2013 Senior Bowl
These are the
players who have
helped and hurt
their stock
during the week
of practice at
the 2013 Senior
Bowl.
Risers
WR Quinton
Patton
(Louisiana Tech)
– He was the
most impressive
receiver during
the week of
practice.
Patton used his
quickness in and
out of his cuts
to create
separation. He
also displayed
consistent
hands. He
should be a
second round
pick.
WR Markus
Wheaton (Oregon
State)
– Wheaton is a
speedy wideout
with reliable
hands. He
showed great
hand/eye
concentration.
He used his
quickness to get
off the line of
scrimmage. He
should develop
into a reliable
slot receiver at
the next level.
Late third/early
fourth round.
OT Eric Fisher
(Central
Michigan)
– He was the
most dominant
player at the
Senior Bowl. He
has ideal size,
strength and
athleticism. He
has long arms
and quick feet.
His pass
protection
skills were
superb. He
should be a top
10 pick.
DE Datone Jones
(UCLA)
– Jones is a
very versatile
player. He can
play in a number
of different
schemes. He has
good size (6’4,
280 pounds) and
great strength.
He also
displayed
surprising
quickness. He
could very well
sneak into the
first round.
CB Desmond
Trufant
(Washington)
– He was the
most technically
sound corner in
Mobile. He
showed great
footwork and
recovery speed.
Trufant was
effective
playing press
and off-man
coverage during
the week. I
have a second
round grade on
him.
CB Leon McFadden
(San Diego
State)
– He really
stood out during
the week. He
made plays.
McFadden showed
good ball skills
and the ability
to stay with
receivers
downfield. He
was mostly
effective in
press coverage.
Concerns about
his size will
keep him in the
third round.
Fallers
QB Zac Dysert
(Miami, OH)
– He struggled
more than any
other QB at
Mobile. He
couldn’t find
any type of
consistency.
His mechanics
and footwork
need
improvement. He
was late with a
lot of his
throws. He
struggled with
his accuracy on
deep throws. He
should be
drafted in the
fourth round.
WR Aaron
Mellette (Elon)
– Even though he
has good size at
6’2, 216 pounds,
he plays more
like a finesse
player. He
showed
inconsistent
hands throughout
the week. He
also had trouble
creating
separation
against
defensive backs
at the Senior
Bowl. He looks
like a mid-round
pick.
C
Braxston Cave
(Notre Dame)
– He is an
experienced
center that had
a very good
senior
campaign. But
Cave had a tough
time containing
DL in one-on-one
drills during
the week. He
had a difficult
time dealing
with stronger
DTs. He lacked
power and brute
strength.
DE Michael
Buchanan
(Illinois)
– Buchanan is
not a
traditional 4-3
DE. He should
definitely think
about making the
switch to hybrid
OLB in a 3-4
defensive
scheme. He
lacks strength
and power.
Buchanan lacks
any type of pass
rush moves. He
struggled
getting off
blocks.
DE Margus Hunt (SMU)
– He has ideal
size and
strength. He is
also an athletic
freak of
nature.
Unfortunately,
those tools
haven’t
translated onto
the football
field. He is
very raw. Hunt
was consistently
handled in
one-on-one
situations
throughout the
Senior Bowl
week.
CB Will Davis
(Utah State)
– He was the
least impressive
corner at the
Senior Bowl
considering all
of the hype that
he received
coming into the
week. He
struggled with
his technique.
Davis was beaten
regularly by the
faster
receivers. He
also didn’t show
the necessary
recovery speed.
Bowl Edition:
Risers
|
Junior QB David
Fales (San Jose
State)
– He completed 33/43
passes for 395
passing yards and
two TDs. He has a
very a good arm.
Fales demonstrated
that he is capable
of making all of the
necessary throws at
the next level. He
was incredibly
efficient as a
passer against
Bowling Green in the
bowl game. Keep an
eye on this QB next
year.
Senior OT Eric
Fisher (Central
Michigan)
– He had a dominant
game against Western
Kentucky. Fisher
was terrific in pass
protection. He made
it look easy. He
showed off his
athleticism and
quickness. He is
not a great run
blocker, but he more
than held his own
during this game.
Senior DE Alex
Okafor (Texas)
– He recorded 8
tackles, 6.0 TFLs
and 4.5 sacks.
Okafor had a
dominant performance
against the
Beavers. He was
unblockable. He
looked explosive
coming off the
edge. Okafor showed
strong and active
hands. His stock
will rise after this
performance.
Senior DE Margus
Hunt (SMU)
–
Hunt had the best
game of his career
by recording three
tackles, three TFLs,
two sacks, two
forced fumbles and a
safety. He is a
big, athletic DL
with a lot of
upside. He used his
strength and showed
his quickness in
wreaking havoc
against the
Bulldogs. Hunt is
one of the more
intriguing prospects
in the draft.
Junior LB Kyle Van
Noy (BYU)
– He recorded 8
tackles, 3.5 TFLs,
1.5 sacks, forced
fumble (recovered
for a TD) and an INT
(returned for a TD)
against San Diego
State. Van Noy
single-handedly
harassed Aztecs’ QB
and disrupted
offensive rhythm.
He looked very quick
and athletic. He
has announced that
he will return for
his senior season.
Fallers
Senior QB Geno Smith
(West Virginia)
– Smith completed
16/24 passes for 197
passing yards and
two TDs. The
weather conditions
weren’t good. It
was snowing
throughout the game,
and the passing
offenses struggled.
But Smith had an
off-night. He
struggled with his
accuracy. He failed
to recognize the
blitz on a couple of
occasions. His
biggest completions
during the game came
off bubble screens.
Smith is not a top
10 pick.
Senior RB Johnathan
Franklin (UCLA)
– Franklin rushed
for only 34 yards on
14 carries. The
school’s all-time
leading rusher
wasn’t able to find
much running room on
the football field.
He looked hesitant
and indecisive
hitting the hole.
To be completely
fair, a couple of
starting OL did go
down with an injury,
but Franklin didn’t
want to end his
career on a down
note. |
Week 13
|
Risers
Junior DE Bjoern
Werner (Florida
State)
–
He had six total
tackles, 3.5 sacks
and a recovered
fumble against the
Gators. Werner was
able to get
consistent pressure
on the opposing QB
by using his speed
to get around the
tackle. He
demonstrated his
quick first step and
near flawless
technique throughout
the game. I am
projecting him to be
a top 10 pick in the
2013 Draft.
Senior DT Jordan
Hill (Penn State)
–
This was his best
performance of the
season. Hill had 12
tackles, two sacks
and three TFLs
against the
Badgers. He has
gotten quicker and
stronger this
season. He also has
a non-stop motor.
He is one of the
more underrated DL
in the nation. He
should be a third
round pick in next
years draft.
Junior LB Kevin
Minter (LSU)
–
Minter has been the
most consistent
defender for the
Tigers this season.
He is a great run
defender. He is
always around the
ball. He relies on
his instincts.
During last
Saturday’s game, he
had a number of pass
break-ups in
coverage. He looks
like a late 1st/early
2nd round
pick.
Fallers
Senior QB EJ Manuel
(Florida State)
–
He has all of the
physical tools to be
a franchise QB at
the next level. He
had some nice
performances during
this season. But he
came up short
against the Gators
in the season finale
when all eyes were
on him. Manuel
completed only 54%
of his passes for
182 yards and had
three picks. He
struggled with his
accuracy and
couldn’t get into
any type of rhythm.
His decision making
was subpar. He
looked confused at
times when the
Gators mixed up
their coverage. He
looks like a third
round pick.
Senior DE Cornellius
Carradine (Florida
State)
–
Tank had 80 total
tackles, 13.0 TFLs
and 11 sacks during
his breakout senior
season. He had
another good
performance against
the Gators. But he
suffered a torn ACL
late in the fourth
quarter. This is a
serious setback for
Carradine who looked
like a possible
first round pick.
This current injury
will hurt his draft
stock considerably.
|
Week 12
Risers
Senior QB Mike Glennon
(North Carolina State) –
Glennon has been one of the
favorite topics recently in
draft circles. His stock is
on the rise. He had another
good performance against
Clemson (493 passing yards
and five TDs). He has ideal
size (6’6, 232 pounds) and
arm strength. He throws a
very good deep ball. He has
surprising athleticism and
shows the ability to throw
on the run. He has good
pocket awareness and
mechanics. Glennon
consistently completed
throws under pressure
against Clemson. But he
does have a tendency to
force throws into tight
coverage. He also shows
inconsistent ball
placement. I currently have
a second round grade on him.
Junior QB Tajh Boyd
(Clemson) – He completed
30/44 passes for 426 passing
yards and five passing TDs.
Boyd also ran for 103 yards
and three TDs against NC
State. I have seen
significant improvement in
Boyd’s game this year. He
has improved his accuracy
and has become more of a
running threat in 2012.
Boyd has a quick release and
a lively arm. Boyd should
think about entering the
2013 NFL draft considering
this is a weak QB class.
Senior RB Montee Ball
(Wisconsin) – Ball
rushed for 191 yards on 39
carries and had a score that
tied FBS TD record against
Ohio State. He doesn’t have
ideal size, power or speed
that scouts look for. He is
a tough inside the tackles
runner. He gets stronger as
the game wears on. He
demonstrates good balance.
Ball has great acceleration
through the hole. He has
put up amazing stats the
last two seasons. He is my
top senior RB in next year’s
draft.
Senior RB Montel Harris
(Temple) – He had 36
carries for 351 rushing
yards and seven TDs against
Army. It was a career game
for Harris. He transferred
to Temple for his senior
season after he was
dismissed from Boston
College. He is a patient
runner with good vision.
Harris is a good receiver
out of the backfield. He
lacks that burst and has a
long history with knee
issues. He would be a good
candidate in a zone-blocking
scheme. He should be picked
in the last two rounds of
the draft.
Senior WR Tavon Austin (West
Virginia) – Austin set a
Big 12 record with 572
all-purpose yards against
Oklahoma. It was one of the
best performances of
all-time. He was inserted
as a RB and rushed for 344
yards along with 82
receiving yards and 148
yards in the return game.
Austin is an explosive
player. He is extremely
elusive after the catch. He
uses his great speed to his
advantage and has that
second gear. You can line
him up in the slot or in the
backfield, can be used on
reverses and in the return
game. He could be a
terrific slot receiver at
the next level.
Senior WR Alec Lemon
(Syracuse) – He had 12
catches for 244 yards and
two TDs against Missouri.
Lemon has been the primary
target for Ryan Nassib this
year. He is a possession
receiver. He has reliable
hands. He is a physical guy
and tough to bring down
after the catch. Lemon’s
strength is catching the
ball in a crowd. He finds
soft spots in zone
coverage. He should be
selected in the 6th or the
7th round of the draft.
Senior WR Tobais Palmer
(North Carolina State) –
Palmer had a memorable
performance with 496
all-purpose yards against
Clemson. He had seven
receptions for 219 receiving
yards and three TDs. He is
5’11, 175 pounds with 4.4
speed. He is a vertical
threat. He uses his speed
to blow by defenders. He
should contribute as a
return specialist early on
in the NFL with the ability
to develop into a solid No.3
or No.4 guy. He should be
an undrafted free agent.
Junior TE Zach Ertz
(Stanford) – Junior TE
had 11 catches for 106 yards
and a TD in the big win
against Oregon last
weekend. He has soft
hands. Ertz has shown the
ability to make the tough
catches this season. He is
a big target who shows the
ability to be a downfield
threat in the passing game.
Against Oregon, I was
impressed with his run
blocking skills. He uses
his strength and his long
arms to his advantage.
Senior DE John Simon (Ohio
State) – Simon had six
tackles and four sacks
against the Badgers. He is
a leader of the Buckeyes’
defense. He has a non-stop
motor. He shows incredible
strength. He is a tireless
work ethic. He is a very
good run defender. He is
one of the more underrated
players available in the
draft.
Senior LB Shayne Skov
(Stanford) – He had his
best game of the season in
the win against Oregon (10
total tackles). He was
making plays all over the
field. Skov is a very good
run defender. He is a tough
player that can fight
through the trash. He is
also an underrated blitzer.
He would be a great a fit as
an ILB in a 3-4 defense. I
currently have him as a late
2nd/early 3rd round pick.
Junior CB Logan Ryan
(Rutgers) – Ryan is one
of the more underrated
defenders in the nation. He
should be a late first/early
second round pick if he
decides to enter the draft
after his junior season. He
had six tackles and recorded
his fourth interception of
the season against the
Bearcats. He is a tough
corner with good size. He
has good speed and
athleticism. He attacks the
ball at its highest point
like a receiver. He has
excellent ball skills and
very good leaping ability.
Fallers
Senior QB Matt Barkley (USC)
– Barkley is less than
6'2 and doesn't have a
strong arm. But his
decision making has been
troubling this season. He
has thrown a total of 15
interceptions and had
multiple picks in six games
in 2012. He suffered a
shoulder injury against UCLA
and will not play in the
season finale against Notre
Dame. There is hope that he
could return in time for the
bowl game. His stock is
down at the moment after a
disappointing senior
campaign, but he should be a
mid/late first round pick.
He has 47 starts under his
belt, has operated in a
pro-style offense, has good
mechanics, shows nice touch,
demonstrates good leadership
skills, high IQ and
understanding of the game.
Senior LB Michael Mauti
(Penn State) – Mauti was
having an excellent season
for Penn State. He is a
tough run defender with
terrific tackling
technique. He was a leader
of the defense. He
re-injured his left knee
last Saturday. He is now
lost for the season. He has
the talent level to be a
second round pick, but he
has a long medical history.
He will be a great value
pick on day three.
Junior CB David Amerson
(North Carolina State) –
Amerson had bad games
against Tennessee and Miami,
FL this season. After
seeing him struggle against
Clemson, I am convinced that
he should make the switch to
safety at the next level.
He only has average speed
and struggles against
quicker receivers. He also
has some tightness in his
hips and has a difficult
time turning and running
with receivers downfield.
He has ideal size and ball
skills. He is also a good
run defender. He has a
chance to become a very good
safety in the NFL.
Week 11
Risers
Junior OT Luke Joeckel
(Texas A&M) – Joeckel
has established himself as
the top OL in the 2013 NFL
Draft. He should be a top
five pick if he decides to
leave early. He is very
similar to Joe Thomas in
terms of the skill set when
he was coming out of
Wisconsin. Against Alabama,
he demonstrated once again
that he can handle speed
rushers with ease. He
looked dominant in pass
protection. He is very
quick off the ball and shows
terrific lateral movement.
Joeckel is an athletic
tackle with long arms and
good knee bend.
Senior DE Cornellius “Tank”
Carradine (Florida State) –
Tank Carradine has played
exceptionally well all
season long. He had another
strong game against the
Hokies. He recorded 11
total tackles and one sack.
He is rapidly improving his
draft stock every week, and
there are many in the draft
community that have a first
round grade on him. I
currently have an early
second round grade on him.
He is very strong and has a
good frame. He knows how to
use his hands. He has shown
the ability to get to the QB
(nine sacks during his
senior campaign). Carradine
is also a good run
defender.
Senior LB Khaseem Greene
(Rutgers) – Greene had
22 tackles against Army last
week. I currently have a
second round grade on him,
and he is one of my favorite
prospects in the draft. He
is an athletic LB with great
speed. He is a reliable
tackling machine. He is a
former safety who shows very
good coverage skills. He is
an ideal weakside LB in a
4-3 defense or cover 2
scheme. Concerns about his
less than ideal size will
hurt his draft stock.
Fallers
Senior Safety Robert Lester
(Alabama) – No one
struggled more than Robert
Lester in the loss against
the Aggies. He didn’t take
good angles to the
football. He missed a few
tackles in the open field.
He hasn’t looked comfortable
in coverage all season
long. There were high hopes
for him coming into the
season that he will be a
first round pick. I
currently have a third round
grade on him.
Week
9
Risers
Junior LB
Jarvis Jones (Georgia)
– Jones has been fairly
quiet after his strong
performance against Missouri
early on in the season. He
hasn’t been completely
healthy ever since that
game. But last week he had
a coming out party and had a
huge game in the upset win
against Florida. He
recorded 13 tackles, three
sacks and two forced
fumbles. He saved his best
play until the end. He
forced a fumble at the
five-yard line with 2:05
left on the clock to seal
the win. Jones is a game
changer. He is a disruptive
LB that uses his quick first
step to beat the OL and get
to the QB. He is the best
pass rusher available in
next year’s draft and would
be ideal for a 3-4 defense.
He should be a top 10 pick.
Redshirt
Sophomore RB Giovanni
Bernard (North Carolina)
– Even before Marcus
Lattimore went down with a
season-ending injury, I
thought that Bernard was
clearly the best back in the
2013 NFL Draft. He should
be a first round pick. He
had 23 carries for 135
rushing yards on the
ground. He also had eight
catches for 85 yards. His
74-yard punt return at the
end of the fourth quarter
gave the Tar Heels the win
against NC State. He is
very versatile and can hurt
you in a number of ways. He
is a tough back who explodes
through the hole. I have
also noticed that Bernard
gets stronger as the game
wears on which is an
important trait for a RB.
Senior QB
Ryan Nassib (Syracuse)
– Matt Scott of Arizona
played well against USC, but
I was more impressed with
Nassib this week. He
completed 27/40 passes for
328 yards, four TDs and zero
picks. He brought Syracuse
back from a 20-point
halftime deficit against
South Florida. He was
clutch in the fourth
quarter. He was decisive
with the football during
this game. He seems to have
a very good understanding of
the offense that he plays
in. Nassib made good
decisions and anticipated
his throws. He spread the
ball around to different
receivers. He is an
underrated QB that is moving
up draft boards.
Senior CB
D.J. Hayden (Houston)
– Senior CB had four total
tackles and two picks last
week. One of the
interceptions was returned
for a 95-yard TD. Hayden
transferred from a junior
college last year. He has
become a defensive leader
this season. He has good
height and a nice frame. He
has good ball skills and is
active against run support.
He has average speed and
tight hips which will hurt
his draft stock.
Fallers
Junior RB Marcus Lattimore
(South Carolina) –
Lattimore suffered a
devastating right knee
injury against Tennessee.
He will now be out for the
season. He will go through
a long road of recovery and
hopefully will be able to
bounce back. I remind you
that he missed most of last
season with an ACL tear.
Many draft pundits
considered him to be the top
back available in next
year’s draft. Lattimore
will have a difficult
decision to make whether to
return to South Carolina or
enter the 2013 NFL Draft.
In 2003, Willis McGahee also
suffered a gruesome injury
in the Fiesta Bowl and
decided to enter the draft.
His career has been a
productive one in the NFL.
|
Week 8
Risers
Junior QB A.J. McCarron (Alabama)
– A.J. McCarron completed 17/22
passes for 306 passing yards and
four TDs against Tennessee. He was
very efficient. He showed great
field vision and pocket awareness.
The junior signal caller is very
accurate and has nice touch. He is
no longer just a game manager. He
scans the field and goes through his
progressions. He has a good
understanding of the game. He
hasn’t thrown a single interception
this season.
Junior OT Taylor Lewan (Michigan)
– Lewan dominated DL William
Gholston last Saturday. He held him
in check. He is a very good run
blocker with ideal size. He is a
nasty Big 10 lineman with good
athleticism. Lewan has improved his
pass protection this season. He is
a lock to be a top 20 pick in next
year’s draft.
Junior DE Damontre Moore (Texas A&M)
– Moore has a quick first step.
Against LSU, he was able to put
consistent pressure on Zach
Mettenberger. He recorded 10
tackles, two TFLs and one sack. He
was almost unstoppable throughout
the game before he went down with a
knee injury in the third quarter.
He is very active with his hands and
he has a good pass-rushing
repertoire. The most impressive
thing about Moore is his non-stop
motor. He has played like a first
round pick and is a good candidate
for OLB in the 3-4 scheme.
Junior LB C.J. Mosley (Alabama)
– Mosley had another good game
against Tennessee. He is the leader
of Alabama’s defense. The junior LB
recorded seven total tackles and one
pick. He is an explosive LB. He
showed great instincts. He has a
nose for the ball. He is one of the
best pass coverage LB’s available in
the 2013 NFL Draft. He has a good
understanding of different coverages.
He is able to read the QB’s eyes and
be in the right place at the right
time in passing situations.
Senior LB Michael Mauti (Penn State)
– Mauti had seven total tackles, one
sack and one INT in a win against
Iowa. He is the emotional leader of
this defense. He was as reliable as
ever in run support. He
demonstrated great instincts. He is
also a punishing hitter. The only
thing that will hurt him on draft
day is his history of injuries.
Fallers
Senior QB Geno Smith (West Virginia)
– Smith faced another stingy defense
last week against Kansas State and
he didn’t have his best day. He
completed 21/32 passes for 143
passing yards, one TD and two
picks. He threw his first two
interceptions of the season. Smith
forced some throws into coverage.
He was also unable to drive the ball
downfield. He is definitely not
at his best when he is being forced
out of the pocket. Throwing on the
run is not his strong suit. He
should still be a first round pick,
but he needs to show that he can
bounce back.
Junior QB Tyler Bray (Tennessee)
- This was Tyler Bray’s chance to
shine when the spotlight was on him
against a very tough Alabama
defense, but he came up short. He
completed only 13/27 passes, for 184
passing yards and two
interceptions. In fact, he has
struggled the past couple of weeks.
He has good size with ideal arm
strength. Bray has struggled with
his accuracy because he gets sloppy
with his mechanics and footwork. He
forced numerous passes into coverage
during the game. There was one
particular throw in the second
quarter, which he forced into triple
coverage and it was intercepted.
Bray’s leadership skills have also
been questioned. Bray needs to come
back for his senior season.
Week 7
Risers
Senior RB Montee
Ball (Wisconsin)
– Ever since
Wisconsin fired their offensive line
coach and got back to the basics,
Montee Ball has been able to
rediscover his running groove. He
ran for 247 rushing yards on 29
carries and scored three TDs against
Purdue. He set the Big Ten TD
record with 72. He is a tough
back. He broke tackles and ran over
would be tacklers during the game.
I still question his speed and his
ability to make defenders miss.
Even after this terrific
performance, he carries a solid
third round grade.
Junior RB Eddie
Lacy (Alabama)
– Lacy is another
back that got off to a slow start
this season. But he has looked much
better the last couple of weeks. He
had 18 carries for 177 rushing yards
and three TDs last week. He showed
a burst that was missing early this
season. He is a physical runner.
Lacy is a power back that broke a
number of tackles against Missouri.
Redshirt
Sophomore RB Giovanni Bernard (North
Carolina)
– This is not the first time that I
have listed Bernard in the riser
category this season. He is the
best back available in next year’s
draft. Bernard played his high
school football in Florida. Against
Miami, he rushed for 177 yards on 27
carries and scored two TDs. He is
able to elude tacklers and make them
miss in tight space. He is also a
tough back. He broke numerous
tackles during the game. He has a
low center of gravity. He has shown
big play ability all season long.
He also has terrific hands.
Senior WR Quinton
Patton (Louisiana Tech)
– Patton had 21
receptions for 233 receiving yards
and four TDs in a loss against Texas
A&M. He has soft hands. He caught
everything that was thrown his way
during last Saturday’s game. He can
stretch the field. He has shown the
ability to pick up yards after the
catch which is his major strength.
He needs to continue to work on his
route running.
Junior DE
Damontre Moore (Texas A&M)
– Moore had
17 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5
TFLs and a blocked extra point
during last week’s game. He has
been the best player on the
defensive side of the ball for the
Aggies. Once again, he demonstrated
a very quick first step against
Louisiana Tech. He was a terror in
the opposing backfield. He has very
active hands and is strong enough to
get of blocks. Moore has been a
consistent force all year long. He
is only a junior, but he could sneak
into the first round of the 2013 NFL
Draft because there is always a
demand for pass rushers. His
natural position in the pros would
be as an outside linebacker in a 3-4
scheme.
Senior LB Khaseem
Greene (Rutgers)
– The 2011
co-Defensive Player of the Year had
a monster game against Syracuse.
His stat line was 14 tackles, three
forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks and one
interception. He was making plays
all over the field. He is a
terrific run defender. He has great
speed. Greene is also reliable as a
pass defender. The knock on him
would be his size (6’1, 230). He
would be a terrific LB in a cover 2
scheme and should be a solid second
round pick.
Senior CB Desmond
Trufant (Washington)
– I thought that
Trufant was one of the more
overrated corners available in the
2013 NFL Draft. I have changed my
mind since then. He has improved
his game considerably during his
senior campaign. He has excelled in
man-to-man coverage. Last Saturday,
he held Marqise Lee and Robert Woods
in check. He is an athletic corner
with good size. Some will question
his ball skills and his lack of big
plays. He should be picked
somewhere in the second/third
round.
Fallers
Junior WR Justin
Hunter (Tennessee)
– He has been my top receiver in the
2013 NFL Draft all year long. But
his stock is on the decline. He was
held in check by Mississippi State.
He had only 2 catches for 41 yards.
He hasn’t shown that explosive
ability. He also had a big drop
during the game when he went over
the middle and knew that he was
going to hit. He has a tendency to
lose concentration and drop
catchable balls. He has been
outplayed by his teammate
Cordarrelle Patterson.
Senior DE Michael
Buchanan (Illinois)
– He had only
four tackles in the game against
Michigan. Taylor Lewan shut down
Buchanan completely when they went
up against each other. Buchanan
hasn’t been able to step up in the
big games this season. He has
registered only 2.5 sacks this
year. He needs to pick up his play
in the second half of the season if
he wants to be selected on the first
or the second day of the draft.
|
Week 6
|
Risers
Senior QB Matt
Scott (Arizona)
– He threw for 491 passing yards and
three touchdowns with a 65%
completion rate in a loss against
Stanford last week. Scott showed
good arm strength and a nice touch
on a number of throws. He spread
the ball around and completed passes
to nine different receivers. He is
a mobile QB. He is at his best
throwing on the run. He needs to
bulk up. He also doesn’t have a lot
of experience, but he is a very
intriguing prospect to keep an eye
on. He should be drafted in rounds
5 – 7.
Redshirt
Sophomore RB Giovanni Bernard (North
Carolina)
– Bernard is my top running back
available in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Redshirt sophomore had 262 rushing
yards on 23 carries and a
touchdown. He is an explosive back
with home run ability. He shows
great speed. He has a great burst
through the hole. He has soft hands
and can catch the ball out of the
backfield with ease. He is also a
threat as a returner. We will
monitor the situation and see if he
will enter the draft after his
sophomore campaign.
Senior RB Mike
Gillislee (Florida)
– Gillislee has been a pleasant
surprise for the Gators this
season. He has been rising up draft
boards since week one. He had a
terrific performance with 34 carries
for 146 yards and two touchdowns
against a very tough LSU defense.
The senior RB has great speed. He
is elusive in the open field. He is
also a player that will run between
the tackles and grind out those
tough yards. He hasn’t been
featured in the Gators’ passing
game, but he is a good blocker. He
should be a solid 3rd
round pick.
Redshirt
Sophomore Bradley Roby (Ohio
State)
– Roby should be mentioned along
with the other top CB available in
next year’s draft. He picked off
two passes in the win against Nebraska last week. He
is 5’11, 190 pounds with great
closing speed. He has good ball
skills. He is more than willing to
support against the run. He should
be a first round pick whenever he
decides to enter the draft.
Junior S Matt
Elam (Florida)
– Elam was the
best player on the field in the
match-up between the Gators and the
Tigers last week. He was always
around the ball. He was flying
around and delivering punishing
hits. He is terrific in run
support. He is at his best playing
close to the line of scrimmage. He
lacks ideal size and it will hurt
him on draft day. He is a projected
second round pick.
Fallers
Junior QB Aaron
Murray (Georgia)
– Junior QB completed only 11/31
passes for 109 yards and an
interception. He couldn’t find any
rhythm because he was bothered by South Carolina’s defense
throughout the game. He lacked
accuracy on most of his passes. He
is about 6 feet tall and lacks the
zip on most of his throws. I have
always felt that
Murray was one
of the more overrated QB’s in the
nation.
Junior QB Casey
Pachall (TCU)
– On the field, Pachall was putting
together a very solid season.
Off-the-field, he has had his share
of struggles. He admitted to past
drug use in the off-season. Then on
October 4th, he was
arrested for a DWI. He has since
withdrawn from TCU and has
reportedly entered rehab. It
remains to be seen whether he will
come back to TCU, but he will most
likely resurface at another school
if he can put his troubles behind
him.
Junior S Eric
Reid (LSU)
– Reid is no longer a first round
pick in my new 2013 NFL Mock Draft.
He has had his share of struggles
this season in particular against
the Gators. He was beat a few times
in pass coverage. He just doesn’t
look comfortable in pass coverage
this season. He is usually a solid
run defender. But during this game,
he missed a few tackles. He didn’t
show the proper tackling technique.
His stock is on the decline. |
Week 5
Risers
Senior QB Geno Smith (West Virginia) – He
put up some amazing statistical numbers
against Baylor last week. He completed
45/51 passes for 656 yards and eight TD’s.
He has thrown 20 total passing TD’s and zero
interceptions this season. Against Baylor,
he showed his pinpoint accuracy. He was
able to fit balls into tight windows. He
showed poise and good decision-making.
Smith has improved his mechanics and
footwork this season. He looks more
comfortable running Dana Holgersen’s
system. The game against Texas this week
would be a big test for Smith. He looks
like a top 15 pick at this point.
Senior RB Kenjon Barner (Oregon) – His
teammate De’Anthony Thomas gets all of the
attention, but Barner has been the primary
back for the Ducks this year. He had 20
carries for 195 yards and three touchdowns
on the ground against Washington State. He
is a home run threat anytime he touches the
ball. He scored an 80-yard TD run last
week. He has great top end speed and
vision. He is a solid receiver coming out
of the backfield. He had some fumbling
issues in the past, which is a bit of a
concern.
Senior WR Terrance Williams (Baylor) –
Stedman Bailey was great, but I was more
impressed by the 17 catches for 314 yards
and two touchdowns that Williams put up
against West Virginia. He demonstrated big
play ability last week. He has ideal size
and great hands. Williams shows the ability
to create separation. He wins most jump
balls. He is the top senior receiver in the
2013 class. He should be a late first/early
second round pick.
Senior OT Reid Fragel (Ohio State) – Fragel
played three seasons at tight end before
making the switch to RT this year. It has
been a smooth transition for him. He looks
like a natural at tackle. He added 30
pounds in the off-season. He has very good
strength, and it was on full display against
the Michigan State defensive line during
last Saturday’s game. Fragel is a great run
blocker. He has light feet and has improved
in pass protection. This is a prospect that
we will keep a close eye on as the season
continues.
Junior DT Johnathan Hankins (Ohio State) –
His stat line was not impressive against the
Spartans, he only recorded three tackles.
But he was unblockable for most of the
game. Hankins was able to shut down the
Spartans rushing attack. RB Le’Veon Bell
only gained 45 yards on 17 carries. He
really controlled the line of scrimmage.
Hankins also showed his quickness, which is
really impressive for such a big man. He
should be a top 10 pick in next year’s
draft.
Redshirt Junior DT Sheldon Richardson
(Missouri) – He had nine total tackles
including two for loss and one sack against
UCF. He is an extremely quick and athletic
player for a 295-pound guy. He can wreak
havoc in the backfield by using his quick
first step. He is a player that has
improved every week this season.
Senior CB Leon McFadden (San Diego State) –
McFadden shined against Fresno State despite
the 52-40 loss. He had five tackles and a
96-yard interception return for a TD. It is
his third straight game in which he recorded
an interception. He is an athletically
gifted corner with good ball skills. He
also shows good hips.
Fallers
Junior RB Knile Davis (Arkansas) – He had 18
carries for 65 yards against the Aggies.
The junior RB has continued his struggles
this season. He still hasn’t surpassed 100
yards on the ground this year. He is not
hitting the hole decisively. He fumbled the
ball three times last week although the
Razorbacks recovered two of those fumbles.
Senior CB Johnny Adams (Michigan State) – He
looked sluggish against Ohio State. Devin
Smith burned Adams for a long 63-yard TD.
He struggles to stay with quicker receivers
and can get outmuscled by the more physical
receivers. I can’t see Adams being a
starting corner in the pros. He is one of
the more overrated prospects in the 2013 NFL
Draft.
Junior CB David Amerson (North Carolina
State) – Amerson doesn’t have top end speed
and struggles to turn his hips. He
struggles in man-to-man coverage against
quicker receivers. He has a tendency to
give up big plays. He was beaten twice for
long TD’s against Miami in the first
quarter. He has terrific ball skills and
good size. I am convinced that he is only
suited for a zone coverage scheme.
Week 4
Risers
Senior QB EJ Manuel (Florida State)
– EJ Manuel completed 27/35 passes for 380
passing yards and two touchdowns against
Clemson. He also added 102 yards on the
ground. He led his team to a critical win
against a tough ACC foe. He was very
efficient. He showed good command of the
football. He was accurate. He didn’t force
any throws or made any mistakes. Manuel
spread the ball around and completed passes
to eight different receivers. He threw
mostly short passes to receivers and swing
passes to running backs. He was a game
manager for most of the game. But there
were two throws in particular that were
impressive. He threw a bullet pass for a
28-yard completion to TE Nick O’Leary down
the middle of the field. He also completed
a 29-yard TD pass to Rodney Smith in the
second half that showed off his arm and
touch. I currently have a second round
grade on EJ Manuel because he is athletic,
can beat you with his feet, has ideal size
and very good arm strength. There will be a
few of teams during the pre-draft process
that might find his potential too appealing
to pass up and will be willing to select him
in the first round.
Senior RB Chris Thompson (Florida State)
– Thompson had 15 carries for 103 rushing
yards and two touchdowns against Clemson.
He also added 8 receptions for 79 passing
yards. Senior RB was the Chick-fil-A Bowl
Offensive MVP in 2010. But he missed most
of last year with a serious back injury. He
is healthy this year and he has been the
main contributor in the ground game. He is
very quick and elusive in the open field.
He is hard to bring down. He showed great
cutback ability against the Tigers.
Thompson is an outstanding receiver coming
out of the backfield. He should be a late
round pick for a team who is looking for a
change of pace back.
Senior WR Cobi Hamilton (Arkansas)
– His stock was on the decline after the
week three performance against Alabama (2
receptions for 14 yards). But he bounced
back in a big way against Rutgers. He
obviously benefited the most from having his
starting QB Tyler Wilson back in the lineup
after he missed the Alabama game. Hamilton
had 10 receptions for 303 yards and three
TD’s. He scored a 57-yard TD on a slant
route by outrunning the defense. He has
deceptive speed. He knows how to use his
size and strength to his advantage against
defensive backs. Hamilton has great
potential, but he has to be consistent week
in and week out if he wants to be selected
in the second round of next year’s draft.
Senior WR Tavon Austin (West Virginia)
– Just like his teammate QB Geno Smith,
Austin has gotten off to a terrific start in
the early part of this season. He had 13
receptions for 179 receiving yards and three
TD’s last week. He is lightning quick and
elusive in the open field. He is very
versatile. You can line him in the slot and
in the backfield. Austin is a dangerous
returner. But I have concerns about his
size and his effort at times. He will be an
ideal slot receiver in the NFL and currently
carries a third round grade.
Senior DE Cornellius “Tank” Carradine
(Florida State)
– Carradine was a big time juco recruit.
Ever since Brandon Jenkins went down with a
season-ending injury, the athletic defensive
end has stepped up into the starting lineup
and been a force. He was able to generate
consistent pressure against Clemson. He
recorded seven total tackles and two sacks.
He was also very active against the run. He
has an explosive first step. He knows how
to use his long arms to his advantage. His
stock will continue to rise throughout the
season if he keeps up this level of
play.
Senior LB Manti Te'o (Notre Dame)
– He had another great game against the
Michigan Wolverines. Te’o had 8 tackles and
two picks. He delivered a couple of big
hits during the game. He was a consistent
force against the run. He was very quick
reacting to the ball. He showed good
awareness in coverage that resulted in the
two picks. He has shown improvement in his
game during his senior campaign. He is a
lock for the first round.
Fallers
Senior QB Denard
Robinson (Michigan) – Robinson struggled
once again in the big game. He threw for
only 138 passing yards while completing only
54% of his passes. Most importantly, he
threw four picks. He continues to struggle
with his accuracy and decision making. He
hasn’t developed as a passer. He has no
chance in making the roster as a QB at the
next level. He is a good athlete with great
speed. His best chance is to make the
switch to WR. He would need to show at the
Senior Bowl and the Combine that he can
catch the football consistently and run
crisp routes.
Senior QB Landry
Jones (Oklahoma) – Jones put up pretty
good numbers in a loss against Kansas State
(65% completion, 298 passing yards and a
TD). But after studying his game tape, I
came away disappointed. He had two critical
errors (an interception and a fumble) that
led to defensive touchdowns. He has ideal
size and arm strength. He doesn’t have good
pocket awareness. He still has a tendency
to lock onto his primary receiver. He has
accuracy issues because he has flaws with
his footwork. I currently have a third
round grade on him, but he drop even lower
if he continues to struggle in big games.
Senior RB Montee
Ball (Wisconsin) – The expectations this
season were almost unreal for Ball after he
put together a monster junior season.
Wisconsin lost a couple of key offensive
linemen, offensive line coach and QB Russell
Wilson. Ball has been ordinary this
season. He sustained a head injury against
UTEP, but should be able to play this week.
He needs to bounce back in order to rescue
his sinking stock. I was never that high on
him and thought that he was a more a product
of the system. He should be a third round
pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Senior CB Sheldon
Price (UCLA) – His stock was on the rise
after he had three picks against Houston in
week three. But he had a terrible game
against the Beavers in a performance that he
would like to forget. He gave up two long
touchdowns against Brandin Cooks and Markus
Wheaton. He lacks top end speed. Price
also struggles in his backpedal and has
tight hips. He would be best suited for a
zone coverage scheme at the next level.
|
Week 3
|
Risers
Senior LB Manti Te’o
(Notre Dame) –
Manti Te’o was dealing with some personal
issues leading up to the Michigan State game. His grandmother and
girlfriend passed away within 24 hours of
each other. He showed incredible
perseverance playing in the game. He led
the Irish to a big win against the
Spartans. He recorded 12 tackles and 2 pass
breakups. He was able to shed blockers and
get to the ball carrier. He was reliable
with his tackling form and showed good
instincts. He was also effective in pass
coverage when he was asked to drop back.
With his strong performance in this game, he
solidified his first round status.
Junior DE Bjoern
Werner (Florida State) –
Werner has been terrific in the beginning of
the 2012 season. He has put up some
incredible numbers (6.5 sacks and 9 tackles
for loss through three games). Werner has
arguably been the best defensive end in the
country. He looks like a legitimate top 20
pick in the 2013 draft. He lost 15 pounds
in the off-season and looks much quicker.
He recorded 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for
loss against
Wake
Forest. Werner showed the
ability to consistently wreak havoc in the
backfield. He used good leverage and held
his ground against the run. I love his
non-stop motor.
Junior DT Will Sutton
(Arizona State) –
Sutton is a player that is making some noise
early on this season. I wanted to include
him on this list last week. But he had
another good game against
Missouri this
week (one sack and one TFL). Those numbers
don’t do him any justice because he was
constantly in the opponent’s backfield. He
is a pass rusher from a defensive tackle
position with a quick first step. He is
name that we will hear more about as the
season progresses.
Senior CB Sheldon
Price (UCLA) –
Price is a corner with good size. His
tremendous instincts were on full display as
he came up with three picks against
Houston. He has
excelled in both man-to-man coverage and
zone. He also is very good in run support.
He is a mediocre athlete with average
speed. Those things will hurt him on draft
day. He is a solid mid-round pick at this
point.
Senior WR
Chad Bumphis (Mississippi State)
– He had six catches for 180 yards and three
touchdowns against Troy. This was his
breakout game this season. He has been the
primary target for Tyler Russell this
season. He is an athletic wide receiver
with good ball skills. Last week, he was
quick off the line and showed the ability to
make the big play. I expect him to continue
his strong play. He should go somewhere in
the fifth round.
Fallers
Junior QB Logan Thomas
(Virginia Tech)
– We saw Matt Barkley and Tyler Bray
struggle during week three, but no one
struggled more than Logan Thomas. Thomas
has incredible physical tools including
great size, arm strength, athletic ability
and the ability make plays with his feet. I
have been projecting him as one of the top
picks in next year’s draft. He has
disappointed thus far. He struggled
mightily against Pittsburgh in week three. Thomas completed
only 45% of his passes and threw three
interceptions. He lacked accuracy on his
throws. He was making bad reads. He is
still very raw as a passer.
Senior WR
Cobi Hamilton (Arkansas)
– The entire
Arkansas team put together a bad performance
against Alabama. I realize that they were without
their star QB Tyler Wilson, but there was no
excuse for being so flat. Senior wide
receiver Cobi Hamilton was not able to step
up during this critical game. I had him
rated as the top senior receiver at the
beginning of this season. He has not lived
up to his potential. He only had two
receptions for 14 yards against Alabama. He was unable to get much of a
separation from Alabama’s defensive backs. Hamilton was sloppy with
his route running which is not his strong
suit to begin with. Even though he has a
track background, he doesn’t look that fast
on the football field. He needs to step up
and play better if he wants to have a chance
to be drafted on the first or the second day
of the draft.
|
Week 2
|
Risers
Junior
LB Jarvis Jones (Georgia)
– He was the star during the second week of
college football. A junior linebacker had a
terrific performance against Missouri. He
recorded nine tackles, two sacks and one
forced fumble. He is an exceptional athlete
with a good motor. He has a quick first
step and long arms. He also demonstrated
pretty good coverage skills during the game
which is the one question mark that I had
about him. He even came up with one
interception during the game. His specialty
is getting after the quarterback and he
would be an excellent fit in a 3-4 scheme.
He looks like a top 10 pick.
Junior
DE/LB Damontre Moore (Texas A&M)
– Moore is playing DE for the Aggies this
year. He had 10 tackles and three sacks
against the Gators. He has a good
size/speed combo. He has a terrific first
step, and I saw him blow by the RT with ease
on a number of occasions. The one thing
that really impressed me during last week's
game is his hand usage. He chases down
ballcarriers and has a non-stop motor.
Another good candidate at outside LB for the
3-4 front.
Senior
RB Johnathan Franklin (UCLA)
– His 214 rushing yards against Rice made me
notice him in week one. His week two
performance against Nebraska where he
accumulated 217 rushing yards and 59 passing
yards made me put him on this list. He is
more quick than fast. I like his burst
through the hole. He can break tackles, and
the first defender can never bring him
down. He shows soft hands as a receiver
coming out of the backfield. He is a solid
mid-round pick at this point after his
strong start to this season.
Senior CB Johnthan Banks (Mississippi State)
– Banks proved once again against Auburn
that he is the top senior corner available
in next year's draft. He recorded six
tackles and two picks. He has ideal size
and long arms. He has excellent recognition
skills. He is better suited for the zone
coverage scheme because his speed is only
average.
Junior
SS Matt Elam (Florida)
– Elam is a very instinctive safety with
good speed. His best asset is playing close
to the line of scrimmage and he demonstrated
that against the Aggies. He is a terrific
run defender. His size is the only question
mark which will hurt his draft status. I
have a second round grade on him.
Fallers
Junior
RB Eddie Lacy (Alabama)
– Lacy was supposed to replace Trent
Richardson as the lead back. So far, he has
been clearly outplayed by the true freshman
T.J. Yeldon. He only had 9 carrries for 36
rushing yards against Western Kentucky. He
doesn't look like he is 100 percent. But he
also looks hesitant and indecisive when he
is attacking the line of scrimmage. He has
only average speed. Lacy doesn't look like
a first or a second day pick.
Junior
OT D.J. Fluker (Alabama)
– Fluker is a terrific run blocker, but it
wasn’t too difficult to notice his struggles
in pass protection against Western
Kentucky. He wasn’t going up against elite
talent in this game, but he gave up a few
sacks. He looked slow coming out of his
stance in pass protection. He needs to
improve his technique and his footwork.
There is no way that he can play left tackle
and he needs to improve considerably in pass
pro if he wants to remain a RT at the next
level.
Senior
QB Tyler Wilson (Arkansas)
– He was knocked out of the game against
Louisiana-Monroe last week. He hasn't
practiced all week and has been ruled out
against Alabama because of concussion-like
symptoms. This is his second concussion in
15 games. If he misses a few more weeks,
his draft stock will be on the
decline.
|
Week 1
Risers
Junior QB Tyler Bray (Tennessee) –
Bray had 333 passing yards and two TD’s against NC
State. His strong arm was on full display. He
threw an accurate deep ball. He spread the ball
around to different receivers. He demonstrated good
pocket awareness and field vision. His leadership
skills were put into question during the off-season,
but he was very emotional on the sidelines when he
was pumping his offense up. On September 15th,
he will be tested against the Florida Gators’
defense.
Senior QB Geno Smith (West Virginia) –
Smith looks more comfortable in his second year in
Dana Holgorsen’s offense. He looked poised and his
decision making against Marshall was superb. He
threw for 323 passing yards, four touchdowns and
only four incompletions. He is primed for a huge
year. I would like to see how he will perform
against Texas and Oklahoma this year. I have a
second round grade on him.
Senior RB Andre Ellington (Clemson) –
The final stat line for Ellington was 26 carries for
231 rushing yards and 8.9 yards per carry. He is a
speedster who is very elusive in the open field.
The one thing that impressed during this game is his
willingness to pound the ball between the tackles.
He has improved in that aspect of his game.
Junior RB Le’Veon Bell (Michigan State) –
While the rest of the Spartans offense struggled,
Bell torched Boise State’s defense all by himself
and carried them to victory. He had 44 carries for
210 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed soft
hands as a receiver. Bell demonstrated tremendous
patience as a runner. He is a power back with good
balance and nimble feet.
Junior WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Tennessee) –
He made a splash in his debut with the Vols. He is
a Juco transfer who was forced into the starting
role after Da’Rick Rogers was dismissed from the
team. He has the size, the strength and the 4.3
speed. He showed tremendous hands. He is also very
elusive for his size. He had six receptions for 93
yards and a TD. Patterson added another 67-yard
rushing TD on an end-around.
Senior DE Michael Buchanan (Illinois) –
When I scouted Whitney Mercilus last year, I
couldn’t help but notice Michael Buchanan. Against
Western Michigan in week one, he was dominant and
looked like a man amongst boys. He had a sack, an
INT and was always in the opponent’s backfield. He
was very active. He is an athletic player with a
good first step and his motor is always running.
When he wasn’t getting to the QB, he was batting
passes down by using his long arms. If he continues
to play like this, he will be a lock for the first
round.
Senior DT Sylvester Williams (North Carolina) –
The Tar Heels dominated against Elon. A lot of
their players had good games, but Sylvester Williams
was unblockable. He is quick for a 300 pounder. He
showed the strength to split the double team. He
looks to be in much better shape than he was last
year. Williams recorded a pair of sacks. Let’s see
how he performs against ACC competition.
Junior CB Dee Milliner (Alabama) –
Athletic junior corner showed lockdown ability
against the Wolverines. He had a pick, broke up a
few passes and was a factor in run support. He
showed tremendous closing speed against the
receivers. He might be yet another Alabama corner
that gets drafted in the first round.
Fallers
Junior CB David Amerson (North Carolina State) –
Entering this season, Amerson has been projected by
many as a top 10 pick and the top corner available
in the 2013 NFL Draft. It is not surprising
considering the fact that he had 13 picks during his
sophomore campaign. He had a night that he would
probably like to forget especially in the first half
against Tennessee. Amerson got beat deep for a
touchdown by Patterson when he was caught peaking
into the backfield for a moment. Bray came back and
attacked Amerson again. He threw a deep post to
Zach Rogers who took it the distance for a 72-yard
TD. He had trouble turning his hips and running
with the receiver on that particular play. There
was another play where Patterson outran Amerson on
an end-around play where it looked like he had a
good angle. On that play, it was quite evident that
he doesn’t have top flight speed.
Senior WR Aaron Mellette (Elon) –
Mellette is considered to be the top small school
prospect in this year’s draft. He deserves the
attention that he has received after his amazing
junior season (113 receptions, 1,639 receiving yards
and 12 touchdowns). He has the size at 6’3 and the
bulk at 215 pounds. He is a good route runner and
creates yards after the catch. I pay very close
attention to small school players when they face top
level competition. Mellette came up short during
the North Carolina game. He was non-existent. He
had only two receptions for nine yards. He had
trouble gaining separation from the defensive
backs. He wasn’t quick coming in and out of his
cuts. He also had a couple of drops. There was one
bad drop in particular on a slant route that hit him
right in the numbers and bounced off his chest.
Senior DE Devin Taylor (South Carolina) –
Taylor is a player that is really frustrating. He
has the size (6’7, 267), the strength and the
quickness to be a dominant player. Yet, he is a
classic underachiever. He made one tackle for a
loss and had three overall tackles. He was blocked
single-handedly all game long against Vanderbilt.
He didn’t put any pressure on the QB and lost his
gap responsibility on a few occasions. He is
mid-round pick at best.
Senior DE Brandon Jenkins (Florida State) –
Jenkins left the game with an injury against Murray
State. Now it is being reported that he will be out
for the remainder of the season with a left foot
injury. That is bad news for Jenkins who had a
chance to bounce back from his mediocre junior year
and secure a first round grade. |