I think I eyeballed and profiled a nice mix of players for you this week.In addition to some well known names I’ve thumb-nailed some guys who have stepped up their play in 2015 and could certainly be on Scouts’ radar as we move forward.
SEAN DAVIS/CB/S/MARYLAND 6’1/200 #21
I’ve now watched DAVIS in two games this early season and am intrigued by his size and his athleticism. He is primarily playing CB this season for the Terps, though he has played more in the S slot earlier on in his career. He seems to have issues with covering receivers as a CB and then locating the football in the air. He recorded 115 tackles in 2014 playing primarily S, and was 100+ tackles back in 2013. He looks like a natural pro just waiting to be developed, but… It bothers me more than a bit that DAVIS has not yet recorded an INT in his college playing career. He does some nice things in games and tackles well, but his work is often hard to quantify. I doubt that he’ll go undrafted after he puts up the workout numbers I expect him to at the COMBINE. But by the same token we could be looking at a guy who never quite gets it, ala JARRETT BUSH in Green Bay. But like BUSH he has the size and athleticism to excel on Special Teams which can keep a guy on NFL rosters for years. But that alone will not get you drafted.
SHELDON DAY/DL/NOTRE DAME 6’2/290 #91
When you watch DAY the first description that comes to mind is likely to be “high energy”. Right now that does cause him to take himself out of some plays. On field discipline will be high on NFL coaching lists for this guy. But playing like his long flowing hair is on fire is not a bad thing at all. He spends a great deal of time in opponents backfields using a combination of leverage, strength and burst. He’s a bit short and lacks ideal length, but some teams (like the PACKERS) don’t worry a whole lot about length in their DL. DAY often uses his lack of height to his advantage by staying too low for blockers to tie him up. I did not see a sack from DAY in the Clemson game, but he clearly produces TFL (3 by my count) and can be credited with even more QB hurries. Stats indicate he had 9 QBH in 2014 and looks to be on his way to double digits in that category this year. He is team captain and leads by example every game. He will chase the ball until the whistle every down. I’m thinking he can crack the Top 100 as a prospect and his appeal to teams will depend more on style of play they want from their DL than the scheme employed.
SPENCER DRANGO/OT/BAYLOR 6’6/310 #58
DRANGO looked to me like the best all-around OT I have seen this season with his work against TX TECH. Although the BAYLOR Offense may raise questions about their QB pro potential Baylor’s OL must be proficient at both run and pass blocking to excel. DRANGO really gets after it. He has excellent balance and I don’t remember him being on the ground other than in short yardage situations. He plays clean, but looks to have a tough-guy attitude, with the strength to back it up. Relative to his footwork and agility, I noted 3 occasions when he pulled all the way from LT to the right side of the field to complete a second level run block. he was good last season, and I thought he might come out early, and he looks even better this year. I will be surprised if he’s not a First Rounder next April. He reminds me of JAKE MATTHEWS during his last season at A&M. He can do everything asked of a LT at a high performance level.
QUINTON JEFFERSON/DL/MARYLAND 6’3/290 #99
This versatile DL is coming off a Medical Redshirt 2014 season. You would b]never know it to watch his in action this season. He caught my eye two weeks ago in the blow-out Loss to West Virginia. So I decided to single him out in the game with Michigan. He looks like the real deal to me with enough talent to play at the pro level, and more than enough toughness and desire to contribute to a Dl rotation. he looks more suited to DE in a 3-4 pro scheme. He is not a quick burst, edge-rusher but can absorb an initial punch and then force his way through gaps in pursuit of the ball. He finds the ball and pursues. This was illustrated perfectly in third Quarter when he recorded an INT by pursuing to the ball, which bounced off the receiver when he was hit in the short secondary. He also posted 1 sack and a forced fumble. He looks like a solid DL rotation prospect who should get drafted, albeit in the later rounds.
JAKE McGEE/TE/FLORIDA 6’5/245 #83
As the Florida QB situation seems to be improving with the apparent emergence of WILL GRIER as their leader, the Gators Offense has picked up the tempo and transfer senior McGEE is developing as a solid counter-balance to the play of speedy wideouts ROBINSON & CALLOWAY. In the big Win over OLE MISS Jake caught 6balls for 29 yards, including a nice TD grab in the middle of the End Zone. Though he’s not going to be a key component of anyone’s goal line Jumbo Package he is willing to put his pads to use and try to block on running plays. He shows good hands when he gets his body turned properly and the pass is thrown accurately. McGEE has a chance to be drafted if the Florida Offense continues to progress and his part in it is good for 5-6 catches per game. Should have a chance as a passing down, extra TE in a short passing game offense in the NFL.
MEKALE McKAY/WR/CINCINNATI 6’6/210 #2
If you are looking for a double digit pass catcher in game action then this is not your man. But the long, lean tall man is dynamic in high pointing the ball especially on the sidelines and in the end zone. Despite his lack of bulk it should be noted that he is reported to be playing at about 210 lbs. now, and does not look like a stick figure with pads on. Against MIAMI he had his typical complimentary game with 4 catches, for 91 yards and 1 TD. His 40-time may not be super impressive, as is often the case with these long-legged guys, but his long strides eat up big chunks of yardage quickly. He’s a tough guy to cover if his QB has confidence in him and is willing to throw the ball up to let him outstretch 5’11 Corners. I also like the fact that more often than not he is snatching the ball out of the air with his hands, instead of cradling throws against his body. He’s a potential Day 3 draftee with the chance to be a No. 3 wideout on an NFL team that likes to throw deep.
SHAWN OAKMAN/DE/BAYLOR 6’9/280 #2
OAKMAN should be the second coming of ED ‘TOO TALL’ JONES, but that is based on potential, not the guy I saw playing against TEXAS TECH. I saw very little separation by OAKMAN in his battles with pro-prospect OT/LaRAVEN CLARK. His length and agility are hard to miss, but so is his apparent lack of power in this upper body. I was also bothered by his lack of hustle to help finish plays. Once the ball moved past him and his assignment was over, he pretty much jogged around the field. Please tell me why at his height and length TECH QB/MAHOMES was able to pump fake him into leaving his feet to swat at the non-throw in the 3rd Quarter. MAHOMES pulled the ball down and scooted past the flying OAKMAN for a TD. Occasionally he flashed, but if I had not been watching him because of his “high” prospect status I would not have noticed his actual play much at all in this game. IMO, he’s going to need to blow up the Combine in February to be highly regarded for the 2016 NFL Draft. Buyer beware with this guy, because you’ll be taking a chance on potential vis-à-vis productivity.
SHELDON RANKINS/DL/LOUISVILLE 6’2/303 #98
It might have been subliminal, but it seemed to me that DL play really stood out to me in watching games last weekend. RANKINS had an excellent, productive game for the Cardinals in their win at NC State. Like DAY, mentioned above, he’s a bit short for some peoples’ taste, but he’s very athletic and highly productive. What stands out along with his athleticism, is his FBI. He sees what is going on around him and reacts accordingly. He is also tough to move out of position for opposing blockers. He made a marvelous play in the 2nd quarter vs.the Wolfpack, slipping a block and creating a TFL on a short screen pass. He’s no edge-rusher, but he penetrates well through gaps. Take a look at his 2014 stats: 53 tackles, 8 sacks, 5.5 TFL, 1 PBU, 2 INT, 2 QBH. And those numbers were generated while playing with 5 NFL Draftees around him to suck up stats. An NFL team will have to look past his lack of length and appreciate his versatility and smarts. He may earn solid Draft Prospect points in Mobile and Indy in the 2015 post season.
BRANDON SHELL/OT/SOUTH CAROLINA 6’6/325 #71
The gene pool runs deep here, as he is indeed a great nephew to former NFL great ART SHELL. I am old enough to say that he’s not all that dissimilar to ART. A wide body, with long arms he’s actually fairly athletic. More so, than COREY ROBINSON, who he replaced at LT for this season. He has started since his true freshman season, but missed 2014 with a shoulder injury. Might not have ideal quickness for an NFL LT, but could look very effective on the right side. He can move his feet pretty well for his girth. That mobility and his long arms force speed rushers to go go a long way to get around him. Not only does he have long arms, but his initial hand punch can rock defenders back. I’m not convinced he’s Top 100 at this point. Belongs with a pro team that still professes a desire to run first, pass second like the CHARGERS.
HOSEY WILLIAMS/RB/CINCINNATI 5’9/199 #4
I’m always on the lookout for shorter RB who make small targets and run hard. HOSEY seems to fit that bill. He never stops churning and is hard to drag down in a pile. His TD run vs. Miami is a great illustration of that strength and determination to finish every carry. He finished that game with 11 carries for 80 yards and a TD. He also makes a nice dump-off safety valve receiver, with two catches in that game. His running style, and pro potential remind me of a forgotten player on Draft weekend 2014 by the name of BRANDEN OLIVER, who has turned out quite nicely for the Chargers. If he can get an invite to say the Shrine venue in January he could be late draftable, or a priority URFA come April.
