JACOBY BRISSETT/QB/NC STATE 6’4/235 #15
BRISSETT has been a solid leader for the Wolfpack, but I question how his game translates to the NFL level. He has great size and above average arm strength. But I think he has issues processing information about what is going on around him at times and is late responding to receivers as well as pocket pressure. Being just a twitch too slow is acceptable most of the time in college, but will not fly in the NFL. I think he will be too slow on the trigger as a pro and that will lead to way too many INT and sacks. As he did against the Seminoles last weekend his stat sheet always looks pretty good. He went 27/47- 57.4%- 209 yards- 1 TD- 0 INT, and that’s against an athletic young defensive unit. Those numbers are OK, but not enough to make a big difference on a team with very little going for it in the running game. Quite frankly, if I were a scout I would recommend my team just take him off their Draft Board and move on. But he will be drafted late, IMO.
TAVEZE CALHOUN/CB/MISS STATE 6’1/185 #23
I don’t see CALHOUN as a feature, shutdown Corner, but after watching State twice in the past month I would label him as draftable (Day 3 early) and a nice eventual No. 2 option for someone. He was State’s leading returning tackler from their secondary group based on 53 tackles in 2014. Although he’s wiling to help in run support, his forte is clearly in coverage. Against ‘Bama he did some nice work early in man-cover on RIDLEY. Overall the Tide chose not to throw at CALHOUN much on the day. He was credited with 5 tackles, including a TFL. On the season CALHOUN has 2 INT and 7 PD. He now has a total of 5.5 TFL, which shows he will penetrate at the line of scrimmage if he senses a run play or pass, away from him. At the worst, I would see him playing right away at the next level in sub-packages on passing downs. He has a chance to help himself at an All-Star Game and the Combine this post season. Slot him in for Draft Saturday.
PHAROH COOPER/WR/RS/SOUTH CAROLINA 5’11/208 #11 JR
Given the coaching turmoil and QB issues for the Gamecocks this season I would expect this exceptional athlete to turn pro a year early. He’s very versatile and can make things happen whenever he touches the ball. Against Florida last Saturday he was 1/1 passing, 17 yards for a TD. He rushed the ball from formation 3 times for 16 yards. And in his regular role as a WR he caught 3 balls for 40 yards and another TD. That is in an offense featuring a former walk-on now starting at QB. He’s got a nice solid build at over 205 lbs., but is also fast, quick and elusive. I think he will need some refinement as a receiver for the pro level, but in short order will contribute ether in the slot or outside. I get the distinct impression that he can be a bigger contributor to his pro team than he has been allowed to show for the Gamecocks. I would also guess that he will put up some very impressive numbers at the Combine. But his biggest selling point will be the offensive versatility he has shown in college.
COREY DAVIS/WR/WESTERN MICHIGAN 6’3/205 #84 JR
After watching this guy for the second time this season this past week against BGSU, I have to believe he’s best off packing his bags and heading to the NFL. His QB at WMU, who is only a Junior, is limited athletically and does not get the ball to DAVIS as much as he should. COREY has long, lean frame and can really accelerate on deep patterns. DAVIS caught 78 balls for 15 TD in 2014 as a sophomore. He is on pace for less this year, but I think some of that is his QB’s inability to throw deep accurately. DAVIS played his usual clutch role against BGSU hauling in 13 catches for 159 yards. He loosens up opponents secondaries and creates room for a lot of the team’s underneath throws. He has a smooth, natural catching style and can pile up yards after the reception. As you might expect given his length, he shows above average ability to go up to high-point throws that shorter DB cannot get to. I like the comparison to a smooth looking, long WR who played at UVA & for the LIONS named HERMAN MOORE. If DAVIS does come out early I see him as a sure fire Top 100 Draftee, likely early Round 3.
TRAVIS GREENE/RB/BOWLING GREEN 5’10/185 #8
Everyone worries about the transition of smurfs to the pro level. But GREENE is not a smurf at 5’10, although he does have a slender frame. Quickness is his game. He is very elusive whether running with the ball from scrimmage, or after the catch. He shows very good hands and natural pass catching fundamentals. Let’s use an old phrase and say he’s a “scatback”. He’s hard to knock off his feet primarily because of his good balance. He is reasonably patient as a runner, looking for a hole and then exploding through it. Right now he gets plenty of touches against MAC defenses. In the big win over WMU last week he carried 24 times for 170 yards and 3 TD. He also caught a pass in the contest. Last year I thought this guy’s play was a bit of a fluke. He just missed gaining 1000 yards rushing, including 12 TD. Through 10 games in 2015 he has 866 yards rushing and 10 TD. Now I’d bet on him competing for some return duty at the pro level as well. He’s been too productive and competitive to just overlook. I’ll label him as late draftable. Even though his touches will have to be monitored, he’ll make a nice change of pace guy as your No. 2 or 3 RB.
CYRUS JONES/CB/RS/ALABAMA 5’10/196 #5
I do NOT see JONES as a top end pro prospect, but in great part because of his energy and feistiness I don’t see how he’s not fighting for an NFL roster spot next summer, even if it is as an URFA. He’s a high energy competitor, who broke the MISS STATE game open with his 2nd Quarter 69-yard Punt Return for a TD. He also defended an end-zone lob pass to De’Runnya Wilson later in that quarter to foil a scoring attempt. That is the way this guy plays every week. I almost worry for his health with his aggressiveness to the ball as a run defender. For the game, his stat sheet said he was in on 4 tackles and had 2 PBU… not to mention that Punt Return. For the season he has returned 26 punts for an average of 11.1 yards per. For a player without perceived exceptional athleticism he has an INT, as well as 6 PBU on the season. I can see him near the bottom of an NFL roster contributing in sub-package secondary sets as well as being a key Special Teamer. Hoping to see this ‘Bama boy in Mobile for the Senior Bowl.
JOSHUA PERRY/LB/OHIO STATE 6’4/254 #37
Watching him on the field, I think PERRY can play either inside or outside, especially in a 3-4 scheme. He’s a stud-looking athlete who is very likely to impress at the Combine in February. He’s a very flexible athlete and thus DC LUKE FICKELL is using him to drop into pass coverage more often than not. But when PERRY reads run, or screen, he reacts quickly. Against Illinois he recorded 9 tackles, 1/2TFL & 1 QBH. He’s not a flash player, but rather glides through plays making sure he takes care of him primary responsibilities. ‘Do your job!’, has been a catch phrase made popular lately by an in-depth look at the PATRIOTS and their Super Bowl win. BILL BELICHICK uses that as his coaching mantra to his players. I was particularly impressed by a second half play where PERRY diagnosed screen, floated over to cover the RB, which forced QB LUNT to ground the ball. He was also effective on several occasions disrupting the pocket on blitzes up the middle. Watch PERRY on game film and you’ll see a player doing a very effective day’s work every week. Watching him run around is a thing of grace. And lest you think he is not productive I might note that he led BUCKEYE defenders in tackles in 2014 with 124.
STERLING SHEPHARD/WR/RS/OKLAHOMA 5’10/195 #3
Most folks wondered why SHEPHARD did not come out for the Draft last year. It had a lot to do with his special relationship with HC BOBBY STOOPS and his teammates. Even though he caught only 59 balls in 2014, it still led the Sooners who struggled offensively because of continued health issues for QB/TREVOR KINGHT. With the emergence of transfer/walk-on QB BAKER MAYFIELD, SHEPHARD, and the team, are having the kind of season they expected to last year. SHEPHARD was the big weapon in the upset road win over Baylor last Saturday. He caught 14 balls for 177 yards and 2 TD. He’s a water bug of a receiving threat who shows very dependable hands. He also has the quicks to gain a lot of yards once the ball is in his hands. He now has 61 catches on the season for over 1,000 yards and 9 TD. He looks to me to be a very desirable slot receiver type with return ability as well. He reminds me a bit of RANDALL COBB in his size and style of play. He’s Top 100 as a prospect, but I am guessing a lot of teams will be looking at his Combine speed and quickness numbers very closely. I’d luv to see him in Mobile come January, but that might be wishful thinking.
NELSON SPRUCE/WR/PR/COLORADO 6’1/195 #22
SPRUCE was responsible for 106 catches in 2014 and is headed into that rarified air again this season. The BUFFALOS gave Southern Cal all they could handle last Friday night and SPRUCE was the glue for their offense. He had 7 catches for 94 yards and a TD. He also serves as a Punt Returner for the team. He has very good hands and reacts well to thrown balls in his general direction. In this day and age of receivers who drop a ball or two per game he will be a refreshing exception to the norm for NFL coaches. He is very clever at finding holes in secondary zone coverages and sitting down for throws. He’s also good at taking those little dump down throws and turning them into 5-10 yard gains. I would trust SPRUCE implicitly on 3rd down throwing situations. He’s not an elite athlete, but I would draft him by Round 5 for my team and expect him to make a solid No.3/4 wideout option as well as to contribute on Special Teams units.
DARIAN THOMPSON/S/BOISE STATE 6’2/210 #4
Standing out on the field in uniform THOMPSON looks like the stereotype of an NFL S. He’s tall and solidly built, and his body looks athletic enough to drop into coverage or play in-the-box. He looks just as much the part once the ball is snapped. The recent loss to New Mexico was an indictment of the BOISE front 7, more than it was their secondary. New Mexico only had to pass 13 times while controlling the clock and the ball with their running game. THOMPSON was credited with 10 tackles, which included 1.5 TFL and a forced fumble. On the season he has 5 INT, 2 FF and leads the team in tackles with 63. For his career in Boise he now has 19 career INT. Expect him to show up at the Senior Bowl and impress all week. He is likely to be a 2nd Rounder in the 2016 Draft. I also expect him to put up some impressive workout numbers at the Combine as well.
SEBASTIAN TRETOLA/OG/ARKANSAS 6’5/320 #73
Because the Arkansas OL is so massive there is a general tendency to overlook the natural athleticism that some of their big guys possess. TRETOLA may be the best example of that misconception. The JC transfer saw plenty of action as a junior, but has really stepped it up in his senior year. He is an exceptional run blocker, with perhaps surprising speed to get his big body in motion and lead the way on sweeps. I saw him pulling on multiple occasions in the big upset of LSU, and he made his way to those second level blocks just about every time. The Razorbacks also pass a bit more than some folks give them credit for, and he shows himself to be relatively light on his feet given his girth. He certainly puts an initial shock punch into pass rushing interior DL with his upper body strength. He may not get drafted until the Round 5/6 range, but I see a solid NFL future for him with power running Offense teams like the CHARGERS, STEELERS or BILLS.
JIHAD WARD/DE/ILLINOIS 6’6/295 #17
Methinks some NFL team is very likely to get a bargain buy with WARD in the 2016 Draft. The JC transfer has really developed nicely in his second season at Illinois. But by taking a bullet for the team, and moving inside to DT for the second half of the season, his talent is being masked somewhat. Although he’s not an edge-rusher per se, his size, length and athleticism made him an impact player on the outside initially, but now playing inside he’s being chop blocked and double teamed constantly. And even though he has good strength, teams running at him head on are negating his best attributes. Against Ohio State he was credited with 7 tackles and 1 PBU. He’s a high motor player who can run all day. He was still making plays out on the sideline in the 4th quarter of the game. When he was playing outside earlier in the season he reminded me of former Buckeye CAM HEYWARD, now with the STEELERS. He appears to be so long that he is able to reach out and grab players who look to be beyond him. Luckily for WARD he has an invite to the Senior Bowl, where I am pretty sure they will move him back outside in the required 4-3 DL sets. He may wreak havoc in Mobile. I am bullish on this player and expect him to have a better pro career than collegiate one. He’ll be in my Top 100 Prospect list!
