smallcollegefbfan
July 22nd, 2011, 09:30 AM
FCS NFL Prospect Tidbits
I have posted very little, if anything, on the 2012 FCS NFL Draft Class so I figured I would post blurbs from sources around the NFL and my own stuff.
First, I will say this is the best CB class I have ever seen in FCS with 6 CBs who have a legit shot to be drafted as of now. Tops in the group on my list is Ryan Steed of Furman with a 4th round grade. Some scouts agree with me while others think Trumaine Johnson of Montana is a little better. If you swapped their heights there is no doubt Steed would be a 2nd round projection right now. I have Johnson in the 4th-5th round. Both could go in the 3rd when all is said and done.
Cal Poly’s Asa Jackson is another one but scouts have him higher than I do as I see him as a 6th round type guy while many scouts have him in the 4th round. He is only 5’10 and he gives up more plays than you want in a possible NFL starter from the FCS level.
Other corners to keep an eye on include Coastal Carolina’s Josh Norman and Hampton’s Micah Pellerin while a couple sleepers are EKU”s Jeremy Caldwell and Murray State’s Dontrell Johnson. Johnson, like Jackson and Caldwell is a very good return man whose value is improved by that asset.
There are only two offensive linemen whom I consider draftable and both are 5th-7th round types in USD’s Tom Compton and Columbia’s Jeff Adams. I like Adam’s style of play more but Compton is a finesse guy who did very well against Minnesota and UCF. He handled a couple combine guys very well.
The best upside is coming from App State’s Brian Quick but he could find his numbers down unless others step up at receiver. He could end up in the 2nd or 3rd round or find himself in the 5th round range. I don’t see him falling lower than the 4th round though because he does have some freakish qualities.
With Taiwan Jones leaving early the best RB is a late round option in Murray State’s Mike Harris. Harris is a player and the best prospect since Austen Lane at MSU. He could go in the 6th or 7th round.
EWU DT Renard Williams is overrated by the media right now as the scouts have him as a PFA and I have him as a 6th-7th round guy. Williams flashes needing to put it all together and be consistent and his Wonderlic score is a little low even for a DT.
The most overrated player on my board by scouts is B.J. Coleman of UTC whom I gave a PFA grade and late round projection to but scouts have him in the 4th and 5th round. I think that is way too high. He had some really bad games throwing several picks and had a couple dropped picks against App and others. He is not very accurate and lacks a big arm. He is a 3rd string type player in the NFL, IMO.
I have four players whom I think scouts are really sleeping on as they mostly have PFA or FA grades on them and I have all of them in the 7th round or better. I think they are sleeping on Idaho State’s Tavoy Moore whom they think runs a 4.50 40 and I will bet my house, career, everything on him running no worse than a 4.42 in the 40. He can fly. He might run under a 4.35 and should run a sub 4.4. It would surprise me if he doesn’t run 4.3s. Another one I like is Lamar WR Marcus Jackson. I have him much higher than most. He can flat out play. He’s faster than people think and he has return ability. W&M RB Jonathan Grimes is rated lower because of injuries so no shock there. I still have him in late rounds. The other one is Villanova WR Norman White who ran slow for scouts but all Nova players did. He is a player who I think is a 6th round talent but I have him as a PFA projection until he improves his 40 time for them.
A couple possible sleepers to watch for are SC State S Donovan Richard who is bigger than people think at 210 and ran a 4.49 for scouts. If he plays well this year he could go in the 5th round range.
One all-purpose guy I like more than most is App State RB Travaris Cadet. He’s a good RB and RS but can play QB, WR, etc. He is an athlete and could go in the late rounds.
Elon OG Rodney Austin is seen as a center by some and with his size (6’3, 310) and style of play could move into late rounds from my PFA grade now.
Richmond QB Aaron Corp is a guy people think has lost his passion for football and must have a big year or else he will be no better than a low level free agent. He has late round talent though.
Some other names scouts have talked about heavily include the UNH duo of Brian McNally and Chris Jeannot while Liberty’s duo of Chris Summers and Asa Chapman are mid level free agents I think could go in the 6th or 7th round next year. Chapman is a lot better than that kid from Bethel who was drafted and Summers is a physical specimen.
The player I think they are missing the most on is Jackson State’s Donovan Robinson whom scouts have as a reject and I gave him high PFA grade to. He is a tweener and I’m not saying he will make it but he will be a definite free agent and if he bulks up and becomes a little more consistent he could get drafted.
I have posted very little, if anything, on the 2012 FCS NFL Draft Class so I figured I would post blurbs from sources around the NFL and my own stuff.
First, I will say this is the best CB class I have ever seen in FCS with 6 CBs who have a legit shot to be drafted as of now. Tops in the group on my list is Ryan Steed of Furman with a 4th round grade. Some scouts agree with me while others think Trumaine Johnson of Montana is a little better. If you swapped their heights there is no doubt Steed would be a 2nd round projection right now. I have Johnson in the 4th-5th round. Both could go in the 3rd when all is said and done.
Cal Poly’s Asa Jackson is another one but scouts have him higher than I do as I see him as a 6th round type guy while many scouts have him in the 4th round. He is only 5’10 and he gives up more plays than you want in a possible NFL starter from the FCS level.
Other corners to keep an eye on include Coastal Carolina’s Josh Norman and Hampton’s Micah Pellerin while a couple sleepers are EKU”s Jeremy Caldwell and Murray State’s Dontrell Johnson. Johnson, like Jackson and Caldwell is a very good return man whose value is improved by that asset.
There are only two offensive linemen whom I consider draftable and both are 5th-7th round types in USD’s Tom Compton and Columbia’s Jeff Adams. I like Adam’s style of play more but Compton is a finesse guy who did very well against Minnesota and UCF. He handled a couple combine guys very well.
The best upside is coming from App State’s Brian Quick but he could find his numbers down unless others step up at receiver. He could end up in the 2nd or 3rd round or find himself in the 5th round range. I don’t see him falling lower than the 4th round though because he does have some freakish qualities.
With Taiwan Jones leaving early the best RB is a late round option in Murray State’s Mike Harris. Harris is a player and the best prospect since Austen Lane at MSU. He could go in the 6th or 7th round.
EWU DT Renard Williams is overrated by the media right now as the scouts have him as a PFA and I have him as a 6th-7th round guy. Williams flashes needing to put it all together and be consistent and his Wonderlic score is a little low even for a DT.
The most overrated player on my board by scouts is B.J. Coleman of UTC whom I gave a PFA grade and late round projection to but scouts have him in the 4th and 5th round. I think that is way too high. He had some really bad games throwing several picks and had a couple dropped picks against App and others. He is not very accurate and lacks a big arm. He is a 3rd string type player in the NFL, IMO.
I have four players whom I think scouts are really sleeping on as they mostly have PFA or FA grades on them and I have all of them in the 7th round or better. I think they are sleeping on Idaho State’s Tavoy Moore whom they think runs a 4.50 40 and I will bet my house, career, everything on him running no worse than a 4.42 in the 40. He can fly. He might run under a 4.35 and should run a sub 4.4. It would surprise me if he doesn’t run 4.3s. Another one I like is Lamar WR Marcus Jackson. I have him much higher than most. He can flat out play. He’s faster than people think and he has return ability. W&M RB Jonathan Grimes is rated lower because of injuries so no shock there. I still have him in late rounds. The other one is Villanova WR Norman White who ran slow for scouts but all Nova players did. He is a player who I think is a 6th round talent but I have him as a PFA projection until he improves his 40 time for them.
A couple possible sleepers to watch for are SC State S Donovan Richard who is bigger than people think at 210 and ran a 4.49 for scouts. If he plays well this year he could go in the 5th round range.
One all-purpose guy I like more than most is App State RB Travaris Cadet. He’s a good RB and RS but can play QB, WR, etc. He is an athlete and could go in the late rounds.
Elon OG Rodney Austin is seen as a center by some and with his size (6’3, 310) and style of play could move into late rounds from my PFA grade now.
Richmond QB Aaron Corp is a guy people think has lost his passion for football and must have a big year or else he will be no better than a low level free agent. He has late round talent though.
Some other names scouts have talked about heavily include the UNH duo of Brian McNally and Chris Jeannot while Liberty’s duo of Chris Summers and Asa Chapman are mid level free agents I think could go in the 6th or 7th round next year. Chapman is a lot better than that kid from Bethel who was drafted and Summers is a physical specimen.
The player I think they are missing the most on is Jackson State’s Donovan Robinson whom scouts have as a reject and I gave him high PFA grade to. He is a tweener and I’m not saying he will make it but he will be a definite free agent and if he bulks up and becomes a little more consistent he could get drafted.