‘BUCK’ ALLEN RB SOUTHERN CAL JR 6’1/215 #37 vs Nebraska/Holiday Bowl … It seems hard to believe in this day and age that any college players fly under the perverbial radar just because they play most of their games when folks East of the Mississippi River are in bed. But how else do we explain the seeming indifference to BUCK ALLEN of the Trojans. He led the Pac-12 in rushing with 1337 yards at a clip of 5.3-yd/carry. He also caught 40 balls for another 442 yards in 2014. And he did all that in a RB rotation. Then along comes Nebraska in Bowl action and he gains 152 yds on 26 carries, scoring 2 TD. He’d have topped 200 yards had the game not developed into a pass-happy shootout. The only thing he lacks, IMO, is blazing speed, but he sure isn’t slow. He pushes the pile forward and has that high knee action running style that enables him to “take away” a leg from tacklers. Quite often he emerges from a “scrum” and continues on downfield for more yards. The more I watch this smooth runner the more he reminds me of MARCUS ALLEN, once he stopped being a blocking FB. If ALLEN comes out for the 2015 Draft I have him on my Round 2 hot list.
A.J. CANN OG SOUTH CAROLINA SR 6’4/318 #50 vs Miami/Independence Bowl
He’s been starting for 4 years now and I’m not sure there is a more dependable OG in the country. He shows good patience and confidence in pass-pro and looked in total control of the left side of the OL vs. MIami. He is agile for his size and was often downfield for 2nd & 3rd level blocks, before the RB had cleared the line-of-scrimmage. He looks to me like a solid 10-year NFL starter, but I doubt he’ll go before late Round 2, more likely Round 3. It looks to me, watching game action, like he covers a lot of ground compensating for less than mobile LT COREY ROBINSON. The Gamecocks also take some of the widest splits in college football, somewhat compounding what you are actually viewing in technique.
MIKE DAVIS RB SOUTH CAROLINA JR 5’9/215 #28 vs Miami, Independence Bowl
I think DAVIS got the bum’s rush from the Carolina coaching staff this past season. He started the year on limited duty because of rib and shoulder issues, and the staff decided he needed to be in the lineup every week despite being banged up. So it is up for debate as to when, if ever, DAVIS was fully healthy until Bowl time. Then they basically accused him of “dogging” it. He dogged it so bad, that he played in all 13 games and rushed for 982 yards @ 4.93ypc. He also found time to catch another 32 balls for 368 yards. He totaled 11 YD for the year. In their Bowl Win over Miami DAVIS was kept on the bench on 3 short yardage plays in the 4th quarter and without him others managed to gain -1 yards on 3 plays, turning the ball over on downs. I can clearly see why DAVIS has already declared his intentions to leave SPURRIER’s domain and go pro. If healthy, he’ll show well at the Combine and should still salvage a spot on Draft Friday. He’s a hard driving, quick cut runner, who can catch the ball. DAVIS seems like serious NFL timber to me.
TITUS DAVIS WR CENTRAL MICHIGAN SR 6’2/190 #84 vs WKU, Bahamas Bowl
It’s always tough when a prospect gets hurt in their final go round as a collegian. And that is what happened to DAVIS. DAVIS missed time around mid-season with leg issues, luckily nothing serious long term. He still played in 10 games (tho not 100%) and caught 60 balls, at 16.4 ypc, including 13 for TD. He really looked the part of an NFL prospect in his Bahamas Bowl appearance with 6 catches for 142 yards and 4 TD. He’s not a blazing speed guy, but is quick enough to get open and gains yards after catch with a smooth striding running style. DAVIS is also not an easy tackle for defenders once he has the ball secured. He’s just a bit taller, but DAVIS pro potential reminds me of former MAC star WR GREG JENNINGS, who played over @ WMU. DAVIS is currently scheduled to participate in Shrine week activities. If he impresses there he could be climbing into the Top 100 prospect list pending Combine numbers. Watch for him to be a riser in the coming months.
PHILLIP DORSETT WR MIAMI SR 5’10/195 #4 vs S. Carolina, Independence
Some NFL teams are going to have to determine why he disappears from the MIami offense for big chunks of time. Is his Frosh QB hesitant to let it rip deep, or is DORSETT guilty of not reading the coverages correctly to adjust his routes. There seems to be too much head shaking at the end of plays from both he and his QB for my taste. But what cannot be disputed is his pure speed and long ball ability. He had 5 catches for 45 yards and 1 TD in this game. On the regular season he caught only 36 balls, but averaged 24.2 yards per catch and scored 10 receiving TDs. Somehow he needed to be a bigger part of that Offense. He shows good hands and is a willing/adequate downfield blocker. Can an NFL scout identify DORSETT’s deficiencies and determine if they are correctable? His big play ability says 3rd Round, but the question marks say Day 3. He will be in Mobile for Senior Bowl week.
RANNELL HALL WR UCF SR 6’1/195 #6 vs N C State, St Pete Bowl
HALL is a gifted athlete, who has shown well in multiple skill areas during his college career. As a true freshman he was the CUSA 1st Team KR. He caught 57 passes in 2013 from BLAKE BORTLES. He has better than average speed and soft hands. When injuries struck this past Fall HALL stepped up as a part time RB. In the Bowl Loss to NC State HALL caught 7 passes for 78 yards, and once again saw time in the backfield with 3 rushes for 2 yards. The real point here is that we have a talented athlete and willing football participant who is all-in for his team. As the Draft heads down to the final 2 Rounds next May one of the things teams will be looking for is guys to improve the bottom 3rd of their roster. A versatile, team first guy like HALL should get some attention at that point. He should be able to help himself through the Combine interview process, assuming he gets to Indy.
MARCUS HARDISON DL ARIZONA STATE SR 6’4/300 #1 vs Duke, Sun Bowl
HARDISON, a JC recruit, got some attention for his work in 2013 when he stepped into a rotational situation on the Sun Devils DL. His combination of size and athleticism caught some eyes within the program. He has a large, thick frame, while being able to run a bit. He showed what his game is about with a great hustling, productive effort in the team’s Bowl Win over Duke. HARDISON was credited with being in on 13 tackles, including 1 TFL. That 13 tackle total was second most on the ASU D. Those are not the kind of numbers one expects from a 3-4 DE! For the full 13 game schedule HARDISON produced 15 TFL, 10 sacks, 2 INT & 3 FF. This guy could be geared up for a very big climb up prospect lists in preparation for the 2015 Draft. Lots of NFL 3-4 scheme defenses are looking for productive, athletic big guys.
KALEB JOHNSON OG RUTGERS SR 6’4/305 #72 vs UNC, Quick Lane Bowl
JOHNSON started some games at OT as a frosh, but has been planted solidly at LG for the past 3 years. He’s not flashy, but he’s tailor made for the NFL game. He’s thick, but still is able to move to the second level. He opened some huge holes on the left side as Rutgers pounded the ball thru and over the UNC D. Because Rutgers runs a pro style Offense JOHNSON has ably demonstrated that he is above average in pass-pro as well. He played in relative obscurity at Rutgers, but he looks solid and polished as a prospect to me. I doubt he will go before Round 4, but he has starter potential at the next level IMO.
TAYLOR KELLY QB ARIZONA STATE SR 6’2/210 #10 vs DUKE, Sun Bowl
As we get down to the nitty gritty of picking apart NFL prospects for the Draft, names fly up and down the ranking charts almost daily. KELLY has never been placed in any kind of elite QB prospect list. But by the same token a productive, starting college QB with decent size qualifications can’t be overlooked. And KELLY keeps showing up big for the Sun Devils. When healthy, he has been the Sun Devils starting QB for the past 3 seasons. Back and forth in the 2014 lineup, he still played in 10 games completing 59.4% of his throws and posting a solid TD/INT ratio at 22/5. His arm is average, but he might pick up a bit of throwing steam with some throwing technique clean up under a QB guru. He had a large day of it against Duke in a shoot-out win going 24/34 – 240 yards – 2 TD – 0 INT. He currently appears as having accepted a game invite for the SHRINE Game. He’s a natural leader and a savvy passer. At worst he could settle in as a solid career back-up at the pro level. But maybe he can be more than that in time.
TOMMY SHULER WR Marshall SR 5’7/198 #1 vs N Illinois, Boca Raton Bowl
I would be the first guy to admit that there is limited room in the NFL for receivers who are 5’7. But SHULER has a very think, muscular body and will fight for the ball with bigger defenders. He also has very good hands. I am anxious to see his hand size come the Combine. He is quicker than fast, but gets open, especially over the middle. He and his QB/CATO worked the middle against NIU all day with SHULER ending up with 18 catches for 185 yards and 1 TD, in the Boca Raton Bowl. He has great hand/eye coordination and can work the sideline as well. My guess would be that he could provide some help on several Special Teams units as needed, as he is a tough kid. Some good team, looking for receiver depth and with an extra Pick or two, should take a flyer on this guy in Round 6/7 in May.
J.R. TAVAII OLB Southern Cal SR 6’2/250 #58 vs Nebraska, Holiday Bowl
Coming into the 2014 season TAVAII was a part time player whose primary skill was the highly valued ability to rush the QB. But he lost almost 20 lbs., and became a full-time OLB in the Trojans 3-4 defensive scheme. And his play in their Bowl win showed just how far he has come. He flew all over the field and laid some pretty vicious hits on people. He also showed that he is learning to play in reverse when needed in coverage situations. His progress this past season was impressive. I am also guessing that his athleticism will allow him to post some attention grabbing Combine numbers. I currently will put him in that category of a player who may have an even more productive pro career than his college body of work. A winning NFL team looking for a high upside project could steal TAVAII early on Draft Saturday.
