2014 Prospects- Who ya got?

[KempBolt 498]

So one thing that people will come to know about me rather quickly is that I'm a giant draft nerd. It's a big interest of mine. And each summer I start narrowing down the list of NCAA players that I want to watch for the purposes of the subsequent draft. My choices are going to be influenced by what I predict to be big needs for the Chargers in 2014.

 

Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State: From what I saw last year, Larsen is on the bigger, stronger side for a center. He's a plus run blocker and a knee bender. I think he can be a 2nd round pick if he builds on his junior season.

 

Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee: Dallas Thomas was a pretty darn good college OT in 2011, and he got bumped inside to guard because of this guy. Richardson's heavy for a college player (6'6" 332), but he has the frame to carry it and is surprisingly nimble. I think he stands a chance to vault himself atop the OT rankings for next year.

 

Kyle Van Noy, DE/OLB, BYU: Van Noy was super productive for the Cougars last season, but his size/style reminded me a little too much of Aaron Maybin. Which is why I'm glad he stayed in school. I really want to see him bulk up and maintain his production level. I'd also feel better about him if he showed out against top competition.

 

Damien Williams, RB, Oklahoma: I'm a big fan of Williams' blend of size, speed, and receiving ability. I don't really have questions about his game, I just want to see how he handles a full workload. If Mathews doesn't shape up in SD, I will be looking at this guy pretty hard.

 

Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia: Lynch was quite the big play threat (for a TE) as a junior. With his frame and size, he could develop himself into a well rounded tight end, which is becoming a rarity in today's game.

 

So who you guys watching?

[Attyla the Hawk 197]

TE:

 

Austin Sefarian Jenkins

Colt Lyerla

 

WR:

 

Brandon Coleman

Mike Evans

 

DE/DL:

 

Aaron Lynch

Will Sutton

 

DB:

 

Bene Bewikere

Anton Exum

Ed Reynolds

 

 

These are the guys I hear most up here thus far. I doubt highly that we end up OL at least in the first round. It will also depend on how Jordan Hill/Jesse Williams play out this year. Otherwise we could be going DL out of the gate.

 

I honestly don't think Seattle liked the DT field at the top this year. But getting an interior pass rusher is still the #1 priority. We simply don't know who will look good at this early stage, of if we haven't already solved the issue with guys we've brought in.

 

The above candidates really look like special players though. I still see us trying to get an alpha receiver early. With Marquise Lee and Sammy Watkins (if they also declare) likely going early -- one of those two listed could drop. Then I'd look for WR -- possibly even a rare trade up to get one.

[KempBolt 498]

I love Brandon Coleman. Such a rare physical talent. He's a sleeper for the top 10.

 

I can honestly see Seattle going for Sutton. Seems like the type of guy that Carroll could make work and would gravitate towards.

[Bucman 891]

-David Clowney DE - Man it would be great to get this guy, but we would have to get the #1 pick to do so.

 

-Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE - We need a TE badly and this guy is perfect fit.

 

-De'Anthony Thomas RB - He is gonna be the Tavon Austin of this draft.

 

-Taylor Lewan OT - Penn is up and down. Lewan gives a us a solid LT for the future.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

-David Clowney DE - Man it would be great to get this guy, but we would have to get the #1 pick to do so.

Jadeveon*, bruh.

 

The player that I'll probably have my eye on the most is Alabama's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (srs). Unless Duron fucking Harmon exceeds my expectations, I'll be wanting the Pats top priority to be safety.

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

Richardson is completely ridiculous. He shut down Clowney for all but 1 snap in the Gamecocks/Vols game, at least in regards to his pass rush..sadly, that one play lost us the game.

 

I'm surprised he's only being considered a mid first round pick right now. He played like a top 5 prospect last year. Can't wait to see him this year.

[KempBolt 498]

Richardson is completely ridiculous. He shut down Clowney for all but 1 snap in the Gamecocks/Vols game, at least in regards to his pass rush..sadly, that one play lost us the game.

 

I'm surprised he's only being considered a mid first round pick right now. He played like a top 5 prospect last year. Can't wait to see him this year.

 

Yeah I don't get it either. I mean, Matthews, Lewan and Kouandijo get way more love than he does. I'm of the opinion that Matthews needs to stay on the right side. I think he play left, but it's not ideal. A lot of his hype is due to his last name if you ask me. Lewan is a big work in progress technique wise. He's a waste bender who lunges. I love the attitude and athleticism, but he's a project. And Kouandijo wasn't nearly as good as Richardson in pass pro last season. Still has work to do there. My guess is that teams are way higher on Antonio than the media is right now.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

Another draft geek? Hell yea.

 

QB: Blake Bortles - I said late last year during/after watching his bowl game that I think he can be a first round prospect, and how cleaned he looked. I went back and saw of his other games and I'm sticking to it. I think he's got the potential to go in the first.

 

WR: Jordan Matthews

 

HB: See sig - I'M GONNA TURN EVERYONE TO A BELIEVER!!!

 

OL: Taylor Lewan - I like this guy a lot, I think he's the best LT in next year's draft and that won't change.

 

Defensively, I got Anthony Barr and the ND DT tandem.

[FartWaffles 1,857]

So far I've been mainly looking at QBs, because I'm secretly hoping that the Texans select one relatively early in next year's draft. The 2014 QB draft class has a lot of promise.

 

Teddy Bridgewater

Tajh Boyd

Johnny Manziel

David Fales

Brett Hundley

 

etc. etc. etc.

 

QB: Blake Bortles - I said late last year during/after watching his bowl game that I think he can be a first round prospect, and how cleaned he looked. I went back and saw of his other games and I'm sticking to it. I think he's got the potential to go in the first.

I haven't really watched much Central Florida lately, but you've piqued my interest in this Bortles kid.

[KempBolt 498]

Hundley is my 2nd favorite QB so far. A guy who people aren't really talking about.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

 

I haven't really watched much Central Florida lately, but you've piqued my interest in this Bortles kid.

 

Granted, I've actually only seen two games of his from start to finish, and one of them was against OSU where I was hardly paying attention... But the Ball State game was really impressive. Every time he dropped back I became more and more impressed. He just seemed to have it all.

 

And I looked at his past games stats, and he's played his freshmen year. I think I seriously said on the bowl game that I believed if he came out last year, he'd have a Blaine Gabbert-like rise to the 1st.

 

It's more hype then substance, but I believe it.

[KempBolt 498]

Here's another guy I find interesting:

 

Jeremiah Attaochu, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech

 

Listed at 6'2" 240. Has played the last three seasons as a SOLB in Ga. Tech's 3-4 scheme. Transitioning to 4-3 DE this year. Not sure yet if he'll play the strong, weak or both sides. I'm actually glad that he's moving to full time DE because I've been satisfied that he can play LB and now I just want to see him refine his pass rushing skills. Looked pretty fluid and explosive as a junior. Collected 10 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Didn't seem to have a problem playing in reverse, which is a common issue for 3-4 rush linebacker prospects.

 

Hard to judge on tape, but looks like his arms are long for his height because of the way he gets into offensive linemen. Surprisingly stout for a player on the small side- I love his violent hands. This year I want to continue to see a quick get off, and flexibility around the corner. And while I love that he plays with violent passion, I'd like him to cut down on the penalties.

 

If everything goes right with this guy, I could see him becoming a James Harrison type 3-4 OLB. Probably a 2nd round pick who would normally sneak into the first round if this class wasn't so strong at the top.

[housemd 338]

Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford

CJ Barnett, FS, Ohio State

Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma

HaHa Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

[KempBolt 498]

Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford

CJ Barnett, FS, Ohio State

Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma

HaHa Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

 

Truly just a gift to the American people.

[CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025]

It's blatantly obvious the Jags passed on the QBs in the 2013 draft to wait for the class coming out in 2014 so that'll be my main focus. They're likely drafting top 10 if not top 5, so I'm keeping extra attention on Bridgewater and Boyd. If by some miracle the Jags do better and draft in the middle of the round, they'll likely consider one of my personal favorites — David Fales, as well as a sleeper IMO in Stephen Morris out of Miami (who Jags new OC Jedd Fisch coached the past two years.) The dark horses are guys like Manziel, Hundley, and Price.

 

I'll post on the other need positions later.

[Attyla the Hawk 197]

It's blatantly obvious the Jags passed on the QBs in the 2013 draft to wait for the class coming out in 2014 so that'll be my main focus. They're likely drafting top 10 if not top 5, so I'm keeping extra attention on Bridgewater and Boyd. If by some miracle the Jags do better and draft in the middle of the round, they'll likely consider one of my personal favorites — David Fales, as well as a sleeper IMO in Stephen Morris out of Miami (who Jags new OC Jedd Fisch coached the past two years.) The dark horses are guys like Manziel, Hundley, and Price.

 

I'll post on the other need positions later.

 

I'm pretty sure they didn't pass in order to wait for anticipated draftees next year. Prospects are just way too fluid in terms of value year to year.

 

They passed on QBs for several reasons, one being this crop was below average. They also have a lot of holes to fill. With a deep draft, they were wise to get talent wherever they could. Bradley was part of Carroll's makeover and he pretty much followed the blueprint by just allowing the talent to come to him.

 

It's funny, that like Carroll, his first two choices was to get his left tackle and his impact safety. I don't know what kind of power Gus has in getting talent. I hope he has close to final say -- maybe shared veto power or something. You can't just have a GM picking players that your coach doesn't value or need. I liked their draft this year. I think they could/should have tried to add more picks late. But I don't fault them for standing pat on their first two picks.

 

Jacksonville assuredly just followed the talent and didn't fight the board. For a team needing wholesale upgrades -- to do otherwise is the quickest way to bust out on the draft. It doesn't make any sense outside of rosterbation fans to indulge the idea that teams tailor their current draft strategies based on who might be available in the following draft.

[CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025]

I'm pretty sure they didn't pass in order to wait for anticipated draftees next year. Prospects are just way too fluid in terms of value year to year.

 

They passed on QBs for several reasons, one being this crop was below average. They also have a lot of holes to fill. With a deep draft, they were wise to get talent wherever they could. Bradley was part of Carroll's makeover and he pretty much followed the blueprint by just allowing the talent to come to him.

 

It's funny, that like Carroll, his first two choices was to get his left tackle and his impact safety. I don't know what kind of power Gus has in getting talent. I hope he has close to final say -- maybe shared veto power or something. You can't just have a GM picking players that your coach doesn't value or need. I liked their draft this year. I think they could/should have tried to add more picks late. But I don't fault them for standing pat on their first two picks.

 

Jacksonville assuredly just followed the talent and didn't fight the board. For a team needing wholesale upgrades -- to do otherwise is the quickest way to bust out on the draft. It doesn't make any sense outside of rosterbation fans to indulge the idea that teams tailor their current draft strategies based on who might be available in the following draft.

 

Yeah I didn't add in that the QB class was below average because I figured that was a given, they both played a role of course. Agreed with the Jags draft, let the talent come to them/didn't force a pick.

 

As far as Bradley's input on the picks he does have say (and Caldwell drafted the types of defensive players who fit Bradley's preferred defensive system.) That was one of the problems with the old Jags' regimes, a disconnect of communication between HC and GM. The new owner Shad Khan even had the HC and GM's offices moved next door to each other to emphasize this even more (they were on opposite sides of the floor originally.)

 

I've been a big fan of what Seattle has done over the years, love the way Carroll teaches and coaches, and when you guys got my boy Russell last year I knew if my Jags fell out of contention early (which they obviously did), I'd be rooting for Russell and the 'Hawks the rest of the way. I wasn't on this board for the 2012 draft, but I was one of the most vocal Russell supporters the whole draft process. This year coming up it'll be David Fales. Everyone knows about Teddy (who I love as a prospect, like most people do), so there's no need to champion him.

[monkey48 1]

De'Anthony Thomas, WR (Oregon)

Deion Belue, CB (Alabama)

Je'Wuan James, RT (Tenn.)

Mike Davis, WR (Texas)

Cairo Santos, K (Tulane)

Zurlon Tipton, HB (Central Michigan)

Cody Mandell, P (Alabama)

 

Thomas and Davis should give us some more WR options in addition to Steve Smith, James could replace Bell at RT (part of the same OL as the aforementioned Richardson and is almost as good, but much lower profile). Deion Belue is a stud at CB, personally I think he is way better than Milliner, just watch the A-Game if you need proof. He managed to shut down Cooper (with some help from AJ) and he is one of the best WRs around. Santos and Mandell are both specialist, which was a real area of weakness last year. If either Nortman or Gano step-up then these picks could be used elsewhere. I expect Stewart will be traded before next year's draft and Tipton could be a useful part of our HB rotation in addition to Williams, Tolbert and Barner.

[NaTaS+ 958]

My main focus will be on weaknesses that the Browns currently have. This is assuming those positions will still be a point of weakness.

 

• Tre Boston - FS, North Carolina
• Ha'Sean "Haha" Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama - Position of need and his nickname, HaHa Dix? I'll take it.
• CJ Barnett, FS, tOSU - Homer, just want to see how he handles himself this year.
• Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Not a position of weakness, but I'd take him in a heartbeat.
• Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - Even if Weeden impresses this year, what is his longevity in the NFL? He's 30 and will be in his 2nd year. By time he really gets set, he'll be on the downswing of his career.
• Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson - Small with a big accurate arm, resembles Russell Wilson.
• Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State - We need someone opposite of Haden. If our picks do not impress, we might want to look at Roby. Fast and has great instincts.
• Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon. - Another guy with great instincts and speed. Hopefully he continues to improve at his position and is NFL draft ready for 2014.

 

 

 

[Bucman 891]

My main focus will be on weaknesses that the Browns currently have. This is assuming those positions will still be a point of weakness.

 

• Tre Boston - FS, North Carolina
• Ha'Sean "Haha" Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama - Position of need and his nickname, HaHa Dix? I'll take it.
• CJ Barnett, FS, tOSU - Homer, just want to see how he handles himself this year.
• Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina - Not a position of weakness, but I'd take him in a heartbeat.
• Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - Even if Weeden impresses this year, what is his longevity in the NFL? He's 30 and will be in his 2nd year. By time he really gets set, he'll be on the downswing of his career.
• Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson - Small with a big accurate arm, resembles Russell Wilson.
• Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State - We need someone opposite of Haden. If our picks do not impress, we might want to look at Roby. Fast and has great instincts.
• Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon. - Another guy with great instincts and speed. Hopefully he continues to improve at his position and is NFL draft ready for 2014.

Roby . He ran a 4.26 recently.

[Bay 2,003]

Roby . He ran a 4.26 recently.

 

[Dutch 874]

2013 college football Prospects to Watch - QBs

 

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2013/7/2/4487658/prospects-to-watch-qbs

 

Going into the season this year our QB situation is sketchy, at best. It has potential to turn into something solid, but I don't see any of the QB's on our roster as stars who will be "our guy" for the next 10 years. Foles has potential and so does Barkley. Worst case scenario this year, Vick wins the job, Foles is traded. We tank the season, Barkley gets a shot to start like Foles did last year and shows us absolutely nothing. We will be in need to grab a QB again this year and this draft is going to offer some great talent.

 

The first round prospects at the moment are Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel (if he comes out early), David Fales, and Tajh Boyd. I'm hoping most of you know who they are and I shouldn't need to go into great discussion on them.

 

Teddy Bridgewater - Louisville - Teddy should go number 1 next year, Clowney is obviously the best player in the draft next year but given the need for QB in the league, he will probably go 2. Teddy is a unique blend of arm strength and athletic ability. He can destroy a defense with his feet as well as pick them apart from the pocket. Great arm strength and accuracy. Very similar to RG3 just not nearly as fast. Chip loves versatility and this would be his guy. Problem is no way he falls out of top 3 and I don't see any feasible way we do worse than Jets, Raiders, and Jags, and all three of those teams could use a QB upgrade. If he falls, it will probably be for a reason. The kid is tough too, last year he finished the season injured and continued to play at a high level.

 

David Fales - San Jose State - Fales was a transfer from a community college the year before and did great last year wrecking garbage competition in his first year at SJS. Strong accuracy, and very strong arm. Prototypical pocket QB who wont kill you with his wheels. If the read-option is killed this year similar to how the wildcat was in its second year, then Chip may be smart and put a high priority on pocket QBs. Completed 72% of his passes for over 4,100 yards. Problem is, when he faced a legit defense like Stanford, they smashed the offense. Hopefully he can improve against better defenses this year.

 

Tajh Boyd - Clemson - very similar to Teddy Bridgewater except much smaller. If he went in the draft this year there's no way he wouldn't of been the top QB taken. Army isn't as strong as Teddy Bridgewater's, but that can change with technique and maturity. I'll be watching him closely this year.

 

Derek Carr - Fresno - Brother of David Carr, former #1 overall pick of the Texans. Has solid mechanics and looks to be pro-ready. Has good pocket presence but and a strong arm. Finished last year with 67% completion percentage and over 4,100 yards. Had bad games against Boise State and Oregon though. Currently have him marked as a 3rd or 4th round prospect.

 

Tyler Russell - Mississippi State - Has fantastic arm strength and makes really tough throws. Problem with him is inconsistency. This may of been due to the fact that last year was his first game as a starter and he was gaining confidence. As the year went on he seemed to play better in games and make better decisions. Not a dual threat type QB that will burn you with his wheels but can escape when needs to. Currently I got him rated as a 3rd or 4th round prospect, but that's why we will be watching him. Has some serious potential.

 

Logan Thomas - VT - I am not a fan of his, at all. He had a very disappointing year last year. That being said, he does have the arm strength and running ability to be a starter in the NFL in this current read-option dual-threat happy NFL. If he lives up to his potential this year, and falls to the 2nd round, he could be a steal of a developmental QB. Also, the guy is 6'6, he can see the field well and over the pocket.

 

Jeff Driskel - Florida - Jeff was the top QB coming out of the country in 2011, but has been since pretty disappointing. Another dual-threat QB with running ability. Jeff is a true junior and should probably stay for his senior year to improve passing ability even if he has a great season this year.

 

Sure it would be awesome if Foles/Barkley win the job and take the league by storm next year and QB is no longer a cause for concern. Chances of that happening aren't too great though and would still be nice to keep an eye on intriguing prospects such as these this year.

 

Not much into college football until it's draft time. Hopefully this is some food for thought and can create more discussion if you guys haven't covered it already.

[Phins4life 271]

It shames me to admit how little I know of players outside of Clemson, but it is what it is I guess .

 

That said, I'm excited to see how Boyd handles the loss of Hopkins. Watkins is now the big man on campus and will have to bounce back from what was a quiet year, at least for him. Boyd in general strikes me as a top 10 pick...probably an even blend of value and necessity, but I still think he's better than any of the guys who left the board this year. He needs to improve his pocket presence and some of the timing throws, but I like him for a big year in the ACC.

 

Clowney is the only other guy I've followed with any regularity. Such a freak. I wouldn't mind seeing him suit up in Phins colors, but after drafting Jordan we probably won't be addressing that position.

[KempBolt 498]

So my favorite draft prospects to "scout" (I use the term loosely when referring to myself) are pass rushers. I have spent more time on them that any other position in the past and I am pretty confident in my ability to know what I'm seeing. So with that said, I wanted to put together a preseason top 10, including underclassmen.

 

1. Jadaveon Clowney, So. Carolina, 6'5" 270 LBS: I'm already bored of talking about how good Clowney is. I'm sure I'll be re-energized by the topic once the season starts, but as of now I'll rank him #1 by a wide margin and call it good. No one needs me to tell them why (and if you do, just go watch).

 

2. Anthony Barr, UCLA, 6'4" 245 LBS: Barr is one of the most intriguing prospects for the 2014 draft. He's still a novice in the finer points of playing defense, but his raw athleticism and burst cover a multitude of sins. When it comes to pass rushers, I will take athletic upside over safe and ordinary 10 times out of 10. There's a lot to like about Barr, but I would pinpoint get-off and closing burst as his two trump cards. It's entirely plausible that he has the best first step in the nation, and he eats up space between him and ball carrier about as quickly as any front seven defender in college football right now.

 

3. Trent Murphy, Stanford, 6'5" 261 LBS: Murphy is probably my favorite player in the 2014 draft. He possesses legit power and speed elements to his game. Being white, I can already hear the (stupid) Matt Roth comparison- something about how he has a high motor and sub-standard athleticism. False. He's a fluid athlete who can beat offensive linemen with burst/bend, as well as with raw power. He's also a great technician and is already pretty reliable in coverage. I love pass rushers who can win their matchups multiple ways, and that's Murphy.

 

4. Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas, 6'4" 245 LBS: I was sad to see Jeffcoat go down last year as he was in the mix with Mingo to be my top pass rusher for 2013. Like Mingo, he's an extremely fluid athlete who is willing to mix it up with much larger offensive linemen. There are flaws to his game- namely if he doesn't win with first step quickness, he can be neutralized- but there's no reason he can't improve, and the fact remains that he has often won with first step quickness. As long as he comes back at 100% from his injury, and continues to develop technically and physically, he will be one of the most coveted players in 2014.

 

5. Aaron Lynch, South Florida, 6'5" 266 LBS: The last time we saw Aaron Lynch play was in 2011, when he was menacing darn good competition as a freshman. Because he had to sit out 2012, this is a touch projection, but I believe we'll see an even better player in 2012. Lynch has prototypical DE size, and I believe he also possesses the ability to transition to linebacker. He's great off the snap and has a knack for controlling offensive tackles. When he was playing for Notre Dame, he lived in opposing backfields- creating a lot of negative plays, but also generally pressuing the QB even when he didn't quite get there. He's one that I'm very excited to see and could play higher than this projection.

 

6. Kyle Van Noy, BYU, 6'4" 245 LBS: Van Noy will undoubtedly be one of the best athletes available next year, and is coming into the season with lots of notariety after his dominant bowl game performance. I like a lot of aspects of his game, but have some concerns as well. One is physicality- he has a slighter build than your typical pass rusher and definitely needs to bulk up (reminds me too much of Aaron Maybin). Related to that, he spends very little time pass rushing out of the three point stance- he just wasn't built last year to spar with offensive linemen in a phone booth. Even if he gets drafted into a 3-4, he needs to be able to rush from a 3 point stance. If that doesn't change, he might need to play OLB in a 4-3. The other concern I have regards his production against top competition. His numbers in 2012 were gaudy, but against Boise State, Oregon State, Notre Dame, and Ga. Tech he posted a combined: 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 hurry, 0 FF, and 1 INT. I want to see more production against top competition in 2013. All that said, his athletic potential is undeniable, and if he puts on more size he could prove a force.

 

7. DeMarcus Lawrence, Boise State, 6'3" 242 LBS: Lawrence, a JUCO transfer, burst onto the scene in 2013 with 8.5 sacks and 13.5 TFL in 11 games. He possesses plus athelticism and a terrific first step. If he maintains those things while adding size and strength, I think he'll follow in Shea McClellan's footsteps as a first rounder. He needs to improve at the point of attack in the running game, but few pass rushers can dip and bend as fluidly as Lawrence and he does a great job keeping offensive linemen off-balance. I am hoping that BSU forces their way into a bowl game against a good opponent, as Washington is currently the only "big name" on their schedule and I'd like to see Lawrence against some top competition.

 

8. Jeremiah Attaochu, Ga. Tech, 6'3" 240 LBS: Attaochu is the ACC's most productive returning pass rusher. As I've mentioned before, I'm actually glad he's moving to 4-3 DE because I'm satisfied that he can play linebacker at this point, and would just like to see him fight offensive linemen in close quarters. He's undersized, but he plays with a lot of physicality. He needs to get under control to avoid penalties, but I like the passion- reminds me a little of James Harrison. In 2012, I'll be looking for improved hand work and bend around the edge to compliment his exceptional burst. If his technical skills improve and he manages to get up around 250 without losing speed, he may well push for a 1st round slot.

 

9. Scott Crichton, Oregon State, 6'3" 260 LBS: I really like Crichton and I think he'll make for a solid 2nd round pick. He's very capable when he's "on." By that, I mean when he's playing with good leverage and mixing up his approach. His biggest weaknesses I saw last year were an over reliance on his bull rush and getting too high off the snap. But those are correctable issues. The important thing is that he has the athelticism and physicality to at least be a complimentary pass rush option at the next level. He reminds me a little of Jabaal Sheard- a persistent grinder who consistently contributes pressure even if he doesn't dominate games.

 

10. Adrian Hubbard, Alabama, 6'6" 248 LBS: Hubbard will garner a lot of attention being the best pass rusher on the Crimson Tide, but I haven't been overly impressed when I've gone back to look. He isn't a very sudden athlete, lacking burst to beat an offensive lineman with speed. He has time to change my perception this season, but right now he looks like a 3rd round pick and complimentary player. On the bright side, he's strong in the running game and uses his hands well. While I don't think he'll ever be the main pass rusher for a team, I also think his floor is as a strong side player who helps out in that regard and plays sound in the running game.

 

Others to watch:

 

-Kareem Martin, UNC, 6'6" 260 LBS: I like Martin's length and power, but I'm not sold on him at LB.

-Khalil Mack, Buffalo, 6'3" 245 LBS: Extremely productive, but is undersized and plays like it.

-Morgan Breslin, USC, 6'2" 250 LBS: Great production from strong side; saw a lot of unblocked plays.

-Ronald Powell, Florida, 6'4" 244 LBS: Could vault to 1st round if he stays healthy and proves athelticism.

[OSUViking 505]

This question is directed at Kemp/Sampson:

 

Is the 2014 draft class deep with quarterback talent? I have skepticism about whether Ponder will deliver or not, which makes me think this may be his last year and we will end up in the teens for next year's draft. Are there some solid QB talents that could make a different within a few years that we could pick up in the mid-first round?