NCAA Scouting
Senior Prospect Tracker - Week 14
by Paul Emery
December 8th 2011
 
The final week of the regular season sees three quarterbacks rated as third day picks get a chance in the spotlight. How do Case Keenum, Austin Davis and Chandler Harnish get on?
 
West Virginia at South Florida
 
West Virginia
 
Don Barclay – OT – Barclay isn't the best athlete in the world and with his frame (listed at 6'4” and looks to have short arms) is headed inside to Guard as a pro. In pass protection he showed he can sit in his stance and mirror effectively, but isn't consistent with this – sometimes playing too high. He has struggled against edge speed in previous weeks and did so again on a WR screen pass which was intercepted. It looked like he wasn't supposed to let the DE come free as with some screens, but despite getting his arms extended he couldn't prevent pressure on Geno Smith, which may have contributed to the pick as Smith rushed the pass. In the run game, he's not over powering – but does offer skill on stretch plays – something that I am appreciating more after watching Rodney Hudson last year. In all he's clearly a later round guy at best – but he I think he can make a roster.
 
Julian Miller – DE – Miller has been battling a high ankle sprain all season and just as it appeared he was almost healthy, he re-injured the ankle. Prior to going down he looked quicker than I've seen him to date and made a couple of nice plays, including a QB pressure. However after the injury he did slow down and made less of an impact. The most concerning thing was that he gave up the edge a couple of times on runs at him – one a key first down for Daniels. Clearly he's a better player than his play for much of the season would suggest – hopefully the injury will clear up with some rest between now and the Bowl/All-Star season.
 
Bruce Irvin – DE – Irvin didn't play in the second half due to a hip pointer injury, something that wasn't picked up by the ESPN commentary crew. He was unable to register on the stat sheet, but he nearly sacked B.J. Daniels three times – one with a speed move, one with his patented jump cut move outside and finally with a nice club move. Against the run he struggled more and once again it must be said that at 235 lbs he's clearly out of position as a 3-3-5 DE – but there is concern there. Hopefully he'll get healthy for the Bowl game.
 
Keith Tandy – CB – Tandy had a rough night, being called for pass interference twice and once again showing he has problems locating the ball when in the air. His first PI call he just never turned for the ball and bumped the receiver when the ball was in the air. The second was very obvious – a double move (post-corner) saw him in real trouble and he just bumped into the receiver to save a TD. Interestingly in nickel looks he was playing over the top as a Safety and on one such play he had a shot at a pick or at least pass breakup – but as seen previously he's not able to locate and make a play. He does have a decent backpedal and break out of it – but there are too many holes in his game to think he'll be anything but a 4th/5th round pick at best.
 
South Florida
 
Jeremiah Warren – OG – USF lack any highly rated prospects, Warren is the first of three late round/agent rated prospects. He's a big kid at 6'4” 327 lbs – but plays too upright, which gives him some problems. He also struggles to stay balanced, particularly when getting to the second level. He's not real quick, so he's just over extending a bit at times to make his blocks. He was beaten by Miller one time for quickness in pass protection and I think he's more of a size camp guy.
 
Quenton Washington – CB – Washington made a really opportunistic play to get an interception. On a slant in, the receiver didn't really secure the ball and when on the ground the ball was just lying on his stomach. Washington just came in and grabbed the ball for the big play. He was up in press coverage when USF were using a Cover-2 scheme and did a decent job getting the jam – but did struggle more with quickness as he didn't bail quickly enough and receivers got separation a couple of times. He played bigger than his listed size (5'10” 190) though. Now deep speed may be a question mark – on a deep sideline route he was trailing by a step, but the pass was overthrown. If he can run a 40 time in the low 4.5's I think he can certainly be drafted for a Cover-2 team.
 
Jerrell Young – FS –Young had good size (6'1”, 205 lbs) and when he sees a play he gets downhill in a hurry and he's not afraid of contact when he gets there. He did miss a tackle in the open field – completely whiffing on Tavon Austin. He played over the top coverage and as such it was tough to judge him as much of his work was off screen. Certainly the size and downhill ability should see him in with a shot as a third day pick.
 
Northern Illinois vs Ohio (MAC Championship Game)
 
Northern Illinois
 
Chandler Harnish – QB – Harnish was off for much of the game, but somehow pulled out the win and his final stat line didn't look too bad (16-26-250-3 TD-1 INT). He has nice touch and made some nice throws – notably a TD on a skinny post. From time to time I really wanted to see him really step into a throw and zing it into a tight space, but he seems to prefer that touch pass. He tends not to make more than 2 reads on any given play, so is limited when compared to Kirk Cousins for example. He is very mobile and runs the zone-read very well – he's 220 lbs, so is getting near a weight where you might feel comfortable using him as such at the next level (if Denver commit to Tebow, then he will need a backup for the system). He has some tools, he's not working in an offense which does a lot of pro stuff like looking off the safety – so he will need some time to develop.
 
Ohio
 
LaVon Brazill – WR – Brazill impressed in this one with 8 catches for 124 yards. He started off the night with a nice route on a 39 yard play – just drifting out to the sideline as he moved up the field, then coming back to the post to get open. He showed the ability to break tackles after the catch – one screen play netted 20 yards after breaking a tackle. He did have a drop in the end zone which will haunt him, but certainly I'd have a look at him in the late rounds as long as he checks out medically (missed much of 2010 with injury).
 
Georgia vs LSU (SEC Championship Game)
 
Georgia
 
Cordy Glenn – OT – Glenn is growing on me. He started out the season by giving up 3 sacks against Boise State and indeed in this one he gave up a sack against a speed rush by Montgomery. Other than this though he did look better – not bending at the waist as much. He was a little upright at times in pass protection and I think projecting him back inside to Guard (his 2010 position) he will need to bend better to win the leverage battle. He has some power though and against a very good defense he did a decent job. Now in terms of stock – NFL Draft Scout rate him as a sure fire first round pick – but I have him more in the second round region because of some technique issues.
 
Ben Jones – C – last week I looked at three of the top Center's and now it's Jones turn. I haven't been his biggest fan this year, but to his credit he turned in a very good performance. I thought last year and much of this he's over extended himself and thus been off balance – but he did a better job of being patient and was under control more. He sat in his stance in pass protection at times and if he can keep with that technique he'll be a better player for it. He was too upright a few times – but at least he wasn't off balance. He got nice and square in the run game and showed the athletic ability to get to the second level quickly and engage when there. He was called for holding one time – throwing his man to the ground and his hands must have got a bit too far outside on the play. The best game I've seen from him in two years and congests the Center field on my board even more in that 2nd/3rd round area.
 
Brandon Boykin – CB – I have Boykin rated as an early day three pick – a couple of rounds behind many Draft analysts. My problem with him is that much of the time he is very sloppy with his technique and I think it's because he likes to look into the backfield. Most of the time he's side on and not looking at the receiver. Early in the game he did use the correct backpedal and was able to break on a short route and break up the pass. On a similar route later in the game he actually almost had his back to the receiver and a 7 yard gain was easy pickings. He got a bit lucky early in the game on a deep pass – trailing his man by a yard, but was able to undercut the route and break up the play on an underthrown ball – but against many NFL QB's that would have been 6 points. He had two missed tackles on LSU TD runs and at 184 lbs, he is clearly limited against bigger offensive players. He has been dangerous throughout his career in the return game, but was held in check by a fast LSU team. For me he's a fourth round pick at best – but with the NFL so CB hungry to cover all these wide open offenses, he'll probably go earlier.
 
Blair Walsh – PK – Walsh has not had a very good senior year and has slipped down boards. He will probably be drafted –but more from past form. He looked fine on an early 33 yarder – but missed a 45 yard attempt wide right later in the game. Good depth on his kick-offs, but now only 19 from 31 attempts this year (20 from 23 in 2010).
 
Drew Butler – P – Butler on the other hand had a really nice game. Of course conditions in a dome were ideal for him, but he really boomed a couple of kicks – one a 62 yard effort. He averaged 51.4 yards on 7 punts – a couple were big returns though, but I didn't get the sense he out kicked his coverage – I guess the Mathieu kid is just pretty good!
 
LSU
 
SEC teams had best be worried. LSU have a few seniors who could be drafted late on day three, but for the most part the senior part is thin. There may be some juniors who leave to create holes – but a lot of talent will be back next year.
 
In this one TE Deangelo Peterson was held without a catch and wasn't on the field even in some two TE sets. OLB Ryan Baker struggled to get off blocks. The highest rated guy on my board is Safety Brandon Taylor who doesn't look great in man coverage, but can get downhill to support in the run game.
 
Southern Miss at Houston (Conference USA Championship Game)
 
Southern Miss
 
Austin Davis – QB – Davis impressed me earlier in the year and did so again in this one. He had a couple of really nice passes. One a skinny post was perfectly placed and allowed the receiver to catch the ball in stride and turn the play into a TD. The other play was his 3rd read and a really nice touch pass to the RB on a wheel route – which again turned into a TD. On the negative side – he stared down his receiver and was intercepted once because of this and almost another time. The offense doesn't ask him to go through 3 or 4 reads – so like Harnish he will need some time to develop. However, he's very calm – has a quick release – nice touch and a good arm. He's rated as a late round/free agent option – but my grade on him is actually a mid round one.
 
Danny Hrapmann – PK – it's a poor year for kickers and Hrapmann didn't make a case to be drafted with a missed 38 yarder. His kick offs were fine with the wind, but Southern Miss opted to pooch into the wind. Might get a camp try out.
 
Houston
 
Case Keenum – QB – coming into this game Keenum had only thrown 3 interceptions all year, but unfortunately for the Cougars BCS hopes he threw 2 in this one – one which was returned for a TD. To be fair to him he wasn't helped by his receivers – there were quite a few drops, including one by Carrier which would have been a TD. His footwork is a little more advanced than many spread/shotgun QB's – he drops nicely after receiving the snap and shows he can step up calmly in the pocket with his eyes still downfield. At times, after play fakes particularly, he tends to get a bit wide with his feet before throwing and his accuracy then suffers. Like Davis he stared down his target a few times and this will be the primary thing he needs to get out of. He can go through 2 or 3 reads, but much of his passes are short and one read. I would have liked to have seen quicker decisions a few times as well. In all he's got a solid arm – has some tools – but will need work. He's a little shorter than ideal – but the spread offense does mean he has a better chance than even 5 years ago as he can play in a system which gives him throwing windows.
 
Patrick Edwards – WR – Edwards has had a big year, but was held to 5 catches for 28 yards on the big stage. He couldn't make anything happen after the catch and even lost 9 yards on a reverse. At 5'9” 175 lbs he's likely to be a third day pick at best – but will need to show up more in the Bowl game.
 
Sammy Brown – OLB – Brown has put together a solid senior year and is starting to be talked about as draftable (coming into the year he was ranked as a free agent). In the first half against zone read plays he gave up the edge – although it's difficult to know his responsibilities, it was interesting to see him stay outside on the RB in the second half where he went to Davis in the first. Tackles he made in the run game were after peeling off blockers, rather than attacking and shedding. He's only 6'2”, so perhaps doesn't have the wingspan for this. I think he's more a 4-3 type than a 3-4 OLB. He looked decent in coverage and did make a couple of negative plays late in the game – but I'm not sure about him being drafted...
 
Clemson vs Virginia Tech (ACC Championship Game)
 
Clemson
 
Antoine McClain – OG – McClain played better than I've seen him all year and this was my sixth Clemson game. He's not the most athletic Guard in the world, looking quite slow and lumbering when asked to pull. However, in the phone booth he is able to move his feet quick enough to mirror in pass protection. He was able get some movement on power run plays, although he did struggle a couple of times against quickness inside. I wouldn't expect him to be taken anywhere before day three and then will only suit a power team.
 
Andre Branch – DE – over the course of the season Branch has been on the borderline of a 3rd and 4th round pick on my board. For now he's moved into a solid third round slot, but there's still plenty of time for that to change. In this one he looked quick off the edge, showing he has the speed to turn the corner. On one QB pressure he did a really nice job extending his inside arm and keeping the Tackle off him. Stood up one time rushing the passer, he used a Bruce Irvin type jump cut to get outside the tackle, very impressive. I'd like to see him get a little stronger to use power – he tried a club move one time, but it was ineffective. He also had a roughing the passer penalty – but overall a solid game.
 
Brandon Thompson – DT – Thompson hasn't played as well late in the season, but put together a better performance in the big game. For a 310 lb man he does a really nice job of hustling and chasing plays away from him. In between the tackles he gave Tech problems, he's a very powerful man and also quick off the ball and the combination is rare and the reason why he's rated as a first round pick by many. He had a TFL on a running play and got good push rushing the passer all night. I'm debating whether to rate him above Penn State's Devon Still or not and I will wait for the Senior Bowl for my final decision – but certainly both are first round picks for me.
 
Virginia Tech
 
Jarrett Boykin – WR – Boykin was kept fairly quiet with only 3 catches for 58 yards. One of those catches was negated as he spiked the ball after the play drawing a 15 yard penalty. It also spoiled what was a nice catch falling down. He had another pass called back for offensive pass interference, where he was perhaps a little unlucky as there was hand fighting all the way down the field. He's a third day pick for me – I've seen some mention of him higher, but there are too many better options this year for my money.
 
Jaymes Brooks – OG – it's quite tough to suggest Brooks could be anything more than a late round pick when Tech don't even have him on the field all the time. It seems to vary from week to week how much he played, but this week he was on the field maybe 60-70% of the time – which is a little bizarre for a draftable talent. He struggled at time with Brandon Thompson – but then pretty much everyone will. He struggled for quickness on a stretch play, got called for holding on a QB running play (where the DT got under him) and released a couple of blocks early and into the play. If I were an NFL GM, I'd want to speak to the Tech coaching staff and find out why he's not on the field all the time – is conditioning a problem, is he carrying an injury?
 
Eddie Whitley – FS – I mentioned last week that at times Whitley's slight frame gives him problems and this was evident again this week. On TE Dwayne Allen's early TD he missed a tackle and at 195 lbs (but looks lighter) he was just overmatched. In coverage against Allen he actually did a nice job – he showed he can turn and run in man coverage and also had tight coverage in the end zone on a short out route later in the game. He was active – up in the box blitzing some and contributing against the run. I'll be interested in how much he weighs – he'll not suit everyone – but if he can show good man coverage ability in the post season he could draw interest for an NFC South team for example as I don't think he's an old school power division type guy.
 
Connecticut at Cincinnati
 
Connecticut
 
Moe Petrus – C – Petrus had a poor game – he struggled to deal with John Hughes and Derek Wolfe throughout the game. He's not the biggest center in the world and it's clear he needs to get stronger. He gave up a sack, a TFL and was also called for holding. He'll have to hope some scouts missed this showing.
 
Kendall Reyes – DT – Reyes isn't someone who leaps out at you like Brandon Thompson. He's 298 lbs, but tends to rely on his quickness to make plays. He is very good at getting penetration and was a big part in UConn holding Isaiah Pead to only 68 yards. Even when he wasn't making the play – he was making Pead bounce runs outside. A couple of times he got under his man and got off blocks, but I would like to see a little more of this from him. I certainly think he's a third round pick at worst – a one gap type only – potentially in a Wade Phillips 3-4 or Tampa-2 4-3.
 
Cincinnati
 
Isaiah Pead – RB – I'm not Pead's biggest fan and 68 yards on 23 carries only added fuel to that fire. When I've watched him earlier in the season it was short gain, short gain, big gain, short gain – the big gains padding his average per carry. In this one he wasn't able to break anything long – his long run only 11 yards. He can stick his foot in the ground and cut – but in all honesty so can any number of backs in the zone read system. If the price for him is as many have him on day two – then it's too high for me and I'll find an athlete in the later rounds who I think would stand every chance of being better than him at the next level. Mike Shanahan certainly has become renowned for doing this and I think the system as a whole doesn't push RB's super high up boards.
 
Derek Wolfe – DT – Wolfe is starting to move up boards and this performance will really help him. In previous outings he has impressed – but he was even more so. UConn just didn't know what to do with him and he gave Moe Petrus a possible late round pick fits. The most interesting thing with Wolfe is that he's 6'5” – yet does a nice job of getting under people. He will draw interest from 3-4 teams as a five technique – he has a very high motor and has good quickness off the snap. I wonder if he might get a Senior Bowl invite – if he does and can play like this then I think he'll be gone by the end of the third round.
 
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
 
Oklahoma
 
Frank Alexander – DE – I've been Alexander's champion this year as he's had a couple of monster games, including against highly rated Andrew Datko early in the season. However in this one – against Levy Adcock (who hadn't impressed me up to this game) he was controlled throughout. He was used at DE in a 3 man front for much of the night and perhaps that didn't suit him. At 255 lbs he struggled whenever he was matched up inside against the left guard – but equally struggled with Adcock. He made a couple of plays in the running game, but wasn't even close to his performances earlier in the year. The Bowl game will be big for him as he needs to get back the momentum.
 
Travis Lewis – OLB – Lewis has been playing much of the year when not at 100%. He broke a toe early in the year, missing only the first game of the season. He looked a little quicker in this one – but the big problem for him is not being able to get off blocks and that was a big problem once again. He's listed at 232 lbs – so another 4-3 weakside LB prospect. There are a few this year – Zach Brown, Lavonte David, Sean Spence along with the usual collection of later round types. On his play this year he falls at number four of these prospects. His eventual landing spot will depend just when the run starts on them. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with any of them in the first round – so it could be Lewis is a 3rd or 4th round pick.
 
Jamell Fleming – CB – Iowa State's Leonard Johnson made himself some money with a good showing against Justin Blackmon and this was Fleming's opportunity. My main problem with him is that he gives up too much in front of him and that was the case again in this one. I guess it's the negative when you play off man coverage – but he doesn't transition out of his backpedal as quickly as other prospects like Vanderbilt's Casey Heyward. On one 15 yard square in by Blackmon, the Safety was there for the tackle before he could transition. He wasn't beaten deep by Blackmon – but was only tested the one time and was then called for pass interference as he grabbed the Oklahoma State man and held him down to prevent him making a play on a high pass. For me he remains a day three pick – he will need a fine post season to push for day two.
 
Oklahoma State
 
Brandon Weeden – QB – Weeden's 217 yards were his lowest of the year – who would have thought that would have meant a 44-10 win! Once again the vast majority of Weeden's passes were under 10 yards, with only 2 over 20 yards. Interestingly over 10 yards he was 5 out of 12 (41%). He does have a nice arm and can make the 15-20 yard out throw comfortably. He made a 10 yard sideline pass with a defender in his face, so arm strength is not an issue. Touch at times can be – he made a nice throw over a LB to Blackmon, but could use a little more air under his throws at times. His decision making was more of a concern. A couple of times he thought and thought – then ended up forcing the pass. He got away with it on the night, but could have been picked off a couple of times. One thing I did notice when he's really thinking about a pass is the pats the ball before he throws – so the whole release process is a little slower and gives defenders the chance to break on a route. His accuracy was also a little off – high on a skinny post in the end zone, missed an out route to Blackmon (way too far outside) and high on a second read in the left flat. He only made one or two reads and so will need to work in a similar offense to contribute early in his pro career. If you start to talk about developing him for a couple of years, his age becomes a real problem. He's already 28 (as mentioned in the telecast 15 NFL starting QB's are younger than him) and this will prevent some teams from having him super high on their boards.
 
Levy Adcock – OT – most have Adcock rated as a first or second round pick. Coming into this one I had him as a fourth round pick as he always seemed to be off balance. In fairness to him, he was excellent in this one and looked like a completely different player. In pass protection he had a solid base, sat in his stance, had excellent hand placement and looked comfortable all night. In the run game he was able to move Frank Alexander off the line consistently and did a nice job of staying balanced – there was no early release of blocks and then ending up on the ground. Quite why he was so different in this one I really don't know – I wonder if he was carrying an injury which cleared up in the bye week. I'll need to see this again in the Bowl game and Senior Bowl – but certainly this performance was that of that first or second pick many believe he will be.
 
Markelle Martin – FS – I really like Martin. He's got a really nice frame and looks very athletic. He was mainly playing 10-15 yards off the line of scrimmage – sometimes in off man against the slot WR, others he would drop back to deep centre field. His athletic ability was on show on two plays in particular. The first was a classic downhill safety play – coming up to make a TFL on a stretch play – he was 15 yards off the line of scrimmage and still made a TFL! The second was a recovery play. He saw a WR running a little route ready for a swing pass and came downhill on the play – this was the design of the play and the throw was behind him on a corner route – he was able to bail out and break up the pass beautifully. On the negative side, he had two missed tackles. This was a problem last year and has crept back into his play late in the season. If he can clean this up I think he can push for a late first round slot as I think you can do a lot with him.