| Underclassmen List | |
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Updated - 2-13-13 By: Alex Khvatov |
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QB Tyler Bray (Tennessee)
– junior signal caller is very gifted from a
physical standpoint. He has ideal size and a
very strong arm. He throws an accurate deep
ball. But Bray trusts his arm a little too much
and has a tendency to force throws into tight
coverage. He also gets sloppy with his footwork
and his mechanics. His leadership skills have
been questioned in the past.
QB Kyle Padron (Eastern Washington)
– 59% completion, 2,491 passing yards, 17 TDs
and 7 INTs in 2012. Padron transferred from SMU
and started for one season at Eastern
Washington. He has good size and a strong arm.
He needs to work on his accuracy and improve his
decision-making. This early entrance caught me
off guard.
RB Le’Veon Bell (Michigan State)
– power back with nimble feet.
Bell is a patient runner. He shows good
balance, nice hands and surprising wiggle
moves. He always falls forward. His speed is a
huge question mark. He also struggled in games
against top competition in the Big 10.
RB Giovani Bernard (North
Carolina)
–
redshirt sophomore is clearly the best back in
the 2013 NFL Draft. Bernard is a complete
running back. He has great vision and balance.
He is very explosive. He catches the ball out
of the backfield with ease. Bernard is also a
dangerous return man. He has missed a couple of
games with minor injuries. He is only 5’9” and
some teams will question his durability.
RB Knile Davis (Arkansas)
– led SEC in rushing
in 2010 with 1,322 yards. He missed the 2011
campaign with a serious ankle injury. He
struggled this season while gaining only 377
yards on the ground. He is a big back with
speed, but he needs to prove that he is fully
healthy.
RB Michael Ford (LSU)
– it was difficult for Ford to get carries in a
crowded backfield this season especially with
the emergence of freshman RB Jeremy Hill and
junior RB Alfred Blue. He rushed for just 392
yards. He has a well-built frame with very good
speed. Ford can easily turn the corner. He had
issues with fumbles during his career. He also
had academic problems.
RB Jawan Jamison (Rutgers)
– redshirt sophomore shows patience and good
acceleration through the hole. He is a physical
runner that shows the ability to break tackles.
Jamison is also a very good receiver out of the
backfield. He lacks ideal height (only 5’8”)
and had a lingering ankle injury in the second
half of the season.
RB Stefphon Jefferson (Nevada)
– had 375 carries for 1,883 rushing yards and 24
TDs during the 2012 season. Jefferson has good
speed. He shows the ability to make people
miss. He is also quick through the hole.
RB Eddie Lacy (Alabama)
– power back that got stronger as
the season wore on. He had a terrific second
half of the year including the BCS National
Championship Game. Lacy shows good balance and
a burst through the hole. He has dealt with
minor injuries throughout his career.
RB Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina)
– has been one of the top running backs in
college football since his freshman season.
Lattimore is a power back that punishes
defenders with his physical running style. He
has first round talent, but there are concerns
about his durability. He missed most of last
year with a torn ACL and tore several ligaments
in his knee midway through this season.
RB Bradley Randle (UNLV)
– 138 carries, 635 rushing yards and 8 TDs. He
is an undersized back with quickness that runs
low to the ground. He was a backup RB for UNLV
this season. This early entry was a head
scratcher.
RB Joseph Randle (Oklahoma State)
– has scored 38 TDs on the ground over the last
two years. He demonstrates great cutback
ability. Randle has good vision and shows the
ability to make people miss.
RB Trabis Ward (Tennessee State)
– had 1,422 rushing
yards and 15 TDs this season. He ranked seventh
in rushing at the FCS level.
RB Spencer Ware (LSU)
– got lost in the shuffle in a crowded backfield
at LSU this season. He is a physical, downhill
runner that runs over defenders. He fights for
extra yards and finishes his runs. He projects
more as a short yardage back at the next level
because he lacks speed.
RB Cierre Wood (Notre Dame)
– has good size/speed combination. Wood
demonstrates tremendous vision. He also shows
good cutback ability. He lacks power to push
the pile or break tackles. Wood also was
suspended for two games for an unspecified
reason at the start of the season.
WR Keenan Allen (California)
– arguably the top receiver available in the
draft. Allen is a polished receiver with ideal
size at 6’3 and 210 pounds. He displays great
body control, good route running ability,
quickness and elusiveness after the catch. He
missed the final three games with a knee injury.
WR Stedman Bailey (West Virginia)
– quick in and out
of his breaks. He has scored 39 receiving TDs
in his three years at West Virginia. Bailey
shows great concentration and reliable hands.
He is surprisingly physical for his size. His
teammate Tavon Austin receives more national
attention, but Bailey is a more polished WR.
WR Josh Boyce (TCU)
– one of the better and more precise route
runners in the entire draft. Boyce is more
quick than fast. He shows the ability to make
the tough grab. He also has a tendency to lose
concentration and drop the easy pass.
WR Duron Carter (ex-Ohio State)
– Cris Carter’s son was one of the top recruits
coming out of high school. Duron contributed as
a freshman at Ohio State, but left the school
for academic reasons. He played one year at a
junior college. Then he transferred to Alabama,
but never played a down. His final stop was
Florida Atlantic where he was denied immediate
eligibility. He is a talented receiver, but
very raw and troubled.
WR Justin Hunter (Tennessee)
– an athletically gifted WR. Hunter has ideal
size and speed. He was inconsistent catching
the ball this year. He had a few games with
multiple drops. He also needs to get stronger.
He does have first round ability.
WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson)
– smooth route runner with reliable hands. He
has excellent body control. Hopkins goes up and
gets the ball at the highest point. He has some
concentration lapses at times, and there are
questions about his deep speed. He is one of my
favorite receivers in the entire draft.
WR Brandon Kaufman (Eastern Washington)
– 93 receptions, 1,850 receiving yards, 19.9 AVG
and 16 TDs. He is a tall receiver with
exceptional hands. He is a deep threat and a
good red-zone target. He will have to answer
questions about his speed at the Combine and at
the pro day.
WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Tennessee)
– spent only one season at
Tennessee after transferring from a junior
college. He is a flat out playmaker. Patterson
is a big, physical receiver with great speed.
He has good hands. He is willing to go over the
middle. He is still raw. He needs to improve
as a route runner.
WR Da’Rick Rogers (Tennessee
Tech)
– was dismissed from Tennessee in the off-season
for failing multiple drug tests. He transferred
to Tennessee Tech for one year. He is an
athletic receiver with good size, exceptional
hands and very good body control.
WR Ace Sanders (South Carolina)
– an incredibly quick and explosive receiver.
He creates yards after the catch and eludes
tacklers. He shows reliable hands. Size is a
concern. He projects as a slot receiver and a
terrific return guy at the next level.
WR Kenny Stills (Oklahoma)
– junior doesn’t really stand out
in one particular area. He is a good route
runner. Stills has the ability to make the
acrobatic catches. But he does have
inconsistent hands, and his effort has been
questioned in the past.
WR Marquess Wilson (ex-Washington State)
– has been a playmaker during his three years at
Washington State. He attacks the ball well
while it is in the air. Wilson is also a solid
route runner. He needs to bulk up, improve his
hands and answer questions about his long speed
at the Combine. He also left the program in the
middle of this year claiming abuse by the
coaching staff.
WR Robert Woods (USC)
– didn’t have the best statistical season by his
standards (76 receptions, 846 receiving yards
and 11 TDs). He is a sure-handed receiver.
Woods is also a precise route runner. He is
very quick in and out of his cuts.
TE Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame)
– displays very consistent hands
and fluid route running ability. He also has
ideal size and excellent body control. Eifert
needs to continue to improve as a blocker.
TE Zach Ertz (Stanford)
– an athletic tight end with terrific hands. He
makes tough grabs over the middle of the field.
Ertz is quick in and out of his cuts. He easily
creates separation against DBs. He needs to get
stronger and improve as a blocker.
TE Gavin Escobar (San Diego State)
– athletic tight end with terrific size and soft
hands. He has only average blocking skills at
best. He is an underrated tight end that could
surprise as a middle round pick.
TE Jordan Reed (Florida)
– versatile junior tight end that shows the
ability to stretch the defense. You can line
him up in the slot or in the backfield as well.
His height is a concern and he needs to add more
bulk to his frame.
TE Dion Sims (Michigan State)
– a huge TE at 6’5 and 285 pounds. He is a good
receiver and a safety valve for a QB in the
middle of the field. Sims isn’t quick off the
line. He also needs to significantly improve as
a blocker.
TE Levine Toilolo (Stanford)
– has great size for a tight end. He is a big
time target in the red-zone. Toilolo is a
terrific blocker. Speed and his route running
are his biggest question marks.
OT David Bakhtiari (Colorado)
– has played LT and RT over his
career. His size suggests that he will most
likely have to make the switch to guard.
Bakhtiari is a good pass protector with light
feet. He needs to add more bulk and improve as
a run blocker.
OT Chris Faulk (LSU)
– played in only one game this season. He
missed most of the year with a knee injury.
Faulk is an athletic tackle with excellent
size. He is a very good run blocker.
OT D.J. Fluker (Alabama)
– a big, massive tackle. He
weighed in at 6’4 7/8, 355 pounds with an 87
inch wingspan at the Senior Bowl. He is an
excellent run blocker. Fluker struggles against
quick pass rushers. He is strictly a RT who
needs to keep his weight in check.
OT Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M)
– an athletic OT with outstanding physical
traits. He has excellent feet. Joeckel has
excelled in pass protection against some of the
top SEC defensive linemen this season. He needs
to improve his hand usage and his run blocking
skills. He is the top OT in the draft and is
currently in discussion for the top overall
pick.
OT Justin Pugh (Syracuse)
– has started 34 games the past
three seasons. He has been a good blind side
protector for Syracuse. Pugh has excellent
balance. He also gets a good push in the run
game. He needs to add more bulk and get
stronger. There are some durability concerns
with Pugh as he missed the first four games of
his junior campaign.
OT Menelik Watson (Florida State)
– played RT at Florida State this season. He is
an athletic, big and physical OL. Watson is a
very good run blocker. He is very raw. He
needs to clean up his technique and footwork.
OG Alvin Bailey (Arkansas)
– big, athletic, strong OG who
excels as a run blocker. He demonstrates good
quickness off the snap. He needs to refine his
technique and continue to improve in pass
protection.
C
Travis Frederick (Wisconsin)
– versatile lineman that has
started at both guard and center over his
career. Frederick has impressive strength. He
excels as a run blocker. He had some trouble
with quick defensive tackles during his
career.
DE William Gholston (Michigan State)
– is a classic underachiever. His size (6’7,
278 pounds) and athleticism are very rare. He
holds his ground against the run. But Gholston
doesn’t have a quick first step. His instincts
and effort are also very questionable. His best
fit would be as a five-technique at the next
level.
DE Joe Kruger (Utah)
– his brother Paul Kruger plays for the
Baltimore Ravens. No one expected him to enter
the draft, but this is a player to keep an eye
on during the draft process. Joe is projected
as a five-technique at the next level. He has
ideal size, pretty good speed and active, strong
hands. By the time the draft rolls around, he
should be a solid mid-round pick.
DE Corey Lemonier (Auburn)
– had a disappointing junior
campaign. Lemonier finished the season with 34
tackles and only 5.5 sacks. He shows great
speed off the edge. He needs to add bulk to his
frame if he wants to remain at DE at the next
level or he can move to OLB in a 3-4 defense.
DE/LB Barkevious Mingo (LSU)
– an athletically gifted defensive end. He has
an explosive first step. Mingo is surprisingly
good against the run. He needs to bulk up and
add more pass rushing moves to his repertoire.
He will shine at the Combine. Mingo projects as
an OLB for a 3-4 defense.
DE Sam Montgomery (LSU)
– was a much more productive
player than his teammate DE Barkevious Mingo.
He has a good size/speed combination. He holds
up well against the run. Montgomery has a very
average burst off the snap and needs to develop
more pass-rushing moves.
DE Damontre Moore (Texas A&M)
– had an outstanding junior season. He finished
the year with 80 tackles, 20.0 TFLs and 12.5
sacks. Moore has a quick first step. He has
very aggressive and active hands. The most
impressive thing about Moore is his non-stop
motor. He looks like a top 10 pick.
DE Stansly Maponga (BYU)
– 26 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks. He
struggled against Big 12 competition in 2012.
Maponga didn’t make many impact plays. He is an
undersized DE with a very average burst off the
snap.
DE Darrington Sentimore (Tennessee)
– played at Alabama for two seasons. Then he
transferred to a junior college before spending
the 2012 season at Tennessee. He is only 6’2,
but he has good bulk and strength. He is
versatile enough to play DT in 4-3 front or DE
in a 3-4 alignment.
DE Bjoern Werner (Florida State)
– should be a top 10 pick in the 2013 NFL
Draft. Werner lost 15 pounds in the off-season
and looked quicker
on the field. He wreaked havoc in the backfield
and was too much handle for most offensive
tackles that he faced. He is strong and has
active hands. Werner uses good leverage and
holds up well against the run.
DT Sharrif Floyd (Florida)
– finally started to live up to his enormous
potential as a junior. Floyd has good size and
athleticism. He has very long arms. He also
shows the ability to shoot the gap and collapse
the pocket. He needs to get stronger. Floyd is
a liability against the run, and his motor is
inconsistent. His ideal position would be as a
4-3 DT.
DT Kwame Geathers (Georgia)
– was a backup behind senior John Jenkins. He
projects as a NT at the next level. He is a
huge defensive lineman that occupies a double
team. Geathers needs to refine his overall
technique and improve his conditioning.
DT Johnathan Hankins (Ohio State)
– finished the 2012 campaign with 55 tackles,
four tackles for loss and one sack. He is a big
DT with a quick first step. Hankins is a very
good run defender. He always commands a double
team. He has an inconsistent motor.
DT Jose Jose (Central Florida)
– was a prized recruit coming out
of high school in Miami. He landed at a junior
college before transferring to Central Florida.
He started five games in 2012. He needs to
refine his skills and keep his weight in check.
He also has some off-the-field baggage.
DT Bennie Logan (LSU)
– 45 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 2.0
sacks in 2012. He is an athletic DT with long
arms. He knows how to use his hands well.
Logan has good quickness. He is an intriguing
prospect with a lot of upside.
DT Brandon Moore (Texas)
– started five games in 2012 after transferring
from a junior college. His playing time
decreased in the second half of the season. He
has very good size and natural strength. He is
very raw, but he does offer some versatility.
DT Sheldon Richardson (Missouri)
– had 75 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and four sacks
during his redshirt junior season. He is a
disruptive DT with an exceptionally quick first
step. He does have some off-the-field baggage.
DT Akeem Spence (Illinois)
– had 72 total tackles, 7.0 TFLs and one sack in
2012. He uses his natural strength to shoot the
gaps and get to the ball carrier. There were a
couple of games during the season when Spence
was almost non-existent and was dominated in one
on one match-ups. His best fit would be as a
three-technique at the next level. He should
have stayed for his senior season.
LB Dwayne Beckford (Purdue)
– had 90 tackles, 7.0 TFLs and
3.0 sacks in 2011. He was the second leading
tackler at Purdue during that season. Beckford
is an athletic LB that plays well against the
run. He was dismissed from Purdue during the
off-season after getting arrested. He didn’t
play at all in 2012. This was his fourth arrest
in 14 months.
LB Jelani Jenkins (Florida)
– missed four games with various injuries this
year. He had foot surgery at the end of the
season. Jenkins is an instinctive LB with great
speed. Unfortunately, he is an undersized
player that needs to get stronger. He struggles
shedding blocks. His best fit would be as a
weakside LB in a 4-3 defense or a cover 2 scheme
at the next level.
LB Jarvis Jones (Georgia)
– disruptive pass rusher with
great speed and athleticism. Jones was a
nightmare match-up for most OL in the SEC in
2012. He excels as a blitzing LB. The biggest
concern with Jones is a condition called “spinal
stenosis” which will scare some teams away and
could cause him to slide on draft day. He best
fit in the NFL would be as an OLB in a 3-4
defense.
LB Kevin Minter (LSU)
– was the most consistent defender for the
Tigers this season. Minter makes plays all over
the field. He is a great run defender. He
doesn’t miss too many open field tackles. He
also has terrific instincts.
LB Alec Ogletree (Georgia)
– has first round ability. He is a former
safety who made the switch to LB. He is an
incredibly athletic player with very good
speed. He makes sideline-to-sideline plays.
Ogletree is good in pass coverage.
Unfortunately, he struggles against the run. He
needs to learn how to shed blockers instead of
running around them. Ogletree was also
suspended for the first four games this
season.
LB Tom Wort (Oklahoma)
– an undersized LB that had a disappointing
junior campaign. Wort has great speed and good
instincts. But he missed too many open field
tackles. He also looked lost in coverage in
2012. A surprising move, but it was clear that
he wasn’t going to keep his starting job next
season.
CB David Amerson (North Carolina
State)
– has 18 career INTs over his career. Amerson
has great size and terrific ball skills. But he
only has average speed. He has a gambling style
of play and has a difficult time flipping his
hips. He is strictly a cover 2 corner or might
even have to make the switch to free safety at
the next level.
CB Terrence Brown (Stanford)
– 65 tackles and 1 INT. He has
good height. Brown also shows good closing
speed and he will support against the run. He
needs to add more bulk to his frame and improve
his ball skills.
CB Mike Edwards (Hawaii)
– was kicked off the Tennessee squad for armed
robbery charges. Edwards transferred to Hawaii
and became one of the better corners in the
WAC. He has good speed and fluid hips. He can
also contribute as a returner on special teams.
He needs to get stronger and add more bulk to
his frame.
CB Tyrann Mathieu (ex-LSU)
– was dismissed from LSU in August for failed
drug tests. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist
last year. He demonstrated a knack for making
the big play. He has tremendous instincts and
is one of the better return men in the NCAA.
CB Dee Milliner (Alabama)
– has emerged as the top corner in the 2013
draft. He is a lockdown corner with good size,
instincts and smooth hips. He will support
against the run.
CB Xavier Rhodes (Florida State)
– tough, physical corner with great size. He
uses his long arms to make it difficult for
receivers to get off the line. Rhodes is very
good in run support. But he has a difficult
time against quicker receivers. He was a bit
inconsistent as a junior. His future might very
well be at safety at the next level.
CB Nickell Robey (USC)
– a feisty, physical corner with good speed. He
attacks the ball while it is in the air. Robey
is a hard worker. He is very undersized at 5’8
and 165 pounds. He also struggles against
physical receivers. He projects as a nickel
corner at the next level.
CB Logan Ryan (Rutgers)
– tough corner with nice size. Ryan has
excellent ball skills. He attacks the ball
while it is in the air like a wide receiver. He
should be a late first/early second round pick.
CB Tharold Simon (LSU)
– 45 tackles and 4 INTs. He is a very tall
corner with a nice frame. He has good speed.
Simon likes to get physical with receivers at
the line of scrimmage. He must improve his
footwork.
CB Steve Williams (California)
– started 28 games for the Bears during his
three-year career. Williams is a corner with
very good speed and quick feet. He lacks size
and strength.
S
Matt Elam (Florida)
– an athletic safety with speed. Elam is a very
good open field tackler. He is always around
the ball. His size (only 5’10) will prevent him
from being a first round pick.
S
JaJuan Harley (Middle Tennessee)
– was a transfer from Florida State. He shows
the versatility to play corner and safety.
Harley has very good speed. He is more of an
athlete than a football player at this time.
S
Tony Jefferson (Oklahoma)
– versatile safety with good ball
skills. Jefferson is a playmaker. He is a very
good run defender as well. He lacks ideal
height and occasionally misses a wide-open
tackle in the open field. He would have been a
top 20 pick if he was a couple of inches
taller.
S
Eric Reid (LSU) –
talented safety with upside. Reid has ideal
size and athleticism. He is a big hitter. He
is more effective as an in-box safety. He is
undisciplined on the field. He also struggled
in coverage in 2012.
P
Brad Wing (LSU) –
an Australian born punter with an extremely
strong leg. Redshirt sophomore has been the
best punter in the nation the last two years.
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