Florida Atlantic:
Frantz Joseph, LB – There weren’t many pro prospects on this FAU team, but Joseph is probably the closest thing. He has very good speed and athleticism, but HORRIBLE instincts. I’m of the mind that good athletes do not always make good football players, and I think this is case in point. I’m sure Joseph will be drafted for said athleticism, but he’s never going to be more than a special teams player (if that).
Central Michigan:
Dan LeFevour, QB- I shouldn’t speak ill of a fellow IL resident, but I’m not a fan of LeFevour. To me, he’s in the mold of a poor-man’s Tim Tebow. He’s a decent athlete that has produced good numbers at the MAC level, but he’s not a pro QB. His arm is not strong enough, and he’s not accurate either. He’ll get Heisman hype going in to next year, but he’s nothing more than a good mid-level college QB.
Andrew Hartline, OT- Hartline is a very interesting prospect. His feet look good and his pass pro is very solid. He needs to work on keeping a wider base with his feet, especially in the run game where he can come off his blocks too easily. I don’t think he will get much recognition, but he’s a solid prospect. I wouldn’t go after him until the later rounds, but I think he has potential.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Poinsettia Bowl: TCU vs Boise State
Texas Christian:
Steven Hodge, LB/SS- Hodge is right up there as one of my favorite unheard of players in this draft. Hodge is a bit of a tweener who played a lot of in-the-box SS, but could probably fit as a WLB at the NFL level. To me, I’d leave him at SS. Hodge absolutely owned this game and was all over the field. He has outstanding closing speed and open field tackling ability. He can blitz, and he can cover. I think he can be an immediate starter in the NFL, and I really like his potential.
Jerry Hughes, DE- I was surprised that Hughes did not come out considering the lack of depth at the DE position this year. I felt that Hughes was the most complete DE I saw all year, even though most media outlets peg him as a 3-4 rush OLB. He’s an impact pass rusher that can also stack the line against the run. But Hughes opted to come back for his senior year, which I will rarely ever say is a bad idea. If Hughes can improve his strength and stay near the top of the NCAA leader board in sacks once again, he’s going to be considered in the top half of the first round. I’ll be watching him closely as I think he has great NFL potential.
Aaron Brown, RB- Brown is not getting the respect I feel he deserves. I really like Brown’s running style. He’s a smooth strider that runs with forward lean, hits the hole hard, and has the quickness to make guys miss. He showed that he’s a very solid kick returner as well. He’s going to slip through the cracks, as evidenced by the fact that he was unexplicably not invited to the combine, but he will get drafted late and will make his way into a tandem running back rotation (and return kicks right away).
Daryl Washington, LB- Washington has not played much and is more of an athlete than a polished player, but his athleticism does flash through at times, and I think he will find a nice paying gig as a career special teams player.
Boise State:
Jeron Johnson, SS- Johnson is only a Sophomore, but he’s got great potential. He’s very effective in coverage and fills hard to stop the run. I’m watching him closely as he looks like a very solid NFL product that may come out early next year.
Ian Johnson, RB- The hero of the Orange Bowl from a couple years ago against Oklahoma, Johnson has struggled ever since. Injuries have played a good part in this, as has carrying such a big load throughout his four year career at Boise State. He’s a tough football player that has a lot of heart and determination, but just doesn’t have the natural physical skills to be an elite player. He will get drafted late and will be very hard to cut for some team. He reminds me a lot of the Bears' Adrian Peterson. He’s going to be a hard working special teams player who will contribute in any way he can. He’s the kind of hard worker you want on your team, but he’s not ever going to be a difference maker.
Steven Hodge, LB/SS- Hodge is right up there as one of my favorite unheard of players in this draft. Hodge is a bit of a tweener who played a lot of in-the-box SS, but could probably fit as a WLB at the NFL level. To me, I’d leave him at SS. Hodge absolutely owned this game and was all over the field. He has outstanding closing speed and open field tackling ability. He can blitz, and he can cover. I think he can be an immediate starter in the NFL, and I really like his potential.
Jerry Hughes, DE- I was surprised that Hughes did not come out considering the lack of depth at the DE position this year. I felt that Hughes was the most complete DE I saw all year, even though most media outlets peg him as a 3-4 rush OLB. He’s an impact pass rusher that can also stack the line against the run. But Hughes opted to come back for his senior year, which I will rarely ever say is a bad idea. If Hughes can improve his strength and stay near the top of the NCAA leader board in sacks once again, he’s going to be considered in the top half of the first round. I’ll be watching him closely as I think he has great NFL potential.
Aaron Brown, RB- Brown is not getting the respect I feel he deserves. I really like Brown’s running style. He’s a smooth strider that runs with forward lean, hits the hole hard, and has the quickness to make guys miss. He showed that he’s a very solid kick returner as well. He’s going to slip through the cracks, as evidenced by the fact that he was unexplicably not invited to the combine, but he will get drafted late and will make his way into a tandem running back rotation (and return kicks right away).
Daryl Washington, LB- Washington has not played much and is more of an athlete than a polished player, but his athleticism does flash through at times, and I think he will find a nice paying gig as a career special teams player.
Boise State:
Jeron Johnson, SS- Johnson is only a Sophomore, but he’s got great potential. He’s very effective in coverage and fills hard to stop the run. I’m watching him closely as he looks like a very solid NFL product that may come out early next year.
Ian Johnson, RB- The hero of the Orange Bowl from a couple years ago against Oklahoma, Johnson has struggled ever since. Injuries have played a good part in this, as has carrying such a big load throughout his four year career at Boise State. He’s a tough football player that has a lot of heart and determination, but just doesn’t have the natural physical skills to be an elite player. He will get drafted late and will be very hard to cut for some team. He reminds me a lot of the Bears' Adrian Peterson. He’s going to be a hard working special teams player who will contribute in any way he can. He’s the kind of hard worker you want on your team, but he’s not ever going to be a difference maker.
New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss vs Troy
Southern Miss:
Gerald McRath, LB- I’m a big fan of McRath, and I think he’s flying too far under the radar. I even like McRath better than OSU MLB James Laurinitis. McRath played ILB in a 3-4 style defense at Southern Miss, but I’m not sure this is his best position. He’s a bit undersized and lacks the bulk to take on blockers head on, but that can be adjusted for in the right defense. If not an ILB in a 3-4, then I could definitely see him moving to a WLB in a traditional 4-3. He has great speed, very good instincts, he’s a good blitzer, he can cover in the pass game, and he has elite level closing speed. McRath will probably slip to the early second round, but I expect him to start right away and be a difference maker. He’s just a very good all around LB who can play in a multitude of defensive schemes. If he blows the combine up, expect to hear all of the draft experts start mentioning his name as a late first round pick.
Shane Nelson, TE- I really like Nelson as well. He has a great combination of size and speed, and is effective as a run blocker (which is rare for a guy who most would consider as an offensive weapon). I originally wrote in my notes that he’d shine in the All Star games, and that is exactly what Nelson did at the Senior Bowl (which will be covered in full later on). Nelson has moved his way into early second round range, and could be a sleeper to move into the late first for a team like Philadelphia (which would be a great fit).
Troy:
Sherrod Martin, CB- Martin is the best of what Troy had to offer for draft eligible players. Martin might not fit well at CB in the pros, and actually may make more of an impact as a FS. He’s a late round pick that will be a back up and provide some depth on special teams, but I don’t believe he’s starting material.
Gerald McRath, LB- I’m a big fan of McRath, and I think he’s flying too far under the radar. I even like McRath better than OSU MLB James Laurinitis. McRath played ILB in a 3-4 style defense at Southern Miss, but I’m not sure this is his best position. He’s a bit undersized and lacks the bulk to take on blockers head on, but that can be adjusted for in the right defense. If not an ILB in a 3-4, then I could definitely see him moving to a WLB in a traditional 4-3. He has great speed, very good instincts, he’s a good blitzer, he can cover in the pass game, and he has elite level closing speed. McRath will probably slip to the early second round, but I expect him to start right away and be a difference maker. He’s just a very good all around LB who can play in a multitude of defensive schemes. If he blows the combine up, expect to hear all of the draft experts start mentioning his name as a late first round pick.
Shane Nelson, TE- I really like Nelson as well. He has a great combination of size and speed, and is effective as a run blocker (which is rare for a guy who most would consider as an offensive weapon). I originally wrote in my notes that he’d shine in the All Star games, and that is exactly what Nelson did at the Senior Bowl (which will be covered in full later on). Nelson has moved his way into early second round range, and could be a sleeper to move into the late first for a team like Philadelphia (which would be a great fit).
Troy:
Sherrod Martin, CB- Martin is the best of what Troy had to offer for draft eligible players. Martin might not fit well at CB in the pros, and actually may make more of an impact as a FS. He’s a late round pick that will be a back up and provide some depth on special teams, but I don’t believe he’s starting material.
Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona vs BYU
Arizona:
Eben Britton, OT- I thought Britton needed another year to fully develop, but he came out anyway. He does have bottom of the first round skills, but just needs some more refinement on his technique. He has the tendency to get high in his pass pro, which leads to him being driven into the backfield a bit too often. If he can work on this, and get stronger, he has a future on the left side. To start, he may have to play on the right side, and it would be even better if he can go to a team that won’t need him to start immediately. The potential is there, and this is what a team will draft him on. But I think he still has a bit of a ways to go before he can be relied on at the blindside tackle position.
Willie Tuitama, QB- I just don’t like Tuitama and don’t think he’ll ever make it as an NFL QB. He has poor accuracy and his arm is not strong enough to make the tough NFL throws like the deep out. If he gets drafted, it won’t be until the 7th round or so. I personally would not be surprised to see him go undrafted.
Mike Thomas, WR- Thomas is a nice sleeper WR that will probably slip through the cracks because of his lack of ideal size. He might have to play in the slot, but even though he’s 5’8”, he does find ways to get open as a boundary WR. He’s quick, has very good hands, runs good routes, and can return kicks as well. He’s a very valuable guy that would make a great pick in the 4th round range.
BYU:
Jan Jorgensen, DE- I’m interested in Jorgensen and will be watching him closely next year. He flashes some very good pass rush potential, but he also disappears for stretches. If he can work on his consistency and his POA skills in the run game, he could move his way up into 2nd or 3rd round potential.
Max Hall, QB- Hall is a lot like Graham Harrell coming in to this year. He has all of the numbers, and some people really like him, but I think he’s more of a system QB who won’t make it in the pros. I don’t like his throwing motion at all, and he’s too short to see over his linemen. Don’t believe the hype next year if there is any.
Austin Collie, WR- I was very surprised to see Collie come out a year early. Granted, he is old enough as he spent a year or two on a Mormon mission prior to completing his college career. I really like Collie though, and would have liked to see him come back, but still think he has a bright future in the NFL. He has good speed and good return ability, and you can see that he works very hard at his craft. He’s not a first day pick, but he’s going to make some team very happy when they draft him in the late third or early fourth.
Rey Feinga, OG- Feinga is your typical run of the mill guard. He doesn’t excel at either pass or run blocking, but he’s effective enough at both. He’ll get drafted late and prove to be a decent back up.
Eben Britton, OT- I thought Britton needed another year to fully develop, but he came out anyway. He does have bottom of the first round skills, but just needs some more refinement on his technique. He has the tendency to get high in his pass pro, which leads to him being driven into the backfield a bit too often. If he can work on this, and get stronger, he has a future on the left side. To start, he may have to play on the right side, and it would be even better if he can go to a team that won’t need him to start immediately. The potential is there, and this is what a team will draft him on. But I think he still has a bit of a ways to go before he can be relied on at the blindside tackle position.
Willie Tuitama, QB- I just don’t like Tuitama and don’t think he’ll ever make it as an NFL QB. He has poor accuracy and his arm is not strong enough to make the tough NFL throws like the deep out. If he gets drafted, it won’t be until the 7th round or so. I personally would not be surprised to see him go undrafted.
Mike Thomas, WR- Thomas is a nice sleeper WR that will probably slip through the cracks because of his lack of ideal size. He might have to play in the slot, but even though he’s 5’8”, he does find ways to get open as a boundary WR. He’s quick, has very good hands, runs good routes, and can return kicks as well. He’s a very valuable guy that would make a great pick in the 4th round range.
BYU:
Jan Jorgensen, DE- I’m interested in Jorgensen and will be watching him closely next year. He flashes some very good pass rush potential, but he also disappears for stretches. If he can work on his consistency and his POA skills in the run game, he could move his way up into 2nd or 3rd round potential.
Max Hall, QB- Hall is a lot like Graham Harrell coming in to this year. He has all of the numbers, and some people really like him, but I think he’s more of a system QB who won’t make it in the pros. I don’t like his throwing motion at all, and he’s too short to see over his linemen. Don’t believe the hype next year if there is any.
Austin Collie, WR- I was very surprised to see Collie come out a year early. Granted, he is old enough as he spent a year or two on a Mormon mission prior to completing his college career. I really like Collie though, and would have liked to see him come back, but still think he has a bright future in the NFL. He has good speed and good return ability, and you can see that he works very hard at his craft. He’s not a first day pick, but he’s going to make some team very happy when they draft him in the late third or early fourth.
Rey Feinga, OG- Feinga is your typical run of the mill guard. He doesn’t excel at either pass or run blocking, but he’s effective enough at both. He’ll get drafted late and prove to be a decent back up.
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida vs Memphis
South Florida:
Matt Grothe, QB- I don’t care what anyone else says about Grothe, he will never be an NFL QB. Not even a third stringer. He’s too short, he doesn’t have enough of an arm, and he’s not that accurate. He helps his team win games, but that’s just not enough. He may end up being a very fine college QB, but that’s where the line ends.
George Selvie, DE- I’m very glad Selvie decided to come back for his Senior season. Selvie was hurt for a portion of the year, and did not make the impact he has over the past two years. I also didn’t see enough improvement from him based on last year’s footage as well. He’s still a bit of a one trick pony where he relies strictly on speed around the edge instead of using his hands and being a complete two-way player. He’s got good length, and great speed, but he’s too small to hold the POA (point of attack) against the run. So to me, his future is at 3-4 OLB due to his speed and pass rush ability. His potential is what will get him drafted in the first round, but I’m not sold on his value being that high. Right now, he’s a pass rush specialist in my book, and you don’t spend first round picks on guys who are just pass rush specialists. Selvie does have another year to prove me wrong though, and with a little bulk, he might be able to stay out as a 4-3 DE in a Cover-2 style defense. He needs to show some improvement and he will face a lot of double teams next year, so if he still shows the flashes on tape, then I’d be satisfied saying he deserves a first round grade.
Tyrone McKenzie, OLB- Todd McShay really likes McKenzie and I don’t. He has all of the physical attributes you want to see, but he tends to just get lost in the shuffle. On tape, he disappears in the trash over the middle. He does have fairly good coverage skills though, so he needs to go to a team that will cover him up and allow him to use his speed and agility to make plays on the outside. I still don’t draft him any higher than the late third round, but if he performs well at the combine, some team will over draft him in the early third to potentially the late second round.
Memphis:
Clinton McDonald, DT- SLEEPER ALERT! Every year I find a couple offensive or defensive lineman that I really seem to fall in love with. McDonald is my guy this year on the DL. He’s not a big guy, and is probably best fit as an undertackle on a team that runs a one gap penetrating style of defense (like the Colts, Bucs, or Bears). But if the right team drafts him, I think he’s going to be a very good pro. He suffered from not having as much talent around him on this Memphis team so he faced a lot of double teams. My only knock on him is that he’s not a big space eating run blocker. He will make his money with his quickness and pass rush ability. He can get washed by the double team, but that’s not what you are drafting him to do. He’s a great athlete for his size, and I have no doubts his stock will rise after personal workouts; as he’s the kind of guy who will test very well (Note: McDonald was one of the few guys who got snubbed for an invite to the combine, which I think is an absolute shame. So that is why I refer to him blowing up his personal workouts and not the combine). He could potentially move to a 3-4 DE, but I think this would not be using him to the best of his abilities. I’m guessing that he will slip until the late third or early fourth, which is a great time to take a player like McDonald. Don’t sleep on him yet, and remember where you heard it first.
Matt Grothe, QB- I don’t care what anyone else says about Grothe, he will never be an NFL QB. Not even a third stringer. He’s too short, he doesn’t have enough of an arm, and he’s not that accurate. He helps his team win games, but that’s just not enough. He may end up being a very fine college QB, but that’s where the line ends.
George Selvie, DE- I’m very glad Selvie decided to come back for his Senior season. Selvie was hurt for a portion of the year, and did not make the impact he has over the past two years. I also didn’t see enough improvement from him based on last year’s footage as well. He’s still a bit of a one trick pony where he relies strictly on speed around the edge instead of using his hands and being a complete two-way player. He’s got good length, and great speed, but he’s too small to hold the POA (point of attack) against the run. So to me, his future is at 3-4 OLB due to his speed and pass rush ability. His potential is what will get him drafted in the first round, but I’m not sold on his value being that high. Right now, he’s a pass rush specialist in my book, and you don’t spend first round picks on guys who are just pass rush specialists. Selvie does have another year to prove me wrong though, and with a little bulk, he might be able to stay out as a 4-3 DE in a Cover-2 style defense. He needs to show some improvement and he will face a lot of double teams next year, so if he still shows the flashes on tape, then I’d be satisfied saying he deserves a first round grade.
Tyrone McKenzie, OLB- Todd McShay really likes McKenzie and I don’t. He has all of the physical attributes you want to see, but he tends to just get lost in the shuffle. On tape, he disappears in the trash over the middle. He does have fairly good coverage skills though, so he needs to go to a team that will cover him up and allow him to use his speed and agility to make plays on the outside. I still don’t draft him any higher than the late third round, but if he performs well at the combine, some team will over draft him in the early third to potentially the late second round.
Memphis:
Clinton McDonald, DT- SLEEPER ALERT! Every year I find a couple offensive or defensive lineman that I really seem to fall in love with. McDonald is my guy this year on the DL. He’s not a big guy, and is probably best fit as an undertackle on a team that runs a one gap penetrating style of defense (like the Colts, Bucs, or Bears). But if the right team drafts him, I think he’s going to be a very good pro. He suffered from not having as much talent around him on this Memphis team so he faced a lot of double teams. My only knock on him is that he’s not a big space eating run blocker. He will make his money with his quickness and pass rush ability. He can get washed by the double team, but that’s not what you are drafting him to do. He’s a great athlete for his size, and I have no doubts his stock will rise after personal workouts; as he’s the kind of guy who will test very well (Note: McDonald was one of the few guys who got snubbed for an invite to the combine, which I think is an absolute shame. So that is why I refer to him blowing up his personal workouts and not the combine). He could potentially move to a 3-4 DE, but I think this would not be using him to the best of his abilities. I’m guessing that he will slip until the late third or early fourth, which is a great time to take a player like McDonald. Don’t sleep on him yet, and remember where you heard it first.
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs Colorado St
Colorado State:
Dane Stratton, RT- Stratton pulls a lot for a tackle, and he’s good at it. He keeps his base wide and can block the moving target at the second level. The problem I have with him is that he cannot block edge rushers. He does not kick slide well enough to the outside to be able to cut off outside rush lanes, and it looks like his arms may be a bit too short. I see his future inside at OG at the NFL level, and he’s worth a late round shot as a developmental prospect at the very least. With his ability to pull, a team that likes to run sweeps often would be an ideal fit.
Tommie Hill, DE- Hill’s game is a lot like Aaron Smith of the Steelers. He plays the 3-4 DE for the Rams, and I think this is his best fit in the pros as well. He’s tall and a bit lean right now, but he uses his long arms well. He has a very good feel for the pass rush game as well, and knows when to get his hands up to disrupt passing windows if he can’t get to the passer. Hill showed he has the ability to drop into the shallow zone on zone blitzes, which makes me even more sure that a team like Pittsburgh would do well to draft him in the 5th round or onward and develop him as the long term replacement for Smith. He definitely needs to get bigger and stronger, but he has the frame to do so. Hill is probably a couple years away from contributing, but his upside is worth the wait to develop him.
Gartrell Johnson, RB- Johnson had a HUGE bowl game. He ran for 270+ yards, and it seemed like every time he touched the ball he broke for a 50+ yard run. Johnson is a big running back that hits the hole hard and is difficult to bring down because of his size. He does not dance behind the line, he just takes the hand off and blasts into the LOS (line of scrimmage). He also caught a few swing passes out of the backfield, so he showed he has the ability to contribute in the passing game as well. His major knock is that he lacks the long speed to break away from anyone. On his big runs, he seemed to almost always get caught from behind further down the field. But I don’t feel this is as big of an issue as others might. He’s not a home run threat, he’s a change of pace guy who will wear defenses down. Johnson’s ideal fit would be with a team that has a shifty/quick running back to compliment Johnson’s bruising style. He can make those runs for big initial gains and still get caught from behind, as those big initial gains move the chains and help your team. Even if he shocks the world and runs a fast 40 time at the combine, you don’t see this on film. So he’s more of a 4th to 5th round compliment back for a team like the Texans or the Eagles.
Mychal Sisson, OLB- Sisson was a Freshman All-American, and he has great potential as a rush LB in this 3-4 defense that Colorado State runs. His instincts and speed can’t be taught, and all he really needs is time to get bigger and stronger. I will be keeping a close eye on Sisson for the next two years because I think he has potential to be a very strong first round candidate (if he can keep improving and stay healthy).
Ricky Brewer, ILB- Only a Sophomore, Brewer will have time to improve right alongside Sisson. He’s more instinctive than Sisson is, but maybe not as naturally gifted. He has first day potential though at a position that is becoming more common in today’s NFL (3-4 ILB).
Fresno State:
Tom Brandstater, QB- Brandstater has all of the physical tools you look for in a QB: Prototypical size, good arm strength, quick release, pocket passer…and that’s where it stops. Brandstater is just missing something, and I don’t know what that is. He is maddeningly inconsistent, and his accuracy is all over the place. He is also not consistent in something as simple as his drops from center. But Brandstater is the type of guy I can see a team taking late in the draft and stashing on the practice squad for two years to work with. He has the things in a QB you can’t coach, and the pieces that are missing can potentially be fixed with good coaching. He’s a long shot and needs work, but I can see a team taking a 6th or 7th round flier to see if they can make him the next Matt Cassel.
Bear Pascoe, TE- Pascoe grew on me the more I watched him. He’s a lot bigger than your more recent pro-style TE. He’s a very good blocker and a short/intermediate pass catcher. He’s lacking the deep speed to make an impact in a spread style offense, but he’s more of your throwback style of inline tight end. He’s consistent and will make some team happy that takes him as their second tight end near the middle rounds of the second day.
Dane Stratton, RT- Stratton pulls a lot for a tackle, and he’s good at it. He keeps his base wide and can block the moving target at the second level. The problem I have with him is that he cannot block edge rushers. He does not kick slide well enough to the outside to be able to cut off outside rush lanes, and it looks like his arms may be a bit too short. I see his future inside at OG at the NFL level, and he’s worth a late round shot as a developmental prospect at the very least. With his ability to pull, a team that likes to run sweeps often would be an ideal fit.
Tommie Hill, DE- Hill’s game is a lot like Aaron Smith of the Steelers. He plays the 3-4 DE for the Rams, and I think this is his best fit in the pros as well. He’s tall and a bit lean right now, but he uses his long arms well. He has a very good feel for the pass rush game as well, and knows when to get his hands up to disrupt passing windows if he can’t get to the passer. Hill showed he has the ability to drop into the shallow zone on zone blitzes, which makes me even more sure that a team like Pittsburgh would do well to draft him in the 5th round or onward and develop him as the long term replacement for Smith. He definitely needs to get bigger and stronger, but he has the frame to do so. Hill is probably a couple years away from contributing, but his upside is worth the wait to develop him.
Gartrell Johnson, RB- Johnson had a HUGE bowl game. He ran for 270+ yards, and it seemed like every time he touched the ball he broke for a 50+ yard run. Johnson is a big running back that hits the hole hard and is difficult to bring down because of his size. He does not dance behind the line, he just takes the hand off and blasts into the LOS (line of scrimmage). He also caught a few swing passes out of the backfield, so he showed he has the ability to contribute in the passing game as well. His major knock is that he lacks the long speed to break away from anyone. On his big runs, he seemed to almost always get caught from behind further down the field. But I don’t feel this is as big of an issue as others might. He’s not a home run threat, he’s a change of pace guy who will wear defenses down. Johnson’s ideal fit would be with a team that has a shifty/quick running back to compliment Johnson’s bruising style. He can make those runs for big initial gains and still get caught from behind, as those big initial gains move the chains and help your team. Even if he shocks the world and runs a fast 40 time at the combine, you don’t see this on film. So he’s more of a 4th to 5th round compliment back for a team like the Texans or the Eagles.
Mychal Sisson, OLB- Sisson was a Freshman All-American, and he has great potential as a rush LB in this 3-4 defense that Colorado State runs. His instincts and speed can’t be taught, and all he really needs is time to get bigger and stronger. I will be keeping a close eye on Sisson for the next two years because I think he has potential to be a very strong first round candidate (if he can keep improving and stay healthy).
Ricky Brewer, ILB- Only a Sophomore, Brewer will have time to improve right alongside Sisson. He’s more instinctive than Sisson is, but maybe not as naturally gifted. He has first day potential though at a position that is becoming more common in today’s NFL (3-4 ILB).
Fresno State:
Tom Brandstater, QB- Brandstater has all of the physical tools you look for in a QB: Prototypical size, good arm strength, quick release, pocket passer…and that’s where it stops. Brandstater is just missing something, and I don’t know what that is. He is maddeningly inconsistent, and his accuracy is all over the place. He is also not consistent in something as simple as his drops from center. But Brandstater is the type of guy I can see a team taking late in the draft and stashing on the practice squad for two years to work with. He has the things in a QB you can’t coach, and the pieces that are missing can potentially be fixed with good coaching. He’s a long shot and needs work, but I can see a team taking a 6th or 7th round flier to see if they can make him the next Matt Cassel.
Bear Pascoe, TE- Pascoe grew on me the more I watched him. He’s a lot bigger than your more recent pro-style TE. He’s a very good blocker and a short/intermediate pass catcher. He’s lacking the deep speed to make an impact in a spread style offense, but he’s more of your throwback style of inline tight end. He’s consistent and will make some team happy that takes him as their second tight end near the middle rounds of the second day.
Eagle Bank Bowl: Wake Forest vs Navy
If you’ve read my coverage before, you’ll know that I absolutely HATE scouting the triple option offense that Navy runs. It’s something that is not run at the pro level, so it’s very difficult to place where these players would fit in a traditional pro-style offense. Add to this the fact that the service academies are now requiring their graduates to serve their five year service commitments immediately after graduation, and that means I am paying even less attention. It’s a shame they have started to enforce this rule as it means the majority of these service academy players will not get the chance to play in the pro’s, even if they are worthy of consideration.
Wake Forest:
Aaron Curry, OLB- Curry is definitely the best defensive prospect in this year’s draft. To me, he’s probably one of the top three overall prospects regardless of position. He’s the fastest linebacker I have seen in some time. Curry is great moving forward, and has the ability to be an impact pass rusher at the next level for a team that likes to blitz. His closing speed is elite, so he can make a false read and still track a ball carrier down from the back side. To go with his elite speed, he has all of the technique you need for playing space. He has great form tackling skills, he uses his hands very well to stack up the outside part of the line, get rid of the blocker, and make the tackle. His instincts are great as well, and he has the size to go with all of this. It’s not all positive though as there is one knock on him that I saw. He tends to over commit when charging toward a play. What I mean by this is that he is so big and fast that he struggles a bit to break down, chop his feet, and change directions smoothly. But it’s not a major enough of an issue to knock his draft status down in my opinion. Being too fast is never an issue, and I think that with some technique work, he can correct this. So if he shows improvement in COD (change of direction) tests like the three-cone drill at the combine, you could see him in contention for the number one overall pick. LB’s are great first round picks as they tend to be the safest bets, and I’d say Curry is as safe as they come.
Alphonso Smith, CB- Smith led the nation in interceptions in 2007, and I was happy to see him return for his senior year this season. He’s short and a bit undersized, but his ball skills are elite. He just finds a way to get his hands on balls when they are in the air, and since he’s a very good return man as well, he knows how to find the end zone once he makes a pick. He does tend to gamble a bit with the picks, but I’d happily live with this as he makes more plays than he gives up. I’m interested to see what his 40 time is as he doesn’t seem to have blazing speed on film; he’s more elusive than anything. The biggest knock I have on him is that he’s not a great open field tackler. But he does try hard, and he is physical on the jam. I really like Smith and think he’s going to be a very good pro. His size will push him down to the lower part of the first or early part of the second round, but I think when it’s all said and done, he’s going to be one of the most productive corners in this year’s draft. To me, he’d be an ideal fit for a team like Baltimore at pick 26, but he could go as high as 17 to the Jets or 18 to the Bears.
DJ Boldin, WR- Boldin is a guy that grew on me the more I saw him play. He’s an undersized slot receiver in the mold of a Wes Welker. He’s short, undersized, but has great body control and catches the ball away from his body with his hands. He’s also a decent blocker who plays above his size with his technique and effort in this aspect of the game (a very underrated aspect which I really like to see effort in). He’s a late round prospect, and I do question his speed, but he’s the type of player that will find his way on to a roster and will stick there.
Chip Vaughn, S- Vaughn is an intriguing guy. He’s very good at coming up against the run, but seems to be a bit stiff in the hips when turning to run. I’ll cover him more in the senior bowl as he did very well in the practices there. I think Vaughn may slip to the fourth round area, and will be a very good value at that point. He’s a solid SS prospect that can vastly improve his stock with a good 40 time at the combine. If he runs slower than expected, he’s the kind of guy I could see bulking up a bit and player WLB in a Cover-2 defense.
Josh Adams, RB- Adams is a young running back with good vision, great quickness, and home run hitting speed. The only detriment to his game is his size, but he has at least another year to get bigger and stronger. He’s a player I will be watching next closely next season.
Riley Skinner, QB- Skinner is a bit of an enigma to me. He’s got the size, has a quick release, his arm is good enough, and he seems to be fairly accurate. But there is just something missing from his game that tells me he can be an NFL caliber QB. He will make some very good throws at times, then follow this up with some absolutely horrible throws. His biggest weakness is his tendency to stare down receivers. If he can work on some of these points, I could see him being an effective career back up in the NFL. Maybe he can improve enough to prove me wrong, and show that he can be a potential starter in the NFL.
Wake Forest:
Aaron Curry, OLB- Curry is definitely the best defensive prospect in this year’s draft. To me, he’s probably one of the top three overall prospects regardless of position. He’s the fastest linebacker I have seen in some time. Curry is great moving forward, and has the ability to be an impact pass rusher at the next level for a team that likes to blitz. His closing speed is elite, so he can make a false read and still track a ball carrier down from the back side. To go with his elite speed, he has all of the technique you need for playing space. He has great form tackling skills, he uses his hands very well to stack up the outside part of the line, get rid of the blocker, and make the tackle. His instincts are great as well, and he has the size to go with all of this. It’s not all positive though as there is one knock on him that I saw. He tends to over commit when charging toward a play. What I mean by this is that he is so big and fast that he struggles a bit to break down, chop his feet, and change directions smoothly. But it’s not a major enough of an issue to knock his draft status down in my opinion. Being too fast is never an issue, and I think that with some technique work, he can correct this. So if he shows improvement in COD (change of direction) tests like the three-cone drill at the combine, you could see him in contention for the number one overall pick. LB’s are great first round picks as they tend to be the safest bets, and I’d say Curry is as safe as they come.
Alphonso Smith, CB- Smith led the nation in interceptions in 2007, and I was happy to see him return for his senior year this season. He’s short and a bit undersized, but his ball skills are elite. He just finds a way to get his hands on balls when they are in the air, and since he’s a very good return man as well, he knows how to find the end zone once he makes a pick. He does tend to gamble a bit with the picks, but I’d happily live with this as he makes more plays than he gives up. I’m interested to see what his 40 time is as he doesn’t seem to have blazing speed on film; he’s more elusive than anything. The biggest knock I have on him is that he’s not a great open field tackler. But he does try hard, and he is physical on the jam. I really like Smith and think he’s going to be a very good pro. His size will push him down to the lower part of the first or early part of the second round, but I think when it’s all said and done, he’s going to be one of the most productive corners in this year’s draft. To me, he’d be an ideal fit for a team like Baltimore at pick 26, but he could go as high as 17 to the Jets or 18 to the Bears.
DJ Boldin, WR- Boldin is a guy that grew on me the more I saw him play. He’s an undersized slot receiver in the mold of a Wes Welker. He’s short, undersized, but has great body control and catches the ball away from his body with his hands. He’s also a decent blocker who plays above his size with his technique and effort in this aspect of the game (a very underrated aspect which I really like to see effort in). He’s a late round prospect, and I do question his speed, but he’s the type of player that will find his way on to a roster and will stick there.
Chip Vaughn, S- Vaughn is an intriguing guy. He’s very good at coming up against the run, but seems to be a bit stiff in the hips when turning to run. I’ll cover him more in the senior bowl as he did very well in the practices there. I think Vaughn may slip to the fourth round area, and will be a very good value at that point. He’s a solid SS prospect that can vastly improve his stock with a good 40 time at the combine. If he runs slower than expected, he’s the kind of guy I could see bulking up a bit and player WLB in a Cover-2 defense.
Josh Adams, RB- Adams is a young running back with good vision, great quickness, and home run hitting speed. The only detriment to his game is his size, but he has at least another year to get bigger and stronger. He’s a player I will be watching next closely next season.
Riley Skinner, QB- Skinner is a bit of an enigma to me. He’s got the size, has a quick release, his arm is good enough, and he seems to be fairly accurate. But there is just something missing from his game that tells me he can be an NFL caliber QB. He will make some very good throws at times, then follow this up with some absolutely horrible throws. His biggest weakness is his tendency to stare down receivers. If he can work on some of these points, I could see him being an effective career back up in the NFL. Maybe he can improve enough to prove me wrong, and show that he can be a potential starter in the NFL.
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