Riley Reiff is another in a long line of top-caliber offensive lineman from the University of Iowa. Like the others before him, Reiff is a blue-collar blocker who is fundamentally sound, hard working, and plays with the aggressiveness that most NFL scouts drool over. While there are some flaws in his game, Reiff strikes me as a day-one starter in the NFL, and should be able to man the left tackle position for a team for many years. Playing at a premium position so many teams crave, Reiff should hear his name called within the first 15 picks in the NFL Draft.

Reiff is technically solid in pass protection, using his natural Keep Reading...]]>

Summary

Riley Reiff is another in a long line of top-caliber offensive lineman from the University of Iowa. Like the others before him, Reiff is a blue-collar blocker who is fundamentally sound, hard working, and plays with the aggressiveness that most NFL scouts drool over. While there are some flaws in his game, Reiff strikes me as a day-one starter in the NFL, and should be able to man the left tackle position for a team for many years. Playing at a premium position so many teams crave, Reiff should hear his name called within the first 15 picks in the NFL Draft.

Pass Blocking

Reiff is technically solid in pass protection, using his natural foot quickness and lateral agility to mirror speed rushers on the edge. He has nice length and uses his arms to his advantage to gain leverage on defenders, although he does overextend at times causing a loss of balance. Reiff seems only average when anchoring against bull rushers, but at the same time he does a nice job of recovering and fighting for position even when pushed off balance.

Run Blocking

Reiff is a strong run blocker who is powerful at the point of attack and comes off the ball hard during run plays with a nice initial burst. Despite being an average athlete, Reiff is quick and light on his feet in the screen game and gets to the second level with ease. Once at the second level, he does a nice job of locating his target and maintaining his block through the duration of the play. He plays in a zone blocking scheme and is not asked to pull or trap much, so there may be a learning curve there in the NFL.

Awareness

Like most Iowa linemen, Reiff is a smart player who seems to understand his assignments in both the run and pass game. My only criticism here is at times he locks onto a single target while letting a secondary defender run free. He needs to improve his ability notice that defender and chip when necessary.

Hand Placement

Probably Reiff’s biggest area for improvement is inconsistent hand placement. He doesn’t use his hands aggressively enough at times, especially for a guy as big and powerful as he is. When he does lock on and fight for position, he is tough and almost impossible to shed. He seems to understand the importance of leverage, so he should be able to improve this aspect over time.

Mobility

Reiff is not the most athletic tackle you will see play, but he is good enough to not be considered heavy-footed. He is a natural knee bender and sits in his stance very well. He is quick enough off the snap to be strong and aggressive at the point of attack. He does at times play too upright for his height, but should improve on that with additional coaching. For as tall as he is, he is a good cut blocker who is fluid when attacking a defender low.

Footwork

Reiff seems to be strong fundamentally in his footwork, getting nice depth on his kick step in pass protection, and showing nice fluid agility in his lateral movements. He does a nice job of consistently moving his feet to maintain balance and leverage. Reiff keeps a nice wide base at most times.

Additional Information

As a freshman at Iowa was arrested for public intoxication and for leading police on a 20-minute chase on foot… South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior… two-time South Dakota Elite 45 team selection… South Dakota 11B all-American as a senior… first team all-state defensive end as a sophomore and junior… first team all-state tight end as a senior… first team all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior… Collected 261 tackles, 23 sacks and eight interceptions on defense… also caught 27 passes for 321 yards and nine touchdowns… lettered in wrestling, golf and track… three-time state wrestling champion with a career record of 121-1.

Production/Experience

2011: Played and started in all 13 games at left tackle
2010: Played and started in all 13 games at left tackle
2009: Started 11 of 13 games, with three starts at left tackle, seven at left guard and final game at right tackle
2008: Redshirt

Academics

Interdepartmental studies major.

Awards & Honors

2011: First team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media … Pro Football Weekly first-team all-american
2010: Second team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media … Hustle Team Award, Offense.
2009: Third team Freshman all-America by CollegeFootballNews.com … first team Big Ten all-Freshman team by Sporting News … Next Man In Award, Offense.
2008: None

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Summary

Jonathan Martin is an excellent, experienced all-around left tackle who has been tasked with protecting Andrew Luck’s blindside, as well as the hopes of many moribund NFL franchises, for the past three seasons. While perhaps not quite the athlete of top-10 pick Matt Kalil, Martin is above-average physically and looks completely natural and comfortable playing left tackle. While I hate to use the term “finesse” for any offensive lineman, Martin’s game is more about agility, technique, and quickness than power. If he decides to declare, Martin should hear his name called in the top-20 picks of the NFL Draft.

Martin is solid in pass pro, using excellent anticipation and quickness off the snap to Keep Reading...]]>

Summary

Jonathan Martin is an excellent, experienced all-around left tackle who has been tasked with protecting Andrew Luck’s blindside, as well as the hopes of many moribund NFL franchises, for the past three seasons. While perhaps not quite the athlete of top-10 pick Matt Kalil, Martin is above-average physically and looks completely natural and comfortable playing left tackle. While I hate to use the term “finesse” for any offensive lineman, Martin’s game is more about agility, technique, and quickness than power. If he decides to declare, Martin should hear his name called in the top-20 picks of the NFL Draft.

Pass Blocking

Martin is solid in pass pro, using excellent anticipation and quickness off the snap to gain advantages on
the defender. He does a great job keeping his feet moving and maintains balance while engaged with a
defender. There are times when his initial drop-step is too shallow, and therefore he doesn’t get enough
depth when trying to ride an edge rusher around the pocket. Martin has a solid but not overpowering punch.
He possesses adequate anchor strength but has to fight to keep stronger bull rushers at bay.

Run Blocking

Martin is a good run blocker who uses excellent agility to beat defenders to the point of attack and wall off
their attempts at getting to the ball carrier. He is a natural bender who, for the most part, keeps his pad
level low and maintains leverage advantages. He plays with a bit of a nasty streak and sustains his blocks
throughout the action. Martin does a good job chipping an initial defender, then locating his second read and attacking. He seals the edge very well, even moving outside the right tackle on occasion when plays are called
to that side.

Awareness

Martin is an intelligent player who recognizes blitzes early and seems to understand his assignments in both pass protection and in the run game. He locates critical defenders well, and understands when to shed his current block and attack someone else.

Hand Placement

Martin does a good job of fighting for hand position, but needs to improve strength in this area. When engaged with a stronger defender, he can struggle to both shed the defender when needed and keep his hands in an advantageous position. He has an adequate initial punch and does a good job keeping his arms extended and engaged in pass protection. Martin uses his hand rather than catching defenders with his body.

Mobility

Martin is an above-average athlete with nice agility but only average foot speed to get down the field. While
not asked to pull a ton, when he does he is nimble and can get around the edge with ease. He does not
necessarily excel as a second level blocker, although the effort is always there. Martin has quick feet and is
lightning quick off the snap, one of his best qualities.

Footwork

Overall, Martin has good footwork, but at times his steps can get too choppy in pass protection and his
drop-step too shallow. When engaged in run blocking, he keeps his legs churning and can effectively ride his
defender out of the play. He is light on his feet and keeps a nice wide base with good balance.

Additional Information

Martin graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, Calif., and was only ranked as the No. 44 offensive tackle nationally by Rivals.com as well as the No. 52 overall player in California. SuperPrep ranked him No. 95 among California/Hawaii/Nevada prospects.

Production/Experience

2011: Has played and started in all 12 games.
2010: Played and started in all 13 games.
2009: Played in all 13 games with 11 starts at LT.

Academics

Majoring in classics.

Awards & Honors

2011: Playboy Preseason All-American First Team; named to the Rotary Lombardi Award preseason watch list.
2010: All-Pac-10 First Team
2009: All-Pac-10 honorable mention; Second Team Freshman All-American by College Football News.

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DeCastro is a smart, technically sound guard who has been an integral part of Stanford’s dominant power rushing attack for three years. While not overly impressive physically, DeCastro beats his opponents consistently by being fundamentally sound, consistent with effort, and taking advantage of his natural flexibility to gain leverage advantages. He is a master at pulling and trapping, and opens holes in the running game with a seek-and-destroy attitude. One of the top guards I have watched on tape, DeCastro is worthy of top-15 consideration in the 2012 draft.  

DeCastro is solid in pass protection, helping keep all-world QB Andrew Luck safe for the past three years. While possessing only average Keep Reading...]]>

Summary

DeCastro is a smart, technically sound guard who has been an integral part of Stanford’s dominant power rushing attack for three years. While not overly impressive physically, DeCastro beats his opponents consistently by being fundamentally sound, consistent with effort, and taking advantage of his natural flexibility to gain leverage advantages. He is a master at pulling and trapping, and opens holes in the running game with a seek-and-destroy attitude. One of the top guards I have watched on tape, DeCastro is worthy of top-15 consideration in the 2012 draft.
 

Pass Blocking

DeCastro is solid in pass protection, helping keep all-world QB Andrew Luck safe for the past three years. While possessing only average anchor strength, DeCastro fights for leverage with his hands and stay under the pads of his opponent consistently well. He keeps his arms extended in pass protection and does a good job keeping his feet moving and maintaining balance. Larger defenders may give him trouble on the inside at the next level. DeCastro is listed at 310 lbs. but is very lean looking and has the frame to add some weight in the NFL.

Run Blocking

DeCastro’s main area of excellence is run blocking. He easily walls off defenders in the run game, and never seems to get beat at the point of attack. He uses quick feet to pull and is as good at locating defenders at the second level as I’ve seen. DeCastro may not be a dominant drive blocker (which may come with some added bulk) but he keeps his legs churning with good effort and has the ability to move defenders off the ball. He plays RG at Stanford mainly because of the power rushing attack they use, which has him pulling on seemingly every run play. DeCastro can easily transition to LG in the NFL.

Awareness

DeCastro is an intelligent player and understand his assignments very well. He never seems to be fooled by blitzes in the pass game, and does an excellent job leaving a double-team to pick up an incoming defender. In the run game, he locates defenders extremely well and is seemingly always in the correct position.

Hand Placement

DeCastro does a good job keeping his arms extended and his hands engaged in pass protection, but he does not possess an elite initial punch and he does not usually win battles with his hands. While it may be nitpicking a bit on a player of DeCastro’s caliber, this is an area where he can improve and should be coached up on in the NFL where defenders can be violent with their hands.

Mobility

DeCastro does not possess elite athleticism or foot speed but has enough mobility to easily get to the second level, often even using a quick swim move to get around the tackle on screen plays. His ability to be a pulling guard is one of his best assets and he looks comfortable working in space. He does have nice natural flexibility that allows his to stay low and win leverage battles time after time.

Footwork

DeCastro is very light on his feet and does a beautiful job of using short, choppy steps when pulling/trapping to maintain good balance and leverage. He never stops moving his feet when engaged with a defender and maintain a proper shoulder-width base in pass protection. DeCastro is technically very sound.

Additional Information

Threw shot put in high school and was the Washington State 3A champion in 2008 with a throw of 59’3”.

Production/Experience

2011: Has played and started in all 12 games
2010: Played and started in all 13 games
2009: Played and started in all 13 games

Academics

Majoring in management, science, and engineering

Awards & Honors

2011: Phil Steele preseason All-American, Outland Trophy finalist
2010: All-Pac-10 First Team
2009: All-Pac-10 honorable mention

Prospect Video Clips

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This is as easy a choice as there is in the country. Through seven games, Luck has thrown for 1888 yards and 20 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. His team is 7-0, and to top it all off, Luck may be the most hyped draft prospect in history, as displayed by the national “Suck 4 Luck” campaigning going on in NFL cities around the country. Rarely do I consider any prospect as a “sure-fire” star, but Luck is as close as anyone can come to earning that praise. A certain shoo-in to be invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Luck will run away with this Pac-12 award, barring injury. Honorable mentions: Matt Barkley, QB, USC; LaMichael James, RB, Oregon; Keith Price, QB, Washington; Robert Woods, WR, USC.

Really, this honor comes to Shaw Keep Reading...]]>

Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

This is as easy a choice as there is in the country. Through seven games, Luck has thrown for 1888 yards and 20 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. His team is 7-0, and to top it all off, Luck may be the most hyped draft prospect in history, as displayed by the national “Suck 4 Luck” campaigning going on in NFL cities around the country. Rarely do I consider any prospect as a “sure-fire” star, but Luck is as close as anyone can come to earning that praise. A certain shoo-in to be invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, Luck will run away with this Pac-12 award, barring injury.
Honorable mentions: Matt Barkley, QB, USC; LaMichael James, RB, Oregon; Keith Price, QB, Washington; Robert Woods, WR, USC.

Coach of the Year: David Shaw, Stanford

Really, this honor comes to Shaw by default. Yes, his team is having an amazing year. But let’s be honest, he inherited the best QB and offensive line in the country, which isn’t a bad start for a first-year head coach. The other main contender at this point is Oregon’s Chip Kelly, but with potential major recruiting violations looming, it’s hard to give him an award for leadership. If you were to look deeper than just simply the coach of the best team, Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson, and Washington’s Steve Sarkisian have probably done more with lesser talent than has Shaw. But it’s hard to argue for a coach who has his team in line to go undefeated and play in a major bowl game, if not the national championship.
Honorable mentions: Dennis Erickson, Arizona State; Steve Sarkisian, Washington.

Freshman of the Year: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington

Oregon’s De’Anthony Thomas has been electric this year for a top-10 team, but for me, Seferian-Jenkins is the pick. OK, I’m admittedly biased because I live in Seattle, but when I watch the 6’7”, 250 lb. TE play, I see NFL potential written all over him. Already amassing 20 catches and 4 touchdowns on the season, Seferian-Jenkins has been a huge security blanket for Washington QB Keith Price. He has rare size, athleticism and body control, and combined with an NFL-caliber body, Seferian-Jenkins has future 1st round potential. Watch for him to be even more of a factor in UW’s offense as the season progresses.
Honorable mentions: De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon; Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State; Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State.

North Division Champion: Oregon Ducks

After hyping Stanford so much above, I’m going to go ahead and pick Oregon as the Pac-12 North champion. Why? I have no idea, other than a gut feeling. Well, I have some idea. Oregon’s offense is simply unstoppable, and if the injuries to RB LaMichael James and QB Darron Thomas don’t linger, I’m not sure anyone in the conference can compete with the amount of points Oregon can put on the board in any given game, including Stanford. The big game here happens November 12th, when Oregon travels to Palo Alto in a HUGE showdown with Stanford that will likely crown not just the North champion, but the Pac-12 champion as well.
Team to watch: Stanford.

South Division Champion: Arizona State Sun Devils

The inferior South division of the Pac-12 boasts such wonderful teams as Colorado (0-4 league), Utah (0-4), Arizona (1-4) and UCLA (2-2). So really this comes down to a two-horse race between the ultra-talented USC Trojans, and the well-coached Arizona State Sun Devils. And with USC not able to compete in the Pac-12 title game due to NCAA sanctions, Arizona State earns the title and the chance to get hammered by Oregon or Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game. The Sun Devils do boast two of my favorite players in the Pac-12 in QB Brock Osweiler and LB Vontaze Burfict.
Team to watch: Just turn the TV off.

Pac-12 Champion: Oregon Ducks

It won’t be as easy as last season, but Oregon for me still looks like the best team in this conference. If they make it past Stanford, Oregon will cruise to victory in the title game. With possible major violations looming, this may be the last time we see Oregon here for a few years.

Coach on the hot seat: Rick Neuheisel, UCLA

After posting two 4-8 seasons in the last three years, it’s safe to say that Neuheisel is on the hot seat. A once proud UCLA program is now being out-recruited by teams such as Washington and California, which can’t make boosters of the Bruins very happy. Even worse, teams are coming into Southern California and taking recruits away more than ever before. It’s hard to imagine that Neuheisel could make it through another losing season, which is what it looks like UCLA will have. The Bruins still have issues at QB and on offense in general, which doesn’t bode well for a coach known for being an offensive-minded guy. The Bruins have managed 3 “wins” so far (against Washington State, Oregon State, and San Jose State), but after a 48-12 throttling by Arizona last week, Slick Rick is likely seeing his last days as lead man of UCLA.
Dishonorable mentions: Paul Wulff, Washington State; Jeff Tedford, California; Mike Riley, Oregon State.

First Team Offense

QB: Andrew Luck, Jr., Stanford
RB: LaMichael James, Jr., Oregon
RB: Chris Polk, Jr., Washington
WR: Keenan Allen, So., Cal
WR: Robert Woods, So., USC
TE: Coby Fleener, Sr., Stanford
OL: Matt Kalil, Jr., USC
OL: Jonathan Martin, Jr., Stanford
OL: David DeCastro, Jr., Stanford
OL: Ryan Miller, Sr., Colorado
C: Garth Gerhart, Sr., Arizona St.
All Purpose: Jamal Miles, Jr., Arizona St.
K: Erik Folk, Sr., Washington

Not a whole lot of surprises here, but a whole lot of talent. Andrew Luck, Jonathan Martin, David DeCastro, and Matt Kalil all will be 1st round picks if they declare in 2012, while LaMichael James and Chris Polk could see their names called in round 2. Equally impressive is the sophomore WR combo of Kennan Allen and Robert Woods who are as good as there is in the country.
Honorable mentions: Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State; Matt Barkley, QB, USC; Marvin Jones, WR, California; Senio Kelemete, OL, Washington; Keith Price, QB, Washington; Rodney Stewart, RB, Colorado; Tony Bergstrom, OL, Utah.

First Team Defense

DL: Dion Jordan, Jr., Oregon
DL: Scott Crichton, Fr., Oregon State
DL: Travis Long, Jr., Washington State
DL: Nick Perry, Jr., USC
LB: Vontaze Burfict, Jr., Arizona State
LB: Cort Dennison, Sr., Washington
LB: Mychal Kendricks, Sr., California
LB: Chase Thomas, Jr., Stanford
DB: Trevin Wade, Sr., Arizona
DB: Jordan Poyer, Jr., Oregon State
DB: John Boyett, Jr., Oregon
DB: T.J. McDonald, Jr., USC
P: Bryan Anger, Sr., California

The defense is harder to determine than the offense in the Pac-12, and is definitely not as highly talented. The headliner here is Vontaze Burfict who will be a 1st round pick if he declares in 2012, and if he prevents himself from committing a crime on the field. Scott Crichton is having a great year for a redshirt freshman, with 42 tackles, 4 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss. Chase Thomas leads the Pac-12 with 5.5 sacks and also has compiled 10 TFL.
Honorable mentions: Trevor Reilly, LB, Utah; Chaz Walker, LB, Utah; Alex Hoffman-Ellis, LB Washington State; Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State; Shaq Richardson, CB, Arizona; Jamaar Jarrett, DL, Arizona State; Josh Kaddu, LB, Oregon.

If the Bengals are picking here, the Andy Dalton experiment has gone horribly wrong (as expected), and they can smile and select the best college QB since Peyton Manning. Luck has all-pro type ability and potential. 2. Miami Dolphins 

See above and insert Chad Henne. Look, we all know this is a QB driven league and the Dolphins need one in the worst way. Barkley has great tools and should put together a huge season in So. Cal if he stays healthy. 3. Carolina Panthers 

Coples could be an option here, but I see Carolina doing everything to give Cam Newton as much talent around him as possible. The 6’4″ 230 lb. Jeffery is a physical specimen who has the stats to back up Keep Reading...]]>

1. Cincinnati Bengals 

Andrew Luck – QB – Stanford*   If the Bengals are picking here, the Andy Dalton experiment has gone horribly wrong (as expected), and they can smile and select the best college QB since Peyton Manning. Luck has all-pro type ability and potential.

2. Miami Dolphins 

Matt Barkley – QB – USC*   See above and insert Chad Henne. Look, we all know this is a QB driven league and the Dolphins need one in the worst way. Barkley has great tools and should put together a huge season in So. Cal if he stays healthy.

3. Carolina Panthers 

Alshon Jeffery – WR – South Carolina*   Coples could be an option here, but I see Carolina doing everything to give Cam Newton as much talent around him as possible. The 6’4″ 230 lb. Jeffery is a physical specimen who has the stats to back up his talent.

4. Washington Redskins 

Landry Jones – QB – Oklahoma*   It’s no surprise that the teams projected to pick at the top of this draft all have serious QB concerns. Washington wanted a QB in the draft last year but couldn’t make it happen. Jones has the size and ability to be an elite player.

5. Buffalo Bills 

Quinton Coples – DE – North Carolina   Buffalo seems intent on building at every position through the draft, except for QB. Coples would be a huge addition next to Marcell Dareus, making a formidable young line. He has rare puss rush ability for an end his size.

6. San Francisco 49ers 

Alfonzo Dennard – CB – Nebraska   Dennard may have played in the shadow of 2011 first round pick Prince Amukamara last year, but watch the film and you will realize Dennard was the best corner on that team. Might be the most physical corner in this draft.

7. Seattle Seahawks 

Donte Paige-Moss – DE – North Carolina*   If Seattle drafts this high, I believe the will do everything they can to assure they get one of the top 3 QB’s. But for argument’s sake, if they draft here and QB’s are gone, DPM fits the bill as an edge rusher with size and athleticism.

8. Denver Broncos 

Luke Kuechly – ILB – Boston College*   Kuechly is a stats machine who plays the game with extremely good instincts and has a knack for always being around the ball. He possesses great size and smarts and strikes me as a John Fox kind of player.

9. Oakland Raiders 

Dre Kirkpatrick – CB – Alabama*   Kirkpatrick is tall and fast, so immediately he becomes an intriguing prospect for the Raiders. In this case, however, they would not be reaching as Kirkpatrick is a top-flight corner with great ball skills.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars 

Justin Blackmon – WR – Oklahoma State*   After drafting a franchise QB in Blaine Gabbert last year, it’s time for the Jaguars to start giving him some weapons. Blackmon had off-the-charts production at Oklahoma St. and plays the WR position with aggression.

11. Minnesota Vikings 

Matt Kalil – OT – USC*   The Vikings should be looking for a left tackle in the off-season after cutting Bryant McKinnie and starting Charlie Johnson. It will be a steal if Kalil falls to them here, as he is the best left tackle prospect in the nation.

12. Cleveland Browns 

Vontaze Burfict – ILB – Arizona State*   Burfict has great size and sideline-to-sideline speed, but often plays out of control and lets his emotions get the better of him. If Cleveland can make him a more disciplined player, he has Pro-Bowl ability.

13. Tennessee Titans 

Jerel Worthy – DT – Michigan State*   Worthy has been a bit underproductive at Michigan State, but many feel he is on the verge of a breakout season. He is strong and lightning quick off the snap for a player his size, and may be a top-10 pick with a strong season.

14. Detroit Lions 

Jonathan Martin – OT – Stanford*   Martin teamed with G David DeCastro to form the best left side in all of college football. Martin has quick feet, good strength and a high football IQ. He should easily replace an aging Jeff Backus as protector of Matt Stafford.

15. Arizona Cardinals 

Stephon Gilmore – CB – South Carolina*   The 6’1″ 200lb. Gilmore has prototypical NFL size at cornerback and is as physical as they come. A member of the SEC All-Academic team, Gilmore also has the type of character NFL teams look for.

16. Chicago Bears 

Michael Floyd – WR – Notre Dame   There are a number of ways the Bears could go here, including OT or CB, but WR continues to be a concern for this team. Despite major injury concerns, Floyd is a dynamic receiver with great hands and prototype size.

CB—Omar Bolden—Senior—5’10”, 195 lbs.—Dual-threat corner and kick returner. Bolden is an experienced, well-rounded player. He missed almost all of 2009 with a knee injury DE—James Brooks—Senior—6’5”, 279 lbs.—Excellent size and athleticism, Brooks needs to have a breakout senior season after producing just average numbers thus far in this career. DE—Jamaar Jarrett—Senior—6’5”, 260 lbs.—Another end with great size, Jarrett was an honorable Keep Reading...]]> Arizona

QB—Nick Foles—Senior—6’5”, 240 lbs.—Big, strong-armed quarterback who can make all the NFL throws. Has some mobility and decision making issues.
WR—Juron Criner—Senior—6’4”, 215 lbs.—Unbelievable size/speed combo, Criner will be one of the best receivers in the country in 2011.
CB—Trevin Wade—Senior—5’11”, 192 lbs.—Good size and great ball skills, Wade has already piled up 10 interceptions in his career, and returned 2 for touchdowns.
RB—Keola Antolin—Senior—5’8”, 195 lbs.—Antolin should see more carries after the graduation of Nic Grigsby. He’s small but has great speed and elusiveness.

Arizona State

CB—Omar Bolden—Senior—5’10”, 195 lbs.—Dual-threat corner and kick returner. Bolden is an experienced, well-rounded player. He missed almost all of 2009 with a knee injury
DE—James Brooks—Senior—6’5”, 279 lbs.—Excellent size and athleticism, Brooks needs to have a breakout senior season after producing just average numbers thus far in this career.
DE—Jamaar Jarrett—Senior—6’5”, 260 lbs.—Another end with great size, Jarrett was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 in 2010. Needs to improve pass rush skills.
C/OG—Garth Gerhart—Senior—6’2”, 295 lbs.—Short, stout and versatile lineman, Gerhart is experienced at center and guard. He should be the best center in the conference.

California

LB—Mychal Kendricks—Senior—6’1”, 241 lbs.—Extremely disruptive player who fills up a stat sheet. He had 8.5 sacks in 2010 and also collected a career high 15 tackles in a game in 2009. Kendricks is also a 2011 national honors candidate for his work in the classroom.
S—Sean Cattouse—Senior—6’2”, 213 lbs.—Redshirt senior has played in 36 games in his career. Recorded 15 tackles in a game as a strong safety in 2010.
OT—Mitchell Schwartz—Senior—6’5”, 325 lbs.—Strong, smart player with nice feet, Schwartz has improved on his technique over time. Can play either left or right tackle.
LB—D.J. Holt—Senior—6’1”, 252 lbs.—Inside backer and leader of Cal’s defense, Holt has nice size, good tackling ability, and also is decent in coverage.
WR—Marvin Jones—Senior—6’2”, 200 lbs.—A good all-around player, Jones may struggle in 2011 if Cal’s QB situation doesn’t improve. Caught a career-high 12 passes for 161 yards versus Nevada in 2010.

Colorado

DT—Conrad Obi—Senior—6’3”, 295 lbs.—Underachiever could have a breakout senior season under the tutelage of well-regarded line coach Mike Tuiasosopo.
RB—Rodney Stewart—Senior—5’6”, 175 lbs.—The diminutive Stewart proved doubters wrong by rushing for over 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010. Very much a fringe pro prospect.
TE—Ryan Deehan—Senior—6’5”, 250 lbs.—Was supposed to break out in 2010, but failed to impress with just 25 catches, still earning honorable mention All-Big-12. Has plenty of physical tools to match ideal size at TE.
OG—Ryan Miller—Senior—6’8”, 310 lbs—Earned honorable mention All-Big-12 at guard, but could possibly move to tackle as a senior. Miller has medical concerns and has missed large amounts of time due to injury.
DE—Josh Hartigan—Senior—6’1”, 220 lbs.—Extremely undersized and only played in 8 games as a junior, but piled up 7 sacks in those 8 games. Did enough to earn honorable mention All-Big-12.

Oregon

S—Eddie Pleasant—Senior—5’11”, 213 lbs.—Converted linebacker has great strength and speed and is not afraid of contact.
OT—Mark Asper—Senior—6’7”, 325 lbs.—Started 11 games at right tackle in 2010. Asper possesses great size and top-notch strength and is a mauler in the run game.
TE—David Paulson—Senior—6’4”, 241 lbs.—H-back type has soft hands and a knack for finding empty spots in zone coverage. Was named an honorable mention All-American by SI.com in 2010. Needs to improve in-line blocking.
LB—Josh Kaddu—Senior—6’3”, 230 lbs.—SAM linebacker who possesses nice strength, Kaddu will need to improve on his 32 tackles in 2010 to get draft consideration.

Oregon State

WR–James Rodgers—Senior—5’7”, 188 lbs.—Played in only 4 games in 2010 before a knee injury ruined his season. Very small build but explosive, versatile and dynamic. Rodgers may be one of the most exciting players in the country if healthy in 2011.
S—Lance Mitchell—Senior—6’2”, 206 lbs.—Outstanding athlete had 72 tackles as a junior and should be even better as a senior.
CB—Brandon Hardin—Senior—6’2”, 220 lbs—Intriguing because of the size he possesses as a cornerback, Hardin should start for a whole season for the first time in his career in 2011.
TE—Joe Halahuni—Senior—6’2”, 258 lbs.—H-back caught 35 passes as a junior and should be even more involved in the offense as a senior. Strong, physical player.
OT—Mike Remmers—Senior—6’4”, 299 lbs.—A bit undersized, Remmers will move from right tackle to left tackle as a senior. Was honorable mention All-Pac-10 as a junior.

Stanford

WR—Chris Owusu—Senior—6’2”, 200 lbs.—Dynamic kick returner who needs to grow into the solid receiver he has the talent to be. Should thrive with Andrew Luck at QB.
TE—Coby Fleener—Senior—6’6”, 244 lbs.—Athletic, talented tight ends has the speed to stretch the field. Caught 7 touchdowns as a junior and will be a big part of the Cardinal offense in 2011.
RB—Jeremy Stewart—Senior—6’1”, 218 lbs.—Oft-injured but talented back who has the size to carry the load. Ran for 99 yards and a touchdown on just 5 carries versus Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
S—Delano Howell—Senior—5’11”, 198 lbs.—Strong safety with good ball skills and tackling ability. Had 11 solo tackles in a game versus Arizona last year.

UCLA

LB—Sean Westgate—Senior—6’0’, 223 lbs.—Aggressive, instinctive player who had 90 tackles and 4 sacks in his first year as a starter. Small size could limit his value as a pro prospect.
S—Tony Dye—Senior—5’11”, 205 lbs.—Teams leading tackler is tough and a leader on defense. Was voted team’s co-defensive MVP in 2010 and was also an All-Pac-10 honorable mention.
RB—Derrick Coleman—Senior—6’0”, 233 lbs.—Veteran running back who also thrives as a special teams ace, Coleman is big and powerful as a short yardage back. Ran for a career-high 185 yards and 3 touchdowns versus Washington State last year.
TE—Cory Harkey—Senior—6’5”, 273 lbs.—Big, physical player who is best as a blocker. Only has 27 career receptions but should be more involved in the offense in 2011.

USC

DT—Armond Armstead—Senior—6’5”, 295 lbs.—Moving from defensive end to tackle as a senior, Armstead has the strength and athleticism to become a more disruptive force than he has been to this point in his career.
LB—Chris Galippo—Senior—6’2”, 250 lbs.—Versatile linebacker who has experience inside and outside, should hopefully return to the form that saw him collect 70 tackles at middle linebacker in 2009.
RB—Marc Tyler—Senior—5’11”, 230 lbs.—Excellent size/speed combo for a tailback, Tyler has the chance to have a big season in 2011. He is also effective catching the ball out of the backfield. Rushed for a team-high 913 yards in 2010.
T—Rhett Ellison—Senior—6’5”, 245 lbs.—Good combo as a blocker and receiver, Ellison should improve on his 21 catches he had as a junior.

Utah

DE—Derrick Shelby—Senior—6’3”, 255 lbs.—Had just two sacks last year after being injured for much of 2009. Previously thought of as an All-Conference candidate before his injury, Shelby looks to live up to his expectations as a senior.
OT—Tony Bergstrom—Senior—6’6”, 310 lbs.—Big, strong physical player, Bergstrom is a 3-year starter at right tackle. Has the tools to be a solid pro prospect.
OT—John Cullen—Senior—6’5”, 285 lbs.—Transferred to Utah in 2010 after being the No.1 rated JC o-lineman. Tenacious, aggressive blocker who will be watched closely in 2011 by pro scouts. Needs to improve technique.
LB—Chaz Walker—Senior—5’11”, 218 lbs.—Undersized but extremely reliable and productive, Walker had 18 tackles in a game versus TCU in 2010.

Washington

WR—Jermaine Kearse—Senior—6’2”, 205 lbs.—Talented leaper who makes the acrobatic catch, Kearse needs to improve his hands and concentration to become an elite WR. Could struggle with a transition at QB taking place at UW. Caught 63 passes for 1005 yards and 12 TD’s as a junior.
LB—Cort Dennison—Senior—6’1”, 236 lbs.—Not very athletically gifted but just makes plays. Dennison compiled 92 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2 interceptions and 2 sacks in his first year as a full-time starting middle linebacker.
DT—Alameda Ta’amu—Senior—6’3”, 330 lbs.—Highly touted lineman finally became the dominant force that was expected of him towards the end of 2010. Has the ability to be a first round draft pick in 2012. Quick, powerful penetrator.
OT—Senio Kelemete—Senior—6’4”, 289 lbs.—Converted defensive lineman started 13 games at left tackle in 2010 and was voted team captain. Powerful, physical blocker still learning the intricacies of being an offensive lineman.

Washington State

WR—Jared Karstetter—Senior—6’4”, 208 lbs—Big, slim receiver has reliable hands and ability to separate from defenders. Caught 62 passes for over 600 yards and 7 TD’s as a junior.
DE—Brandon Rankin—Senior—6’5”, 281 lbs.—Highly touted JC recruit had 24 sacks as a sophomore in 2009 at Butte JC. Collected 3 sacks for the Cougars in 2010 and could have a breakout year as a senior in 2011. Talented pass rusher.
OG—B.J. Guerra—Senior—6’3”, 315 lbs.—Experienced guard is stout at the point of attack and will be a key contributor to the offensive line in 2011.

Summary

Leonard Hankerson finally lived up to his potential as a senior after being a highly touted recruit out of high school. With an excellent size/speed ratio, Hankerson began his ascent on draft boards after a fairly dominating Senior Bowl week, culminating with 5 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in the game. He possesses great leaping ability and the ability to make the amazing catch. A hard worker, Hankerson has worked diligently to improve his game and has gotten better every single year. NFL teams will love his make-up as he is a high character and mature player who was voted a team captain in 2010. He should be drafted somewhere in the second round and Keep Reading...]]>

Summary

Leonard Hankerson finally lived up to his potential as a senior after being a highly touted recruit out of high school. With an excellent size/speed ratio, Hankerson began his ascent on draft boards after a fairly dominating Senior Bowl week, culminating with 5 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in the game. He possesses great leaping ability and the ability to make the amazing catch. A hard worker, Hankerson has worked diligently to improve his game and has gotten better every single year. NFL teams will love his make-up as he is a high character and mature player who was voted a team captain in 2010. He should be drafted somewhere in the second round and may prove to be one of the more consistent wide receivers in this class.

Route Running/Separation

Hankerson has nice long arms that he uses to create separation against press coverage. He is an inconsistent route runner, but definitely has improved over time. He struggles to get his hips low and explode out of cuts. Hankerson takes time to build up to top speed and is not overly explosive off the snap. He creates separation by being a smart football player and setting up his breaks well. He also has great top-end speed and defenders have to respect his ability to get deep. Hankerson has good lateral agility but just marginal strength. He plays with a great motor and doesn’t cut routes off early. He is a bit of a long-strider. Hankerson creates his best separation on seam routes and drag routes.

Hands

Hankerson has huge hands (10 5/8”) but has struggled with inconsistency catching the ball his whole career. He improved greatly as a senior, so the feeling is he should continue to improve at the next level. When he is struggling, he has the tendency to let the ball get into his body instead of catching it with his hands, and sometimes looks to make a move before the ball has arrived. He has a nice big wingspan which gives him a large catching radius. Hankerson makes a ton of one-handed catches.

After the Catch

Hankerson has good top-end speed and has the ability to run away from defenders. He is not overly evasive or sudden after making a catch, and won’t make defenders miss with sheer quickness. He improved his toughness over time and is willing to try and run through arm tackles. He displays good vision and finds opening in the defense to run to.

Athleticism/Body Control

Hankerson displays great athleticism and body control, especially when leaping high in the air to make a tough catch. He displays good balance and has the ability to shield defenders from the ball. He adjusts well to poorly thrown balls and also improvises well when a play breaks down.

Blocking

Hankerson is a finesse blocker and only displays marginal strength. He is willing to block however, which teams will like, he just needs to get stronger and improve on his technique. He lets the defender get into his body instead of attacking and doesn’t display the type of aggressiveness teams ultimately like to see.

Additional Information

In high school, Hankerson also played basketball and ran track. His high school wide receivers coach happened to be former NFL wide receiver, and 8-time Pro Bowler, Cris Carter, and Hankerson also enlisted the help of former Miami Dolphins star Mark Duper to help him improve his route running.

Production/Experience

2010: Played in 13 games with 11 starts.
2009: Played in 13 games with 12 starts.
2008: Played in 8 games with 2 starts.
2007: Played in 7 games with 2 starts.

Academics

Hankerson is a sports administration major.

Awards & Honors

2010: Named SI.com All-American honorable mention, All-ACC First-Team, won the Jack Harding Award as the Miami team MVP, won the College Football Performance Awards Elite Wide Receiver Trophy.

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Summary

Clint Boling is an experienced 4year starter who has the versatility to play multiple positions on the offensive line. He has made 49 career starts at Georgia, including 20 at left tackle, 11 at right tackle, and 18 at right guard. In the NFL he will most likely be a full-time guard, but that type of versatility makes him an attractive commodity. Boling has an outstanding work ethic, and is well respected by teammates who named him an offensive captain for the 2010 season. He also won the team’s Leon Farmer Award for dedication to the strength and conditioning program. He is a well-rounded player who has great technique and good functional strength. Boling should be drafted Keep Reading...]]>

Summary

Clint Boling is an experienced 4year starter who has the versatility to play multiple positions on the offensive line. He has made 49 career starts at Georgia, including 20 at left tackle, 11 at right tackle, and 18 at right guard. In the NFL he will most likely be a full-time guard, but that type of versatility makes him an attractive commodity. Boling has an outstanding work ethic, and is well respected by teammates who named him an offensive captain for the 2010 season. He also won the team’s Leon Farmer Award for dedication to the strength and conditioning program. He is a well-rounded player who has great technique and good functional strength. Boling should be drafted somewhere in round two, and don’t be shocked if it’s towards the beginning of the round.

Pass Blocking

Boling is a solid pass protector who displays good technique and strong hands. He extends his arms well and uses his strength to control and steer defenders. He has a strong anchor and doesn’t give of ground when faced with power rushers. He displays great instincts in knowing when to pass off blocks and anticipating stunts and blitzes. Boling has an extremely high football IQ. He struggles with top-end speed when he is playing tackle, and even had a tough time with the ultra-quick Nick Fairley on the inside. He tends to play a bit too high and is a poor knee bender. Boling is just an average athlete and has a relatively high center of gravity.

Run Blocking

Overall, Boling is a better run blocker than a pass blocker. He is light on his feet and he can pull and trap with great effectiveness. He really gets to the second level well, and can locate defenders in space. He also plays with a bit of a mean streak, which NFL teams will love. He has a strong lower body and is an effective drive blocker. He is not overpowering, however, and he has the tendency to catch defenders instead of being the aggressor. Boling does a great job of sealing off rushing lanes, and once he locks on a defender he does not let go.

Awareness

Boling is a smart, heady player with a really high football IQ. He is not easily fooled and does a great job anticipating stunts and blitzes. What he lacks as an athlete, he makes up for in work ethic and intangibles. He is a leader both on and off the field. Boling understand multiple positions on the line, and has been an effective player wherever he has been needed.

Hand Placement

Boling displays good hand placement, and is technically very sound. He needs to get stronger with his initial punch as he tends to catch players instead of knocking them off balance. He has strong hands, but could stand to be more violent and aggressive with his hand use. Boling only has average arm length (33 ½”) so he needs to negate this by not allowing defenders to get into his body with strength at the point of attack.

Mobility

Boling has good mobility as is surprisingly light on his feet. Despite an average initial burst, he gets to the second level well and looks good running in space. He is really effective when asked to pull or trap and has enough straight line speed to keep up with a play on the edge.

Footwork

Boling has nice quick feet for a player of his size, and generally displays good footwork. He is a good drive blocker and keeps his legs churning when locked up against a defender. As a tackle against edge speed, he can tend to be too shallow on his drop step allowing defender to get the edge and in turn causes him to lunge and get off balance.

Additional Information

Boling is about as well respected amongst players and fans as a person can be. He was named to UGA’s Team of the Decade, and ranks second in school history with his 49 career starts, including the last 38 in a row. He is extremely durable and self-motivated and is a leader on the field, in the weight room and in the community. He played high school basketball, and also started as a tight end and defensive lineman on his high school team.

Production/Experience

2010: Played and started in all 13 games, 7 at left tackle, 2 at right tackle and 4 at right guard.
2009: Played and started in all 13 games, 6 at left tackle, 6 at right tackle and 1 at right guard.
2008: Played and started in all 12 games, 7 at left tackle, 2 at right tackle and 3 at right guard.
2007: Played in 13 games with 11 starts, 1 at right tackle and 10 at right guard.

Academics

Boling is a risk management and insurance major.

Awards & Honors

2010: Named All-SEC First Team by SEC Coaches and Second Team by Associated Press and Phil Steele, selected as team’s offensive captain, earned team’s Leon Farmer Award for dedication to the strength and conditioning program.
2009: Named All-SEC by Sporting News and All-SEC Second Team by Associated Press and Phil Steele.
2008: Named to CollegeFootballNews.com’s All-Sophomore Second Team, First Team All-SEC by Associated Press, also Phil Steele’s All-SEC Second Team.
2007: Named to the Freshman All-America First Team by Scout.com and Freshman All-America Second Team by Rivals.com.

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Summary

Sam Acho is an undersized defensive end that makes plays with effort and hustle. After dominating Senior Bowl practices against some well-respected offensive linemen in this class, Acho continued his performance during the game with a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. His performance earned him the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award for the South team and opened the eyes of scouts who question his ability to be a full-time defensive end in the NFL. A ‘tweener’ by every definition of the word, Acho will ideally need to add bulk if he is to play the 5-technique position in the NFL that he played in college. He may get some looks as a rush Keep Reading...]]>

Summary

Sam Acho is an undersized defensive end that makes plays with effort and hustle. After dominating Senior Bowl practices against some well-respected offensive linemen in this class, Acho continued his performance during the game with a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. His performance earned him the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award for the South team and opened the eyes of scouts who question his ability to be a full-time defensive end in the NFL. A ‘tweener’ by every definition of the word, Acho will ideally need to add bulk if he is to play the 5-technique position in the NFL that he played in college. He may get some looks as a rush backer in a 3-4, but he doesn’t display the agility and fluidity to be able to cover in space, especially at the next level. And he may even be looked at as a right defensive end in a standard 4-3. Teams will either love this versatility or be frustrated by the question of where to play him. Acho’s work ethic, character and intangibles will attract teams enough that he will likely be draft in the early to middle part of the second round.

Run Stopping

Acho is an effective run defender who uses his relatively good length to gain leverage and quick hands to shed blockers and make plays. He contains the edge well and is not overaggressive when responsible for the back side of a play. He maintains his assignments well and plays smart. Acho always displays great hustle and has good lateral movement. He is not a particularly good change of direction player, and struggles to adjust and turn his hips when a play suddenly turns direction. He has the speed to run plays down from the backside as well as nice initial quickness to get in the backfield and be disruptive. He is a good tackler who is always active and in on plays. Acho is relatively strong at the point of attack with his upper body, but lacks strength in the lower end to consistently anchor.

Pass Rushing

Acho is not a classic edge rusher, but instead makes plays in the passing game with his effort and quickness. He has a fairly nice bull rush, and uses his upper body strength to his advantage. He is not fast enough to turn the corner against better offensive tackles and doesn’t show the flexibility to dip his hips and get around the edge. Acho does not project to be an elite pass rusher in the NFL, but should be someone who gets 6-7 sacks per year based on hustle alone. He gives excellent secondary effort even when his initial move is ineffective and again uses great leverage to gain the advantage against blockers. He has the speed to chase quarterbacks down from behind. Acho will need to add some bulk to play DE in the NFL. He has the tendency to get swallowed up by larger defenders and will get pushed around until he improves his base strength.

Awareness

Acho is an extremely smart player who, despite only being a two year starter, plays with great instincts and awareness of what he sees in front of him. He is not fooled by misdirection much, maintains his edge, and plays assignment sound. He understands multiple positions, having played defensive end and defensive tackle in college. If he is to move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, he will be learning a completely new position from anything he played in college. If anyone can learn a new position and playbook though, it’s Acho.

Hand Placement

Acho consistently plays with good hand placement and uses this skill to gain leverage, mainly as a pass rusher. While his hand placement is usually good, Acho could improve the use of his hands when they are in place. He doesn’t consistently slap or chop at blockers, and doesn’t use his hands to control the blocker at the point of attack. With more experience he should be able to refine this skill.

Additional Information

Acho is probably one of the highest character and smartest players in this entire draft class. He has won multiple awards for academics and community service, including the William V. Campbell Trophy awarded to the nation’s top football student athlete, the Wuerffel Trophy awarded to a player who displays all-around excellence in athletic, academic and community achievement, and has also been named a two-time academic All-American (for the rest of this impressive list see his 2010 awards below). A bit of an overachiever on the field, his smarts combined with his work ethic and hustle, are what make him an attractive player. NFL teams will have to figure out what position will fit him best (i.e. RDE, 5-tech, OLB), but rest assured he will work hard to be a successful player.

Academics

Acho graduated in December 2010 from the business honors program in the McCombs School of Business.

Awards & Honors

2010: William V. Campbell Trophy winner (nation’s top football student-athlete). Wuerffel Trophy winner (all-around excellence in athletic, academic and community achievement) and ARA Sportsmanship Award. Academic All-American. 2nd team All-America (Walter Camp). 3rd team All-America (AP). Lombardi Award semifinalist. Unanimous 1st team All-Big 12.
2009: Lott Trophy semifinalist. Honorable mention All-Big 12 (AP, coaches). 1st team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American.
2008: Tabbed first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 6. 1st team Academic All-Big 12.
2007: Named one of UT’s Outstanding Defensive Newcomers.

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Summary

Danny Watkins is a tough, physical, aggressive offensive lineman and former firefighter who has only played football for 4 years. He played left tackle in college, but projects as a guard in the NFL mainly due to lack of length, height and the necessary quickness needed to play outside at the next level. Watkins displays amazing technique for a player with as little experience as he has, which points to his amazing work ethic and passion for the game. He has never missed a game, is mature, and gives great effort on the field. A big concern with Watkins will be his age, as he will be 26 years old when the NFL season starts, and he Keep Reading...]]>

Summary

Danny Watkins is a tough, physical, aggressive offensive lineman and former firefighter who has only played football for 4 years. He played left tackle in college, but projects as a guard in the NFL mainly due to lack of length, height and the necessary quickness needed to play outside at the next level. Watkins displays amazing technique for a player with as little experience as he has, which points to his amazing work ethic and passion for the game. He has never missed a game, is mature, and gives great effort on the field. A big concern with Watkins will be his age, as he will be 26 years old when the NFL season starts, and he will be switching positions. NFL teams will have to weigh the risk factors of developing an older player at a new position. Watching Watkins on tape has quickly made him one of my favorites in this draft and he should be off the board early in the 2nd round.

Pass Blocking

Watkins is good in pass protection, particularly against players coming at him with power. He has good anchor strength and keeps a wide base so as to stay on balance. He plays with extremely strong hands and extends his arms to be able to control the defender with relative ease. He is a natural knee bender who sits in his stance as good as anyone. Against speed rushers he does an ok job extending his arms and trying to run the defender out of the play. He will probably not be able to handle edge speed at the next level. He doesn’t have the experience to hold up to more savvy NFL rushers. He has the tendency to relax his feet too quickly, allowing defender to beat him with an aggressive second move. Watkins shows good lateral movement and enough athleticism to mirror defenders exceptionally well.

Run Blocking

Watkins is a solid run blocker, who plays with the kind of mean streak and attitude that NFL teams salivate over. He has great strength and is extremely tough to shed once locked on. He gets under the pad level of the defender well and displays strong, aggressive leg churn to finish blocks. He uses his natural flexibility to keep his hips low and he plays with a good amount of fluidity. He is good in space, locates defenders well and has good balance when on the move. Watkins is not overly quick or explosive off the snap and his combine number were very average. His aggressiveness gets the better of him at times as he can be seen lunging at defenders. Watkins is just an average athlete but makes up for it with good technique and great effort.

Awareness

While he has learned an amazing amount in 4 years playing football, Watkins is still an inexperienced player who can be beat with stunts and double moves at times. He will be learning a new position in the NFL which may slow down his learning curve a bit. But what Watkins has going for him is he is a mature person with great character and work ethic. He has a passion for the game of football and a drive to be the best. It is amazing he has become such a good technician in such a short period of time, and better awareness is surely to be achieved with more experience.

Hand Placement

Watkins general has nice hand placement and even better he plays with strong hands. He locks onto defender with his grip and is tough to shed. He extends his arms really well and controls defenders away from his body. He keeps his hands moving and has a decent initial punch at the point of attack. Watkins needs to work on his second counter attack as his hands can tend to relax a bit after initial contact.

Mobility

Watkins has good mobility at the line of scrimmage but may struggle with his slow foot speed to get out on the edge and pull as a guard. He did not have to be out in space all that much in college, so this will be a minor concern. He moves well laterally along the line. Watkins is just an average athlete so don’t expect amazing things with this aspect of his game, but he is mobile enough to be effective. As a cut blocker he is quick to the ground and takes out his defender which will be a plus in any scheme with zone blocking concepts.

Footwork

Generally Watkins has good footwork, perhaps better than expected for a player with such little experience. His kick step on the outside is a bit inconsistent at times, but that won’t be a problem in the NFL when he moves to the interior of the offensive line. He has great leg churn and finishes blocks with his lower half. He keeps his feet moving most of the time, but can have the tendency to stop and anchor his whole body and rely solely on his strength. He moves well in space and doesn’t look awkward or unathletic. Watkins does a good job of getting his feet wide and maintaining a good strong base. This is perhaps what he does best of all.

Additional Information

Some interesting notes on Watkins: He will be 26 years old as a rookie, which is a bit unusual and will be taken into consideration when being evaluated. He has only played football for 4 years. He played hockey and rugby in high school and also spent time as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia. He went to Butte College more interested in their fire academy, and ended up trying out for the football team. He transferred to Baylor after 2 highly successful seasons at Butte College. Although he projects to guard in the NFL, Watkins exclusively played left tackle at Baylor, filling in after Jason Smith was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. Watkins was drafted 4th overall in the CFL Draft by the B.C. Lions.

Production/Experience

2010: Played and started in all 13 games at left tackle.
2009: Played and started in all 12 games at left tackle.
2008: Played and started in all 12 games at Butte Junior College.
2007: Played and started in all 11 games at Butte Junior College.

Academics

Watkins is a general studies major.

Awards & Honors

2010: Named first-team All-Big-12.
2008: Named a junior college All-American at Butte College.

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