Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Louisiana State vs Georgia Tech

LSU:

Jordan Jefferson, QB – Jefferson is a very good looking true Freshman QB. He’s a very good runner, but can pass the ball pretty well too. He has a very strong arm, and has that ‘it’ factor about him that makes him look even better on the field. I’ll be very interested to see how his career progresses, but he’s pretty far ahead as a Freshman, so his future is very bright.

Brandon LaFell, WR- LaFell declared as a Junior, but pulled his name from the hat shortly before the deadline. I think this was a very good move for him to make. LaFell has all of the physical attribute you look for in a top shelf WR, he’s just inconsistent at this point in his development. If he can show more consistency in his Senior season, I’d fully expect him to be in the running for a first round draft slot.

Tyson Jackson, DE- Jackson is your prototypical 3-4 DE. He holds his own on the edge and anchors well against the run. He’s not a sack artist or speed rusher, he’s just a consistent two-way end that has good value for an increasingly desirable position in the NFL. I don’t know if I’d be excited about drafting him in the middle of the first round, but he’d be about as safe of a pick as you could get at that point. His return on your investment would be worth it as he’s always going to be a consistent player. Maybe not a perennial Pro Bowl player, but a very solid starter from day one.

Ciron Black, OT- Black made the right choice in coming back for his Senior season. From watching Black the past two years, I just don’t think he can handle the speed rushers off the edge as an NFL LT. He might be able to move to RT, but I’m even concerned about him on that side as well. His technique is sloppy, especially his kick step, which is why edge rushers get the best of him. If he can work on his technique, then I’d be more willing to say he can play RT in the NFL. If struggles with this again next year, I think he will have to move strictly inside to play OG.

Herman Johnson, OG- Johnson is an absolute beast of a man. He’s about 6’8” and almost 400lbs, so he has the size to play at the next level. The only thing about him is that I just don’t see consistency in his game, and it drives me nuts. He looks unstoppable at times blowing guys off the line in the run game, or stuffing DTs pass rushes with his super long arms. Then one play later, he misses his assignment and gives up a sack. He also struggles to locate and lock on to the moving target at the second level. He’s still one of the top five OG prospects, but I don’t think he’s worth a pick until about the 4th round. His size and flashes of dominance might push him in to the late 3rd to a team like the Eagles who love big lineman like him, but that would be pushing it. I think he needs a year or two to fully develop under an NFL line coach. He should be a lot better for someone his size, and that comes down to effort in the end.

Trindon Holliday, RB/WR/KR- Holliday is very short, very small, but incredibly fast! He’s one of the fastest 100 meter guys in college track, and it translates to the field. He’s still got another year or two left in college, and he needs to show he can increase his touches and still be able to hold up to the beating with his diminutive frame. If and when he’s draft eligible, he won’t go until the late rounds and it will more than likely be strictly as a return specialist and trick play guy. If he can get a corner in a return or a run, no one will catch him. He’s small enough that he gets lost behind his blockers, and he’s quick enough to cut and run for daylight.

Marlon Favorite, DT- Favorite is an intriguing undertackle prospect, but nothing more than a late round guy to add to a rotation. Not a special player.

Ricky Jean-Francois, DT- Francois came out early, which was a mistake. He is your classic ‘boom or bust’ prospect. He’s had academic issues his entire time in school, which worries me about his work ethic and his mental capacity to pick up an NFL playbook. His play runs hot and cold, but when he’s on, he has the ability of a second round pick. But the cold streaks can be a bit too long, so this and the other question marks pushes him into the fourth round range.

Derry Beckwith, ILB- He’s not fast enough to play MLB in a 4-3, but I think he’d be a nice late round pick as a 3-4 ILB. He has the ability to eventually start, but would be a better back up.

Charles Scott, RB- Scott is a big back that lacks long speed. He runs hard, but he’s not going to hit a home run for you. He’s a complimentary back at best, so a late round prospect in next year’s draft.

Georgia Tech:

Michael Johnson, DE- Johnson was hyped as the best DL in the Senior class coming in to this year. The problem is that he’s just not shown enough consistency from game to game. He has good numbers, but he tends to get sacks in bunches, then not show at all in other games. He is fairly weak at the POA and cannot anchor against the run, which makes me think he will need to make his living as a 3-4 OLB in the NFL. He does have the frame to get bigger and stronger though, so I could see a 4-3 Cover-2 team drafting him and letting him mature physically while serving as a situational pass rusher. He is a very good pass rusher though, and has good speed and length. If he can work on his technique, and someone can light a fire under him, he could be very good. It’s just a bit too risky to spend anything but a late first round to early second round pick on him.

Darryl Richard and Vance Walker, DTs- I’ve listed these guys together as they are very similar players. Both would fit well as run stuffing DTs in a 4-3 defense. Walker has a bit more upside than Richard as he’s quicker and seems a bit stronger. Both don’t seem to be starting material though, so they are late round picks at best.

Jonathan Dwyer, RB- Don’t let the numbers fool you with Dwyer, the triple option helps inflate his rushing stats. I don’t think he’s a feature back, and it would take a lot more out of him next year to change my mind.

Morgan Burnett, FS- I want to watch Burnett closely next year. He can make some mental mistakes at times, but he has all of the tools to be a starting FS in the NFL. He had seven picks this year, so he has a nose for the ball.