NCAA Scouting
SEC East Pre-Season Top Senior Prospects
by Paul Emery
August 24th 2010
 
With the college football season almost upon us, the Diner takes a detailed look at senior prospects in the SEC East. These players will be scouted very closely over the next few months as we begin our focus on a new set of prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft.
 
Florida
 
Emmanuel Moody – RB – Moody transferred from USC in the hope of seeing more playing time – but it hasn't quite worked out that way. He's had quite a few injuries and hopefully this year he will be 100% healthy. Moody is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the ball – he runs low to the ground and is certain to test out well at the combine. He has some power to go with his speed and will break tackles as well as make people miss. If he can remain healthy all season, he's someone who could fly up draft boards in a big way.
 
Marcus Gilbert – OT –Gilbert has decent technique and also has experience inside at guard. He's probably best suited to right tackle as a pro as he's tall enough – but lacks the top feet and flexibility to be a pro left tackle. He will be a borderline Day Two player (rounds 2-3) depending on his workout numbers.
 
Carl Johnson – OG – Johnson is a big man – listed at 358 lbs – which is a bit too heavy. Unsurprisingly, his strongest area is drive blocking – I'd hate to be a LB seeing him come my way! Johnson's feet are his main weakness – he's heavy footed and as he can't move his feet quickly enough he tends to lose technique. Clearly would benefit from getting down in the region of 320 lbs – the post season weigh in will tell all.
 
Mike Pouncey – OG/C – Pouncey is the twin brother of Maurkice who came out after his junior year and went in the first round. This gives Mike the chance to move inside to center to replace him. Mike is a converted defensive lineman and looks to be a fine prospect in his own right. I actually think his technique is pretty good for a converted DL and he brings the aggressiveness over from the defensive side of the ball. As he continues to grow, I can see him rising to maybe a late first/early second round pick.
 
Ahmad Black – SS – Black is listed at 5'9” and as roster listings are usually generous he probably is 5'7” or 8”. This could see him drop into the third day although his play would suggest a higher pick. In the NFL Draft – size does matter!
 
Chas Henry – P – Henry looks to be a late round/free agent type, who will use the rugby style punt at times. He doesn't have the best leg in the world, but he gets good height on his punts to make up for it. Didn't stand out as someone who I would use a draft pick on in 2009.
 
Georgia
 
Shaun Chapas – FB – the fullback seems to be a dying breed – but Chapas is an old school FB and one the best prospects this year. He's able to get to the second level nicely and does a good job holding his blocks. He's also active on special teams, which is a must to ensure an NFL roster spot.
 
Clint Boling – OT – Boling will be a four year starter and has experience at guard, right tackle and left tackle – where he will line up in 2010. Boling has good technique and gets to the second level very well. Something that might drop him is his height – listed at 6'5” – meaning he's probably a couple of inches shorter. His experience at guard and right tackle will be useful as he's probably headed there as a pro.
 
Josh Davis – OG/T – Davis looks to be more of a guard prospect, even though he plays tackle. He's a big kid, but his foot speed is lacking to play outside at the next level. He's powerful, but doesn't look real good on the edge against any kind of speed – meaning you need to project him inside.
 
Demarcus Dobbs – DE – Dobbs is a smart player. While lacking a top burst off the edge, he is always under control. Many times I see prospects giving up backside contain – but Dobbs is very disciplined and makes a few plays when backs cut back to him. He's a late round prospect, who is shorter than ideal – but he may be able to find a role at the next level.
 
Kiante Tripp – DE – Tripp is a draftable type prospect basically because of his frame – he's 6'6” with very long arms. If it weren't for the fact he's only listed at 275 lbs, I would be thinking 3-4 DE for him – as he shows ability to stack and shed. One play I saw from him was superb - he moved laterally with his arms into the OT and then got off the block to make the tackle near the sideline. Unfortunately he only flashes this ability – if the light goes on this year he will move up boards.
 
Kentucky
 
Derrick Locke – RB – Locke has had durability problems (knee surgery) – but when healthy he's fun to watch. He's a home run threat type back who can help in the return game. He is willing to run between the tackles, although he is better suited outside at 5'9”, 192 lbs. I'd like to see him run with a little more patience as he tends to hit the hole too quickly, when waiting for the play develop for a touch longer would help him. His pass protection stood out on tape – he stays on his feet and gives top effort. The knee surgery is a red flag – but he's someone who could be a change of pace back and help in the return game.
 
DeQuin Evans – DE – Evans has decent speed off the edge and right now he looks like a specialised pass rusher. I mentioned with Demarcus Dobbs above that he's disciplined – Evans isn't. He tends to head straight up the field whatever the play and he'll run by some running plays as well as screens. Late round situational pass rusher type – if he can show more awareness he could move up a little.
 
Ricky Lumpkin – DT – Myron Pryor was a steal in the 6th round for the Patriots in the 2009 Draft and last year Corey Peters benefitted somewhat from Pryor's success as he was a late riser taken in the 3rd round. Ricky Lumpkin is the next up from this system and scouts will be watching him closely as they know he will be well schooled. Lumpkin is a hard worker – he chases everything and in doing so takes good angles and gets into quite a few plays by doing this. Lumpkin needs to develop a few more moves as a pass rusher – he has some success with this, but tends to rely on his bull rush. I'd like to see him control blockers a little more on running plays at him – but he has some ability.
 
South Carolina
 
Patrick DiMarco – FB – DiMarco lines up at FB, HB and TE for the Gamecocks. He's a late round/free agent type prospect coming into this year. The big thing he needs to work on is staying on his feet more – he uses the cut block far too often. I would lean towards him being a FA type right now because of that.
 
Weslye Saunders – TE – Saunders is someone who has talent as a receiver, but lacks consistency. He can make some nice catches, but he'll drop too many. He'll have one strong game and then hardly show up in another. He moves pretty well and is a big target. As a blocker he is weak – he makes initial contact most of the time, but is unable to hold his blocks as he lacks strength at the point of attack and also is a waist bender, meaning he is off balance making it easier for the defender to shed the block. Talented, but needs the light to go on.
 
Jarriel King – OT/G – King has experience at left tackle and guard. He looks like a left tackle as he's a very flexible athlete – he bends his knees very naturally and has good hand placement – he's able to lock his man up nicely. He's also able to get to the second level very well. He's not someone who was in the lineup all the time for South Carolina – so some consistency is needed – but I think he's one to watch out for this season as that natural flexibility is hard to find.
 
Cliff Matthews – DE – Matthews is listed at 260 lbs – but has the frame to put on more weight. I see him as a 4-3 DE rather than a 3-4 OLB as he lacks top speed. His burst off the edge isn't great but he's not stout at the point of attack so might be someone who you think of as a LDE, except he lacks the strength. He tends to get moved up the field far too easily at times although he is a guy who will make plays chasing the play down from the backside – but right now I can't really find a home for him. Hopefully he's been working hard in the weight room in the off season and we can project him as a pro 4-3 LDE.
 
Ladi Ajiboye – DT – Ajiboye served a three game suspension at the start of the 2009 season for violation of team rules – so that's a red flag before we start. On the field, I would say he's a late round type who flashes an occasional burst off the ball – but generally struggles to get off blocks.
 
Chris Culliver – CB/FS – Culliver has experience at CB and safety. I saw him at both positions last year and I prefer him at FS – where he was very active. He shows good range at safety and is able to make plays on the ball. I'd like to see him wrap up better as a tackler, but I think he's someone who could be a Day Two pick.
 
Tennessee
 
Luke Stocker – TE – some people seem to be rating Stocker as the top senior TE coming into this year, but I think he's limited and thus not a great prospect. He reminds me very much of Matt Spaeth (Steelers) when he came out of Minnesota. Stocker is very tall and is not a natural knee bender – so he's always going to struggle with leverage as a blocker. He's got decent hands – but he lacks top end speed, so is a short/medium range target only who I think will struggle to get separation at the next level.
 
Ben Martin – DE – Martin is an undersized college DE who projects to LB as a pro. He has a burst off the edge and dips his inside shoulder to get to the QB. His main problem is he has very long and thin legs and he really struggles to protect them – any cut blocks against him are usually successful – so he needs to learn to use his hands better to deal with that. He's going to need to learn to play in space, but he looks athletic enough to be able to do this.
 
Chris Walker – DE – Walker comes into the season rated slightly below Martin by many – but I like him far more. Walker is a natural knee bender and does a great job of getting under his man against run and pass. His burst off the edge is not as good as Martin – but he's a far better player and although he's perhaps not the athlete Martin is – he's athletic enough and is the type of player who I like. Flexibility is so important at many positions and Walker has it.
 
Vanderbilt
 
The cupboard is bare for Vandy this year, with no prospects viewed as draftable at this stage. DT Adam Smotherman is probably the top rated senior, but he doesn't stand out and looks to be a FA type.
 
Top SEC East Prospect: Mike Pouncey – OG/C - Florida
 
Riser to Watch: Jarriel King – OL – South Carolina