award finalist in 2016.
The Good
His size is the thing of legends when it comes to the TE position.
Has lined up all over the field.
Dependable receiver, has not had drop issues in college.
Solid body control, works very well in tight space, and knows how to find the seams in zone coverage.
Works well over the middle of the field as a receiver.
Can break the big play on occasion, and plays his best against the best competition.
The Bad
Will not sell out as a blocker, and effort is not always there.
Has called himself lazy in the past.
Does not always give consistent effort from one game to the next, and does not turn it on for the smaller games.
Is not a great route runner, and seems mechanical when asked to work in a specific role.
System guy, and may not see the same numbers on the next level in a traditional set.
Despite having decent speed, he lacks explosion off of the snap.
Gets knocked off routes easily, and can get jammed with lack of effort.
Will not get to every football, so you had better get it in the right spot on the pass.
Poor ball security after the catch.
Shows limited to zero aggression.
Final Overview
Leggett is a pass catch only TE who is completely useless as a blocker. He has a hero/big play syndrome, where he only shows all effort when he is the center of the play. He has had some solid production, but he has got to get it together in the pros, or he will be eaten alive quickly. He will need some coaching up, and he also needs a good boot in his ass to get his head where it should be. He has all of the intangibles, but nobody is sure about the head. If he wakes up, he will be a steal. If he continues to loaf, he will flame out quickly.
2017 NFL Draft Profiles: Adam Shaheen
Adam Shaheen, Ashland
6-6, 278
Shaheen was a former basketball prospect who attended Pitt-Johnstown out of high school to play hoops. After one season, he transferred to D2 Ashland to play football. As a sophomore, he was the third string end, and posted 2-85-0. As a junior, he broke the all time D2 record for the TE position by posting 70-803-10. He posted 57-867-16 as a senior in 2016.
He is a two time AFCA D2 All-American.\
The Good
The obvious is his size. He is built like a moving mountain, but does not look over sized.
Displays good footwork, which comes from having played hoops.
Excellent moves, and cuts very well.
His speed defies his size.
Smart player who wastes little unnecessary movement.
Has played all over the field.
Solid body control, and was a red zone threat.
Reads defenses quite well pre snap.
The Bad
Still learning as a run blocker, and has not mastered it yet.
Level of competition may be a factor in his success.
Despite his size, he can still get jammed at the line.
Is more mechanical than natural at times.
Is still learning to work in space as a runner.
Final Overview
Right now, he is a super sized pass catcher with some amazing traits, especially in the red zone. He will get coached up in terms of blocking. In terms of what he brings to the table right now, I ignore any shortcomings and will wait until he gets to work with an NFL staff, and I will take the chance. He just has too many intangibles to be ignored.
6-6, 278
Shaheen was a former basketball prospect who attended Pitt-Johnstown out of high school to play hoops. After one season, he transferred to D2 Ashland to play football. As a sophomore, he was the third string end, and posted 2-85-0. As a junior, he broke the all time D2 record for the TE position by posting 70-803-10. He posted 57-867-16 as a senior in 2016.
He is a two time AFCA D2 All-American.\
The Good
The obvious is his size. He is built like a moving mountain, but does not look over sized.
Displays good footwork, which comes from having played hoops.
Excellent moves, and cuts very well.
His speed defies his size.
Smart player who wastes little unnecessary movement.
Has played all over the field.
Solid body control, and was a red zone threat.
Reads defenses quite well pre snap.
The Bad
Still learning as a run blocker, and has not mastered it yet.
Level of competition may be a factor in his success.
Despite his size, he can still get jammed at the line.
Is more mechanical than natural at times.
Is still learning to work in space as a runner.
Final Overview
Right now, he is a super sized pass catcher with some amazing traits, especially in the red zone. He will get coached up in terms of blocking. In terms of what he brings to the table right now, I ignore any shortcomings and will wait until he gets to work with an NFL staff, and I will take the chance. He just has too many intangibles to be ignored.
2017 NFl Draft Profile: Evan Engram
Evan Engram, Mississippi
6-3, 234
Engram was a rare four year player at Ole Miss, and was one of the most productive players in the nation during his time with the Rebels.
As a freshman, he missed a month with an ankle injury, but still managed to post a line of 21-268-3, averaging 12.76 YPR. As a sophomore, he put up a line of 38-662-2, averaging 17.42 YPR. His numbers dipped a bit as a junior, as he posted 38-464-2, with a 12.21 YPR average, but returned for his senior season, when he exploded for a line of 65-926-8, with a YPR of 14.25.
The Good
Freakish athlete with a major explosion off of the snap. Incredibly fast.
Efficient runner with very little in the way of wasted movement.
Very good footwork while running.
Excellent body control, and gets to the ball everywhere.
Will kill in the seams, and can get deep.
LBs will not be able to cover him due to his speed and athleticism.
Can line up in the slot and go to work.
Has immediate impact written all over him.
The Bad
Is not a first rate receiver against the zone, and does not know where to find the soft spot against it just yet. Has to be hit on the move, and does not have first rate ability in reading of defenses.
Does not do a solid job of protecting the ball with his body.
Smallish for a TE, and is kind of a tweener.
Has had focus issues, and has been known to have some drops.
Does not always get to the ball with his hands, and sometimes uses his body too much.
Is not a first rate blocker.
Final Overview
As far as pass catching TEs go, Engram is pretty solid, and is part of a loaded upper half of the draft at this position. He is not, however, a complete package end who can do it all. He is not a blocker, and you have to use him as a motion TE to get out and run routes. If you can afford a pass catch only TE, he could be the guy you want.
6-3, 234
Engram was a rare four year player at Ole Miss, and was one of the most productive players in the nation during his time with the Rebels.
As a freshman, he missed a month with an ankle injury, but still managed to post a line of 21-268-3, averaging 12.76 YPR. As a sophomore, he put up a line of 38-662-2, averaging 17.42 YPR. His numbers dipped a bit as a junior, as he posted 38-464-2, with a 12.21 YPR average, but returned for his senior season, when he exploded for a line of 65-926-8, with a YPR of 14.25.
The Good
Freakish athlete with a major explosion off of the snap. Incredibly fast.
Efficient runner with very little in the way of wasted movement.
Very good footwork while running.
Excellent body control, and gets to the ball everywhere.
Will kill in the seams, and can get deep.
LBs will not be able to cover him due to his speed and athleticism.
Can line up in the slot and go to work.
Has immediate impact written all over him.
The Bad
Is not a first rate receiver against the zone, and does not know where to find the soft spot against it just yet. Has to be hit on the move, and does not have first rate ability in reading of defenses.
Does not do a solid job of protecting the ball with his body.
Smallish for a TE, and is kind of a tweener.
Has had focus issues, and has been known to have some drops.
Does not always get to the ball with his hands, and sometimes uses his body too much.
Is not a first rate blocker.
Final Overview
As far as pass catching TEs go, Engram is pretty solid, and is part of a loaded upper half of the draft at this position. He is not, however, a complete package end who can do it all. He is not a blocker, and you have to use him as a motion TE to get out and run routes. If you can afford a pass catch only TE, he could be the guy you want.
2017 NFl Draft Profile: Gerald Everett
Gerald Everett, South Alabama
6-3, 239
Everett is a former high school basketball player who only picked up football as a senior in high school. He attended Hutchinson CC to further learn the game, and then transferred to UAB, but was focred out when the Blazers cut their program, which eventually landed him at South Alabama, a program that has had luck with traditional TEs in their short history.
Everett was the leading receiver for the Jaguars in 2015, as he posted a line of 41-575-8, with an average of 14.02 YPR. As a senior in 2016, he posted 49-717-4, with an average of 14.63 YPR.
The Good
Very athletic with solid bust off of the line.
Can get deep and past safeties who are sitting in zone coverage, and gets good separation off of the snap. He can run for a big guy.
Creates easy mismatches with his size and athletic ability, and demands DB coverage. LBs cannot cover him well.
Works well over the middle and against zone schemes.
Has first rate hands, and turns several catches into longer gains.
Solid blocker on screen pass plays.
Solid moves, and can create in the open field. Hard to tackle.
Very aggressive player.
The Bad
Inexperience is still an issue. Has not played the game for very long.
He does not run routes well, and just tends to roam into position.
Despite his size and burst, he still gets jammed sometimes.
Final Overview
If you are looking for overall value, and cannot get Howard or Njoku, this is your guy. He will need some coaching, but the physical traits are there. He runs like a pro, can catch the ball, and blocks like an angry beast. Any of the mental parts that may be missing are only due to inexperience, so he just needs to be coached and to get on the field. He has success written all over him.
6-3, 239
Everett is a former high school basketball player who only picked up football as a senior in high school. He attended Hutchinson CC to further learn the game, and then transferred to UAB, but was focred out when the Blazers cut their program, which eventually landed him at South Alabama, a program that has had luck with traditional TEs in their short history.
Everett was the leading receiver for the Jaguars in 2015, as he posted a line of 41-575-8, with an average of 14.02 YPR. As a senior in 2016, he posted 49-717-4, with an average of 14.63 YPR.
The Good
Very athletic with solid bust off of the line.
Can get deep and past safeties who are sitting in zone coverage, and gets good separation off of the snap. He can run for a big guy.
Creates easy mismatches with his size and athletic ability, and demands DB coverage. LBs cannot cover him well.
Works well over the middle and against zone schemes.
Has first rate hands, and turns several catches into longer gains.
Solid blocker on screen pass plays.
Solid moves, and can create in the open field. Hard to tackle.
Very aggressive player.
The Bad
Inexperience is still an issue. Has not played the game for very long.
He does not run routes well, and just tends to roam into position.
Despite his size and burst, he still gets jammed sometimes.
Final Overview
If you are looking for overall value, and cannot get Howard or Njoku, this is your guy. He will need some coaching, but the physical traits are there. He runs like a pro, can catch the ball, and blocks like an angry beast. Any of the mental parts that may be missing are only due to inexperience, so he just needs to be coached and to get on the field. He has success written all over him.
2017 NFL Draft Profile: David Njoku
David Njoku, Miami
6-4, 246
Njoku played just two seasons at Miami after redshirting as a freshman to transition from WR to TE As a freshman, he posted 21-362-1, and averaged 17.24 YPR in 13 games. As a RS Sophomore in 2016, he dropped a line of 43-698-8, and averaged 16.23 YPR.
The Good
Despite his overall size, he can still play outside at WR when needed.
Has room on his frame to bulk up further, which could improve his overall game as a blocker.
Very precise, sharp cuts on routes.
Creates separation easily, and creates major mismatches.
A major creator in the open field, and excels in YAC.
Major leaping ability to go get after the high throw.
Knows where the seams are against zones and finds the soft spot, will camp out there.
First rate hands.
He can line up anywhere on the field and excel.
Plus blocker.
The Bad
Severely limited sample size, as he only started in nine games in two years.
Still learning how to play TE, and thinks like a WR too much.
Footwork on blocking is still a work in progress, and may be a better receiving option than straight up blocker.
He can lose focus on some plays, leading to drops.
Still learning route tree from TE perspective.
Lacks lower body explosion, needs more on his frame.
More raw than anything else, depends on being a freakish athlete over knowledge of what he is doing.
Final Overview
As a pass catching TE, I think that Njoku, despite his lack of overall experience, could be a nice, late first round addition for anyone needing a TE who is not the best as a pure blocker in the trenches. Get him wide, and let him run, and allow him to block downfield as a decoy, because that is where he will excel right now. He will learn the rest later, but he has amazing talent potential, and could develop into being a star.
6-4, 246
Njoku played just two seasons at Miami after redshirting as a freshman to transition from WR to TE As a freshman, he posted 21-362-1, and averaged 17.24 YPR in 13 games. As a RS Sophomore in 2016, he dropped a line of 43-698-8, and averaged 16.23 YPR.
The Good
Despite his overall size, he can still play outside at WR when needed.
Has room on his frame to bulk up further, which could improve his overall game as a blocker.
Very precise, sharp cuts on routes.
Creates separation easily, and creates major mismatches.
A major creator in the open field, and excels in YAC.
Major leaping ability to go get after the high throw.
Knows where the seams are against zones and finds the soft spot, will camp out there.
First rate hands.
He can line up anywhere on the field and excel.
Plus blocker.
The Bad
Severely limited sample size, as he only started in nine games in two years.
Still learning how to play TE, and thinks like a WR too much.
Footwork on blocking is still a work in progress, and may be a better receiving option than straight up blocker.
He can lose focus on some plays, leading to drops.
Still learning route tree from TE perspective.
Lacks lower body explosion, needs more on his frame.
More raw than anything else, depends on being a freakish athlete over knowledge of what he is doing.
Final Overview
As a pass catching TE, I think that Njoku, despite his lack of overall experience, could be a nice, late first round addition for anyone needing a TE who is not the best as a pure blocker in the trenches. Get him wide, and let him run, and allow him to block downfield as a decoy, because that is where he will excel right now. He will learn the rest later, but he has amazing talent potential, and could develop into being a star.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
2017 NFL Draft Profile: OJ Howard
OJ Howard, Alabama
6-6, 251
Howard was a four year player at Alabama, although he could have gone to the draft a year ago. As a freshman, he put up a line of 14-269-2, and averaged 19.21 yards per reception.
As a sophomore, He caught 17-260-0, and averaged 15.29 YPR. He came in as a junior and doubled his production, posting 38-602-2, averaging 15.84 YPR on the season.
As a senior, He posted 45-595-3, and averaged 13.22 YPR.
The Good
One of the most athletic players in the draft, and probably better than some of his early numbers may suggest. He is a rare first round lock for a TE, and is one of those immediate impact types of players.
Very fast for a TE, with first rate hands, and has length to go get most passes.
Tracks the ball like a WR.
Cannot be defended in the passing game by a LB, and DBs have match up issues with him.
Very creative in space, and can break a long gain on any given play.
Excellent body control, and can readjust on bad throws high or low.
Rare pass catching TE who can also block like a pro.
The real deal.
The Bad
He is a pretty straightforward receiver, and does not string many moves together.
Can lack aggressiveness at times.
Needs more reps on the field, as Alabama under used him in 2016.
Some question his competitive nature.
Final Overview
I don't get how anyone would question his overall competitive nature, but I will say that Lane Kiffin rarely used him properly. Howard is an absolute first round talent who can be one of the best in the league once he gets his bearings. He is probably one of the prospects in this draft that I am personally most excited about.
6-6, 251
Howard was a four year player at Alabama, although he could have gone to the draft a year ago. As a freshman, he put up a line of 14-269-2, and averaged 19.21 yards per reception.
As a sophomore, He caught 17-260-0, and averaged 15.29 YPR. He came in as a junior and doubled his production, posting 38-602-2, averaging 15.84 YPR on the season.
As a senior, He posted 45-595-3, and averaged 13.22 YPR.
The Good
One of the most athletic players in the draft, and probably better than some of his early numbers may suggest. He is a rare first round lock for a TE, and is one of those immediate impact types of players.
Very fast for a TE, with first rate hands, and has length to go get most passes.
Tracks the ball like a WR.
Cannot be defended in the passing game by a LB, and DBs have match up issues with him.
Very creative in space, and can break a long gain on any given play.
Excellent body control, and can readjust on bad throws high or low.
Rare pass catching TE who can also block like a pro.
The real deal.
The Bad
He is a pretty straightforward receiver, and does not string many moves together.
Can lack aggressiveness at times.
Needs more reps on the field, as Alabama under used him in 2016.
Some question his competitive nature.
Final Overview
I don't get how anyone would question his overall competitive nature, but I will say that Lane Kiffin rarely used him properly. Howard is an absolute first round talent who can be one of the best in the league once he gets his bearings. He is probably one of the prospects in this draft that I am personally most excited about.
2017 NFL Draft Prospectus: Wide Receivers
1st Round
Mike Williams, Clemson
John Ross, Washington
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
JuJu Smith Schuster, USC
2nd Round
Curtis Samuel, Ohio State* (Written up as a RB)
Zay Jones, East Carolina
Malachi Dupre, LSU
DeDe Westbrook, Oklahoma
Cooper Cupp, Eastern Washington
3rd Round
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
Noah Brown, Ohio State
Damore'ea Stringfellow, Mississippi
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
Chris Godwin, Penn State
KD Cannon, Baylor
4th Round
Chad Hansen, California
Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
Travin Dural, LSU
Artavis Scott, Clemson
Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
Gabe Marks, Washington State
5th Round
Chad Williams, Grambling
Travis Rudolph, Florida State
Fred Ross, Mississippi State
Amara Darboh, Michigan
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion
Stacey Coley, Miami
Josh Malone, Tennessee
6th Round
Jalen Robinette, Air Force
Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M
Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse
Jehu Chesson, Michigan
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
Jerome Lane, Akron
7th Round
Jamari Staples, Louisville
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
UFA
Michael Clark, Marshall
Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech
Dontre Wilson, Ohio State
Chance Allen, Houston
Mike Williams, Clemson
6-4, 218
Williams is one of the most productive receivers in the nation over the last decade in the college game, and should be a clear top five pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a three year player at Clemson, and never caught fewer than 57 passes in a season with the Tigers. That season was his freshman year, as Williams posted a line of 57-1030-6, averaging 18.07 yards per catch.
As a sophomore, Williams sustained a neck injury that limited him to just one game. He caught two passes for 20 yards and a score before the injury, and this season really cannot be counted against or for anything.
Williams returned from his neck injury in 2016 as a junior, and exploded out of the gate. He posted a line of 98-1361-11, and averaged 13.89 YPC.
The Good
Absolutely looks the part, with size, hands and speed to get to the football.
He sells to vertical route well to separate from corners to be able to then cut back to the ball, creates space very well.
Will fight for the football at the high point, and take the ball down.
Has excellent leaping ability to go get the high ball.
Has an eye for the ball, and tracks like a pro.
First rate set of hands, and will not let the ball get to his body.
Top flight concentration in traffic.
Excellent body control, and can get to under thrown footballs.
Just as good running down the sidelines as he is as a receiver in the middle of the field.
Excellent foot work and post catch moves.
The Bad
While he is an excellent hands guy, he did suddenly run into drop issues the second half of junior season.
Does not always run clean routes, and sometimes depends on raw ability to get to the football.
Can be sloppy on his cuts, and sometimes needs to be crisper off the line.
Depends too much on his physical ability at times.
Can get jammed up by press corners off the line, kind of like Randy Moss at Marshall back in the day.
Neck injury looks good now, but could still be cause for concern down the line.
Final Overview
Williams could step in and be a number one receiver for most teams in football right now. He has the ability to become a QBs best friend right out of the gate, His negatives are things that can be coached and worked on, so I would not be too concerned. He has enough ability right now that I would pick him anywhere in the top five right now and run with him.
John Ross, Washington
5-11, 188
Ross was a four year player at Washington, but one of those seasons (2015) was lost to an ACL tear that was suffered in spring ball. As a freshman, Ross posted 16-208-1, averaging 13 yards per grab. He returned 31 kicks for 720 yards and a score, averaging 23.23 yards per return.
As a sophomore, Ross posted 17-371-4, and averaged 21.82 yards per reception. He added 38-938-2 on kick returns, and averaged 24.68 yards per return.
He lost all of 2015, and then returned in 2016 to post 81-1150-17, averaging 14.2 yards per reception. He also posted 17-411-1 on kick returns, with an average of 24.18 yards per return, and showed no lingering issues from his knee injury.
The Good
Major league speed guy, broke the all-time 40 record at the combine at 4.22 seconds.
His speed is a first rate diversion as it demands respect, and that opens up receivers underneath on shorter routes, as his speed alone creates soft spots.
Excellent foot work.
Works through several different gears, and cannot be caught in top gear in the open field.
Hand eye coordination is top shelf.
Excellent tracking skills from any angle.
Can catch the ball in tight spaces, and works well in traffic.
Very elusive, and is very good at tackle evasion.
Can work outside or in the slot.
Top flight kick return man who is capable of breaking off a home run on every return.
The Bad
He is not the biggest or the strongest receiver in the class.
Can get muscled by bigger corners.
Sometimes is sloppy getting into routes, depending more on speed than technique.
His cuts are also sloppy at times, and he sometimes lags in getting back to the football.
He has had major injury to both knees, and although it has not affected his speed, it can down the line with more wear.
Can pout when things do not go his way, and let's emotions get the best of him at times.
Looks more like a speed guy in the slot than a true outside threat in the NFL game.
Final Overview
I am not as personally sold on Ross as some scouts are, but it is easy to fall in love with his speed game. He can be coached up in other areas, but I do not find him to be nearly as complete as Williams is, and is not nearly the lock. THat being said, he has enough talent to warrant a first round discussion, but he will need some coaching up, and will need to be receptive to that.
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
6-3, 209
Davis was the MAC player of the year in 2016, and was a four year starter for the Broncos, and finished his career as the all-time leader in receiving yardage in NCAA history.
He had a rough background coming out of high school, and was an academic reclamation project that worked out. He led WMU in receiving all four years he was there.
As a freshman, Davis broke out with a line of 67-941-6, and averaged 14.04 yards per catch. He upped his game as a sophomore, and posted 78-1408-15, while averaging 18.05 yards per grab.
As a junior, Davis was big again, as he increased his work load once again by posting 90-1436-12, while averaging 15.96 yards per reception.
He broke the all-time receiving record in 2016, and posted 97-1500-19, with an average of 15.46 yards per catch.
The Good
Huge production, and caught 52 total TD passes during his career.
Always wants the ball, and does not tire out.
Will carry a unit, and put the pressure on himself.
Knows how to play a corner, and tracks with exceptional skill.
Can open up the field with his long game, and has solid second gear to get there.
Hard worker, and always is trying to get better, as is shown with a yearly increase in receptions.
Works well in traffic.
Red zone master, and will fight for every ball.
Excellent leaping ability, and will get the high ball.
Very physical receiver.
The Bad
Does not always cut with finesse, and can get sloppy.
Is not as seasoned working out of a slot, and can get messy working inside at that spot of the field.
Does not always flash his speed, and tends to stride rather than sprint.
Has had some drop tendencies.
Can be jammed up by physical corners when he gets lazy off the snap.
Final Overview
I am a big believer in production, and Davis has it in spades. He is simply NFL ready, and his issues that he does have to the negative are issues that can be worked out as a rookie with a first rate coach. I like him over Ross in the first round, and he will be a QBs best friend, if he can stop the simple drops that make people crazy. He will work hard and get better, and with his skills, that is all one can ask. A certain 1st rounder.
Juju Smith-Schuster, USC
6-1, 215
Smith-Schuster was a three year player for the Trojans. He finished second on the team in receiving as a freshman, posting a line of 54-724-5, and averaged 13.41 yards per reception. He played in 14 games as a sophomore, and was the team's leading receiver by posting 89-1454-10, and averaged 16.34 yards per reception, which led all Trojan receivers who finished with 20 or more receptions on the season.
Smith-Schuster was bothered by a litany of injuries as a junior, and saw his production drop somewhat. He posted 70-914-10, and averaged 13.06 yards per grab.
The Good
He has solid size, and will use it to work in traffic.
Will go over the middle for the hard catches.
Will fight for every football, and has excellent movement coming back to the ball.
Knows how to find the soft spot in any zone defense, and will set up camp there.
Solid hands, and will catch the ball away from his body with consistency.
Excellent awareness on sideline grabs, always knows where his feet are against the sideline.
Plus field vision, and follows natural lanes with efficiency.
Good blocker downfield, and blocks with exceptional sell out and power.
Runs like a bigger player in the open field, and can take some hits.
The Bad
Is not always exceptional when breaking on routes, and can get taken off his route by physical DBs.
Does not explode off the snap, and lacks big time speed to create natural separation. Lacks a second gear.
Can get jammed at the line, and does not have any real burst.
Scores in chunks, and is not a consistent scoring threat.
Long strides, but not a great runner, and routes can get sloppy.
Better fit for a slot receiver rather than an outside threat.
Will never really be more than a solid possession receiver, will not be much of a big play guy.
Got banged up at USC...a lot.
Final Overview
Smith-Schuster has enough size and ball skills to rate as a first rounder, but I would not be shocked to see him drop to a second rounder on draft day, or even later because of some perceived short comings. His physical style of play will lend to injury concerns, and he lacks top shelf speed that is expected of high impact early round receivers. He is solid enough, and in the right spot, I would not hesitate to take him. I believe that he will be highly productive in the right situation, but he also has to stay healthy to get there.
Zay Jones, East Carolina
6-2, 201
Jones is the son of former Dallas Cowboys LB Robert Jones, and is the nephew of Jeff Blake. He broke the NCAA record for career receptions with 399, and broke the single season record with 158 receptions. As a freshman, Jones posted 62-604-5, and averaged 9.74 yards per catch. He added 4 kick returns for 98 yards
As a sophomore, he posted a line of 81-830-5, averaging 10.25 yards per catch. He also returned 24 kicks for 477 yards.
As a junior, Jones led the team with a line of 98-1099-5, and he averaged 11.21 yards per grab, a career high at that time. He only returned one kick that season.
He returned for his senior season in 2016, and posted a whopping line of 158-1746-8, and averaged 11.05 yards per reception.
The Good
Highly productive, averaging 99.75 receptions over four seasons.
Solid hands, will catch the ball away from his body with consistency.
Excellent body control in traffic, and protects the football well.
Will sell out his body for a tough grab, plays with abandon.
Big time leaper, will get after the high ball and win the battles up top.
Solid focus, hard worker.
Top shelf foot work.
Workout warrior, a champ in the weight room.
High football IQ, even higher character.
Has experience returning kicks, and has worked in the slot as well.
The Bad
Played in a pass happy offense in college, so numbers may seem inflated.
He does not have a second gear, and speed overall is average.
Never averaged higher than 11.21 yards per reception in college, meaning he is not a deep threat guy.
Never scored in double figures. Scored just 23 times in four years as a receiver.
Lacks solid size, looks thin, and struggles against physical corners who can muscle him around.
He will get what is there for yards, and nothing more, will not work to create.
Has minimal experience as a run blocker due to the ECU offensive system.
Final Overview
There is enough there with Jones to have me peg him as a second round guy, but he will have to fit a system, rather than going somewhere where the system does not fit the player. He would be perfect with the Patriots or someone like the Texans. He is simply just not a one size fits all kind of receiver.
He has the pedigree to succeed in the league, but even better, he is a sought after character type who will be solid. In short, draft him if he fits your style of play, and he will be just fine, but he will never be explosive.
Malachi Dupre, LSU
6-2, 196
Dupre was a three year player at LSU who's stats were completed downplayed due to poor QB play with the Tigers during his time there. Dupre is an underrated super athlete, who is solid in several track events as well.
As a freshman, Dupre finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 14-318-5, and averaged an eye popping 22.71 yards per catch. Dupre led the Tigers in receiving as a sophomore with a line of 43-698-6, and averaged 16.23 yards per reception.
Dupre wrapped up his college career at LSU in 2016 as a junior, and posted a line of 41-593-3, and averaged 14.93 yards per grab.
The Good
A solid athlete with experience all over the field as a receiver. Can play either side or in the slot.
Production was muted by average to bad QB play, not because of his overall ability.
Plays with excellent body control, and tracks the ball like a pro on deep throws. Can readjust to get to under thrown balls and low throws.
Is always thinking a step ahead, and turns and runs well after the catch.
Gets under tacklers to lunge forward after the hit.
Solid deep play potential.
The Bad
Limited sample size because he played with really bad QBs for three seasons.
May be more athletic than football savvy.
Will never burn anyone with his speed.
He is not a great route runner. He seems to need some work on the nuances of the game as a receiver and does not always play with a high football IQ.
Slow off of the snap at times, and does not pop into his routes.
More a raw block of clay than a finished product.
Not a solid blocker on run plays.
Final Overview
Dupre has some ability, that much is certain, but at this point of his career, he is more a raw block of clay than a finished product by far. He is an intriguing developmental type with athleticism to burn, but you cannot expect too much too soon, or else you will be let down. His raw ability alone is intriguing enough that someone will go relatively early on him, and then try to find a way to develop him further into what he can be.
DeDe Westbrook, Oklahoma
6-0, 178
Westbrook was a three star prospect out of high school who originally committed to Texas State, but never went. He ended up at Blinn JC and blew up there out of the gate before transferring to Oklahoma.
As a junior at Oklahoma, he finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 46-743-4, and averaged 16.15 yards per grab. He exploded to lead the team in receiving as a senior in 2016, and posted a line of 80-1524-17, and averaged 19.05 yards per catch.
He also returned nine kicks as a senior for 277 yards, averaging 27.11 yards per return, and returned five punts for 81 yards and a score, averaging 16.2 yards per return there.
The Good
Plays with first rate footwork, and excels playing underneath coverage, which is good being that he may be moved to slot in the NFL.
Has speed to burn, and has moves on top of that to get free and clear in the open field. Hard to catch once he gets going.
Solid route runner, and plays with intelligence.
Has solid hands, and not much gets by him.
He is a creator in the field when plays break down for a QB. He will find a way to get open and make a play where none exists.
Does solid work on CBs lining up inside of him. Knows how to work them to the middle before cutting out to the side.
Has massive big play potential, and is an excellent tracker.
He added value as a kick and punt return man his senior season.
Not a perfect blocker, but will give it a go.
Plays bigger than he is.
The Bad
Undersized and skinny, and has measured below expectations physically.
Very thin legs, looks fragile.
He does not give it an all go on every play, and will take plays off where his head isn't into it.
His size lends to getting jammed by physical corners and safeties.
College teams did not defend him as hard as they could have based on the fact that OU did not always play physically tough defenses.
Has been accused of domestic violence, and already has two children, meaning his focus and character are not where they should be.
According to sources, he interviewed with scouts poorly, and did not attend the combine. He has already fallen off of many draft boards because of his domestic violence issues (was never convicted...shockingly), but his character concerns, like those of Joe Mixon, will affect his draft stock.
Final Overview
Not interviewing with scouts well, and having a domestic violence shadow hanging over you can really gut your career before it takes off. A lot of teams are not interested despite Westbrooks' proven talent. If not for the negatives, he may be one of the better receivers in the draft, but those character deals are off limits to so many teams, as it should be. If he can keep himself behaving, and someone spends a pick on him, he is high risk/high reward. Someone just has to want to take the risk.
Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
6-2, 204
Kupp finished his career at EWU as the most prolific receiver in FCS (1-AA) football history. He has won every award available for him to win on that level, and his production levels are elite for any level of football.
As a freshman, Kupp finished with a line of 93-1691-23, and averaged 18.2 yards per catch, and 112.7 yards per game. He was strong again as a sophomore, posting 104-1431-16, and averaged 13.8 YPC and 110.1 YPG as he fought through ankle injury issues.
As a junior, Kupp finished with another 114 receptions for 1642 yards and 19 scores. He averaged 14.4 YPC and a career high 149.3 YPG.
As a senior, he finished strong by posting a career high 117 receptions for 1700 yards and 17 scores. He averaged 14.5 YPC and 130.8 YPG.
The Good
His production numbers were off of the charts, and he finished as the all-time leading receiver in FCS history with 428 receptions, 6464 yards, and 73 TDs.
Deep NFL family lineage, as his father played in the league, and his grandfather (Jake Kupp) is in the Hall of Fame as an offensive lineman.
His hands are deep vacuums, where nothing escapes, and he has idolized Larry Fitzgerald.
Changes gears on a dime, and knows how to create plays in the field.
He wants the football and will compete and work.
Ball tracking pro.
Excellent body control and will sell out his body for the catch. Will get to anything you get near him.
Has first rate moves and fakes.
The Bad
Although he can change gears, he is not overly fast.
Does not always run with leverage on routes, and can stand a bit tall.
Does not have burst off of the snap, and can be slow to get back to footballs.
Lower level of competition could be a problem for some.
Final Overview
Depending on who you talk to, Kupp could go anywhere from the first to the third round. Some scouts love him, some are not sold, but at the end of the day, you cannot ignore his production and his talents. I like him personally much earlier than mid or late third round, and would take a flier in the first if I did not have other massively pressing needs. I believe that he is starter quality in the league, and while he worked a ton in the slot at EWU, I do not doubt that he can work outside. I see an Ed McCaffrey type player once he is fully developed, and that is saying something.
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
5-11, 204
Stewart was a three year player for Alabama, not including one year as a redshirt. As a RS freshman, he posted 12-149-0, averaging 12.42 YPC. As a sophomore, he climbed the ladder to finish second on the team in receiving, with a line of 63-700-4. He averaged 11.11 YPC. As a junior, his final season, he posted 54-864-8, with an average of 16 YPC. He returned 8 kicks for 161 yards as a junior, averaging 20.13 yards per return, and has been used on run plays out of the jet sweep as well.
The Good
Stewart is a multifaceted football player, and has been used at WR, RB, and on kick returns throughout his career.
Is a good downfield run blocker, and will sell out for those blocks.
Solid field vision, and can make plays after the catch.
Will make spectacular grabs, and will give up his body to make the catch.
The Bad
Is not much good on screen plays as a blocker.
More athletic than solid as a receiver.
Does not run great routes, and is raw.
Former RB still learning to play receiver.
Has some drop issues, mostly out of a lack of concentration.
Tries to get too shifty in the open field, and it will often cost him.
Scored 138 TDs in high school, but never showed a major scoring flash in college.
Final Overview
Stewart is a freak of an athlete, but is still very raw as he is still trying to learn the job of being a full time receiver. He is a prototypical player who never should have come out of school early, and is coming out for all the wrong reasons. He already has two kids (lacks focus in the right areas of his life), and is trying to take care of his extended family, which never ends well for the player. Stewart has some flashing ability, and has some skills, but he is a reach at the grade given, and I would let someone else bare the risk here. He has something, but not enough of something for me.
Noah Brown, Ohio State
6-2, 222
Brown left Ohio State after his RS sophomore season, and has very limited experience and sample size. As a freshman, He caught just one pass for nine yards. He missed the entire 2015 season after breaking his leg in spring ball. He returned as a RS sophomore in 2016, and posted a limited line of 32-402-7.
The Good
Solid size, and fits the build. He uses his body to frame the catch and defend the ball from encroaching defenders.
Works well in traffic and can take a hit.
Very physical receiver, and will sell out for a big catch.
Hard to jam at the line due to his physical nature of play.
First rate run blocker down field, and likes the contact.
The Bad
Severely limited sample size of production with just 33 career receptions at Ohio State.
Broken leg cost him an entire season, and that is concerning.
He is leaving way too soon, which makes me question his dedication and focus.
Does not play with great speed, and depends way too much on being physical.
He will never beat anyone deep, as he lacks top shelf speed.
Still learning how to run routes, and lacks a deeper understanding of the nuances of the position.
Does not have solid hands at this point.
Final Overview
There is no explanation as to why Brown thinks that he is ready to come out at this point. He is very far from a finished project, and the only reason he attains a third round grade is because of buzz about how good he looked in the spring before his injury. That's not nearly enough for me. At best he will be a rotational possession receiver, at worst, a complete bust and flame out. There is no easy way to project in the gray area for this prospect. It is all hit or miss.
Damore'ea Stringfellow, Mississippi
6-2, 211
Stringfellow was a two year producer for the Rebels after transferring from Washington after legal issues in Seattle.
As a freshman at Washington, he posted 20-259-1. He transferred to Ole Miss as a sophomore, and posted 36-503-5, and averaged 13.97 YPC. As a junior, his final season, he posted 46-716-6, and averaged 15.57 YPC.
The Good
Has the size you are looking for in a receiver.
Has plus body control, and is able to sell out for the amazing catch and will get low for the gopher balls into the ground.
Can track balls with ease on the long throws, but also knows how to find seams in the zone and plant there.
The Bad
He has a fairly limited sample size, and was only a full time starter for one season.
Dos not pop off of the line, and lacks top shelf speed.
Easily jammed off of the line.
Sloppy route runner, and can get taken off routes easily.
His footwork is lacking, and he looks plodding at times.
He does not possess first rate hands.
Terrible run blocker.
Showed real maturity issues at Washington, leading to his transfer.
Final Overview
I think people are still trying to come to grips with the fact that Stringfellow was a five star athlete out of high school and are still banking on that. He has never lived up to that hype. He got into a post Super Bowl brawl at Washington, and was basically forced to leave, and he never lived up to much at Ole Miss, and was never a stat leader anywhere. He has some physical skill, but is still very raw, and I would have to pass on this prospect. Someone, however, will not.
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
6-3, 194
Reynolds was a lightly recruited receiver and hurdler out of high school, and ended up playing at Tyler JC as a freshman as a result after several schools passed on him in the process.
He transferred to Texas A&M as a sophomore.
As a sophomore, he posted a line of 52-842-13, averaging 16.19 YPC. He returned as a junior and posted 51-907-5, and averaged 17.78 YPC. As a senior, he posted his best season, going for 61-1039-12, and averaged 17.03 YPC.
The Good
Tall outside receiver who is a solid ball tracker on long throws.
Excellent body control, and knows how to shift himself into second gear wasting little in the way of physical inefficiency.
Consistent scoring threat who averaged 10 scores per season with the Aggies.
Big time threat in red zone, and works hard in traffic.
Leaping ability is first rate.
Aggressive blocker, and sells out to do so.
The Bad
He can look a little thin, and his lower half is equally as thin. Lacks power as a result. Cannot bulk up.
Can get jammed at the line, will have to learn how to work through that.
Hands are a plus, but footwork can get sloppy, and due to functional strength, he can get knocked around easily.
Better worker outside, does not work well underneath.
Is a better body control player when balls are high, but not so great in the low throw.
Final Overview
Reynolds is a better vertical threat than every down mid range guy. He has the overall height you need, but he is lacking in other areas, and may be a better rotational receiver than every down guy, plus one thing I did not mention is that his speed is limited. He is more quick than openly fast, but will be fairly useless in the short game. If you can afford a guy for deep threat possibilities that doesn't do a lot else great, he could be your guy.
Chris Godwin, Penn State
6-1, 209
Godwin came to Penn State as the Delaware high school player of the year, and played his best games in the biggest match ups of his career.
As a freshman, he posted 26-338-2, averaging 13 yards per reception, which was good for fourth on the team in receiving.
As a sophomore, Godwin shifted to becoming the leader in receiving as he posted 69-1101-5. He averaged 15.96 yards per catch.
Godwin wrapped his Penn State career after his junior season, as he posted a final tally of 59-982-11, and he averaged 16.64 yards per reception.
He was named All-Big 10 for both his sophomore and junior seasons.
The Good
Godwin is a very dependable front line receiver who took over as the leader in receiving at Penn State by his sophomore season.
He has solid posted speed at 4.42 in the 40.
Crafty and shifty in traffic.
Played his biggest games in bowls as both a sophomore and a junior, with 15 combined catches in two bowls, including nine against USC (2 TDs).
Is not afraid of contact, and will fight for yardage.
The Bad
Has never played with a top flight QB.
Penn State offense is a bit of a hybrid, and it is hard to tell where he fits in.
A bit too much dependent on his speed, and can get jammed at times or even knocked off routes.
Looks small on film, and does not necessarily play up to his measurables.
Could have used another season at Penn State, and may have come out a bit early.
Final Overview
Godwin is an emerging talent, and although he could have used another year at Penn State, he certainly is intriguing. He has rock solid speed, but is raw in other areas still, and will need some coaching up. If you can get him in the early middle rounds, he could be a long term steal, as long as you have someone on the staff, or a solid veteran core that can show him the ropes. Could be a big picture steal.
KD Cannon, Baylor
5-11, 182
Cannon was a three year player for the Bears, starting all three. As a freshman, he finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 58-1030-8, and averaged 17.76 yards per reception. He finished second on the team in receiving again as a sophomore, posting a reduced overall number with a line of 50-868-6, but he still managed to average 17.36 yards per reception. Cannon became the receiving leader for the Bears as a junior, posting 87-1215-13, and averaged a career low 13.97 yards per reception.
The Good
Extremely athletically talented football player, with first rate leaping ability.
Speed is first rate, as he recorded a 4.41 40 at the combine.
Has several gears, and uses them all.
Knows how to play corners off the ball on deep throws.
Excellent tracker on deep balls.
The Bad
Lacks strength to muscle through traffic.
He is more of a vertical receiver than a route runner. Speed guy mainly.
Played in a college system that does not translate to the NFL game.
Terrible pad level, always runs upright even in traffic.
His overall body control is all over the place, and he can be downright sloppy.
Does not have great hands, and is mostly a body catcher. Will not snatch balls away from his frame with regularity. Has drop issues because of this.
Will rarely come back to the ball.
Will get jammed and muscled around the field, and will never be an outside receiver. He best fits in a slot role, but he is going to have to unlearn some bad habits, and relearn how to become a standard slot receiver.
Final Overview
I understand how some teams will fall for Cannon's speed game, but he has a long way to go before he will be a viable NFL receiver. He is a system guy who really has limited understanding of routes, and is dependent on his speed game above all else right now. Someone will get him in the middle rounds based on his speed, but he is a developmental project at this stage for the next level.
Chad Hansen, California
6-2, 202
Hansen spent one season at Idaho State before transferring to California. Redshirted one season, and then played as a sophomore for the Bears, but finished just seventh on the team with 10-249-1, with an average of 13.11 yards per reception. Blew up as a junior in 2016, as he led the team with a line of 92-1249-11, with an average 13.58 yards per catch.
The Good
Hansen is a solid route runner who can work his way through traffic and get to the football. He came out of nowhere in 2016, and finished third in FBS with 9.2 receptions per game.
He gets off the snap cleanly, and can work to the middle or outside, and has excellent awareness when working the sides.
He can play with physical strength and is hard to jam off the line, and gets to work right away. Does not waste any time getting into his groove on any given play.
Body control is solid, and he is a first rate ball tracker.
Solid hands.
Works the middle like a natural.
Tough minded receiver.
Solid run blocking skills.
The Bad
Limited sample size, as he only really had one solid year at Cal after transferring from Idaho State. Never really showed up in high school until he was a senior.
He can be an upright runner, and has trouble shrinking down.
Worked in a pass happy system at Cal, where routes are very simplistic.
Does not use his body well as a shield.
Good, but not great speed. May be more of a possession guy than anything else.
Final Overview
The main question about Hansen in 2016 was "where did he come from?" Hansen was a guy who came out of nowhere in 2016 as a junior after three mostly lost seasons to become an All-PAC 12 performer. That worries me on some levels, because almost anyone can put together one great season, but does this guy have longevity? That is a huge question for me. I really liked what I saw of him in 2016, but it's not quite enough for me to invest in long term.
Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
6-1, 104
Ford was a major top flight basketball star in high school who averaged 37 points per game, but instead chose to play college football. He starred immediately as a freshman, as he led the Hokies in receiving with a line of 56-709-6, and he averaged 12.66 YPR.
As a sophomore, Ford once again led the team with a line of 75-1164-11, and increased his YPR to 15.52.
He returned for his final college season as a junior in 2016, and posted 79-1094-7, averaging 13.85 YPR.
The Good
Very athletic, and his basketball ability translates onto the football field.
Plays faster than he really is, and can surge off of the snap, using exceptional lower body drive.
Gets good separation, and can make a window for himself in passing lanes.
Solid moves, and uses them with skill to throw off defenders.
Really good body control, and solid, able hands.
The Bad
Speed is not great overall, as he timed a 4.61 40 at the combine, plays faster than he really is.
If bigger corners get under him, he can be jammed and thrown of his routes.
Does not use his body as a shield for the ball with enough consistency.
He can get a little sloppy at times, and sometimes comes off on film as a little bit slow or lazy.
Will not evade many tackles, and cannot create after the catch.
Can be really good physically, but does not yet have the mental part down.
Not a great downfield blocker.
Final Overview
One cannot take his productivity away from him, as he has been a receiving leader for the Hokies all three of his seasons in the program. The issue that I have is that Ford reads like a guy who was a great college football player, but will not translate to that greatness in the NFL. Virginia Tech is not a great passing program right now, and although Ford did a ton to dispel that notion, he still shows as someone having a ton of work to do on the next level, and may have to be rebuilt from square one.
Travin Dural, LSU
6-1, 202
Dural was a redshirt player and stayed at LSU for four years. He missed his freshman season as a RS when he injured his knee in camp. He returned for his RS freshman season, and posted just 7-145-2, and averaged over 20 yards per reception.
He returned as a sophomore and led the team by posting 37-758-7, and he averaged 20.49 YPR.
As a junior, he posted 28-533-3, and averaged 19.04 YPR, but missed a game with a hamstring injury.
He returned as a senior in 2016, and posted 28-280-1, averaging 10 YPR. He missed one game with a shoulder injury.
The Good
He looks longer than he is, and plays bigger than he is.
Good rangy running motion makes him look faster than he is.
Has excellent concentration on throws in double coverage.
Knows how to get by a corner to the outside and turn on a second gear.
He can work to the outside, or slant over the middle and catch the ball well on the run.
Has the ability to turn a medium play into a home run with solid open field moves.
Has decent balance after contact.
His number do not read into who he is as a receiver, as he played for some very bad QBs at LSU.
Has a solid base on downfield blocking, and will sell himself out for the block.
Aggressive, and can get open after a play breaks down.
The Bad
He has really been banged up, as he has lost time to knee, hamstring, and shoulder issues.
He either hits the home run, or he drops out. He is a big play guy, but doesn't always make the small plays.
Looks faster on film than he really is, and is more of a strider than a burner.
Many of his highlights on film are against weaker competition.
Always seems to have corner draping on his hip, and has to make too many challenged receptions.
His routes look wide angled at times, and he does not do the quick cut stuff very well.
Final Overview
It's really hard to tell what you have in this guy. His film looks great, but then you realize who the opponent is in some of that film, and you have to take it with a grain of salt. He has never had the benefit of having a top flight QB at LSU, so you have to wonder if he can improve with a better QB throwing to him, but then you realize that there just are not many great QBs in the NFL, and then you worry about him with another bad one. There are some traits there for Dural to succeed, but it's a high risk situation with him. He is either a diamond in the rough, or a complete bust waiting to happen.
Artavis Scott, Clemson
5-10, 193
Scott was a true junior upon leaving Clemson for the draft, but did receive a degree in communications studies in just 2.5 years.
As a freshman, He posted a line of 73-965-8, and averaged 12.7 YPR.
He expanded duties to the return game in 2015 as a sophomore. As a receiver, he posted 93-901-6, and averaged 9.69 YPR. His receiving line led the team. As a return man, he returned 15 kicks for 371 yards, and averaged 24.73 yards per return. He also returned 13 punts for 55 yards, averaging 4.23 yards per return.
He finished second in receptions in 2016, but only 4th in yardage with a line of 76-614-5, and averaged just 8.08 YPR. On kick returns, he posted 23-535, and averaged 23.26 yards per return. On punt returns, he finished with 9-59, but was largely replaced by Ray-Ray McLoud.
The Good
Has solid body control, and will use his body to shield the catch from defenders.
Will study linebacker movement, and will cut under if he thinks the LB will move on the ball.
Solid use of his hands, and will catch balls away from his frame.
Has some solid evasion technique after the catch.
Excellent use of his pads, and will get low for contact and drive through.
Very good on kick returns.
The Bad
Low yardage guy, only finished in double figures in YPR once in three seasons. More of an underneath route guy, or a bubble screen type.
Lacks top shelf speed, as he only recorded a 4.61 40 at the combine.
Lost the punt return job as a junior.
Does not get separation, and gets contested often on receptions.
Lazy route runner most of the time, gets very wide and sloppy on route running.
Built for the slot, stats are built for the slot, but is not fast enough or skilled enough for the slot, and will never be much of an outside threat.
Final Overview
Scott is not a top flight receiver, and his role in the NFL, if he makes it in the league, will be as a return man, but his main skill is on kick returns, as he never really flourished on punt returns. He grades out by the services as a 4th round pick, but I think he scores lower than that in my opinion. I absolutely believe that there is more value in waiting for a different guy at receiver in this area of the draft.
Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
5-11, 199
Henderson was named both offensive and special teams player of the year in Conference USA in 2016 as a junior. He was a three year player for the Bulldogs.
As a freshman, he posted 29-569-4 as a receiver, and averaged 19.62 YPR. He returned 33 kicks for 826 yards and a score, and averaged 25.03 yards as a return man on kickoffs. As a sophomore, he posted 36-774-5 as a receiver and averaged 21.5 YPR. As a kick returner, he posted 21-463-0, and averaged 22.05 yards per return. In 2016, his final season, he posted 82-1535-19, and averaged 18.72 YPR. He added 25-805-2 as a kick return man, and averaged 32.2 yards per return.
The Good
One of the best return men in this draft. Exceptional speed helps, as he ran a 4.46 40 at the combine, and plays faster than that.
Very productive season in 2016, even after three years of playing second fiddle to Trent Taylor.
Quick cutter, and wastes almost nothing in his movements.
Can get behind defenders very easily on zone coverage.
He has some first rate moves off of the snap.
Solid control, and gets to the low balls as well.
Will catch balls away from his frame.
Plays with constructive aggression and power.
The Bad
Played against mostly poor competition, and was not really challenged much in a defensively deficient CUSA.
Finesse player who sometimes will depend too much on speed alone.
Played in a pass happy system, and still has work to do in learning about a route tree.
Lacking in basic fundamentals and is very raw.
Not a great tracker on long balls, and misses as many as he gets to.
Does not come back to the football.
Has some drop issues to work on.
Final Overview
I love him as a return man, and some of his deficiencies are based in coaching. If he gets to the next level, and has a solid WR coach to work with, he can really be a diamond in the rough long term. If you have the patience, and are willing to let him work through his field issues, he could be a steal, and could have immediate impact on kick returns as well, which is a bonus. I would take a flyer on him in the fourth round and wait him out to see what happens in a few years. There is potential here.
Gabe Marks, Washington State
5-11, 189
Marks is a rare five year college player, who redshirted right in the middle of his career, which was a decision that Mike Leach made for him after several off-field run ins with local police. This move was to instill some maturity in Marks, and the move worked.
As a freshman, Marks posted 49-560-2, and averaged 11.42 YPR. As a sophomore, He posted 74-807-7, and averaged 10.91 YPR. He redshirted in 2014, and returned as a junior in 2015 to post a line of 104-1192-15, and he averaged 11.46 YPR, and better yet, he stayed out of trouble.
As a senior in 2016, he posted 89-894-13, and averaged 10.04 YPR.
The Good
One of the hardest working players in the college game. A real gamer who is tough on the field.
Plays with a chip on his shoulder from not being offered by UCLA and USC in his home town of LA.
When getting off the snap clean, he is one of the better route runners around, and will work inside and out.
Good tracker on the ball, and will work to the ball with aggression, and reroutes himself well when his QB has to scramble. A solid creator.
Solid footwork, and works well against the sideline.
The Bad
He isn't the biggest guy on the field, and he can get jammed and rerouted by big, physical DBs.
Decent speed, but not great speed. He will not be much of a deep field threat.
Numbers have to be adjusted for having played in a pass happy system of offense.
He can get knocked around in traffic, and does not always track the ball great in a crowd.
He is more finesse than physical.
Can sometimes be prone to fumbles or drops.
Final Overview
Despite some deficiencies here and there, Marks has been one of my favorite receivers in the nation for some time now. He will never kill you with flash or glitz, but he is a hard worker who just wants to succeed and win. Time and again in the PAC-12, he played against what were supposed to be better athletes than himself, and he came out on top more often than not. I have a solid does of respect for this player, and in the right spot, he could be a steal as a slot receiver on underneath routes on the next level. I am really pulling for this kid.
5th through 7th Round Prospects
5th Round
Chad Williams, Grambling: Tough kid with solid size, but is very raw from a small school.
Travis Rudolph, Florida State: Skinny player with skill, could be immediate backup, with starter potential.
Fred Ross, Mississippi State: Will never be a down field burner, but adds value as a possession receiver with punt return ability.
Amara Darboh, Michigan: He has solid size/speed for a receiver, and is tough, but he lacks attention and drops balls. If you can fix him, he may be a steal late.
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion: Consistent stats guy and has kick return skills, which could be his ticket. Has intriguing size, but his fundamentals are a mixed bag. Very raw.
Stacey Coley, Miami: He has skills as a slot man, and very good speed, but there are questions as to whether or not he really loves to play, and that could drop him.
Josh Malone, Tennessee: Considering that he was a five star former player of the year in Tennessee out of high school, Malone, like many in the Vols program, never lived up to his hype. Really could have used another year in school.
6th Round
Jalen Robinette, Air Force: Will porbably need time to adjust to the pro game after living in an option attack, but his skills and potential are through the roof, may also have to deal with Air Force commitment out of the academy.
Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M: Another highly hyped high school kid that never fully lived up to the hype. He is a huge guy who may need to move to TE in the NFL, but that will take some work.
Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse: A developmental prospect who really exploded in his final year. Limited sample size guy who lacks a body of work, solid fundamentals, and is very raw, but there is enough there to intrigue some people.
Jehu Chesson, Michigan: Really fell off in 2016, and saw his confidence drop some. He has the size/speed combo that teams want, but he has to show he wants this.
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky: System player with video game numbers. He still has some bery high potential levels as a first rate slot receiver, and should get some solid looks on day three. I would definitely take a look with a pick here.
Jerome Lane, Akron: Former LB turned into receiver and flourished. Tough and strong, and a hard worker. Will need some time to fully develop, as he has not played the position long. Still, his potential is very good.
7th Round
Jamari Staples, Louisville: He is far more talented than his numbers would suggest, but that is an issue that he can only explain. He has talent, and physical skills, but is far too raw at this point. A real developmental project.
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa: A higly productive player in college, but that may be all he will ever be. A real developmental type who had great production, but lacks fundamental skills in a set base offense.
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina: Probably one of the better prospects in the late rounds in the draft at receiver, but his money will be made as a punt return man. Poor man's Wes Welker.
UFA
Michael Clark, Marshall: Intriguing candidate because of his size (6'-7"), but played just one year of college ball.
Speedy Noil, Texas A&M: Extreme chracter issues have taken him off of many boards, and he does not appear to be focused enough to make money as a pro player. Total head case, lack of production, despite high end physical potential. A real waste. Uncoachable.
Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech: High end college player who may not work out as a pro due to lacking speed and explosiveness as a punt return man.
Dontre Wilson, Ohio State: Switched from RB to WR, but really has never produced at either.
Chance Allen, Houston: Oregon transfer who finished second in receiving both seasons for the Cougars. A solid UFA prospect as a slot guy.
Mike Williams, Clemson
John Ross, Washington
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
JuJu Smith Schuster, USC
2nd Round
Curtis Samuel, Ohio State* (Written up as a RB)
Zay Jones, East Carolina
Malachi Dupre, LSU
DeDe Westbrook, Oklahoma
Cooper Cupp, Eastern Washington
3rd Round
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
Noah Brown, Ohio State
Damore'ea Stringfellow, Mississippi
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
Chris Godwin, Penn State
KD Cannon, Baylor
4th Round
Chad Hansen, California
Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
Travin Dural, LSU
Artavis Scott, Clemson
Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
Gabe Marks, Washington State
5th Round
Chad Williams, Grambling
Travis Rudolph, Florida State
Fred Ross, Mississippi State
Amara Darboh, Michigan
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion
Stacey Coley, Miami
Josh Malone, Tennessee
6th Round
Jalen Robinette, Air Force
Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M
Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse
Jehu Chesson, Michigan
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
Jerome Lane, Akron
7th Round
Jamari Staples, Louisville
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
UFA
Michael Clark, Marshall
Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech
Dontre Wilson, Ohio State
Chance Allen, Houston
Mike Williams, Clemson
6-4, 218
Williams is one of the most productive receivers in the nation over the last decade in the college game, and should be a clear top five pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a three year player at Clemson, and never caught fewer than 57 passes in a season with the Tigers. That season was his freshman year, as Williams posted a line of 57-1030-6, averaging 18.07 yards per catch.
As a sophomore, Williams sustained a neck injury that limited him to just one game. He caught two passes for 20 yards and a score before the injury, and this season really cannot be counted against or for anything.
Williams returned from his neck injury in 2016 as a junior, and exploded out of the gate. He posted a line of 98-1361-11, and averaged 13.89 YPC.
The Good
Absolutely looks the part, with size, hands and speed to get to the football.
He sells to vertical route well to separate from corners to be able to then cut back to the ball, creates space very well.
Will fight for the football at the high point, and take the ball down.
Has excellent leaping ability to go get the high ball.
Has an eye for the ball, and tracks like a pro.
First rate set of hands, and will not let the ball get to his body.
Top flight concentration in traffic.
Excellent body control, and can get to under thrown footballs.
Just as good running down the sidelines as he is as a receiver in the middle of the field.
Excellent foot work and post catch moves.
The Bad
While he is an excellent hands guy, he did suddenly run into drop issues the second half of junior season.
Does not always run clean routes, and sometimes depends on raw ability to get to the football.
Can be sloppy on his cuts, and sometimes needs to be crisper off the line.
Depends too much on his physical ability at times.
Can get jammed up by press corners off the line, kind of like Randy Moss at Marshall back in the day.
Neck injury looks good now, but could still be cause for concern down the line.
Final Overview
Williams could step in and be a number one receiver for most teams in football right now. He has the ability to become a QBs best friend right out of the gate, His negatives are things that can be coached and worked on, so I would not be too concerned. He has enough ability right now that I would pick him anywhere in the top five right now and run with him.
John Ross, Washington
5-11, 188
Ross was a four year player at Washington, but one of those seasons (2015) was lost to an ACL tear that was suffered in spring ball. As a freshman, Ross posted 16-208-1, averaging 13 yards per grab. He returned 31 kicks for 720 yards and a score, averaging 23.23 yards per return.
As a sophomore, Ross posted 17-371-4, and averaged 21.82 yards per reception. He added 38-938-2 on kick returns, and averaged 24.68 yards per return.
He lost all of 2015, and then returned in 2016 to post 81-1150-17, averaging 14.2 yards per reception. He also posted 17-411-1 on kick returns, with an average of 24.18 yards per return, and showed no lingering issues from his knee injury.
The Good
Major league speed guy, broke the all-time 40 record at the combine at 4.22 seconds.
His speed is a first rate diversion as it demands respect, and that opens up receivers underneath on shorter routes, as his speed alone creates soft spots.
Excellent foot work.
Works through several different gears, and cannot be caught in top gear in the open field.
Hand eye coordination is top shelf.
Excellent tracking skills from any angle.
Can catch the ball in tight spaces, and works well in traffic.
Very elusive, and is very good at tackle evasion.
Can work outside or in the slot.
Top flight kick return man who is capable of breaking off a home run on every return.
The Bad
He is not the biggest or the strongest receiver in the class.
Can get muscled by bigger corners.
Sometimes is sloppy getting into routes, depending more on speed than technique.
His cuts are also sloppy at times, and he sometimes lags in getting back to the football.
He has had major injury to both knees, and although it has not affected his speed, it can down the line with more wear.
Can pout when things do not go his way, and let's emotions get the best of him at times.
Looks more like a speed guy in the slot than a true outside threat in the NFL game.
Final Overview
I am not as personally sold on Ross as some scouts are, but it is easy to fall in love with his speed game. He can be coached up in other areas, but I do not find him to be nearly as complete as Williams is, and is not nearly the lock. THat being said, he has enough talent to warrant a first round discussion, but he will need some coaching up, and will need to be receptive to that.
Corey Davis, Western Michigan
6-3, 209
Davis was the MAC player of the year in 2016, and was a four year starter for the Broncos, and finished his career as the all-time leader in receiving yardage in NCAA history.
He had a rough background coming out of high school, and was an academic reclamation project that worked out. He led WMU in receiving all four years he was there.
As a freshman, Davis broke out with a line of 67-941-6, and averaged 14.04 yards per catch. He upped his game as a sophomore, and posted 78-1408-15, while averaging 18.05 yards per grab.
As a junior, Davis was big again, as he increased his work load once again by posting 90-1436-12, while averaging 15.96 yards per reception.
He broke the all-time receiving record in 2016, and posted 97-1500-19, with an average of 15.46 yards per catch.
The Good
Huge production, and caught 52 total TD passes during his career.
Always wants the ball, and does not tire out.
Will carry a unit, and put the pressure on himself.
Knows how to play a corner, and tracks with exceptional skill.
Can open up the field with his long game, and has solid second gear to get there.
Hard worker, and always is trying to get better, as is shown with a yearly increase in receptions.
Works well in traffic.
Red zone master, and will fight for every ball.
Excellent leaping ability, and will get the high ball.
Very physical receiver.
The Bad
Does not always cut with finesse, and can get sloppy.
Is not as seasoned working out of a slot, and can get messy working inside at that spot of the field.
Does not always flash his speed, and tends to stride rather than sprint.
Has had some drop tendencies.
Can be jammed up by physical corners when he gets lazy off the snap.
Final Overview
I am a big believer in production, and Davis has it in spades. He is simply NFL ready, and his issues that he does have to the negative are issues that can be worked out as a rookie with a first rate coach. I like him over Ross in the first round, and he will be a QBs best friend, if he can stop the simple drops that make people crazy. He will work hard and get better, and with his skills, that is all one can ask. A certain 1st rounder.
Juju Smith-Schuster, USC
6-1, 215
Smith-Schuster was a three year player for the Trojans. He finished second on the team in receiving as a freshman, posting a line of 54-724-5, and averaged 13.41 yards per reception. He played in 14 games as a sophomore, and was the team's leading receiver by posting 89-1454-10, and averaged 16.34 yards per reception, which led all Trojan receivers who finished with 20 or more receptions on the season.
Smith-Schuster was bothered by a litany of injuries as a junior, and saw his production drop somewhat. He posted 70-914-10, and averaged 13.06 yards per grab.
The Good
He has solid size, and will use it to work in traffic.
Will go over the middle for the hard catches.
Will fight for every football, and has excellent movement coming back to the ball.
Knows how to find the soft spot in any zone defense, and will set up camp there.
Solid hands, and will catch the ball away from his body with consistency.
Excellent awareness on sideline grabs, always knows where his feet are against the sideline.
Plus field vision, and follows natural lanes with efficiency.
Good blocker downfield, and blocks with exceptional sell out and power.
Runs like a bigger player in the open field, and can take some hits.
The Bad
Is not always exceptional when breaking on routes, and can get taken off his route by physical DBs.
Does not explode off the snap, and lacks big time speed to create natural separation. Lacks a second gear.
Can get jammed at the line, and does not have any real burst.
Scores in chunks, and is not a consistent scoring threat.
Long strides, but not a great runner, and routes can get sloppy.
Better fit for a slot receiver rather than an outside threat.
Will never really be more than a solid possession receiver, will not be much of a big play guy.
Got banged up at USC...a lot.
Final Overview
Smith-Schuster has enough size and ball skills to rate as a first rounder, but I would not be shocked to see him drop to a second rounder on draft day, or even later because of some perceived short comings. His physical style of play will lend to injury concerns, and he lacks top shelf speed that is expected of high impact early round receivers. He is solid enough, and in the right spot, I would not hesitate to take him. I believe that he will be highly productive in the right situation, but he also has to stay healthy to get there.
Zay Jones, East Carolina
6-2, 201
Jones is the son of former Dallas Cowboys LB Robert Jones, and is the nephew of Jeff Blake. He broke the NCAA record for career receptions with 399, and broke the single season record with 158 receptions. As a freshman, Jones posted 62-604-5, and averaged 9.74 yards per catch. He added 4 kick returns for 98 yards
As a sophomore, he posted a line of 81-830-5, averaging 10.25 yards per catch. He also returned 24 kicks for 477 yards.
As a junior, Jones led the team with a line of 98-1099-5, and he averaged 11.21 yards per grab, a career high at that time. He only returned one kick that season.
He returned for his senior season in 2016, and posted a whopping line of 158-1746-8, and averaged 11.05 yards per reception.
The Good
Highly productive, averaging 99.75 receptions over four seasons.
Solid hands, will catch the ball away from his body with consistency.
Excellent body control in traffic, and protects the football well.
Will sell out his body for a tough grab, plays with abandon.
Big time leaper, will get after the high ball and win the battles up top.
Solid focus, hard worker.
Top shelf foot work.
Workout warrior, a champ in the weight room.
High football IQ, even higher character.
Has experience returning kicks, and has worked in the slot as well.
The Bad
Played in a pass happy offense in college, so numbers may seem inflated.
He does not have a second gear, and speed overall is average.
Never averaged higher than 11.21 yards per reception in college, meaning he is not a deep threat guy.
Never scored in double figures. Scored just 23 times in four years as a receiver.
Lacks solid size, looks thin, and struggles against physical corners who can muscle him around.
He will get what is there for yards, and nothing more, will not work to create.
Has minimal experience as a run blocker due to the ECU offensive system.
Final Overview
There is enough there with Jones to have me peg him as a second round guy, but he will have to fit a system, rather than going somewhere where the system does not fit the player. He would be perfect with the Patriots or someone like the Texans. He is simply just not a one size fits all kind of receiver.
He has the pedigree to succeed in the league, but even better, he is a sought after character type who will be solid. In short, draft him if he fits your style of play, and he will be just fine, but he will never be explosive.
Malachi Dupre, LSU
6-2, 196
Dupre was a three year player at LSU who's stats were completed downplayed due to poor QB play with the Tigers during his time there. Dupre is an underrated super athlete, who is solid in several track events as well.
As a freshman, Dupre finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 14-318-5, and averaged an eye popping 22.71 yards per catch. Dupre led the Tigers in receiving as a sophomore with a line of 43-698-6, and averaged 16.23 yards per reception.
Dupre wrapped up his college career at LSU in 2016 as a junior, and posted a line of 41-593-3, and averaged 14.93 yards per grab.
The Good
A solid athlete with experience all over the field as a receiver. Can play either side or in the slot.
Production was muted by average to bad QB play, not because of his overall ability.
Plays with excellent body control, and tracks the ball like a pro on deep throws. Can readjust to get to under thrown balls and low throws.
Is always thinking a step ahead, and turns and runs well after the catch.
Gets under tacklers to lunge forward after the hit.
Solid deep play potential.
The Bad
Limited sample size because he played with really bad QBs for three seasons.
May be more athletic than football savvy.
Will never burn anyone with his speed.
He is not a great route runner. He seems to need some work on the nuances of the game as a receiver and does not always play with a high football IQ.
Slow off of the snap at times, and does not pop into his routes.
More a raw block of clay than a finished product.
Not a solid blocker on run plays.
Final Overview
Dupre has some ability, that much is certain, but at this point of his career, he is more a raw block of clay than a finished product by far. He is an intriguing developmental type with athleticism to burn, but you cannot expect too much too soon, or else you will be let down. His raw ability alone is intriguing enough that someone will go relatively early on him, and then try to find a way to develop him further into what he can be.
DeDe Westbrook, Oklahoma
6-0, 178
Westbrook was a three star prospect out of high school who originally committed to Texas State, but never went. He ended up at Blinn JC and blew up there out of the gate before transferring to Oklahoma.
As a junior at Oklahoma, he finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 46-743-4, and averaged 16.15 yards per grab. He exploded to lead the team in receiving as a senior in 2016, and posted a line of 80-1524-17, and averaged 19.05 yards per catch.
He also returned nine kicks as a senior for 277 yards, averaging 27.11 yards per return, and returned five punts for 81 yards and a score, averaging 16.2 yards per return there.
The Good
Plays with first rate footwork, and excels playing underneath coverage, which is good being that he may be moved to slot in the NFL.
Has speed to burn, and has moves on top of that to get free and clear in the open field. Hard to catch once he gets going.
Solid route runner, and plays with intelligence.
Has solid hands, and not much gets by him.
He is a creator in the field when plays break down for a QB. He will find a way to get open and make a play where none exists.
Does solid work on CBs lining up inside of him. Knows how to work them to the middle before cutting out to the side.
Has massive big play potential, and is an excellent tracker.
He added value as a kick and punt return man his senior season.
Not a perfect blocker, but will give it a go.
Plays bigger than he is.
The Bad
Undersized and skinny, and has measured below expectations physically.
Very thin legs, looks fragile.
He does not give it an all go on every play, and will take plays off where his head isn't into it.
His size lends to getting jammed by physical corners and safeties.
College teams did not defend him as hard as they could have based on the fact that OU did not always play physically tough defenses.
Has been accused of domestic violence, and already has two children, meaning his focus and character are not where they should be.
According to sources, he interviewed with scouts poorly, and did not attend the combine. He has already fallen off of many draft boards because of his domestic violence issues (was never convicted...shockingly), but his character concerns, like those of Joe Mixon, will affect his draft stock.
Final Overview
Not interviewing with scouts well, and having a domestic violence shadow hanging over you can really gut your career before it takes off. A lot of teams are not interested despite Westbrooks' proven talent. If not for the negatives, he may be one of the better receivers in the draft, but those character deals are off limits to so many teams, as it should be. If he can keep himself behaving, and someone spends a pick on him, he is high risk/high reward. Someone just has to want to take the risk.
Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
6-2, 204
Kupp finished his career at EWU as the most prolific receiver in FCS (1-AA) football history. He has won every award available for him to win on that level, and his production levels are elite for any level of football.
As a freshman, Kupp finished with a line of 93-1691-23, and averaged 18.2 yards per catch, and 112.7 yards per game. He was strong again as a sophomore, posting 104-1431-16, and averaged 13.8 YPC and 110.1 YPG as he fought through ankle injury issues.
As a junior, Kupp finished with another 114 receptions for 1642 yards and 19 scores. He averaged 14.4 YPC and a career high 149.3 YPG.
As a senior, he finished strong by posting a career high 117 receptions for 1700 yards and 17 scores. He averaged 14.5 YPC and 130.8 YPG.
The Good
His production numbers were off of the charts, and he finished as the all-time leading receiver in FCS history with 428 receptions, 6464 yards, and 73 TDs.
Deep NFL family lineage, as his father played in the league, and his grandfather (Jake Kupp) is in the Hall of Fame as an offensive lineman.
His hands are deep vacuums, where nothing escapes, and he has idolized Larry Fitzgerald.
Changes gears on a dime, and knows how to create plays in the field.
He wants the football and will compete and work.
Ball tracking pro.
Excellent body control and will sell out his body for the catch. Will get to anything you get near him.
Has first rate moves and fakes.
The Bad
Although he can change gears, he is not overly fast.
Does not always run with leverage on routes, and can stand a bit tall.
Does not have burst off of the snap, and can be slow to get back to footballs.
Lower level of competition could be a problem for some.
Final Overview
Depending on who you talk to, Kupp could go anywhere from the first to the third round. Some scouts love him, some are not sold, but at the end of the day, you cannot ignore his production and his talents. I like him personally much earlier than mid or late third round, and would take a flier in the first if I did not have other massively pressing needs. I believe that he is starter quality in the league, and while he worked a ton in the slot at EWU, I do not doubt that he can work outside. I see an Ed McCaffrey type player once he is fully developed, and that is saying something.
ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
5-11, 204
Stewart was a three year player for Alabama, not including one year as a redshirt. As a RS freshman, he posted 12-149-0, averaging 12.42 YPC. As a sophomore, he climbed the ladder to finish second on the team in receiving, with a line of 63-700-4. He averaged 11.11 YPC. As a junior, his final season, he posted 54-864-8, with an average of 16 YPC. He returned 8 kicks for 161 yards as a junior, averaging 20.13 yards per return, and has been used on run plays out of the jet sweep as well.
The Good
Stewart is a multifaceted football player, and has been used at WR, RB, and on kick returns throughout his career.
Is a good downfield run blocker, and will sell out for those blocks.
Solid field vision, and can make plays after the catch.
Will make spectacular grabs, and will give up his body to make the catch.
The Bad
Is not much good on screen plays as a blocker.
More athletic than solid as a receiver.
Does not run great routes, and is raw.
Former RB still learning to play receiver.
Has some drop issues, mostly out of a lack of concentration.
Tries to get too shifty in the open field, and it will often cost him.
Scored 138 TDs in high school, but never showed a major scoring flash in college.
Final Overview
Stewart is a freak of an athlete, but is still very raw as he is still trying to learn the job of being a full time receiver. He is a prototypical player who never should have come out of school early, and is coming out for all the wrong reasons. He already has two kids (lacks focus in the right areas of his life), and is trying to take care of his extended family, which never ends well for the player. Stewart has some flashing ability, and has some skills, but he is a reach at the grade given, and I would let someone else bare the risk here. He has something, but not enough of something for me.
Noah Brown, Ohio State
6-2, 222
Brown left Ohio State after his RS sophomore season, and has very limited experience and sample size. As a freshman, He caught just one pass for nine yards. He missed the entire 2015 season after breaking his leg in spring ball. He returned as a RS sophomore in 2016, and posted a limited line of 32-402-7.
The Good
Solid size, and fits the build. He uses his body to frame the catch and defend the ball from encroaching defenders.
Works well in traffic and can take a hit.
Very physical receiver, and will sell out for a big catch.
Hard to jam at the line due to his physical nature of play.
First rate run blocker down field, and likes the contact.
The Bad
Severely limited sample size of production with just 33 career receptions at Ohio State.
Broken leg cost him an entire season, and that is concerning.
He is leaving way too soon, which makes me question his dedication and focus.
Does not play with great speed, and depends way too much on being physical.
He will never beat anyone deep, as he lacks top shelf speed.
Still learning how to run routes, and lacks a deeper understanding of the nuances of the position.
Does not have solid hands at this point.
Final Overview
There is no explanation as to why Brown thinks that he is ready to come out at this point. He is very far from a finished project, and the only reason he attains a third round grade is because of buzz about how good he looked in the spring before his injury. That's not nearly enough for me. At best he will be a rotational possession receiver, at worst, a complete bust and flame out. There is no easy way to project in the gray area for this prospect. It is all hit or miss.
Damore'ea Stringfellow, Mississippi
6-2, 211
Stringfellow was a two year producer for the Rebels after transferring from Washington after legal issues in Seattle.
As a freshman at Washington, he posted 20-259-1. He transferred to Ole Miss as a sophomore, and posted 36-503-5, and averaged 13.97 YPC. As a junior, his final season, he posted 46-716-6, and averaged 15.57 YPC.
The Good
Has the size you are looking for in a receiver.
Has plus body control, and is able to sell out for the amazing catch and will get low for the gopher balls into the ground.
Can track balls with ease on the long throws, but also knows how to find seams in the zone and plant there.
The Bad
He has a fairly limited sample size, and was only a full time starter for one season.
Dos not pop off of the line, and lacks top shelf speed.
Easily jammed off of the line.
Sloppy route runner, and can get taken off routes easily.
His footwork is lacking, and he looks plodding at times.
He does not possess first rate hands.
Terrible run blocker.
Showed real maturity issues at Washington, leading to his transfer.
Final Overview
I think people are still trying to come to grips with the fact that Stringfellow was a five star athlete out of high school and are still banking on that. He has never lived up to that hype. He got into a post Super Bowl brawl at Washington, and was basically forced to leave, and he never lived up to much at Ole Miss, and was never a stat leader anywhere. He has some physical skill, but is still very raw, and I would have to pass on this prospect. Someone, however, will not.
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
6-3, 194
Reynolds was a lightly recruited receiver and hurdler out of high school, and ended up playing at Tyler JC as a freshman as a result after several schools passed on him in the process.
He transferred to Texas A&M as a sophomore.
As a sophomore, he posted a line of 52-842-13, averaging 16.19 YPC. He returned as a junior and posted 51-907-5, and averaged 17.78 YPC. As a senior, he posted his best season, going for 61-1039-12, and averaged 17.03 YPC.
The Good
Tall outside receiver who is a solid ball tracker on long throws.
Excellent body control, and knows how to shift himself into second gear wasting little in the way of physical inefficiency.
Consistent scoring threat who averaged 10 scores per season with the Aggies.
Big time threat in red zone, and works hard in traffic.
Leaping ability is first rate.
Aggressive blocker, and sells out to do so.
The Bad
He can look a little thin, and his lower half is equally as thin. Lacks power as a result. Cannot bulk up.
Can get jammed at the line, will have to learn how to work through that.
Hands are a plus, but footwork can get sloppy, and due to functional strength, he can get knocked around easily.
Better worker outside, does not work well underneath.
Is a better body control player when balls are high, but not so great in the low throw.
Final Overview
Reynolds is a better vertical threat than every down mid range guy. He has the overall height you need, but he is lacking in other areas, and may be a better rotational receiver than every down guy, plus one thing I did not mention is that his speed is limited. He is more quick than openly fast, but will be fairly useless in the short game. If you can afford a guy for deep threat possibilities that doesn't do a lot else great, he could be your guy.
Chris Godwin, Penn State
6-1, 209
Godwin came to Penn State as the Delaware high school player of the year, and played his best games in the biggest match ups of his career.
As a freshman, he posted 26-338-2, averaging 13 yards per reception, which was good for fourth on the team in receiving.
As a sophomore, Godwin shifted to becoming the leader in receiving as he posted 69-1101-5. He averaged 15.96 yards per catch.
Godwin wrapped his Penn State career after his junior season, as he posted a final tally of 59-982-11, and he averaged 16.64 yards per reception.
He was named All-Big 10 for both his sophomore and junior seasons.
The Good
Godwin is a very dependable front line receiver who took over as the leader in receiving at Penn State by his sophomore season.
He has solid posted speed at 4.42 in the 40.
Crafty and shifty in traffic.
Played his biggest games in bowls as both a sophomore and a junior, with 15 combined catches in two bowls, including nine against USC (2 TDs).
Is not afraid of contact, and will fight for yardage.
The Bad
Has never played with a top flight QB.
Penn State offense is a bit of a hybrid, and it is hard to tell where he fits in.
A bit too much dependent on his speed, and can get jammed at times or even knocked off routes.
Looks small on film, and does not necessarily play up to his measurables.
Could have used another season at Penn State, and may have come out a bit early.
Final Overview
Godwin is an emerging talent, and although he could have used another year at Penn State, he certainly is intriguing. He has rock solid speed, but is raw in other areas still, and will need some coaching up. If you can get him in the early middle rounds, he could be a long term steal, as long as you have someone on the staff, or a solid veteran core that can show him the ropes. Could be a big picture steal.
KD Cannon, Baylor
5-11, 182
Cannon was a three year player for the Bears, starting all three. As a freshman, he finished second on the team in receiving with a line of 58-1030-8, and averaged 17.76 yards per reception. He finished second on the team in receiving again as a sophomore, posting a reduced overall number with a line of 50-868-6, but he still managed to average 17.36 yards per reception. Cannon became the receiving leader for the Bears as a junior, posting 87-1215-13, and averaged a career low 13.97 yards per reception.
The Good
Extremely athletically talented football player, with first rate leaping ability.
Speed is first rate, as he recorded a 4.41 40 at the combine.
Has several gears, and uses them all.
Knows how to play corners off the ball on deep throws.
Excellent tracker on deep balls.
The Bad
Lacks strength to muscle through traffic.
He is more of a vertical receiver than a route runner. Speed guy mainly.
Played in a college system that does not translate to the NFL game.
Terrible pad level, always runs upright even in traffic.
His overall body control is all over the place, and he can be downright sloppy.
Does not have great hands, and is mostly a body catcher. Will not snatch balls away from his frame with regularity. Has drop issues because of this.
Will rarely come back to the ball.
Will get jammed and muscled around the field, and will never be an outside receiver. He best fits in a slot role, but he is going to have to unlearn some bad habits, and relearn how to become a standard slot receiver.
Final Overview
I understand how some teams will fall for Cannon's speed game, but he has a long way to go before he will be a viable NFL receiver. He is a system guy who really has limited understanding of routes, and is dependent on his speed game above all else right now. Someone will get him in the middle rounds based on his speed, but he is a developmental project at this stage for the next level.
Chad Hansen, California
6-2, 202
Hansen spent one season at Idaho State before transferring to California. Redshirted one season, and then played as a sophomore for the Bears, but finished just seventh on the team with 10-249-1, with an average of 13.11 yards per reception. Blew up as a junior in 2016, as he led the team with a line of 92-1249-11, with an average 13.58 yards per catch.
The Good
Hansen is a solid route runner who can work his way through traffic and get to the football. He came out of nowhere in 2016, and finished third in FBS with 9.2 receptions per game.
He gets off the snap cleanly, and can work to the middle or outside, and has excellent awareness when working the sides.
He can play with physical strength and is hard to jam off the line, and gets to work right away. Does not waste any time getting into his groove on any given play.
Body control is solid, and he is a first rate ball tracker.
Solid hands.
Works the middle like a natural.
Tough minded receiver.
Solid run blocking skills.
The Bad
Limited sample size, as he only really had one solid year at Cal after transferring from Idaho State. Never really showed up in high school until he was a senior.
He can be an upright runner, and has trouble shrinking down.
Worked in a pass happy system at Cal, where routes are very simplistic.
Does not use his body well as a shield.
Good, but not great speed. May be more of a possession guy than anything else.
Final Overview
The main question about Hansen in 2016 was "where did he come from?" Hansen was a guy who came out of nowhere in 2016 as a junior after three mostly lost seasons to become an All-PAC 12 performer. That worries me on some levels, because almost anyone can put together one great season, but does this guy have longevity? That is a huge question for me. I really liked what I saw of him in 2016, but it's not quite enough for me to invest in long term.
Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
6-1, 104
Ford was a major top flight basketball star in high school who averaged 37 points per game, but instead chose to play college football. He starred immediately as a freshman, as he led the Hokies in receiving with a line of 56-709-6, and he averaged 12.66 YPR.
As a sophomore, Ford once again led the team with a line of 75-1164-11, and increased his YPR to 15.52.
He returned for his final college season as a junior in 2016, and posted 79-1094-7, averaging 13.85 YPR.
The Good
Very athletic, and his basketball ability translates onto the football field.
Plays faster than he really is, and can surge off of the snap, using exceptional lower body drive.
Gets good separation, and can make a window for himself in passing lanes.
Solid moves, and uses them with skill to throw off defenders.
Really good body control, and solid, able hands.
The Bad
Speed is not great overall, as he timed a 4.61 40 at the combine, plays faster than he really is.
If bigger corners get under him, he can be jammed and thrown of his routes.
Does not use his body as a shield for the ball with enough consistency.
He can get a little sloppy at times, and sometimes comes off on film as a little bit slow or lazy.
Will not evade many tackles, and cannot create after the catch.
Can be really good physically, but does not yet have the mental part down.
Not a great downfield blocker.
Final Overview
One cannot take his productivity away from him, as he has been a receiving leader for the Hokies all three of his seasons in the program. The issue that I have is that Ford reads like a guy who was a great college football player, but will not translate to that greatness in the NFL. Virginia Tech is not a great passing program right now, and although Ford did a ton to dispel that notion, he still shows as someone having a ton of work to do on the next level, and may have to be rebuilt from square one.
Travin Dural, LSU
6-1, 202
Dural was a redshirt player and stayed at LSU for four years. He missed his freshman season as a RS when he injured his knee in camp. He returned for his RS freshman season, and posted just 7-145-2, and averaged over 20 yards per reception.
He returned as a sophomore and led the team by posting 37-758-7, and he averaged 20.49 YPR.
As a junior, he posted 28-533-3, and averaged 19.04 YPR, but missed a game with a hamstring injury.
He returned as a senior in 2016, and posted 28-280-1, averaging 10 YPR. He missed one game with a shoulder injury.
The Good
He looks longer than he is, and plays bigger than he is.
Good rangy running motion makes him look faster than he is.
Has excellent concentration on throws in double coverage.
Knows how to get by a corner to the outside and turn on a second gear.
He can work to the outside, or slant over the middle and catch the ball well on the run.
Has the ability to turn a medium play into a home run with solid open field moves.
Has decent balance after contact.
His number do not read into who he is as a receiver, as he played for some very bad QBs at LSU.
Has a solid base on downfield blocking, and will sell himself out for the block.
Aggressive, and can get open after a play breaks down.
The Bad
He has really been banged up, as he has lost time to knee, hamstring, and shoulder issues.
He either hits the home run, or he drops out. He is a big play guy, but doesn't always make the small plays.
Looks faster on film than he really is, and is more of a strider than a burner.
Many of his highlights on film are against weaker competition.
Always seems to have corner draping on his hip, and has to make too many challenged receptions.
His routes look wide angled at times, and he does not do the quick cut stuff very well.
Final Overview
It's really hard to tell what you have in this guy. His film looks great, but then you realize who the opponent is in some of that film, and you have to take it with a grain of salt. He has never had the benefit of having a top flight QB at LSU, so you have to wonder if he can improve with a better QB throwing to him, but then you realize that there just are not many great QBs in the NFL, and then you worry about him with another bad one. There are some traits there for Dural to succeed, but it's a high risk situation with him. He is either a diamond in the rough, or a complete bust waiting to happen.
Artavis Scott, Clemson
5-10, 193
Scott was a true junior upon leaving Clemson for the draft, but did receive a degree in communications studies in just 2.5 years.
As a freshman, He posted a line of 73-965-8, and averaged 12.7 YPR.
He expanded duties to the return game in 2015 as a sophomore. As a receiver, he posted 93-901-6, and averaged 9.69 YPR. His receiving line led the team. As a return man, he returned 15 kicks for 371 yards, and averaged 24.73 yards per return. He also returned 13 punts for 55 yards, averaging 4.23 yards per return.
He finished second in receptions in 2016, but only 4th in yardage with a line of 76-614-5, and averaged just 8.08 YPR. On kick returns, he posted 23-535, and averaged 23.26 yards per return. On punt returns, he finished with 9-59, but was largely replaced by Ray-Ray McLoud.
The Good
Has solid body control, and will use his body to shield the catch from defenders.
Will study linebacker movement, and will cut under if he thinks the LB will move on the ball.
Solid use of his hands, and will catch balls away from his frame.
Has some solid evasion technique after the catch.
Excellent use of his pads, and will get low for contact and drive through.
Very good on kick returns.
The Bad
Low yardage guy, only finished in double figures in YPR once in three seasons. More of an underneath route guy, or a bubble screen type.
Lacks top shelf speed, as he only recorded a 4.61 40 at the combine.
Lost the punt return job as a junior.
Does not get separation, and gets contested often on receptions.
Lazy route runner most of the time, gets very wide and sloppy on route running.
Built for the slot, stats are built for the slot, but is not fast enough or skilled enough for the slot, and will never be much of an outside threat.
Final Overview
Scott is not a top flight receiver, and his role in the NFL, if he makes it in the league, will be as a return man, but his main skill is on kick returns, as he never really flourished on punt returns. He grades out by the services as a 4th round pick, but I think he scores lower than that in my opinion. I absolutely believe that there is more value in waiting for a different guy at receiver in this area of the draft.
Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
5-11, 199
Henderson was named both offensive and special teams player of the year in Conference USA in 2016 as a junior. He was a three year player for the Bulldogs.
As a freshman, he posted 29-569-4 as a receiver, and averaged 19.62 YPR. He returned 33 kicks for 826 yards and a score, and averaged 25.03 yards as a return man on kickoffs. As a sophomore, he posted 36-774-5 as a receiver and averaged 21.5 YPR. As a kick returner, he posted 21-463-0, and averaged 22.05 yards per return. In 2016, his final season, he posted 82-1535-19, and averaged 18.72 YPR. He added 25-805-2 as a kick return man, and averaged 32.2 yards per return.
The Good
One of the best return men in this draft. Exceptional speed helps, as he ran a 4.46 40 at the combine, and plays faster than that.
Very productive season in 2016, even after three years of playing second fiddle to Trent Taylor.
Quick cutter, and wastes almost nothing in his movements.
Can get behind defenders very easily on zone coverage.
He has some first rate moves off of the snap.
Solid control, and gets to the low balls as well.
Will catch balls away from his frame.
Plays with constructive aggression and power.
The Bad
Played against mostly poor competition, and was not really challenged much in a defensively deficient CUSA.
Finesse player who sometimes will depend too much on speed alone.
Played in a pass happy system, and still has work to do in learning about a route tree.
Lacking in basic fundamentals and is very raw.
Not a great tracker on long balls, and misses as many as he gets to.
Does not come back to the football.
Has some drop issues to work on.
Final Overview
I love him as a return man, and some of his deficiencies are based in coaching. If he gets to the next level, and has a solid WR coach to work with, he can really be a diamond in the rough long term. If you have the patience, and are willing to let him work through his field issues, he could be a steal, and could have immediate impact on kick returns as well, which is a bonus. I would take a flyer on him in the fourth round and wait him out to see what happens in a few years. There is potential here.
Gabe Marks, Washington State
5-11, 189
Marks is a rare five year college player, who redshirted right in the middle of his career, which was a decision that Mike Leach made for him after several off-field run ins with local police. This move was to instill some maturity in Marks, and the move worked.
As a freshman, Marks posted 49-560-2, and averaged 11.42 YPR. As a sophomore, He posted 74-807-7, and averaged 10.91 YPR. He redshirted in 2014, and returned as a junior in 2015 to post a line of 104-1192-15, and he averaged 11.46 YPR, and better yet, he stayed out of trouble.
As a senior in 2016, he posted 89-894-13, and averaged 10.04 YPR.
The Good
One of the hardest working players in the college game. A real gamer who is tough on the field.
Plays with a chip on his shoulder from not being offered by UCLA and USC in his home town of LA.
When getting off the snap clean, he is one of the better route runners around, and will work inside and out.
Good tracker on the ball, and will work to the ball with aggression, and reroutes himself well when his QB has to scramble. A solid creator.
Solid footwork, and works well against the sideline.
The Bad
He isn't the biggest guy on the field, and he can get jammed and rerouted by big, physical DBs.
Decent speed, but not great speed. He will not be much of a deep field threat.
Numbers have to be adjusted for having played in a pass happy system of offense.
He can get knocked around in traffic, and does not always track the ball great in a crowd.
He is more finesse than physical.
Can sometimes be prone to fumbles or drops.
Final Overview
Despite some deficiencies here and there, Marks has been one of my favorite receivers in the nation for some time now. He will never kill you with flash or glitz, but he is a hard worker who just wants to succeed and win. Time and again in the PAC-12, he played against what were supposed to be better athletes than himself, and he came out on top more often than not. I have a solid does of respect for this player, and in the right spot, he could be a steal as a slot receiver on underneath routes on the next level. I am really pulling for this kid.
5th through 7th Round Prospects
5th Round
Chad Williams, Grambling: Tough kid with solid size, but is very raw from a small school.
Travis Rudolph, Florida State: Skinny player with skill, could be immediate backup, with starter potential.
Fred Ross, Mississippi State: Will never be a down field burner, but adds value as a possession receiver with punt return ability.
Amara Darboh, Michigan: He has solid size/speed for a receiver, and is tough, but he lacks attention and drops balls. If you can fix him, he may be a steal late.
Zach Pascal, Old Dominion: Consistent stats guy and has kick return skills, which could be his ticket. Has intriguing size, but his fundamentals are a mixed bag. Very raw.
Stacey Coley, Miami: He has skills as a slot man, and very good speed, but there are questions as to whether or not he really loves to play, and that could drop him.
Josh Malone, Tennessee: Considering that he was a five star former player of the year in Tennessee out of high school, Malone, like many in the Vols program, never lived up to his hype. Really could have used another year in school.
6th Round
Jalen Robinette, Air Force: Will porbably need time to adjust to the pro game after living in an option attack, but his skills and potential are through the roof, may also have to deal with Air Force commitment out of the academy.
Ricky Seals-Jones, Texas A&M: Another highly hyped high school kid that never fully lived up to the hype. He is a huge guy who may need to move to TE in the NFL, but that will take some work.
Amba Etta-Tawo, Syracuse: A developmental prospect who really exploded in his final year. Limited sample size guy who lacks a body of work, solid fundamentals, and is very raw, but there is enough there to intrigue some people.
Jehu Chesson, Michigan: Really fell off in 2016, and saw his confidence drop some. He has the size/speed combo that teams want, but he has to show he wants this.
Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky: System player with video game numbers. He still has some bery high potential levels as a first rate slot receiver, and should get some solid looks on day three. I would definitely take a look with a pick here.
Jerome Lane, Akron: Former LB turned into receiver and flourished. Tough and strong, and a hard worker. Will need some time to fully develop, as he has not played the position long. Still, his potential is very good.
7th Round
Jamari Staples, Louisville: He is far more talented than his numbers would suggest, but that is an issue that he can only explain. He has talent, and physical skills, but is far too raw at this point. A real developmental project.
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa: A higly productive player in college, but that may be all he will ever be. A real developmental type who had great production, but lacks fundamental skills in a set base offense.
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina: Probably one of the better prospects in the late rounds in the draft at receiver, but his money will be made as a punt return man. Poor man's Wes Welker.
UFA
Michael Clark, Marshall: Intriguing candidate because of his size (6'-7"), but played just one year of college ball.
Speedy Noil, Texas A&M: Extreme chracter issues have taken him off of many boards, and he does not appear to be focused enough to make money as a pro player. Total head case, lack of production, despite high end physical potential. A real waste. Uncoachable.
Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech: High end college player who may not work out as a pro due to lacking speed and explosiveness as a punt return man.
Dontre Wilson, Ohio State: Switched from RB to WR, but really has never produced at either.
Chance Allen, Houston: Oregon transfer who finished second in receiving both seasons for the Cougars. A solid UFA prospect as a slot guy.
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