I was among those conspicuous by their absence when the Combine Invitees list was released and everyone stampeded to proclaim the possible slighted player omissions. But I am here now to tell you my favorite 13 players who I will be anxious get Pro Day numbers for in March and early April. Second guessing the folks at National Scouting and the NFL is not my intent here, but rather just to advise of some guys who will show up as being draftable when all is said and done based on my observations of their football ability.
QB TIM DeMORAT Fordham 6’3/220 You can go look at his huge numbers from competing against lesser programs if you wish. But what impressed me was his size and presentation of skills at the HULA and Shrine Bowls. He is fundamentally sound and a good athlete. I feel like he should be snatched up in Round 7 by a team looking for a developmental QB type to add top their roster. I am curious to see if he shows up in Indy as one of the “invited” extra throwers for workouts. He has the arm for pro football!
RB CHRIS BROOKS BYU 6’1/225 Trying to replace TYLER ALGEIER was considered a daunting task for the BYU Offense this past season. But the coaching staff persuaded Cal Grad Transfer Brooks to join their program and it paid off. He’s a big guy, who accelerates quickly to and thru holes. Also showed some receiving skills. Good after contact balance. I want to see some testing numbers from the BYU Pro Day.
WR JARED WAYNE Pitt 6’3/208 Long player, who has progressed each year in the PITT football program. He topped 50 receptions last season, and even though he is often called a possession receiver, his 17.7 ypc last season might indicate there is more to his game long term. I really hungered to see his workout numbers from Indy, but the PITT Pro Day will have to suffice.
TE MICHAEL EZEIKE UCLA 6’5/245 Either a late bloomer for the UCLANS, or just a victim of Chip Kelly’s system. He is a solid inline blocker. He has good sized hands and very long arms at 34″. He made some noise late in the season for the Bruins, especially in the USC game.Also showed well in Star Game action. The TE group is talented and deep in this upcoming Draft. EZEIKE is a good example of that fact.
OL JOEY FISHER Shepherd 6’4/292 Got come notice from scouts who visited Shepherd to watch his QB BAGENT last Fall. Held down an OT slot, but his 32 arms just don’t excite the NFL Scouts for OT play. Got all the way up to a Senior Bowl late invite and held his own. Moving inside to OG would seem like the possible role for him. He’ll surely be at some Pro Day.
DL KARL BROOKS Bowling Green 6’3/305 Nothing fancy here, but BROOKS is a productive player, with nice size. Held his own at the Senior Bowl and could be a late Round Pick. I really want to see his mobility and quickness workouts. He shows good effort for a DL rotation.
ER JORDAN FERGUSON Middle Tennessee 6’1/265 More than just an Edge Rusher, but that is his main calling card. Doesn’t have far to bend, on the edge, with his short height, but that height belies his length for a 6’1 player. He has 10 1/4″ hands and 33 3/8″ long arms. His Wingspan is an amazing 81 1/4″. He was the most overall impactful defender in the Hula Bowl to my eyes. He will be on an NFL 90-man Training Camp roster, one way or another.
ER B.J. THOMPSON S.F. Austin 6’5/238 Looks like a string bean, but that weight is legit from the Shrine Bowl weigh-in. He was in the backfield all night in Vegas. Could develop into a Robert Mathis type Sack artist in a couple of years in an NFL program. I would have liked to see him with the quality ER group at this year’s Combine. He might have really gotten extra attention to help his Draft stock rise.
LB MIKEL JONES Syracuse 6’/229 Tackling machine for the ‘Cuse Defense. Shows ability to handle the run game and provide shallow, over the middle, coverage. And of course has the tools for Special Teams coverage work. His 6’0 height is less than ideal, but he has 10 1/4″ hand size, and 33 1/4″ long arms. So he plays longer, than he is tall. The tape on him is outstanding.
CB STARLING THOMAS UAB 6’/195 Nice sized, smooth player who some feel will post an elite 40-time at his Pro Day. NFL teams cannot find enough good cover corners these days. So if STARLING, Star for short of course, can show speed and quickness at his Pro Day it wouldn’t take a lot to move him into a late round draft position.
S/LB MARTE MAPU Sacramento State 6’3/217 This guy stood out at both the NFLPA and Senior Bowl venues. A hybrid type player who should also stand out as a Special Teams ace. Excellent size numbers with 33 3/8″ arms and an 80″ Wingspan. Should be an early Day 3 draftee. His work against the run was frighteningly good in practice sessions. He just launched himself into blockers and RB headed his way at, or behind, the line-of-scrimmage. You could hear those pads pop.
S/ST A.J. FINLEY Ole Miss 6’2/200 Already a standout on Special Teams with the size and athleticism to project to secondary work in time. Ole Miss usually has a surplus of DB, and it seems that every year a couple become Day 4 College Free Agents.
That’s it for my list of “snubbed” players this year. I wish the Combine had a backup list, like this, of guys who can get into the Combine when bigger name prospects decide they can’t, or don’t want to, work out in Indy. Measure those guys, get the complete medical tests on them and then give them a day to interview with NFL teams. Then send them home to their agents, and let young men like these show their stuff in Combine workouts.
