ACC- Florida State

Christian Ponder, QB, Jr- There are some things to like about Ponder when you watch him play. He has good size, decent enough arm, and he’s accurate in the short to intermediate range. The small things he needs to work on next year are to look off the defender, as he stares down his receiver far too often; and to improve his deep ball accuracy as this was lagging a bit. The good thing is he has all of the traits you want in a potential starter, and the things that need improvement can easily be improved with some coaching and hard work in the off-season. With a few steps forward next year, he’s going to be in the mix similar to what Tony Pike did this year or maybe even a Colt McCoy (as far as draft status, and not overall production).

Jermaine Thomas, RB, So- Thomas has great speed. He’s taller, and could use some size on his frame, but he can absolutely hit the home run. He’s another solid RB prospect to watch next year, and like most RB, he may decide to leave with some extra tread on the tires. With Christian Ponder returning at QB, Thomas should see a lot of openings, so if he does not produce that will be a great identifier for his ceiling as an NFL prospect.

Rodney Hudson, LG, Jr- I’m actually pretty shocked that Hudson did not make the jump early with such a weak interior OL draft this year. I’d say right now Hudson is probably the top returning guard next year. He’s just a great all around blocker in the pass and run game. He’s immoveable as a pass protector, has a violent hand punch that stops rushers in their tracks, and he’s very aggressive in the run game. If he can get a bit bigger and stronger coming in to next year, I think he has a chance to be one of those rare difference making OGs and will have a shot at the late first round.

Jarmon Fortson, WR, So- I like this kid. Smooth route runner, very tall, uses his hands well to catch outside the frame. Good body control and shields off the defender to make the catch. He can also make guys miss with the ball in his hands. Fortson has the potential to be a starting caliber NFL wideout with his size, and the time to continue to develop on the college level.

Dekoda Watson, OLB, Sr- Watson is very impressive. Extremely fast, and is an impact pass rusher. He’s a bit undersized, but he’s a guy I want on my team. He’d make an impressive WLB, and with some added strength, he could be a force on a 3-4 team because of his ability to flatten around the corner and close to the QB. He’s had some problems with academics in the past though, so this could hurt his draft stock, but I think he’s worth the risk because of his athletic ability and upside.

Patrick Robinson, CB, Sr- There is one play I will not forget from watching Robinson play this year: Him running down West Virginia RB Noel Devine from behind after about a 20 yard late start. It was unreal, as Devine is one of the fastest RBs in college football, and a legit home run hitter once he gets a step. So I’m confident Robinson has the closing speed and he can run with any receiver in the league, but that does not prove he’s a solid corner. He’s a tad bit inconsistent, but I like his aggressiveness in supporting the run. I think he’s got value in the late first round, but he’s probably a much better value near the top part of the second round. At worst he can be a team’s starting nickel corner right away, but I think he’d make a nice compliment corner on the boundary for team with a solid pass rush in place (say the Ravens or Jets).