NCAA Scouting
Senior Prospect Tracker - Week 12
by Paul Emery
November 23rd 2011
 
This week I want to take a look at some small school talent. These prospects may not be flashy top 10 picks – but Ryan Steed (Furman), Brian Quick (Appalachian State) and Asa Jackson (Cal Poly) should all be drafted come April. There's also a look at the first round of the D2 playoffs featuring former Mississippi Guard Rishaw Johnson and a potential sleeper in WR Thomas Mayo. For those looking for bigger names – the Thursday night North Carolina/Virginia Tech matchup offers another look at Quinton Coples plus the super Friday night Oklahoma State/Iowa State game with four top prospects. Just for good measure, there's a couple of MAC games thrown in!
 
Ball State at Northern Illinois
 
Ball State
 
Sean Baker – FS – Baker carries a late round/free agent grade. His best moments were on special teams where he looked very good as a gunner in punt coverage and downed a punt at the 4 yard line. He also had a tackle on a kick-off return. He looks the part at 6'1” 205 lbs – but did miss too many tackles on the night. He had an interception called back for a penalty, unfortunate on a nice read on his part. I think his shot will come on special teams where he was one of the better performers I've seen this year.
 
Northern Illinois
 
Chandler Harnish – QB – everyone loves a late round QB sleeper and many like Harnish. He's a very mobile QB who runs the zone read very well, making good decisions. However, he also has some skill throwing the football. As a passer he reminds me some of Idaho's Nate Enderle from last year (now with the Bears) in that he tries to make the perfect touch pass too often and it leads to a few many incompletions. He did complete some of these passes and they look very pretty when they work, so he's going to impress on highlights for casual draft followers, but isn't quite that good. He took too many sacks in this one, so I would like to see him read and get the ball out quicker and also would like to see him really drill the ball in there when called for rather than always the touch pass. Some QB's can't throw the touch pass – he can, but does need some refinement – but certainly I'd be willing to spend a draft pick on him to see if I can develop him.
 
Scott Wedige – C – Wedige isn't a super powerful blocker, but he's skilled in the zone read scheme – able to stick with his man nicely. He gets to the second level well and this is the best area of his game. He was a little too upright in pass protection, so I would find it tough to give him a super high rating – but he could interest a team late on day three that runs a zone blocking scheme. He may need a year on the practice squad to get a bit stronger and iron out his pass protection technique.
 
Western Michigan at Miami (Ohio)
 
Western Michigan
 
Jordan White – WR – you know when you've had a productive year when a 9 catch night is somewhat of a slow game! White now has a staggering 108 catches on the season – with 2 more scores in this one taking his total to 14. He has some Greg Salas (who I really liked last year – had him in my top 100 – he didn't go there but was leading the Rams in receptions before breaking his leg, so I think I was right to have him there) about him – not the fastest in a straight line – but quick feet and an innate ability to get open. He's strong after the catch and was able to keep his legs driving and back into the end zone for his second TD. He did drop two passes – but he didn't fumble this week, which was a concern against Toledo. He's probably not going to be a super high draft pick because of his speed (or lack thereof), but he could certainly get on the field in multiple receiver sets and if more teams are going to run the spread he will fit right in.
 
Miami (Ohio)
 
Brandon Brooks – OG – I mentioned last week I was impressed with Brooks, so much so I decided to catch this game, which wasn't initially on my schedule. Once again I came away very impressed with him. He carries a late round grade, but with his size, technique and power I think he could sneak up boards. I think he is somewhat capped in terms of stock by the fact he's not super fast getting to the second level. But that's the only weakness in his game. His pass protection technique is superb and a joy to watch in an era of belly floppers and waist benders. He sinks his butt, gets his arms extended and just locks up his man with no problem. Against speed he also looked comfortable – again trusting his technique – sitting and then showing he can move his feet to mirror. He was very patient against a spin move – he didn't over extend and get off balance, just sat, mirrored and locked up. He gets good movement as a drive blocker and again was fun to watch. He'll suit a power team and I'd certainly be very comfortable with taking him on day three.
 
North Carolina at Virginia Tech
 
North Carolina
 
Dwight Jones – WR – at times Jones looks like the high pick many believe he will be, but equally at other times he looks very average. I've not seen him really take over a game and just demand the ball with his play. Having said that his production has been steady – currently at 69 receptions. He did have 6 catches for 105 yards and did look strong after the catch. However at times I thought his routes weren't great. On one square in route in the fourth quarter, I thought he drifted back towards the CB (Jayron Hosley) and made the breakup of the pass much easier – as opposed to coming back to the QB a little to create greater separation against off man coverage. He did run a nice route off a fake swing pass, with a tidy spin and move upfield – but ruined the play by pushing off against Hosley for an offensive pass interference penalty. I think he has more to offer and perhaps that's why he frustrates me a little. He looks to still have upside but equally might need some work before really being able to stamp his authority on the NFL.
 
Quinton Coples – DE – about a month ago during the UCLA/Arizona game, ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel had “lost the team” – right before the Bruins bounced back to win 3 of the next 4 and become Bowl eligible then! Palmer's contribution during commentary in this one was to say Coples was a “sure fire top 5 pick”. To borrow another ESPN mans catch phrase – not so fast my friend!! Now Coples did look better in this game and indeed I think it's probably the best I've seen him play this year. But – he seemed to be in and out of the game. One play in the fourth quarter he was pancaked on a run play at him – the next play he split a double team and made a TFL. At 6'6” 285 lbs I think his best position might even be a one gap 3-4 DE. His frame is a little like JJ Watt's from last year – but unlike the former Wisconsin man, the motor is not always at full throttle. As mentioned previously, Coples is a little deceptive with his speed because he is so smooth – but too often he's controlled with ease and not even by a double team. Other times he'll suddenly explode and turn the corner on you. His frame is ideal, but his play this year hasn't been top 5 level – I think he's in the second tier – the 10-20 range, perhaps towards the higher end of that – but by no means a sure fire top 5 pick.
 
Zach Brown – OLB – I've seen Brown rated as one of the top 5 seniors prospects and I've seen him just scraping into some draft sites top 100 – so opinion is clearly split on him. In this one he had a rough outing. Yes, there were 10 tackles but only 4 were solo and a lot of them were after solid gains (I have 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11 yard gains listed in my notes). Against Tech's offense he was asked to read and react more than just fly up the field (not a good idea against Logan Thomas) and as noted in previous weeks it's really not his strength. At times he just took too long to see the play and react to it. When asked to get off blocks he struggled – one play highlights his struggles, where he had to peel back off a block and was in on the tackle, but 10 yards down the field. When attacking he looked better – a QB pressure on a blitz and then a nice backside contain play to make a TFL. But overall, this game really showed that he's not going to be for everyone and must play in an aggressive scheme which allows the LB's to attack and not to think.
 
Virginia Tech
 
Jarrett Boykin – WR – Boykin had his best game of the season so far with 10 catches for 106 yards. Only one of his passes wasn't a short swing/slant or shallow cross – so in the offense he's not used to running a great variety of routes. That one catch down the field was a good one though, getting off press coverage and running an up route to catch a 39 yard ball. He did have a couple of drops though, which spoiled the outing. All in all he didn't show enough for me to suddenly vaunt him up my board, but still a decent game.
 
Blake DeChristopher – OT – Coples lined up against him a little and he really struggled against the highly touted Tar Heel. Coples was able to get under him on one play and then just beat him inside on a pass rush. He doesn't sink in pass protection, his feet go back and out – so it's a struggle for him to anchor. He does have some power in the run game, but Coples showed that he's limited as a prospect and likely to remain a day three pick at best.
 
Jaymes Brooks – OG – Brooks didn't have a great game. Against a talented defensive line, like DeChristopher his limitations were shown up. He looked slow and struggled to hold his blocks long enough in the run game. On the play DeChristopher was beaten inside by Coples, he was too slow to get over to help out his team mate. Needs to show a little more to suggest he can make it with a power team.
 
Eddie Whitley – FS –Whitley looks lighter than his listed 195 lbs – just looking at his frame it looks quite thin. This problem was shown up on a couple of tackle attempts – one against 225 lb Dwight Jones (just managing to shove him out of bounds) and a missed tackle on a TE after the catch. In coverage he did show a nice break on the ball on a pass breakup – but did get too nosy on a play fake and allow a 15 yard play behind him. He was also so busy lining everyone up late in the game, he wasn't ready himself and allowed a big play behind him. In all it's clear he has some ability – but his size is a limiting factor. I think early day three would be fair enough – but of course if he should shine in the post season, he could crack the top 100.
 
Oklahoma State at Iowa State
 
Oklahoma State
 
Brandon Weeden – QB – Weeden's stat line on the night was 42-58-476 with 3 TD's and 3 INT's. Of those 58 passes 40 of them were in the 0-10 yard range – many of them just simple swing passes. The fact he has to do little with his feet on those plays does make him a little lazy with his feet on other passes. On a slant in he didn't move his feet at all and the result as a pass behind his receiver. Further down the field I thought his accuracy was off too much. He did throw one simply fantastic corner route which got him a deserved TD and another nice back shoulder pass for Blackmon, giving him a chance to make a play. Many of his other passes though made the receivers work slow or stop to make the catch. His three interceptions of course was the big concern from this game. His pick in overtime cost them the chance to stay undefeated – forcing a pass despite a LB having nice underneath coverage. He made the same mistake earlier in the game with his first pick – he was staring down his receiver and made an ill advised throw off his back foot. His second pick was tipped at the line, so a little more unlucky. As mentioned in the telecast, Weeden is actually older than Aaron Rodgers – which is a good illustration of the 28 year olds big problem – should he have to sit and learn for a couple of years he'll already be 30. He does have a good arm, but is limited in terms of his ability to go through his progressions (2 reads max on any given play in this one – even with a lot of time in the pocket). If you want a QB to throw little swing passes you can probably get a prospect in their early 20's who has more upside – so I'm not sold on him at all as a super high pick.
 
Levy Adcock – OT – Adcock carries a first or second round grade from some, but I haven't been impressed and in a game where I could look at Osemele also, it was clear the Iowa State man is a much better prospect. My big problem with Adcock is that he spends too much on the ground and the first offensive play was a perfect example. He was off balance on a running play, released his block early and then fell down. This happened numerous other times and it's a shame he hasn't got this cleaned up between last season and this – or even as this season has progressed. When he sets up in pass protection at times he looks a little clumsy – it's not real smooth and he did struggle against speed off the edge. Although he can sit and anchor too many times he's upright affording defenders the chance to get under him and drive him back into the QB.
 
Markelle Martin – SS – Martin did miss a couple of tackles, something that was more of a problem last year for him – but overall I thought he looked like a solid day two prospect once again. He plays some in a role much like Trenton Robinson of Michigan State – off man coverage of the slot receiver 10-12 yards off the line, but sometimes with a LB underneath to help. At times Iowa State took advantage of this and threw some short swing passes or curl routes for easy gains in front of him. His best moments came in a little portion of the game where Iowa State were down in the red zone. On one play he was up fairly close to the line and after an initial pause to diagnose he showed some really nice feet to get back to defend the post – really elite feet. He then was able to show a nice break on the ball shortly after – breaking up a pass to the TE. I'm not 100% sure he can be a pro FS and cover man to man adequately – he seemed a bit slow to turn and run in man coverage – but is better when he can keep things in front and break. He perhaps might not suit everyone, but I like his play and think he'll make a good pro.
 
Iowa State Kelechi Osemele – OT – Osemele is an interesting watch. At times he can sit in his stance and mirror very nicely, but when faced with top speed off the edge it does come unstuck somewhat. He does get away at times with extending his arms and making it a long trip around the corner, but doesn't always manage it. Clearly his stock will be higher if he's viewed at Tackle (right side only as a pro for me) as opposed to inside at Guard. He has good power and was able to get excellent movement when drive blocking. He doesn't get himself overextended – being very patient against spin moves and stunts. The only limitation is his foot speed, but I think a power team will find he fits at Tackle and he could sneak into the back end of the first round depending on which juniors come out early. Certainly I like him a lot more than Georgia's Cordy Glenn – a similar body type, but lacking the technique of Osemele.
 
Leonard Johnson – CB – Rod Gilmore mentioned in the broadcast that Johnson was rated as a 4th/5th rounder coming into this one. Perhaps Mr Gilmore should check out the Diner – I had him 31st in my Top 100 released recently and rated as a mid 2nd round pick. It looks like after this one that I could even have undersold him as he did a nice job against Justin Blackmon. Blackmon did make two big plays against him, but I think it's a big ask to shut him down completely. One of those big plays was just a perfect pass and I think would have beaten most CB's – at the next level as well. He had an interception to highlight his night – a nice break in front of Blackmon on a pass deflected at the line. He didn't back down from Blackmon and that spark he has was noted in previous weeks and was part of the reason I had him rated so high. I think he rises some on this performance – perhaps not as much on my board as those who had him in the 4th/5th – but I'm taking my rating of him as a big stamp of approval on my previous Iowa State film study.
 
Texas Tech at Missouri
 
Texas Tech
 
Lonnie Edwards – OG – Edwards was carted off with what looked like a serious left knee injury – but hopefully it's not as bad as it looked. On the play he got injured he actually had a problem with a DT getting under him and jacking him back and this was his major weakness – playing too high. However, he looked good in the run game – showing the ability to move people. He over extended somewhat in pass protection also, but does have a very nice initial punch. Certainly if healthy I think he could sneak into the later rounds, but the injury does cloud things.
 
Scott Smith – DE – Smith lined up with his hand in the dirt and was stood up some as Tech used a variety of different fronts with anywhere from one to four down lineman. Smith is a high motor prospect who has a nice spin move when rushing the passer, but tended to overuse it. By the fourth quarter the right side of Missouri's line knew what was coming and the Right Guard was there to help out a couple of times. He plays a little upright at times (he's 6'6” which doesn't help him in that regard) and isn't super fast off the edge – but I liked his motor. He's listed at 256 lbs, so projects to a 3-4 – but might be a tweener. However – he can certainly be someone who pushes for time on special teams. I'll be interested in his pro day numbers and will look out for these down the road.
 
Missouri
 
Michael Egnew – TE – Egnew had 12 catches against Baylor a couple of weeks back – but outside of this one game it's been a down year for him. He now has 46 catches on the year and he's way down from his 90 catch 2010 season. He had just the one catch in this one – but it was a touchdown. He caught a nice jump ball in the corner of the end zone – doing a nice job of taking the ball away from the defensive back. Much of the time he was matched up one on one with Tech Safety Terrance Bullitt and he struggled to get open. As a blocker he had mixed fortunes – early in the game he couldn't prevent Bullitt making a tackle for loss on a swing pass to a WR. However, he was able to rebound with a couple of nice blocks on QB runs. With previous TE's from this system not putting up huge numbers, I would be reluctant to pull the trigger on him – particularly if the price to get him has to be a fairly high pick. I'll be interested in his combine numbers as I'm not sure he's the best athlete in the world – a subpar 40 might drop him to a 4th/5th rounder pick.
 
Jacquies Smith – DE – Smith isn't a big sack man – 5.5 sacks last year and after missing the start of the season with injury – he has 5 to date. He did get some pressure in this one – he only managed this one time with speed though. He dipped his inside shoulder and missed a sack chance – but did flush the QB out of the pocket. He tended to rely mostly on getting underneath the Right Tackle and driving him back to the QB. He then consistently got his hand up as the QB threw and batted down one pass. I don't think his motor runs quite at full throttle all the time and all in all I think he's probably a day three pick – but I did like his understanding of leverage – but need to see that motor running all the time like his counterpart Scott Smith.
 
Small School Watch
 
Elizabeth City State at California (Pa.) – D2 Playoffs First Round
 
California (Pa.)
 
Rishaw Johnson – OG – Johnson was kicked off the Ole Miss team and landed with the Vulcans. He has good size at 6'4” 308 lbs and has some power – really dominating at times. However, his technique does let him down at times. In pass protection he has a habit of letting his right leg shoot back too far and it means he can't sit in his stance and anchor. He does flash the ability to sit in his stance and indeed looks very comfortable doing so. He's able to get his hands out quickly and has a nice initial punch. In the run game he buried his man a few times and looked like a man amongst boys. He lost balance a couple of times – just over extending himself. In all I'm not as high on him as I was Slippery Rock's Brandon Fusco last year (made the Vikings roster), as he needs a little more technique work – but his size and power could see him drafted later on the final day.
 
Thomas Mayo – WR – when I watched Johnson earlier in the season, I came away very impressed with Mayo. After transferring from Concord he put together a good season with 66 receptions and in three quarters of action in this one Mayo had 7 catches for 89 yards and 3 TD's (he wasn't required in the fourth quarter in a comfortable Cal win). It was all rather easy for him on his three scores as he was wide open on all three of them. The first he just sat in the zone and made an easy hands catch; the second he ran a corner route and again made an uncontested hands catch. The final one was a crossing route – he was able to pull away from the CB and then no one was around to help out and again wide open for an easy score. I'd love to see Mayo get an invite to a post season All-Star game – he's clearly got talent and I like him as a sleeper.
 
Furman at Florida
 
Furman
 
Kadarron Anderson – ILB - missed the game with an ankle sprain. He's had a good year, so a real shame he missed this opportunity.
 
Ryan Steed – CB – Steed had a rough outing and his stock will have taken a hit in his big test this year. He was beaten for two TD's – one for 80 yards and the other 29 yards. On the 80 yarder he was in decent position, but didn't turn for the ball – which allowed the receiver to drift over, out muscle him for the ball and then head to pay dirt. The 29 yard play was somewhat similar – he never turned for the ball but was beaten more for speed. He had a similar problem later in the game on a deep corner route – he just didn't locate the ball and was lucky the pass was thrown too far outside. Now on the positive side of things – he did look decent when he was able to keep everything in front of him. He showed he can get a solid bump in and thus he projects best in a Cover-2 scheme – but certainly he may drift out of the first 3 rounds, unless he can recover his stock at an All-Star game.
 
Appalachian State at Elon
 
A quick note on the Southern Conference TV network – some excellent picture quality and commentary and really put some of the major conferences to shame – great work.
 
Appalachian State
 
Brian Quick – WR – this was the best game I've seen Quick have this season as he put together an 11 catch 150 yard day with 2 TD's. He started the game poorly with an easy pass that he put on the ground, but after that it seemed like someone rattled his cage and he was in the mood for it. He was able to snatch some very nice receptions, the best his first TD on a pass which turned him around – but he managed to catch a high ball and back into the end zone. He looked dangerous after the catch, breaking tackles and looking fast for a big man (6'5” 220 lbs). He's certainly looked better since Jamal Jackson took over at QB and indeed his stock does seem to be on the rise in some areas of the media. I still have concerns going back to the season opener against Virginia Tech when Jayron Hosley shut him down – so I will need him to show he belongs at a higher level of play in an All-Star game – if he can play well there I'll put him in my Top 100, which would likely mean a slot in the first three rounds.
 
Cal Poly at South Alabama
 
Cal Poly
 
Asa Jackson – CB – Jackson and the Mustangs had a long cross country trip to Mobile, Alabama – but he wouldn't mind a return to Ladd Peebles Stadium in January – site of the Senior Bowl. Jackson has been troubled by turf toe, but like Texas A&M's Jeff Fuller is still on the field. He's used as a kick and punt returner and looked shifty returning kicks in this one – he fair caught all but one punt return, which was a short one. As a defensive back he plays some zone – but also a little press but most commonly off man coverage. He has a nice backpedal – getting very low and showing a quick break out of it to come up on short routes or on running plays. He had a nice pass breakup – getting his eyes on the ball and breaking in front of the receiver on a medium post route and indeed perhaps could have had a pick on the play. At 5'11” 184 lbs even at this level of play he didn't look convincing up in press – he was jarred back a couple of times and allowed the receiver to separate. He looked comfortable in zone – reading the QB and able to flip his hips to adjust as the QB moved his eyes. In terms of level of competition this game clearly wasn't the test Ryan Steed had. Jackson looked very good – but he will now need to put in a good All-Star game performance to show he belongs – but certainly for now I'd keep a draftable grade on him.