Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
QB:
1. Matt Scott, Arizona. Very good athlete---plays with a bounce, a la Russell Wilson. Has nifty feet---good presence---and a reasonably live arm. Only played one year of college football, so he's very much a project. But he would be a very good #3 this year for an NFC West team as they prepare to face Wilson, that is, if the Seahawks don't take him.
2. Seth Doege, Texas Tech. 70% type accuracy in college. Has a better arm than you'd think. If he gets with the right team, I think he has a chance to emerge as a bona fide #2 and possible starter one day. Slight build---needs to get stronger.
3. Colby Cameron, Louisiana Tech. 68.8% this past season---set an NCAA record for attempts w/o throwing an interception. At one point this year he had 27 TDs and 0 ints. Having watched his OT shootout versus texas A&M and Johnny Football, I was very impressed. Has a compact delivery and has beautiful touch on the ball. In this game he looked taller than I had remembered, which is good, but he threw a poor pick six and didn't get many snaps. Has a slight build like Doege---needs to get stronger.
4. Alex Carder, Western Michigan. Was the most accurate of all the passers---but threw one interception. He looked smooth and in command. Could be a sleeper. Doesn't have a rocket arm, but he has good throwing mechanics and a very good sense of timing.
RB:
1. Christine Michael, Texas A&M. Reminds me a little of Shady McCoy. Don't know what to make of his getting in the doghouse at A&M---but he still rushed for over 500 yards at 5.4 ypc. In this game, he showed a very nice burst and solid body control. But he did fumble once.
2. Zach Line, SMU. One tough hombre. I think he ran for over 1,000 yards 3 years in a row. Not a home run threat, but runs hard and does not go down easily on contact.
3. Kerwynn Williams, Utah St. Scat back with deceptive lower body control and strength. Had a big year stepping in for Robert Turbin. I think this kid is a sleeper---3rd down RB with a chance to split time at a #2 RB as he gets accustomed to the NFL.
4. Ray Graham, Pittsburgh. 2nd all-time Pitt rusher behind Tony Dorsett, Smallish, but shifty and elusive. Fumbled the ball switching it to his right hand on the first play of the game. Had a couple nice runs in the 2nd half. LSH type---but a little stronger taking on contact.
WR:
1. Corey Fuller, Virginia Tech. Nice size, very good speed. Looks a little raw at this point, but would be a good fit in Arians' vertical pass offense.
2. Jasper Collins, Mt. Union. Check these stats: 92/1,694/18.4/22. Good slot guy for the spread---can make people miss in the open field. Needs to add some muscle.
3. Anthony Amos, Middle Tennessee. Smooth with a capital S. Naturally gifted---plays very much under control---sneaky fast. Amazing that he even got an invite to this game seeing as he was a relative unknown last year. Had a big senior year.
4. Chad Bumphis, Mississippi St. Not very tall, but plays taller than he is---good route runner, very good hands, has RAC ability. Just solid all the way around.
5. Erik Highsmith, North Carolina. Has good height---looks about 6-3---and good playing speed. Light on his feet---in a good way. Talented---needs to add some weight.
6. Keenan Davis, Iowa. Looks the part. Good size, strength, hands, route runner. Not flashy---but productive.
T:
1. Tyronne Armstead, Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Big man, natural bender, good feet. A little unrefined in his mechanics---but has all the physical attributes.
2. Dan O'Neill, Western Michigan. Michigan transfer---good size and length. Looks like a RT to me. Has athletic ability---might play a little too upright at times.
G:
1. Jeff Baca, UCLA. 6-4, 303---slid down to RG and I thought dominated the l.o.s. Really gets off the ball---easily got to the second level on a number of occasions. Wide base in pass pro---good upper body control and strength. A real sleeper, imo.
C:
1. James Ferentz, Iowa. Coach's son and a very good player, imo. Lacks proto-typical size, but plays with tenacity and smarts.
TE:
1. Chris Pantale, Boston College. Was hurt some his senior year, but has been a good pass catching TE at BC for 4 years. Solid blocker, although he lack classic TE bulk.
2. Josh Hill, Idaho St. Jumped out a couple of times---thought he looked a little like Jeff King only a little more fluid and smooth in his routes.
DT:
1. Joe Vallero, Maryland. Lacks height, but plays very strong inside and has pass rush ability. I've seen him dominate ACC opponents every time I watched Maryland. In this game he didn't flash the way I thought he would.
DE:
1. Devin Taylor, South Carolina. The star of the game. A man amongst boys. Is long (6-7) and strong---and moves very well for a man his size---can chase plays down with a burst---can bull rush and speed rush. Looks to strip the QB whenever possible. Was a big-time TFL (tackle for loss) machine at South Carolina.
2. Wes Horton, USC. 6-5, 260. Good, solid edge rusher. Needs stronger moves, but has the physical talent.
34OLB:
1. Brandon Thurmond, Arkansas Pine-Bluff. 17.5 sacks this past season. Looks about 6-3, 260---classic 34 edge size. Has to play DE in this game, but still got some good QB pressures. Might be a sleeper.
2. Travis Johnson, San Jose St. Very productive sack DE at SJS. I think he was WAC Defensive POY. Good motor---needs to add some pounds.
ILB:
1. A.J. Klein, Iowa St. Always around the ball. Good in coverage too. Solid 4th-5th rounder.
2 T: Sio Moore, Connecticut; Matt Evans, New Hampshire; Albert Rossetti, Nevada; Nick Moody, Florida St. Late round prospects who all played well in the game. Moore has the most upside, imo. Evans is a tackling machine, but is under-sized. Rossetti is tough---TFL kind of ILB---and Moody is very very fast.
CB:
1. Nigel Malone, Kansas St. Keep an eye on this ballhawk. Had a perfectly timed pick six in the game---and that's his game---he lulls you and then bang he jumps a route and is off to the races. Lacks ideal height, but the feet and anticipation are there big-time.
2. Terry Hawthorne, Illinois. Had a great corner of the end zone interception where he turned at the perfect time to look back for the ball and managed to snag it and tuck it in while keeping his feet in bounds. Like Malone---not especially physical, but very talented in coverage.
3. Earl Wolff, North Carolina St. Combo CB/S. Had a nice interception in the red zone as well.
4. Khalid Wooten, Nevada. Here's another ballhawk---had a very good interception in the game and looks like a sleeper as a cover CB.
S:
1. Zeke Motta, Notre Dame. Coming off 16 tackles in the NCAA Championship game, Motta is a physical safety who not only can force the run well, but is solid in man coverage on TEs.
2. Branden Smith, Georgia. Combo CB/S. Looked solid. made some good plays.
ST:
1. Sheldon Price, UCLA. Excellent gunner.
2. Tre Wilson, Vanderbilt. Same.
3. Josh Johnson, Purdue. CB and KO returner with speed.
K:
1. Caleb Sturgis, Florida. Made 24/28 on the season, and was perfect from 42 yards in this game.
The 4 Players Who Jumped Out The Most:
1. Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina
2. Matt Scott, QB, Arizona
3. Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas St.
4. Jeff Baca, G, UCLA
4 Top Sleepers:
1. Colby Cameron, QB, Louisiana Tech
2. Anthony Amos, WR, Middle Tennessee
3. James Ferentz, C, Iowa
4. Zach Line, RB, SMU
Any input you have on these players or any players I didn't mention is much appreciated.
1. Matt Scott, Arizona. Very good athlete---plays with a bounce, a la Russell Wilson. Has nifty feet---good presence---and a reasonably live arm. Only played one year of college football, so he's very much a project. But he would be a very good #3 this year for an NFC West team as they prepare to face Wilson, that is, if the Seahawks don't take him.
2. Seth Doege, Texas Tech. 70% type accuracy in college. Has a better arm than you'd think. If he gets with the right team, I think he has a chance to emerge as a bona fide #2 and possible starter one day. Slight build---needs to get stronger.
3. Colby Cameron, Louisiana Tech. 68.8% this past season---set an NCAA record for attempts w/o throwing an interception. At one point this year he had 27 TDs and 0 ints. Having watched his OT shootout versus texas A&M and Johnny Football, I was very impressed. Has a compact delivery and has beautiful touch on the ball. In this game he looked taller than I had remembered, which is good, but he threw a poor pick six and didn't get many snaps. Has a slight build like Doege---needs to get stronger.
4. Alex Carder, Western Michigan. Was the most accurate of all the passers---but threw one interception. He looked smooth and in command. Could be a sleeper. Doesn't have a rocket arm, but he has good throwing mechanics and a very good sense of timing.
RB:
1. Christine Michael, Texas A&M. Reminds me a little of Shady McCoy. Don't know what to make of his getting in the doghouse at A&M---but he still rushed for over 500 yards at 5.4 ypc. In this game, he showed a very nice burst and solid body control. But he did fumble once.
2. Zach Line, SMU. One tough hombre. I think he ran for over 1,000 yards 3 years in a row. Not a home run threat, but runs hard and does not go down easily on contact.
3. Kerwynn Williams, Utah St. Scat back with deceptive lower body control and strength. Had a big year stepping in for Robert Turbin. I think this kid is a sleeper---3rd down RB with a chance to split time at a #2 RB as he gets accustomed to the NFL.
4. Ray Graham, Pittsburgh. 2nd all-time Pitt rusher behind Tony Dorsett, Smallish, but shifty and elusive. Fumbled the ball switching it to his right hand on the first play of the game. Had a couple nice runs in the 2nd half. LSH type---but a little stronger taking on contact.
WR:
1. Corey Fuller, Virginia Tech. Nice size, very good speed. Looks a little raw at this point, but would be a good fit in Arians' vertical pass offense.
2. Jasper Collins, Mt. Union. Check these stats: 92/1,694/18.4/22. Good slot guy for the spread---can make people miss in the open field. Needs to add some muscle.
3. Anthony Amos, Middle Tennessee. Smooth with a capital S. Naturally gifted---plays very much under control---sneaky fast. Amazing that he even got an invite to this game seeing as he was a relative unknown last year. Had a big senior year.
4. Chad Bumphis, Mississippi St. Not very tall, but plays taller than he is---good route runner, very good hands, has RAC ability. Just solid all the way around.
5. Erik Highsmith, North Carolina. Has good height---looks about 6-3---and good playing speed. Light on his feet---in a good way. Talented---needs to add some weight.
6. Keenan Davis, Iowa. Looks the part. Good size, strength, hands, route runner. Not flashy---but productive.
T:
1. Tyronne Armstead, Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Big man, natural bender, good feet. A little unrefined in his mechanics---but has all the physical attributes.
2. Dan O'Neill, Western Michigan. Michigan transfer---good size and length. Looks like a RT to me. Has athletic ability---might play a little too upright at times.
G:
1. Jeff Baca, UCLA. 6-4, 303---slid down to RG and I thought dominated the l.o.s. Really gets off the ball---easily got to the second level on a number of occasions. Wide base in pass pro---good upper body control and strength. A real sleeper, imo.
C:
1. James Ferentz, Iowa. Coach's son and a very good player, imo. Lacks proto-typical size, but plays with tenacity and smarts.
TE:
1. Chris Pantale, Boston College. Was hurt some his senior year, but has been a good pass catching TE at BC for 4 years. Solid blocker, although he lack classic TE bulk.
2. Josh Hill, Idaho St. Jumped out a couple of times---thought he looked a little like Jeff King only a little more fluid and smooth in his routes.
DT:
1. Joe Vallero, Maryland. Lacks height, but plays very strong inside and has pass rush ability. I've seen him dominate ACC opponents every time I watched Maryland. In this game he didn't flash the way I thought he would.
DE:
1. Devin Taylor, South Carolina. The star of the game. A man amongst boys. Is long (6-7) and strong---and moves very well for a man his size---can chase plays down with a burst---can bull rush and speed rush. Looks to strip the QB whenever possible. Was a big-time TFL (tackle for loss) machine at South Carolina.
2. Wes Horton, USC. 6-5, 260. Good, solid edge rusher. Needs stronger moves, but has the physical talent.
34OLB:
1. Brandon Thurmond, Arkansas Pine-Bluff. 17.5 sacks this past season. Looks about 6-3, 260---classic 34 edge size. Has to play DE in this game, but still got some good QB pressures. Might be a sleeper.
2. Travis Johnson, San Jose St. Very productive sack DE at SJS. I think he was WAC Defensive POY. Good motor---needs to add some pounds.
ILB:
1. A.J. Klein, Iowa St. Always around the ball. Good in coverage too. Solid 4th-5th rounder.
2 T: Sio Moore, Connecticut; Matt Evans, New Hampshire; Albert Rossetti, Nevada; Nick Moody, Florida St. Late round prospects who all played well in the game. Moore has the most upside, imo. Evans is a tackling machine, but is under-sized. Rossetti is tough---TFL kind of ILB---and Moody is very very fast.
CB:
1. Nigel Malone, Kansas St. Keep an eye on this ballhawk. Had a perfectly timed pick six in the game---and that's his game---he lulls you and then bang he jumps a route and is off to the races. Lacks ideal height, but the feet and anticipation are there big-time.
2. Terry Hawthorne, Illinois. Had a great corner of the end zone interception where he turned at the perfect time to look back for the ball and managed to snag it and tuck it in while keeping his feet in bounds. Like Malone---not especially physical, but very talented in coverage.
3. Earl Wolff, North Carolina St. Combo CB/S. Had a nice interception in the red zone as well.
4. Khalid Wooten, Nevada. Here's another ballhawk---had a very good interception in the game and looks like a sleeper as a cover CB.
S:
1. Zeke Motta, Notre Dame. Coming off 16 tackles in the NCAA Championship game, Motta is a physical safety who not only can force the run well, but is solid in man coverage on TEs.
2. Branden Smith, Georgia. Combo CB/S. Looked solid. made some good plays.
ST:
1. Sheldon Price, UCLA. Excellent gunner.
2. Tre Wilson, Vanderbilt. Same.
3. Josh Johnson, Purdue. CB and KO returner with speed.
K:
1. Caleb Sturgis, Florida. Made 24/28 on the season, and was perfect from 42 yards in this game.
The 4 Players Who Jumped Out The Most:
1. Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina
2. Matt Scott, QB, Arizona
3. Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas St.
4. Jeff Baca, G, UCLA
4 Top Sleepers:
1. Colby Cameron, QB, Louisiana Tech
2. Anthony Amos, WR, Middle Tennessee
3. James Ferentz, C, Iowa
4. Zach Line, RB, SMU
Any input you have on these players or any players I didn't mention is much appreciated.
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