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DYNASTY: Top 2013 College Prospects (1 Viewer)

'Xue said:
'petenice15 said:
Has anyone looked into Miguel Maysonet RB out of Stony Brook? He's invited to the combine and despite coming from an unknown football school, the measurables seem to all be there. Anyone?
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One of my favorite sleepers. He might come in around 5'8"-5'9". Looked good vs the only FBS school he faced, Syracuse. Made some nice cuts, showed some explosiveness. Runs really low. I think based on size and running style, he's the closest thing to Ray Rice in this draft.I like his ability to set up the OLB/DB and cut it back inside. Check out the runs at: 0:00, 0:22, 0:51, 1:19, 2:06, 2:15, 3:14.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCW3sKo20rs
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No real breakaway speed though and that will hurt him in the nfl.
 
'Donnybrook said:
I have to say I am developing a man-crush on Zac Dysert as an under-rated QB prospect. (Especially for my Vikings which won't be looking at a QB early (if at all unfortunately)) Any draftnik or homer want to express an opinion on him?
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Well my crush is over. The reports on Dysert have been all negative and his Senior Bowl performance (so far) has been terrible.
 
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Scouts: Five who truly raised their stock during Senior Bowl practices

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 26, 2013 11:20 am ET

As the Senior Bowl continues to grow in popularity, the number of talent evaluators traveling to Mobile, Ala., has increased as well. This fact, along with the development of social media, has contributed to a number of the standouts from this year's practices earning rave reviews before the game itself has been played.

As such, NFL Draft enthusiasts by now probably could make up a top-10 list of "Risers" from the Senior Bowl themselves even if the closest that they came to witnessing the scrimmaging came via their Twitter account. Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher, UCLA defensive end Datone Jones, Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton and Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant are just some of the more obvious "winners." But who did NFL scouts identify as having really boosted their stock this week?

Informal polling by NFLDraftScout.com of professional talent evaluators identified several players who helped their cause. The players mentioned before certainly were among those scouts listed. But so, too, were a handful of others you perhaps haven't yet read or heard about from a dozen or more media outlets.

Players are listed alphabetically.

Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas: Cast off as simply a "track guy" by some due to his Olympic past, Goodwin demonstrated much greater physicality and football aptitude than many expected. At just 5-feet-9 and 179 pounds, Goodwin lacks the size teams would prefer, but he showed some savvy as a route runner, caught the ball well throughout the week and, of course, is an unbelievable athlete. As Dane Brugler noted earlier in the week, Goodwin's solid showing could push the former Longhorn into the second day of the draft.

Kyle Juszczyk, FB, Harvard: The traditional lead-blocking fullback might be going the way of the dinosaurs for many teams in today's spread-heavy NFL, but scouts still appreciated the physical, no-nonsense play from Juszczyk. The solidly build 6-2, 248-pounder cleared running lanes for the North's running backs (including Dave Richard's top-ranked back from the Senior Bowl) and consistently knocked linebackers to the ground in pass protection.

David Quessenberry, OL, San Jose State: A former walk-on tight end who started the past three seasons at left tackle, Quessenberry was asked to play virtually every position up front for the North team this week. With a broad-shouldered, long-armed frame (6-5, 294 pounds) that looks capable of handling another 15 pounds with some work in an NFL weight room, he drew positive notes from scouts during Monday's weigh-in and played well throughout the week. He demonstrated athleticism, strength and the mental toughness to handle the jump in competition as well as the constant position changes. Quessenberry was one of six prospects individually highlighted by Phil Savage, the Senior Bowl's director and a former NFL general manager.

B.W. Webb, CB, William & Mary: Scouts knew Webb could cover, as he had shown quick feet, speed and route recognition on tape. Needless to say, however, the jump in competition from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Senior Bowl was significant. But Webb certainly proved up to the task. The 5-10, 183-pounder showed improved physicality in Mobile and stepped up his play against the bigger receivers he faced on the South squad, showing the feistiness necessary to make the significant jump to the NFL. Webb was among four small-school standouts highlighted by Pat Kirwan, earning a comparison to Atlanta Falcons star Asante Samuel from the former NFL coach and scout.

Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern: Scouts were eager to see if the three-time DII All-American would continue his dominating run-stuffing ways vs. higher-caliber talent. While Williams won't be able to rush the passer with the consistency that he did in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference (school-record 27 career sacks), he showed surprising quickness for his 6-2, 341-pound frame and impressive upper-body strength. Overshadowed by more recognizable names like Kawann Short and Sylvester Williams, this Williams is the defensive tackle whose stock is ascending the quickest following an impressive week of practice.
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2013 NFL Draft: Steady hands may help Baylor WR Terrance Williams' stockBy Matt Rybaltowski | CBSSports.comJanuary 26, 2013 11:58 am ET
Blanketed by Robert Alford in a drill leading to Saturday's Senior Bowl, Baylor wide receiver Terrance Williams darted past the Southeastern Louisiana cornerback, adjusted to a pass from Oklahoma's Landry Jones toward his outside shoulder and made a sprawling 50-yard catch.Pinned against a fence at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., a bevy of NFL scouts immediately took notice of Williams' superior ball skills. Williams had 97 catches for 1,832 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.Williams (6-foot-2, 201 pounds) has developed steady hands in a series of unorthodox workouts at Athletes Performance outside of Dallas in Frisco, Texas. Under the guidance of former NFL receivers Raghib Ismail and Tim Brown, Williams has focused on sharpening his receiving skills. Throughout the routines, the ex-Notre Dame wideouts have stressed the importance of maintaining proper techniques while running routes and securing the ball.“He still has it,” Williams said of Ismail. “He was showing us with our get-off how to take front steps off the line. We're just trying to learn new things that can help us focus on the ball.”In a typical drill, Williams will field 10 balls from the front, 10 from the back, 10 low passes and 10 over-the-shoulder throws. The most challenging station, Williams said, is one where he must cover one of his eyes while snaring low balls near ground-level. The instructors require the prospects to repeat any of the drills if they struggle.With his burst off the line and ability to adjust to poor throws, Williams is projected to be the first receiver selected in April's NFL Draft by NFL.com. Williams met with the head coaches and general managers of the Dolphins, Vikings and Bucs in Mobile.“I just tried to be myself,” Williams said. “They seemed like a laid-back group when football wasn't going on.”
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'BeTheMatch said:
Glennon was horrible. I don't care if he "bounced back" with a couple decent throws later. He's off my list.
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They were all horrible, save Manuel. This QB class will come down to Smith and Barkely.... Assuming Barkely will move up a good bit during the offseason process.
 
I also wasn't really impressed with Franklin. He does seem like a football player, but he looked too small to me to be anything more than a role player.

 
'jurb26 said:
'BeTheMatch said:
Glennon was horrible. I don't care if he "bounced back" with a couple decent throws later. He's off my list.
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They were all horrible, save Manuel. This QB class will come down to Smith and Barkely.... Assuming Barkely will move up a good bit during the offseason process.
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Jumping to conclusions, I think. They were all flawed two months ago and nothing has changed. It's a matter of can coaching mask/coach up these guys' flaws. A couple will be over drafted in round 1, a couple of others will be interesting day 2 picks. Like 2011 without Cam.
 
'MAC_32 said:
'jurb26 said:
'BeTheMatch said:
Glennon was horrible. I don't care if he "bounced back" with a couple decent throws later. He's off my list.
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They were all horrible, save Manuel. This QB class will come down to Smith and Barkely.... Assuming Barkely will move up a good bit during the offseason process.
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Jumping to conclusions, I think. They were all flawed two months ago and nothing has changed. It's a matter of can coaching mask/coach up these guys' flaws. A couple will be over drafted in round 1, a couple of others will be interesting day 2 picks. Like 2011 without Cam.
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Hey, that's basically the premise for this whole message board, isn't it? :P
 
Pauline's Final Stock Report

Posted Jan 26, 2013

By Tony Pauline

Three of the most important days of scouting leading up to the draft are now complete. The scouting staffs from the league's 32 teams now head home with notebooks full of opinions on the more than 100 players who took part in the Senior Bowl. While some will watch the game, the final analysis from three days of practice is what teams most heavily weigh when deciding a player's final draft grade. Here's a rundown of 14 players who enter the game with their stock rising and a half-dozen prospects headed in the other direction.

Stock Up

Desmond Trufant/CB/Washington: Few players elevated their draft stock as much as Trufant at the Senior Bowl. He was feisty from the first day of practice, battling opponents throughout routes and consistently knocking away passes. Trufant kept the momentum going throughout the week and scouts left Mobile believing he is now a first-round lock.

Eric Fisher/T/Central Michigan: In a word, wow. Fisher defeated just about everyone he faced at the Senior Bowl. From weigh-ins, when he stepped on the stage and showed an NFL body, through three days of practice, where he looked NFL ready, Fisher has scouts believing he'll quickly take hold at the left tackle position.



Lane Johnson/T/Oklahoma: If Eric Fisher was the top offensive tackle during Senior Bowl practice then Johnson was a close second. The former tight end put his athleticism on display during pass protection drills and shut down the speed rushers who tried to run around him. Johnson needs to get stronger and add some weight to his frame but there's a lot to like about his game.

Larry Warford/G/Kentucky: The third blocker who watched his draft stock take off, Warford was not as athletic compared to Fisher or Johnson yet was twice as dominant. He's your prototypical mauler who easily controlled defenders during drills. Once Warford got his hands on opponents it was game over.

Leon McFadden/CB/San Diego State: It was a good week for West coast cornerbacks as McFadden also made a positive impression during three days of practice. Technically, he's very sound and offers the speed and quickness to play at the next level. McFadden is not the tallest corner, measuring under 5-10 during weigh-ins, yet played tough football all week and usually beat out opponents.

Stepfan Taylor/RB/Stanford: Taylor was among the standouts at the Senior Bowl as he displayed elements in his game that surprised scouts. His burst and explosion through the running lanes were outstanding as Taylor showed a gear no one thought he had. This complimented the interior ball-carrying strength, running vision, pass-catching hands and blocking Taylor showed every day at practice.

Jonathan Franklin/RB/UCLA: Franklin was overshadowed by the play of Taylor yet turned in an impressive three days of practice. He showed a variety of skills as a ball carrier on the inside or around the edge and was a solid pass catcher out of the backfield.

Marquise Goodwin/WR/Texas: Goodwin has the one skill lacking from most of the 2013 receiver class; speed, and he displayed it every day at practice. He beat opponents off the line and displayed a terrific burst downfield with the ability to separate from defenders. Above all, Goodwin caught the ball well all three days.

Markus Wheaton/WR/Oregon State: Wheaton did not display the flat-out speed when compared to Goodwin, but he was fast enough to beat defenders in a foot race and was a dynamic all-around receiver. He showed a complete game at the position running terrific routes, battling defenders and coming away with tough receptions. Scouts now believe Wheaton has the potential to line up as a No. 2 receiver in the NFL.

Quinton Patton/WR/Louisiana Tech: Patton was one of the better route runners and more consistent wideouts through all three days of Senior Bowl practice. His eye/hand coordination and focus were exemplary as the sturdy wideout consistently came away with the reception. Scouts now feel he has a chance to develop into a No. 2 receiver in the NFL.

Brandon Williams/DT/Missouri Southern: Williams was a bit slow out of the gate but was turning heads by Wednesday. He displayed great power on the inside which nicely complimented his tremendous quickness. On the final day of practice he was impossible to stop. NFL coaches no longer question Williams' ability to hold down the nose tackle position at the next level.

Jonathan Cyprien/S/Florida International: Cyprien stood out as the best safety in attendance at the Senior Bowl and displayed a complete game. The ability to swiftly get outside the numbers and make plays in coverage was impressive as was his run-stuffing ability.

Montori Hughes/DT/Tennessee-Martin: Hughes stood on the sidelines Monday then made up for lost time the following two practices. The small-school product played with the big-time prospects and proved he belonged. Hughes was unstoppable Wednesday and constantly got penetration behind the line of scrimmage. Scouts feel he'll be a terrific addition on the inside of a four-man line.

John Jenkins/DT/Georgia: If only Jenkins played every down they way he practiced in Mobile. The big tackle tipped the scales near 360 pounds but looked quick and fluid moving about the field for three days. Jenkins presented himself as a lot more than just a space eater. Rather, he's an athlete who can rush the passer or make plays outside the box in pursuit. The objective for NFL teams is to get him to play to his level of ability for 60 minutes.

Stock Down

Braxston Cave/C/Notre Dame: Cave was consistently overrun by opponents throughout the week and struggled to hold the point. There were few physical traits about his game which really stood out to scouts.

Denard Robinson/WR/Michigan: Robinson had his moments catching the ball but struggled running routes or fielding punts. Scouts were expecting more from Robinson, who looked as though he'd not been training at the receiver position since his college career had ended.

Chase Thomas/LB/Stanford: Thomas was considered by some as one of the better 3-4 outside linebacker prospects before the week began yet was exploited almost every day at practice. He struggled in pass coverage showing an inability to run with slower tight ends and Thomas rarely made plays on the ball in scrimmage.

Bacarri Rambo/S/Georgia: Rambo exceeded expectations as a senior but was exposed all week during Senior Bowl practice. He looked slow and non-reactive in drills for three days and was constantly late arriving on the scene.

Will Davis/CB/Utah State: Entering the week most thought Davis had top 45 potential but he looked more like a last-day pick during practice. Davis is a fine athlete and displays great quickness in his game but showed poor instincts and marginal ball skills during drills and scrimmage.

Kyle Long/OL/Oregon: Long struggled in practice on Monday then sat out the rest of the week claiming to be ill. Scouts felt the offensive lineman had top 45 potential entering the Senior Bowl but the inability to perform could push him out of the draft's second day.

Notes: The much-anticipated quarterback battle many expected to witness during Senior Bowl practice never panned out. While all the signal callers had their moments none wowed scouts during practice or significantly elevated their draft stock. Mike Glennon of North Carolina State looked tremendous in drills yet folded under pressure during scrimmage, something he did on game day in college. Ryan Nassib of Syracuse had his moments but struggled with his timing and accuracy throwing to new receivers. Tyler Wilson of Arkansas was very effective in the short and intermediate field but proved he does not have the arm strength to play in a vertical offense. Florida State's EJ Manuel possesses an incredible amount of physical talent and made some beautiful throws but needs to be reworked from the ground up and is just too inconsistent. Landry Jones of Oklahoma has the throwing skills to play at the next level but just as in college, he made a lot of mental errors throughout the week.
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FSU's Manuel wins MVP, defenders win respect at Senior BowlBy Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.comJanuary 26, 2013 7:52 pm ET
The one-on-one opportunities prospects are put through during the week of practice at the Senior Bowl is more valued by scouts than the actual game, which is why most talent evaluators leave Mobile, Ala., long before kickoff.However, there is something to be said for prospects who save their best performances for the game itself.Florida State's E.J. Manuel was the most impressive of the quarterbacks, leading the South to touchdowns on his first two drives and all three scores overall, earning him Most Valuable Player in the South's 21-16 victory.The 6-foot-4, 237-pound Manuel demonstrated the dual-threat capabilities so popular right now in scouting circles, scampering up the middle for one score and showing beautiful touch on a 20-yard strike to Alabama tight end Michael Williams moments later for another.Manuel was replaced by Tyler Wilson and Landry Jones, who were less effective. Manuel returned in the second half, leading the South on a 13-play drive for its only other score of the game. Although the South relied on its running game on this drive, Manuel's one completion was an impressive throw. While it only went for six yards, Manuel was forced to reset and showed a much quicker release than he normally uses, demonstrating the ability to adjust as necessary and hitting Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor for a first down on third-and-4.The most impressive players in this game, however, were largely on the defensive side of the ball.Purdue's Kawann Short, North Carolina's Sylvester Williams and BYU's Ezekiel Ansah were particularly disruptive in this game.Short and Williams had been spectacular throughout the week of practice. Short, in particular, consistently beat opponents with his quick first step and sudden, powerful hands.Ansah, on the other hand, had been largely underwhelming throughout the practice week but was a terror in this game, recording a sack and forced fumble of Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib among several other big plays. Ansah, 6-5, 274 pounds, used his incredible closing speed to track down ball-carriers from behind on defense and to successfully cover on special teams.He was far from the only defender to play well in the game after a relatively disappointing week of practice.Georgia safety Baccari Rambo was in perfect position to collect an interception -- the 17th of his collegiate career -- by undercutting Syracuse wide receiver Alec Lemon and picking off a poorly-thrown pass by his former Orange quarterback, Nassib. Utah State's Will Davis took advantage of one of Manuel's few poor decisions on the day, collecting an interception off of a pass tipped by Oregon State's Jordan Poyer in the third quarter. While each earned first team all-conference honors in 2012, the trio had given up more plays than they'd made during the Senior Bowl practices.Finally, while the evaluation of most prospects was done by scouts throughout the practices, with players encouraged not to actually tackle ball-carriers during the week, linebackers were in the unique position of having to show off their most vital skill during the game. Several took full advantage, including Florida State's Vince Williams and Connecticut's Sio Moore.Williams, 6-1, 247, was particularly impressive, delivering several emphatic hits. Moore showed off the closing speed that helped him rack up an eye-popping 44 tackles for loss over his career. The 6-1, 240-pound Moore also showed better-than-expected power as a rusher, driving through Arkansas Pine-Bluff left tackle Terron Armstead as well as Wake Forest fullback Tommy Bohanon for a fourth-quarter sack of Oklahoma's Jones.
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Senior Bowl Review: Offense

Josh Norris

The purpose of Senior Bowl week is to supplement completed area-scout evaluations in practice and interviews. No evaluations are based on a single week’s performance, but certain prospects did help (or potentially hurt) their status and will force evaluators to take a second look at their live game action. I will breakdown each position below and rank participating performers accordingly. Please note, this is not strictly based on how these prospects did this week, instead it is based on their complete evaluation up to this point.

For comparison, here is how I ranked the attendees prior to this week.

Heights are listed with the first digit being feet, the next two digit as inches, and the final digit is eighths of an inch. Example: 6021 equals 6 feet, 2 inches, and 1/8ths of an inch.

Quarterbacks

1. Tyler Wilson (6021/218), Arkansas - I should say this now: Nothing has changed with my quarterback rankings (other than Manuel jumping Landry) and I question anyone who writes that one separated themselves from the pack. Wilson sticks to the pocket in the face of pressure and isn’t afraid to test the field vertically. His velocity and placement will need to improve in that section of the field, however, but more decisive footwork will certainly help.

2. Zac Dysert (6027/224), Miami (OH) - The RedHawk sailed multiple passes in 1 on 1s and 7 on 7s, but performed much better in full team activities. My biggest question with Dysert is if he can overcome the miscues that appeared in 2012, after the Miami (OH) offense asked him to make quick decisions on throws less than 10 yards almost strictly from the gun. Go back to 2011 and Dysert displays confident footwork and movement in the pocket while finding downfield targets on the move.

3. Mike Glennon (6066/220), NC State - The longer Glennon holds the ball, the more worried I get. Just like in college, Glennon made some excellent throws all over the field when throwing after bouncing off of his back foot. He could thrive in quick progression, faster tempo offenses, but pressure up the middle, confusion, and receivers failing to separate will give him plenty of trouble.

4. Ryan Nassib (6024/214), Syracuse - Nassib is a conundrum. He has a cannon with limited touch on short to intermediate routes, but his downfield throws look like rainbows. He is mobile, which leads to a lot of movement in the pocket while working through progressions. Some might like that, but I see it as a lack of comfort and possible a frenetic style.

5. E.J. Manuel (6043/237), FSU - It is tough to get a good feel on Manuel. Jimbo Fisher did not do him any favors at FSU, and Manuel flashes some nice throws, but too often the Seminole is a step late on his progression or decision and has placement issues.

6. Landry Jones (6032/221), Oklahoma - I don’t trust Landry as anything more than a fifth-round pick. In a clean pocket early in games he has made some impressive throws, but it tails off after that.

Running Backs

1. Johnathan Franklin (5100/201), UCLA - Off of his 2011 games, I considered Franklin an adequate but draftable prospect. Fast forward to this year and the Bruin showed much better vision when finding cutback lanes or working off blocks and his ability to make people miss at the second level was greatly enhanced. Don’t be surprised if we see him selected at the end of the second day.

2. Stepfan Taylor (5090/216), Stanford - Taylor is shorter than I expected, but the Stanford product seems to find open areas and pick up tough yardage despite a lack of top-end speed. He may run a high 4.5 or 4.6 forty, but Taylor is a confident runner with tools to produce in a dual back role.

3. Mike Gillislee (5112/207), Florida - A true front or strong side runner, Gillislee thrives on working behind pulling linemen between the tackles. Coaches will love the senior because he runs to his assigned lane, follows blocks, and can even create on strong cuts. Add in some good pass protection during the 2012 season, and Gillislee is likely a third- or fourth-round pick.

4. Kenjon Barner (5092/188), Oregon - It may not be popular, but I prefer Barner to LaMichael James. Both have magnets that draw them to the sideline, and James may be a tick faster, but barner is more willing to run between the tackles and instead of pinballing off contact, he can actually absorb hits on occasion to pick up extra yards.

5. Robbie Rouse (5057/186), Fresno State - Rouse is already drawing comparisons to Darren Sproles because of his size. I really like Rouse, but that comparison is unwarranted. First, the Fresno State grad doesn’t have the same short choppy steps as Sproles and instead of explosive cuts I would call Rouse’s open field moves “exaggerated”. Thats not an insult, since his game reminds me more of a smaller Brian Westbrook.

6. Mike James (5105/212), Miami - I would have preferred to see a Shrine call up since James is a late rounder to me. Alen Dumonjic had a nice writeup on James back in November.

(Andre Ellington dropped out of the event)

Wide Receivers

1. Quinton Patton (6000/200), Louisiana Tech - Smooth, fluid, and reliable. My fifth ranked player entering the week, Patton is the top senior receiver (excluding Tavon Austin who fits in his own category). I will continue to compare him to Reggie Wayne, as Patton doesn’t win with flashy moves or explosiveness. Instead, his wise route running and body control in routes and at the catch point are the qualities that will translate best in the NFL. Add on the fact that Patton faced plenty of press coverage, winning his individual battle on each occasion, and he is primed to produce early in his career.

2. Markus Wheaton (5110/183), Oregon State - Wheaton will automatically help as a vertical threat in the NFL. Drawing comparisons to Mike Wallace, I actually believe Wheaton has a larger array of route running capabilities at this point in his career than Wallace did. His awareness along the sideline is an added bonus. These two have separated themselves from the pack of attending senior receivers.

3. Terrance Williams (6017/201), Baylor - Williams reverted back to his 2011 form: A limited route tree and inconsistent hands. In 2012 he was much stronger at the catch point and was more reliable in that area. I had concerns that Williams could be stuck as a vertical target prior to the year, but he proved me differently in live action. During this week, however, those same thoughts started popping back into my head, especially seeing him fail to separate against safeties in man coverage.

4. Aaron Dobson (6025/203), Marshall - Dobson will have a great highlight reel, but there are plenty of questions. The opposing corners beat Dobson to the catch point with physical play multiple times this week, but in running routes against air the Marshall receiver showed burst out of his breaks with concise footwork.

5. Marquise Goodwin (5087/179), Texas - After watching him this week, the Longhorns really misused Goodwin. He was asked to run a lot of vertical routes, short screens, and jet sweeps or reverses in college. Despite that Goodwin was able to separate consistently against close coverage in a very natural way. He will struggle to get off the jam against press coverage, but Goodwin is very intriguing. Even if I have to use this week as the backbone of my evaluation (which I hate).

6. Cobi Hamilton (6016/191), Arkansas - Hamilton’s game is built on strong running after the catch. he isn’t afraid to take a big hit on contact, either, but he doesn’t quite run like an explosive receiver in his routes.



Tight Ends/Fullbacks

1. Vance McDonald (6041/262), Rice - At Rice, McDonald was used in a variety of ways that either muddled his evaluation or showed off versatility. Yes, he had a number of drops this week, but McDonald is a very intriguing player and it has become obvious why he’s a favorite of Phil Savage.

2. Michael Williams (6056/264), Alabama - Williams is the opposite of flashy, but he will play in the NFL for a long time because of his outstanding blocking for the position and large frame to shield defenders at the catch point. He will not get open unless he finds an open area or gets physical with a defensive back, but Williams is improving in that area.

3. Nick Kasa (6054/271), Colorado - Another great blocker for the position, Kasa seemed to fight the ball when trying to adjust for catches, but that is to be expected for the former defensive lineman. With overlooked long speed, Kasa is a likely fourth- or fifth-round pick.

4. Mychal Rivera (6032/237), Tennessee - Rivera built on his game each year at Tennessee, getting more and more comfortable working in the short to intermediate levels of defense and when hauling in catches.

5. Ryan Otten (6052/235), San Jose State - Otten checked in seven pounds lighter than expected due to the flu, but his game is very similar to Gary Barnidge’s. It is tough to know if that is a compliment, because Barnidge is tough to figure out, but Otten runs upright with reliable hands.

6. Kyle Juszczyk (6013/248), Harvard - I really liked what I saw from Juszczyk, who was making a conversion from a receiving role in the Ivy League to lead blocker. We know he can catch with comfort in the open field, but Juszczyk showed enough attitude and technique as a lead blocker to earn a draftable grade. He has deceptive long speed as well.

Offensive Linemen

1. Eric Fisher (6072/305), Central Michigan - There’s not much left to say about Fisher, but I believe he should be mentioned in the Luke Joeckel conversation as this class’ top offensive tackle. Fisher has quick hands and a strong extension to latch and ride or control his opposition immediately after the snap. His balance and base are also outstanding.

2. Lane Johnson (6062/302), Oklahoma - He looks like a tight end (and probably moves like one) but Johnson is a bonafide left tackle with a chance to play on the right side if necessary. He could add more weight, which would help with getting jolted on first contact leading to moments of waist bending, but Johnson’s athletic footwork to recover and mirror is awesome. He’s likely a top-20 pick.

3. Larry Warford (6032/333), Kentucky - There’s a lot of talk surrounding Chance Warmack, and rightfully so since he is likely the highest graded player in this draft. After that, UNC’s Jonathan Cooper gets a ton of love because of his agility when pulling and hitting targets at the second level. However, give me Warford because of his dominant, mauling style to consistently move or stone his opposition. And for his stout size, Warford is deceptively athletic.

4. Kyle Long (6061/304), Oregon - Long is inexperienced but along with his bloodlines comes a hard nosed attitude to push his opponents. The Duck is also athletic, so the only question is if his future is at guard or tackle.

5. Justin Pugh (6047/301), Syracuse - Pugh’s short arms may concern some, but if he gains a grip on his opponent on contact, the Syracuse product matches up very well with all types of rushers. He was occasionally driven into the backfield with force when facing length, but Pugh works best in close quarters and could move to guard.

6. Brian Winters (6034/310) - I love Winters’ nasty, rugged style. He blocks to punish, and although that gets Winters into trouble at times since he overextends, it will benefit him in the long run. He played tackle in college, but I expect Winters to play guard int he NFL.

(Dallas Thomas dropped out of the event)
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'BeTheMatch said:
'MAC_32 said:
'jurb26 said:
'BeTheMatch said:
Glennon was horrible. I don't care if he "bounced back" with a couple decent throws later. He's off my list.
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They were all horrible, save Manuel. This QB class will come down to Smith and Barkely.... Assuming Barkely will move up a good bit during the offseason process.
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Jumping to conclusions, I think. They were all flawed two months ago and nothing has changed. It's a matter of can coaching mask/coach up these guys' flaws. A couple will be over drafted in round 1, a couple of others will be interesting day 2 picks. Like 2011 without Cam.
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Hey, that's basically the premise for this whole message board, isn't it? :P
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Indeed it is. I stand by it though. I think Smith and Barkely will be the 1st QBs off the board. Barkely will salvage some of his stock in the next 3-4 months IMO. It's helpful that the other guys are plummeting right now. Barkely is a guy who will look good in shorts and workouts IMO. I think he's the big winner of the awful Senior Bowl performances by QBs.
 
Excerpt from Peter King's MMQB:

The envelope, please, on the top underclassmen in the draft.

I asked former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, who was in the midst of finalizing the club's preliminary draft board when fired early this month, to examine the record 73 underclass players who declared for the draft and pick the top 10, in his mind. His view of the junior board:

First of all, Jan. 28 is a dangerous time to commit to "top players" in any category, particularly underclassmen. There is still a lot of work to do before we know who and what these players are. Sometimes players look better with less information. NFL rules don't allow teams to officially scout underclassmen during fall campus visits, and scouts can't comment publicly on them either. When scouts go into school visits in the fall, they are not allowed to ask questions about underclassmen when speaking with coaches, trainers and any other support staff. Obviously, scouts and team officials with relationships with coaches or other school officials might glean some information regarding the players prematurely, but the understanding is clear on campuses: We're there to scout the fourth-year players, not anyone younger.

So you might ask, "Well, how do you have an idea about how the underclassmen will be rated so soon after they've declared?" I'll give you an example. I went to Tallahassee this year to scout Florida State prospects. Four other Chiefs' scouts were on campus as well during the year. We all watched tape, and we watched practice. When it comes to defensive end Bjoern Werner, for instance, we obviously saw him stand out on tape and in person. So it's not difficult to understand why he's so highly regarded by NFL teams: Watching Florida State, Werner's production jumps out at you.

This draft may have a record number of underclassmen, but it may not be the quality that people are expecting. How I see the top 10 juniors now, keeping in mind the fact-finding on them will be ongoing for the next three months before the draft:

1. Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M. Strong candidate for the first overall pick. Three-year starter at left tackle in the Big 12 and never red-shirted. A true height-weight-speed prospect who plays with good athleticism and body control. Will play early while he develops better hip and core strength. Good teammate too.

2. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama. One of the youngest players in the draft (20), but a very experienced corner from the best-coached DB group in the country. Milliner has the flexibility, intelligence and experience to play outside corner and also line up in the slot. Should contribute on special teams early in his career.

3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida. Also 20, Floyd is a strong, athletic defensive lineman who, at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, has position and scheme versatility. Good competitor and tough player against the run and pass. Not great sack numbers, but consistently disruptive in the pass rush, and the type of player who makes those around him better by making the offense concentrate so much on stopping him.

4. Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State. Born in Germany, Werner learned football while at a Connecticut prep school as an exchange student. Played just two prep years before signing with Florida State. Two-year starter at left end in FSU's base and sub packages who shows surprising natural instincts, good hand strength and athletic ability. Pretty impressive to see he had 13 sacks in the ACC in the 2012 season.

5. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State. At 6-3 and 335, he still has the athleticism to line up at multiple positions on the line -- not just at the nose. Active and instinctive, and showed improvement from 2011. Very good player versus the run that needs to continue to improve his every-down consistency.

6. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama. Low-mileage rusher (355 carries in three seasons with the Tide) who played behind two outstanding backs early in his career (Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson). Averaged 6.8 yards per rush in his college career behind an offensive line better than some NFL lines. Good receiving skills, and a willing blocker. He should be an every-down back in the NFL.

7. Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia. Began his college career at USC in 2009 and transferred closer to home after suffering a neck injury his true freshman year. Highly instinctive and productive college player, but at 6-3 and 241, could be a tough positional fit. Dominated certain games (Florida), disappeared in others (Alabama).

8. Keenan Allen, WR, Cal. Originally committed to Alabama out of HS, but decided to join his QB brother Zach to play together at Cal. Allen is a big (6-3, 210), savvy and highly competitive WR who has played the slot and outside. Lacks top speed, but is very natural and quick. In a WR class that appears to lack elite players, he may be the best.



9. Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia. Tremendously talented athlete at 6-3 and 232, and should be an every-down NFL inside 'backer or middle 'backer. Has the skill and ability to contribute immediately all defenses as well as special teams. Jumps off the tape and could have the most upside of any underclassman in the draft. But some off-the-field issues will need to be studied before giving him a final grade.



10. Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State. Three-year starter who was hampered this season by a knee injury that he played through. Good height-weight-speed prospect at 6-6 and 255 who right now is more receiver than blocker. I'm high on his ability to produce as an offensive tight end right now in the more wide-open NFL offenses. He's what we call an "F-type'' tight end, a receiver who can play off the line probably more productively than as a blocker right now.

Pioli will be doing some work for NBC Sports Network at the Super Bowl.
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Preview of Texas versus Nation Game Practices.

Russ Lande

With the Super Bowl just a week away nearly the entire football world is focused on it, but many NFL personnel will be spending this week in Allen, Texas watching prospects practice at the Texas versus the Nation All Star game. While this game does not have the elite prospects that the Senior Bowl had last week, there are many interesting prospects. This game provides a great opportunity for many small school players to prove their skills to NFL evaluators. Below we give a short synopsis of six players NFL teams are interest to watch this week in alphabetical order.

1. Ray Ray Armstrong, SAF, Former Miami (6027, 222 and 4.75 E): Muscular and well built, Armstrong looked like a future high draft pick with his early play at Miami. However, that was the best football he played in college as he struggled with consistency and then was dismissed from Miami for reported contact with a booster. Quick up the field in run support, Armstrong can avoid blockers and has an explosive closing burst to make violent hits, but he struggled to consistently wrap-up his tackles. His desire to make big hits/plays often led to mistakes as he would leave his responsibility/assignment attacking the play and would get caught out of position and lacked the speed to recover and get back into position. Armstrong needs a big week to convince teams that he is worth risking a draft pick on.

2. MarQueis Gray, TE/WR, Minnesota (6030, 245 and 4.65 E): An elite athlete who does not possess the passing ability to continue playing quarterback in the NFL, this week gives Gray a chance to prove why he could be a better pass catcher in NFL than fellow Big Ten QB Denard Robinson. After playing quarterback most of his college career, Gray moved to receiver for some games in 2012 and really showed the hands, speed and toughness to warrant the time to develop. Not only is this a big week for Gray to prove his receiving skills, but also for NFL teams to determine if he fits best as a big receiver or move tight end like Aaron Hernandez.

3. Oscar Johnson, OG, Louisiana Tech (6054, 354 and 5.40 E): After two of Johnson’s college teammates, receiver Quinton Patton and offensive tackle Jordan Mills, had strong weeks at the Senior Bowl, now he gets the chance to prove his wears. A massive man with the playing strength to dominate at the point of attack, Johnson makes it look easy stopping bull rushers in their tracks and driving defensive linemen off the ball on in-line run blocks. NFL teams want to get a feel for Johnson’s feet and athleticism to determine if he has the tools to develop into a starting guard because powerful and aggressive blockers are difficult to find. From what we have seen on film, we expect Johnson to dominate this week and be one of the start linemen down here in Allen.

4. David King, DE, Oklahoma (6044 E, 270 E and 4.95 E): One of the more frustrating defensive linemen I have evaluated this season, King needs to step things up this week. A strong defensive end, King’s lack of explosiveness off the ball hinders his edge pass rush ability and has him labeled as a “tweener.” A smooth athlete with good body control, King needs to prove this week that he has the quickness and burst to consistently pressure the quarterback off the edge. In addition, he can really help his draft value if he proves he can play effectively off the ball as some teams think he would be best suited as an outside linebacker in a 34 scheme.

5. Uzoma Nawchukwu, WR, Texas A&M (6000 E, 195 E and 4.50 E): While fellow A&M receiver Ryan Swope received nearly all the national attention, Nawchukwu has a number of NFL people believing in him. Blessed with good height, long arms and excellent hand-use, his ability to defeat jam and release into route enables him to consistently get separation. Additionally, his deceptive foot quickness and sharp/precise routes allow him to create space vs man coverage. Most concerning is that for a player who displayed excellent hands throughout 2012, Nawchukwu struggled with drops in previous seasons so NFL people want to get an up close and personal look at his hands and catching technique. A good week in Allen could help Uzoma move into the mid-rounds of the Draft.

6. Anthony White, NT, Michigan State (6020 E, 325 E and 5.30 E): As more NFL teams make the switch to playing 34 defenses, nose tackles have become more valuable which is why teams will be spending extra time focusing on White this week. While not the massive 350+ pounder that often is considered for the nose position, White has excellent playing strength, plays with base/leverage and uses hands well to “get a good fit” versus blocker. Consistently able to anchor vs double team run blocks and defeat one on one run blocks to make tackles on inside runs, White does the dirty work required of two gap defensive linemen. Surprisingly nimble with good balance, White consistently keeps his feet and makes more tackles than expected. A strong week in Texas could put White in position to be a fourth or fifth round pick as either a nose tackle in a 34 scheme, defensive end in a 34 scheme and as a two gap defensive tackle in a 43 scheme.
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'Xue said:
'Faust said:
2013 Texas vs. the Nation: Intrigue at each position
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The best RB prospects in this game are George Winn and Latavius Murray. Winn will have a better career than Isaiah Pead.As for WR, DeVonte Christopher reminds me of Rod Streater.

MarQueis Gray will be an interesting dynasty stash at TE.
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Interesting. I wondered what position he was going to try to play. I think TE is a better fit than WR. He was a very willing and effective blocker in limited opportunities when he played WR (instead of QB). He needs to get more consistent with his hands. And I think the mental aspect of the game will be his biggest challenge. But he's a great athlete and a very mature, down-to-earth guy (wife and kids already).
 
Texas VS The Nation Game - Players That Shined Tuesday.

Russ Lande

Russ Lande gives his thoughts on the players who stood out in Tuesday's Practices at the Texas VS The Nation Game

1. Armonty Bryant, DE, East Central Oklahoma (6041, 262 and 4.85 E): Bryant has an excellent first day of practice and already had a few NFL people saying that Bryant made himself some money today. Good looking “on the hoof,” Bryant’s initial quickness helped him beat the OT to the turn point consistently. With extremely quick 35 ½ inch arms, Bryant can get hands on OT first and consistently showed the ability to beat pass blocker. Able to jolt OT with hands, he displayed the quick burst and change of direction ability to beat the OT around the corner or back inside. If Bryant practices this way the rest of the week, he could be the player that comes out of this game and makes the biggest jump up draft boards.

2. DeVonte Christopher, WR, Utah (6002, 192 and 4.55 E): Christopher was the best receiver on either team today. Not only did he run excellent routes, but his ability to set-up defenders and get cornerbacks to turn their hips made it easy for him to create separation. Although he dropped a few passes today, he showed good hands most of the day. He reached out and caught the ball away from his body well. He showed excellent quickness and speed running sharp, precise routes. He turned defenders around with good double moves and was able to get open with surprising ease. If he continues to play this well the rest of the week he could really move up draft boards.

3. Elvis Fisher, OT, Missouri (6046, 291, and 5.20 E): On a day where many DL dominated, Fisher was one of the few OL to impress today. Quick out of stance and setting up to pass block with good base/leverage, Fisher consistently got his hands on pass rusher fast. He “got a good fit” fast, locked out and was able to stay on and maintain pass block to eliminate man. Despite lacking ideal bulk/weight, Fisher was able to stop bull rushers in their tracks. Not only impressive as a pass blocker, Fisher was able to seal man inside on side/angle in-line run blocks and could chip and get through to the second level to seal LB on backside of the play. For an offensive tackle who came here not regarded as a top prospect, today he played like a much better player than expected.

4. DeQuinta Jones, DT, Arkansas (6035, 308 and 5.35 E): For a 300+ pounder, Jones was surprisingly productive lining up at both DE and DT. From both alignments his quick and powerful hands allowed him to jolt blocker initially so that he could dictate his pass rush. Despite lacking ideal DE size, he showed the quick hands to defeat OT and beat him around the corner. When maintaining leverage during his pass rush, Jones could jolt OL backwards initially and then could either defeat him with a move or jerk him to side to get by him. He was not as effective when he did not get hands on OL first and could be stood up and eliminated from the play too easily.

5. David King, DT, Oklahoma (6044, 281 and 4.85 E): After grabbing everyone’s attention with his incredible physique at the weigh-in, King showed during practice that he is not the prototypical “look like Tarzan, play like Jane.” Although he was not dominant today and had his struggles shedding blocks due to playing inside at DT where he was constantly out-weighed by 20+ pounds, he still showed enough to warrant inclusion on this list. Consistently quick off the ball, King was most effective when he relied on his quick and active hands to keep OL from getting ahold of him while he split gaps. On running plays, he was consistently able to get backfield penetration to disrupt plays behind the LOS. Unfortunately, as a pass rusher he was not effective when he tried to bull rush as the OL were often able to get their hands on him first and kept him pinned on the LOS.

6. Uzoma Nwachukwu, WR, Texas A&M (5112, 198 and 4.55 E): While he did not show the explosive burst and elite speed to stretch the field, Nwachukwu is a smooth, fluid athlete with deceptive quickness out of his breaks to get separation. Consistently able to get open, he showed strong hands, great concentration and body control to make tough catches throughout practice. He did an excellent job of twisting to catch off-target throws and of winning battles for contested passes. Uzoma is not going to be a high draft pick, but somewhere in the fourth or fifth round he will get drafted if he continues to perform like this the rest of the week.

7. Lane Taylor, OG, Oklahoma State (6030, 326 and 5.30 E): While no one is ever going to confuse Lane Taylor with David DeCastro as he lacks top athleticism, his performance today definitely impressed. Consistently quick out of his stance, Taylor’s ability to set up with good base and “get an excellent fit” on DL, both in pass pro and on run blocks, enabled him to consistently stop his man and keep him out of the play. His technique combined with good strength and competitiveness, so that he could stone bull rushers and get movement on side angle run blocks. Taylor’s productive first day has me very intrigued to watch him the rest of the week.

8. Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, Cincinnati (6001, 194 and 4.55 E): Not well known by the public, Thompkins showed today why scouts have been telling us all season that he is a legit “sleeper.” Clearly well coached, Thompkins route running really stands out as he runs the entire “route tree” excellently. He knows how to get open, gets his head and hands around quickly out of cuts and has the strong hands to pluck the ball on passes that get on top of him fast. He displayed the body control and sideline awareness to consistently get his feet down in bounds when catching passes along boundary. Thompkins also showed the ability to turn short passes into big plays with his quick burst of acceleration and speed after the catch.
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Texas VS The Nation Game - Players That Struggled Tuesday.

Russ Lande

NFP breaksdown the players who struggled in practice today at the Texas VS The Nation Game.

1. Mitchell Gale, QB, Abilene Christian (6017, 233 and 5.00 E): As often happens for small school quarterbacks, Gale looked out of place today and did not show the tools to compete at the next level. While his mechanics were not an issue, his passes did not come out of his hand with a tight spiral and tended to flutter/wiggle. He struggles with high passes throughout practice and especially has accuracy issues on intermediate/deep throws. Based on today’s performance, Gale will have to make it in the NFL via the undrafted free agent route.

2. Marqueis Gray, TE, Minnesota (6035, 239 and 4.65 E): Although Gray struggled today, he was not bad in all areas. He definitely looks like the new breed of receiving, move tight ends that are all over the NFL today and showed the foot quickness and speed to stretch the field. The issue is that Gray looked upright and mechanical running his routes and struggled to get in and out of his cuts smoothly, which was clear when he fell down a few times. More of an issue was his hands, as Gray did not look comfortable plucking the ball away from his body and often let the ball get into his body, fought it and dropped way too many passes. He will still have the rest of this week and the entire spring to impress teams and improve his draft stock, but today was not a good start.

3. Josh Klein, OG/OT, Kent State (6027, 309 and 5.25 E): While Klein will get his chance to play in the NFL as a guard, he lined up at both guard and tackle today and struggled mightily at both. When aligned at tackle he lacked the foot quicks to slide out to the corner to protect the corner from speed/edge rushers, could not re-adjust to handle quick change of direction moves and lacked power vs bull rushers. More disappointing were Klein’s struggles against bull rushers when he lined up at guard where he played at Kent State in 2012. After today’s performance, Klein needs to really step up the rest of the week to give him a good chance of being drafted.

4. P.J. Lonergan, C, LSU (6037, 302 and 5.25 E): Despite a productive career at LSU, Lonergan looked out of place today as he was consistently defeated. Although he measured size is solid, he was consistently jolted and driven backwards by bull rushers. Additionally, he struggled adjusting side to side to handle quick pass rush moves. Overall, today Lonergan did not show the tools necessary to be a quality NFL offensive lineman.

5. Matt McGloin, QB, Penn State (6005, 203 and 4.90 E): Although not regarded as a top prospect, McGloin still disappointed me with his performance today. Lacking ideal size, McGloin does not have the arm strength to make all the NFL throws and his intermediate/long passes tend to hang/flutter. His footwork looked choppy and mechanical, which led to his delivery/release being slow and deliberate. While defenders were able to break on his passes because of his deliberate throwing motion, his tendency to force passes into bad spots hindered him even further today.

6. Terry McDaniel, OT, Texas Tech (6065, 335 and 5.40 E): McDaniel really struggled today and a lot of his issues were due to poor positioning. He did a terrible job of setting very deep and continued to retreat in pass pro before making contact, which allowed the pass rusher to not only dictate the rush, but also to have an easy “two way go.” When he did take on pass rusher, he lacked aggressiveness with hands and was easily jolted and defeated. He needs to greatly improve his technique and must produce at a higher level the rest of the week to have any chance of being drafted.

7. B.J. Stewart, TE, Cumberland (6036, 255 and 5.00 E): Another small school player who looked out of his league today, Stewart needs to step things up over the next few days if he is going to have any chance of being drafted. Despite looking the part “on the hoof,” Cumberland lacks explosiveness in his acceleration and is slow footed in route. He also lacked a burst out of his breaks to get separation.
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Players that stood out during Wednesday's practices at Texas VS The Nation Game.

Russ Lande

NFP breaksdown the players who stepped up in today's Texas VS The Nation practices.

1. Armonty Bryant, DE, East Central Oklahoma (6041, 262 and 4.85 E): Being the best player at practice on Tuesday did not get into Bryant’s head as he had another outstanding practice today. His foot quickness and snap anticipation showed in his ability to consistently beat the OT to the corner, which allowed him to threaten the corner consistently. At the point of contact, he displayed the quick burst, hand use and ability to dip shoulder to defeat OT, turn the corner and pressure the QB easily. His ability to threaten the corner allows him to set-up the OT and gives him a “two way go” to beat the OT around the corner or back inside. While this game does not match the Senior Bowl in overall talent, there is no doubt that through two days of practice Bryant would have been impressive beating the OT’s in Mobile had he been invited.

2. Elvis Fisher, OT, Missouri (6046, 291, and 5.20 E): Fisher picked up where he left off on Tuesday by showing that he is the best blocker here. Able to bend his knees and sink his hips, he pass blocked with base/leverage nearly every snap, which made it easy for him to stay on and maintain blocks. Although he did not deliver a violent punch, he consistently “got a good fit” which combined with his technique so that he could tie up man and keep him from getting pressure on QB. Because he lacks ideal bulk, he will need to improve his punch to avoid being jolted and driven backwards by power rushers in the NFL. Fisher surprised us with his ability to get to the second level in time to make seal block on LB and even though he missed some blocks in space, he was definitely solid in this area. Unfortunately, about halfway through the team period today Fisher injured his right knee when another lineman (I am not sure if it was an OL or DL) fell on his knee and he did not return to practice.

3. Matt Furstenburg, TE, Maryland (6035, 241 and 4.83): With NFL teams searching high and low to find tight ends who can make big plays as a receiver, Furstenburg showed today that he has the physical talent they are looking for. Blessed with soft, natural hands, good body control and outstanding concentration, he was able to consistently twist his body to adjust to make tough catches on off-target throws. Not only could he twist to adjust, but his flexibility enabled him to get down to catch very low passes easily. Quick getting started up the field after the catch; Matt showed he has the quickness and athleticism to be a solid, productive runner after the catch.

4. Ryan Griffin, QB, Tulane (6037, 216 and 4.95 E): On an extremely windy day, Griffin clearly stood out as the best quarterback today. Displaying a strong arm, Griffin was able to make throws with zip through the heavy winds. Quick in his pass drops, Griffin displayed the footwork to plant and drive off back foot to get rid of ball fast. While his deep accuracy was inconsistent today, his short passes were on target throughout. Additionally, Griffin impressed with his ability to make short, accurate throws when on the move outside of the pocket. Although he was not great today, he definitely showed the skills to warrant being a good developmental QB prospect.

5. Lamar Mady, OG, Youngstown State (6023, 313 and 5.20 E): On Tuesday, Mady flashed, but struggled to consistently block his man due to his inability to maintain good technique throughout. However, he clearly felt more comfortable and took coaching well as his technique was drastically better today. He consistently bent his knees and pass blocked with good base/leverage, “got a good fit” with his hands, stayed over feet and maintained slide well. Taking on pass rushers strong on the LOS, he was able to get arm extension, locked out and kept man from getting a push. Today’s performance made me confident that Mady has the talent to start in the NFL if he can play with good technique consistently.

6. T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri (5112, 201 and 4.55 E): After a strong day Tuesday, Moe had an excellent day on Wednesday. Displaying great route running today, Moe made it look easy getting open. He was able to turn cornerback’s hip with good fakes and got open with double moves repeatedly. He did not just catch the ball well today, but had magnets for hands and made numerous tough catches look routine. In addition to making plays catching passes, Moe displayed the aggressive playing attitude that NFL teams love and really showed it making an excellent crack-back block.

7. Emeka Onyenekwu, DE, Louisiana-Lafayette (6036, 254 and 4.75 E): Despite lacking ideal bulk, Emeka was consistently able to take on and hold ground versus OL run blocks and when he got hand son blocker first, he even showed ability to shed quickly to make tackle. Quick feet and agility allow him to change directions fast and when combined with his good, quick hand use he can defeat pass blocks to pressure the QB. Although he was more productive rushing the passer in the drills before the team period, he did flash during team and has the skills to be effective rushing QB in any situation when he is aggressive doing so.

8. Anthony White, DT, Michigan State (6014, 334 and 5.10 E): On Tuesday White flashed, but struggled with consistency, so today it was impressive to see him make big plays throughout today’s practice. For a 330+ pound DT, White’s initial quickness is shocking and enables him to get hands on OL before they are set to block. He consistently showed the strength to jolt and drive pass blocker backwards when he bull rushed and was able to anchor vs run blocks. His initial quickness, strength and hand use let White consistently defeat blocks to get backfield penetration to make plays behind the LOS. While White is far from a finished product, he showed today that he has the talent to be a starting nose tackle in the NFL when he plays with aggressiveness and good technique.
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Players that struggled during Wednesday's practices at the Texas VS The Nation Game.

Russ Lande

NFP offers insight into players who struggled during Wednesday's practices at the Texas VS The Nation Game.

1. DeVonte Christopher, WR, Utah (6002, 192 and 4.55 E): Despite being the stand receiver on Tuesday, Wednesday was not as kind to Christopher as he struggled most of the day. Clearly the elements, especially the windy conditions, affected him as he struggled to adjust to the slight changes in placement and trajectory of the passes thrown his way as he dropped too many passes. More worrisome than the drops, was that he looked uncomfortable dealing with the elements and just did not seem to get on track during practice. He still displayed quickness and speed in routes to get open, but was not able to adjust to catch passes consistently. While his physical skills are still impressive, Christopher needs to prove that weather conditions will not affect his play like they did today when he gets to the NFL.

2. Marqueis Gray, TE, Minnesota (6035, 239 and 4.65 E): For a player that many NFL people were excited to see this week, Gray had his second straight disappointing practice on Wednesday. Despite flashing the explosiveness and athleticism at Minnesota to be considered a good conversion project, so far through two practices he has looked like an un-draftable prospect. Gray’s routes need a ton of work as he lacks burst off the ball, is an upright route runner who needs to run with much better pad level and surprisingly needs to lengthen his stride as he tends to take a lot of short steps while running. While NFL teams expected his routes to need a lot of work, his struggles catching the ball has been a big surprise and raises real concerns. He does not reach out and pluck the ball consistently and often tries to catch the ball with hands close to his chest which leads to him fighting to catch the ball consistently. Gray needs to practice better the rest of the week and in the game to realistically expect to be drafted.

3. Branden Hansen, OG / C, BYU (6051, 306 and 5.20 E): Despite his good height and bulk, Hansen struggled holding ground against power rushers Wednesday. Defensive linemen were able to jolt and drive him backwards with surprising ease. While he has the flexibility to bend knees to pass block with base/leverage, he struggles to slide well side to side to adjust to quick change of direction pass rush moves.

4. Josh Kline, OG/OT, Kent State (6027, 309 and 5.25 E): For the second straight day, Kline seemed over-matched today as he was consistently defeated by pass rushers and struggled to get movement on in-line run blocks. He lacks the foot quickness to adjust fast to quick change of direction pass rush moves, which leaves him vulnerable to quick and agile pass rushers. Despite competing at a consistently high level, Kline lacks the hip snap to deliver hard initial blow to defensive linemen and cannot get movement consistently on in-line run blocks.



5. Matt McGloin, QB, Penn State (6005, 203 and 4.95 E): Even though Matt did not throw the ball well today, it is clear the he is a smooth athlete who is light on his feet and can move within the pocket. While he has a smooth throwing motion, it is not quick and is deliberate which allows defenders to break and close on his passes. He does not drive into throws and seems to push the ball rather than throw it. He throws it more like he is trying to aim it, which is not a good thing. Additionally, he did not look quick deciding where to throw the ball today and often ended up holding the ball too long before making throw. He stared down his primary receiver a number of times today and threw some passes that he should never have thrown. In the end, through two days of practice, Matt has not proven he has the tools to play quarterback at the NFL level.

6. Matt Smith, C, Kentucky (6037, 295 and 5.20 E): I was disappointed in Smith’s production Wednesday considering he was a three year starting center in the SEC. Defensive tackles were able to jolt and drive him backwards on “bull rushes” with surprising ease. His tendency to pass block without leverage and not deliver an aggressive punch allowed pass rusher’s to get into his chest. While he was effective tying up defensive linemen with side/seal run blocks, he lacked the strength to drive man off ball to open holes and struggled to run block effectively when he had to move his feet a lot. Overall, Smith did not block like a draftable center today and will need to improve the rest of the week to help his draft stock.
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2013 Texas vs. Nation: Receivers stand out in practice

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

January 29, 2013 8:14 pm ET

Most of the prospects participating in the Texas vs. the Nation game this week haven't played in a meaningful game in over a month, so some rust was expected on the first day of practice on Tuesday. While the quarterbacks had their ups and downs, several wide receivers and tight ends flashed in the afternoon.

A transfer from Penn State, Oklahoma wide receiver Justin Brown (6-3, 207) did a nice job catching almost everything thrown his way during practice. He showed quick hands and smooth body adjustments to react to off-target throws, using his reach (78 5/8” wingspan) and large hands (9 5/8”) to finish. Brown lacks the speed or quick-twitch burst to routinely separate from defensive backs, but he made several impressive grabs using his length to make impressive grabs over defenders.

With the success of Johnny Football in College Station, Texas A&M wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu (5-11, 198) went somewhat overlooked in 2012, finishing just fourth on the team in receiving. Despite a career-low 26 catches as a senior, he recorded a career-best seven touchdowns this season and he showed that big-play ability in practice on Tuesday, tracking the deep ball and beating his man downfield. Nwachukwu isn't the most natural hands-catcher, but he knows how to create some separation and gain a step on defensive backs.

During the Senior Bowl, Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin flashed big-play potential that wasn't seen during his time with the Longhorns. And during practice on Tuesday, Texas tight end D.J. Grant looked much more impressive than he ever showed in Austin. He was smooth out of his breaks with the natural body control to adjust to the ball and complete the catch. Grant showed very good quickness and patience in his routes to hold the defender and create a clean target for his quarterback. He had just 30 career catches at Texas, mostly due to injuries, but it's safe to say he was underutilized in college.

Wide receivers Skye Dawson (TCU), T.J. Moe (Missouri), Ryan Spadola (Lehigh) and DeVonte Christopher (Utah) and tight end Matt Furstenburg (Maryland) also had strong practices on Tuesday.

OTHER NOTES:

- Sam Houston cornerback Daxton Swanson (5-10, 187) turned a few heads on day one of practice, displaying the athleticism and quickness that NFL scouts desire at the position. He looked balanced in coverage with the awareness and discipline to react to the ball in the air, competing with the receiver and even coming down with the interception on several throws. Talking to scouts after practice, Swanson is definitely a prospect who helped himself at practice on Tuesday.

- Although he didn't look uncomfortable at the tight end position, it was obvious that Minnesota's Marqueis Gray is new to the position, looking rough around the edges with his routes and catching the ball. A former quarterback, he took reps with his hand on the ground and in the slot, looking natural in his movements and staying balanced in his breaks. But Gray needs to improve his footwork and body language to square his frame and give his quarterback an open target downfield. He appeared to gain confidence catching the ball as the day went on, but he looked much more confident in the drills without defenders on the field. Gray is an intriguing project who is trying to convince scouts he's worth a draft pick.

- Former Miami safety Ray Ray Armstrong has plenty of questions to answer off the field, but scouts want to see him on the field this week after not playing a meaningful snap since November of 2011 with the Hurricanes. In practice on Tuesday, Armstrong looked the part (6-3, 227) and flashed the range he showed at Miami, but he also didn't appear to be going full speed just yet. He allowed too much of a cushion and conceded a lot of underneath throws in drills, playing very cautiously and safe. With his time away from football, rust was expected, but scouts would like to see more aggression from the safety as the week goes on.
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2013 Texas vs. Nation: Wednesday practice report

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

January 30, 2013 8:20 pm ET

ALLEN, Texas – Although the rain stayed away, the cold, windy conditions picked up on Wednesday as practice continued for the prospects participating in the Texas vs. the Nation game. On day two of practice, it was important for scouts to see improvements on the field, not only with player performance, but also chemistry as prospects adapt to new teammates and coaches.

While the quarterbacks in town have been mostly unimpressive, Tulane's Ryan Griffin has flashed some NFL tools that could draw some interest in the later rounds of the draft. He has a quick, short release and displayed good velocity and zip on his passes, especially considering the windy conditions at Eagle Stadium on Wednesday. Griffin needs to improve his timing and downfield accuracy, but when dialed in, he made several impressive passes downfield, clearly separating himself as the best arm in Allen this week. Griffin isn't a great athlete, but he showed enough mobility to get outside the pocket and make touch throws on the move. He is far from a polished product and isn't a lock to be drafted, but with few developmental quarterback options on day three of the draft, Griffin could be worth a gamble in the later rounds.

After a strong performance on Tuesday, Sam Houston State cornerback Daxton Swanson had another good practice on Wednesday. He is an intriguing athlete with the fluid footwork needed for the position to quickly transition and redirect his momentum to stick with receivers. Swanson doesn't have ideal size (5-10, 187) and needs some technique work, but the raw athleticism is there for him to develop and stick on a NFL roster. He was the only cornerback in practice who could stick with Texas A&M wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu, blanketing him all over the field during drills. It was a little bit of retribution for Swanson after he struggled against the Aggie receiver during the season as Nwachuwku recorded a career-best 160 receiving yards against Sam Houston State in November.

There are several small school prospects competing this week, but a pair of Division-II pass rushers have stood out: East Central Oklahoma's Armonty Bryant and Tarleton State's Rufus Johnson. Bryant finished the season with a team-best 10.5 sacks, which he achieved in just eight games due to a three-game suspension after he was arrested in October for a marijuana arrest. While his off-the-field issues are another issue, his on-field abilities have shined this week with good bend and flexibility off the edge with the quickness and aggression to beat blockers in space.

Bryant has long arms (35.5”) and strong hands to rip, shed and win at the point of attack, disposing of linemen during one-on-one's in practice. Johnson also impressed during drills, using his tall, lean frame and relentless motor to defeat blocks with his aggressive play style. He is still raw in several aspects of his game, including his unpolished pass rush moves, but Johnson continued to flash during practice. Both Bryant and Johnson are intriguing developmental pass rushers, who have created a buzz among NFL scouts this week.

OTHER NOTES:

- Maryland tight end Matt Furstenburg had just 16 catches in 2012 as he became an afterthought in the Terrapin offense with their quarterback woes this season. But he has done a nice job in practice this week, showing his natural receiving abilities and athleticism. Furstenburg plays the position like a wide receiver with good quickness off the line of scrimmage and smooth body adjustments to turn his frame and make tough catches look easy. He had a few drops on Wednesday, but for the most part he stood out as a player who tracks and finishes well, developing an obvious rapport with the quarterbacks due to his consistency.

- It was another tough day of practice for Minnesota's Marqueis Gray as he makes the transition from quarterback to tight end. He lined up at receiver during portions of his collegiate career, but during practice this week, Gray has looked extremely raw running routes and finishing catches. He did a nice job getting physical in his routes, but struggled to create much separation against defenders and dropped more passes than he caught. Like another former Big Ten quarterback Denard Robinson, Gray has struggled to impress NFL scouts during the all-star circuit as they make the transition from quarterback to receiver.

- Two other small school prospects who turned some heads on Wednesday were Lehigh wide receiver Ryan Spadola and California (PA) safety Rontez Miles. Spadola is a good-sized, gliding athlete who does a nice job making sharp cuts in his routes to gain a step in coverage. He did a nice job catching everything thrown his way throughout practice, showing toughness over the middle and aggressiveness with the ball in the air. Miles looks natural in his backpedal with athletic footwork and the competitive nature to close and make a play on the ball. He has room to refine some technique issues, but for the most part he kept his eyes elevated, showing good reaction quickness during drills.
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Post Senior Bowl Notes

With the Senior Bowl barely 48 hours in the books what's the word trickling out from NFL teams and scouts as they finally reach home? Edition one focuses on broken rules and one of the fastest receivers in the draft. Jan 29th: Super Sleeper at Receiver getting a lot of attention!

January 29th

- The name making the rounds in the scouting community as one of the biggest sleepers at the receiver position is Courtney Gardner of Sierra College. The 6-foot, 3-inch/220lb pass catcher was expected to play for Oklahoma in 2013 but opted for the NFL draft after academic "difficulties". We hear scouts have been raving about the physical skills Gardner brings to the field. Besides his large frame the big pass catcher also has the speed (10.7 sec in the 100 meters) to match. Even college coaches in the area are awed by his ability on the field but focusing at the task at hand seems to be an issue.


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http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6730 I never heard of him prior to reading this report. Is there anything to this other than wishful thinking?

 
'Donnybrook said:


Post Senior Bowl Notes

With the Senior Bowl barely 48 hours in the books what's the word trickling out from NFL teams and scouts as they finally reach home? Edition one focuses on broken rules and one of the fastest receivers in the draft. Jan 29th: Super Sleeper at Receiver getting a lot of attention!

January 29th

- The name making the rounds in the scouting community as one of the biggest sleepers at the receiver position is Courtney Gardner of Sierra College. The 6-foot, 3-inch/220lb pass catcher was expected to play for Oklahoma in 2013 but opted for the NFL draft after academic "difficulties". We hear scouts have been raving about the physical skills Gardner brings to the field. Besides his large frame the big pass catcher also has the speed (10.7 sec in the 100 meters) to match. Even college coaches in the area are awed by his ability on the field but focusing at the task at hand seems to be an issue.


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http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6730 I never heard of him prior to reading this report. Is there anything to this other than wishful thinking?
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NFL Draft 2013: Courtney Gardner, WR, Sierra Emerging as Super SleeperJan 29th, 2013 at 1:55 pm by Josh Sanchez

The 2013 NFL Draft is still months away, but teams will be digging deep into the college football film to analyze the top prospects in the game and see if any lesser known players emerge. In draft terms, a “sleeper” is an under the radar player who could turn out to be an incredible value for the team who selects him in the later rounds.

This year, a small school wide receiver is creating a lot of discussion early in draft season.

Per draft insider Tony Pauline, Sierra College wide receiver Courtney Gardner’s name is “making the rounds in the scouting community as one of the biggest sleepers at the receiver position.”

Gardner stands an impressive 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 220-pounds.

His frame and physical prowess are what is generating the hype. He is certainly a big-bodied wide receiver that can use his size well to keep defenders away and elevate for the ball.

On top of his size, Gardner has some impressive speed. As a track athlete, Gardner was able to run the 100 meters race in 10.7 seconds.

Gardner undoubtedly has the physical skills to cut it as a NFL wide receiver, but he comes with some baggage and off-field concerns. This past March, the wideout was arrested on misdemeanor obstruction charges. He was in a car that had a strong odor of alcohol and marijuana.

He was also arrested in November of 2009 for for possessing alcohol as a minor.

On top of the minor legal issues, Gardner had struggles in the classroom. He had academic problems that kept him from enrolling at the University of Oklahoma. Gardner was expected to play for the Sooners in 2013, but he opted for the NFL instead.

Gardner has the skill and physical talent to succeed at the next level, he will just need to convince teams that he is focused and ready to develop mentally as a pro prospect.
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He looks pretty deadly on his YouTube highlights. Granted, it's against junk competition, but the speed is evident:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPYfjUFdtVs

 
John Clemons from the Great Blue North Draft Report has these notes on Gardner:

8. WR Courtney Gardner, Sierra College; Jr; 6-3, 215, 4.38; Courtney is a JUCO star who signed with Oklahoma last year but was unable to stay academically eligible, so he has announced he will declare for the 2013 draft. He compares his game to those of AJ Green and Julio Jones(not lacking confidence), but one college scout says he is more like Justin Blackmon – explosive, fluid, aggressive, great hands, lots of YAC, and he blocks well. There is some very good video of him on YouTube that confirms this in spades, but it is against JUCO competition. There is also video of him doing drills and working routes. He was a heavily recruited transfer prospect and had offers from several top SEC programs and Cal, as well as Oklahoma, so the talent is there.

I think the real question here is whether Courtney can absorb an NFL level playbook and make the huge jump up in competition. But with eye-popping physical talent, I suspect he will jump onto draft boards once he gets to a pro day. I can see him getting into the 5th round if he has a great pro day and interviews well, but I believe its more likely that he goes in the 6th-7th as a developmental player for a team that can afford to carry him for a year or two while he adjusts
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http://www.gbnreport.com/westcoastreport.html

 
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He looks pretty deadly on his YouTube highlights. Granted, it's against junk competition, but the speed is evident:

from the videos I've seen.I do have my doubts about a guy who can't work hard enough to get academically eligible for OU.
 
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Gardner is pretty intriguing. His video actually reminds me a lot of Cordarrelle Patterson's from prior to last season. I had heard good things about Patterson's performance over the summer at UT and came very close to drafting him as a devy in a league last year. Must have watched his 8 minute highlight video 4 times trying to decide whether to pull the trigger. Ended up trading out of the pick and am now kicking myself a little bit for not taking the leap. Totally different situation here obviously as he is going to go through the draft process. And Patterson looks a little bit more explosive. But the fact that their highlights look pretty similar is a nice endorsement of Gardner in light of what Patterson was able to do at UT and his current draft stock. For comparison's sake, here is Gardner's JUCO highlight reel:http://vimeo.com/23903934

 
Another deep sleeper for this year's draft, not sure if he has been discussed at all in this thread, is Duron Carter. He is Cris Carter's son and was a highly regarded recruit out of Florida who signed with OSU. He showed some real flashes as a true freshman at OSU, but reportedly was having a really hard time learning the playbook. He also wasn't going to class and failed out. Just an incredibly immature kid who spent all of his time playing video games and hanging out. He ended up at a JUCO and put up crazy stats and then committed to Alabama. He was never able to get his grades in order to where he was eligible to play there either, so he entered the draft. He is still a young guy, only 3 years out of high school.Obviously some huge concerns. Can he learn a playbook? Mature enough to be a professional? However, in my opinion, the talent is there. He is a big, physical kid. 6'4+ 200+ pounds. Natural hands catcher. Great blocker. Natural route runner. Will be very interesting to see what his 40 time is as I'm not sure about his speed. But there is some Bryce Brown type potential there if somebody takes a chance on him late in the draft.

 
Gardner looks like the player Patterson is hyped to be. Looks stronger. Curious to see where he goes in the draft.

 
'bengalbuck said:
Another deep sleeper for this year's draft, not sure if he has been discussed at all in this thread, is Duron Carter. He is Cris Carter's son and was a highly regarded recruit out of Florida who signed with OSU. He showed some real flashes as a true freshman at OSU, but reportedly was having a really hard time learning the playbook. He also wasn't going to class and failed out. Just an incredibly immature kid who spent all of his time playing video games and hanging out. He ended up at a JUCO and put up crazy stats and then committed to Alabama. He was never able to get his grades in order to where he was eligible to play there either, so he entered the draft. He is still a young guy, only 3 years out of high school.Obviously some huge concerns. Can he learn a playbook? Mature enough to be a professional? However, in my opinion, the talent is there. He is a big, physical kid. 6'4+ 200+ pounds. Natural hands catcher. Great blocker. Natural route runner. Will be very interesting to see what his 40 time is as I'm not sure about his speed. But there is some Bryce Brown type potential there if somebody takes a chance on him late in the draft.
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Here is a work out video:
He looks really skinny. I'm concerned with his strength vs NFL CBs. With all those one-handers in the vid, he might have some mitts on him. I think I'd rather have Marquess Wilson, who is a similarly built player.
 
'EBF said:
Gardner looks like the player Patterson is hyped to be. Looks stronger. Curious to see where he goes in the draft.
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Totally reminds me of Patterson's JUCO highlights. Two very interesting prospects. Odds are one hits the other busts but Gardner should be much cheaper
 
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NFP's final look at players that struggled at the Texas VS The Nation Practices.

Russ Lande

Now that all of the practices for the Texas versus the Nation game have been completed, all that is left for the players is to prove themselves in the game on Saturday. However, after watching three days of practice, it is clear which players helped and hurt their draft stock this week. Below is a breakdown of five players who did not perform well in practice and hurt their draft status. They will all need to step over the next few months during testing to be drafted.

1. MarQueis Gray, TE, Minnesota (6035, 239 and 4.65 E): As the prospect that came to Allen with the chance to move up draft boards more than any other player, Gray had a disappointing week. Having dominated athletically at Minnesota, it was expected that his athleticism would jump out and allow him to separate from the other players, but he did not look like the same athlete. He was upright running routes, throttled down to get in and out of his cuts and lacked explosiveness out of his cuts to consistently get separation. Although he played some receiver at Minnesota late in his career, he looked uncomfortable running routes and trying to find open space. Most concerning throughout the week of practice was Gray’s hands as he struggled to consistently catch the ball and dropped way too many easy ones. For a player many believed could work his way into the third or fourth round before this week began, Gray’s performance will make it an uphill battle for him to be drafted.

2. Josh Kline, OG/OT, Kent State (6027, 309 and 5.25 E): Highly productive at Kent State, Kline struggled much of the week in Texas. Despite solid size, Kline struggled all week holding ground vs power rushers and too often was jolted and driven backwards. While getting jolted backwards initially is not good, the bigger concern is that he was unable to re-set and anchor which is vital for success in the NFL. In addition to struggling with strength, Kline did not display the athleticism to handle quick change of direction pass rush moves or to block effectively out in space. Although Kline was not viewed as an elite prospect before this week, his performance this week will likely keep him from being selected before the sixth or seventh rounds, if he is drafted at all.



3. P.J. Lonergan, C, LSU (6037, 302 and 5.25 E): For a player that started at center for LSU, I was surprised at how much Lonergan struggled this week. While he looks the part “on the hoof,” Lonergan struggled to hold ground vs “bull rushers” and could not get movement on in-line run blocks. He did not play with leverage consistently and too often stopped feet at contact and ended up leaning and reaching to maintain contact, which led to him falling off and losing blocks. It surprised me that for a player who played on dominating teams in the SEC, Lonergan lacks the athleticism NFL teams want in an interior offensive lineman. I expect that he will be drafted, as Mike Brewster of Ohio State was in 2012, based on his size, competitiveness, intangibles and experience starting in a major conference, but it will not be until the late round.

4. Matt McGloin, QB, Penn State (6005, 203 and 4.95 E): McGloin struggled throughout this week and did not show the physical skills to be a productive NFL quarterback. Obviously, his lack of ideal size is an issue, but more concerning is his lack of arm strength and overall passing skills. His release is average in terms of quickness and when combined with what seems to be slow decision making, McGloin’s passes are often late getting out of his hand which allows defenders to break and close on them. The ball does not come out of his hand with zip and tends to flutter and hang in the air too much. In addition to lacking good arm strength and release quickness, McGloin’s accuracy was inconsistent all week. McGloin may get drafted, but based on what we saw this week there are many small school quarterbacks with more physical talent that we would take a chance on before him.

5. Dan Moore, FB, Montana (5100, 236 and 4.75 E): In today’s pass crazy NFL, fullbacks have become less and less significant and those that lack the skills to make an impact as blockers, receivers and ball carriers have little value. Moore clearly has spent a ton of time working hard in the weight room by his appearance and he is not afraid to use his body to deliver violent blows to defenders. He struggles however to block with good leverage and often bends at waist to make contact, which leads to him lunging and missing block. Additionally, while he caught nearly every pass thrown his way this week, he did not catch the ball cleanly and often seemed to fight the ball. Moore is not likely to be drafted, but with his thick build, competitiveness and willingness to block he should get a chance as a free agent after the draft.
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