sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
Draft Buzz: Linemen lead small-school prospects
Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
The FCS regular season climaxes this week with several of college football's under-the-radar rivalries, including The Game (Yale at Harvard), The Florida Classic (Bethune-Cookman at Florida A&M), The Rivalry (Lehigh at Lafayette) and the Capital Cup (Richmond at William & Mary).
And with the Division II playoffs getting underway this weekend, small-school prospects at both levels are running out of chances to impress NFL scouts. So let's take a break from the usual suspects this week and shine a light on some small-school stars that could be playing on Sundays next fall. Here's a brief breakdown of our top-10 list:
1. Villanova OT Benjamin Ijalana (6-foot-34, 317 pounds) -- Grade: 78
Durable and experienced. Good strength and physical at the point of attack. Lacks ideal height for an NFL tackle, so best fit might be at guard.
2. Delaware QB Pat Devlin (6-3, 225) -- Grade: 76
Transferred from Penn State. Accuracy and decision-making have improved as a senior. Has a good release and can make all the NFL throws but will have to adjust to pro-style offense.
3. Lehigh G William Rackley (6-3, 304) -- Grade: 74
Four-year starter with good short-area quickness and power at the point of attack. Has the tools and football intelligence to quickly emerge as a starting guard in the NFL.
4. Hampton DT Kenrick Ellis (6-44, 336) -- Grade: 70
Transferred from South Carolina. Notched 51 total tackles, including 12 for losses, in first season at Hampton (2009). Has improved those numbers significantly in 2010 (91 TT, 14 TFL). Nose tackle prospect with excellent combination of size, agility and strength. Character and maturity will need to be closely evaluated, though.
5. Southern Arkansas DT Cedric Thornton (6-3, 291) -- Grade: 61
Highest-rated D-II prospect, despite playing for a 1-9 team as a senior. Is a bit lean but has good first-step quickness and is stronger than frame would indicate. Shows good instincts and tackling skills for the position.
6. Missouri State G David Arkin (6-44, 294) -- Grade: 59
Intelligent, durable and versatile prospect with four years of starting experience. Has played guard and tackle. Needs to add bulk but has size potential and is a blue-collar, tough guy. Has the work ethic and awareness to contribute in the NFL.
7. Southern Illinois CB Korey Lindsey (5-104, 185) -- Grade: 58
Size-speed ratio is adequate but not great. He is a fluid athlete who doesn't mind mixing it up physically and does a nice job of wrapping up in space. Might be best suited to play in Cover 2-heavy scheme at the next level.
8. Abilene Christian WR Edmund Gates (5-114, 192) -- Grade: 54
Gates is former high school basketball standout who joined his cousin, Bernard Scott of the Bengals, as a walk-on football player at Abilene Christian. Gates is still a work-in-progress, but he has the size, speed and athleticism to play a versatile role on offense and special teams in the pros.
9. Appalachian State S Mark LeGree (5-114, 202) -- Grade: 51
A ball-hawking free safety. At his best playing centerfielder role in zone or man-free coveage. Needs to improve as a tackler and lacks elite fluidity in man-to-man coverage but has the instincts and playmaking skills to contribute in the NFL.
10. Villanova WR Matt Szczur (5-107, 205) -- Grade: 47
Versatile athlete, who was selected by Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of MLB's 2010 First-Year Player draft. Is built like a running back. Shows the speed and open-field running skills to push for playing time as a sub-package receiver and return specialist.
Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
The FCS regular season climaxes this week with several of college football's under-the-radar rivalries, including The Game (Yale at Harvard), The Florida Classic (Bethune-Cookman at Florida A&M), The Rivalry (Lehigh at Lafayette) and the Capital Cup (Richmond at William & Mary).
And with the Division II playoffs getting underway this weekend, small-school prospects at both levels are running out of chances to impress NFL scouts. So let's take a break from the usual suspects this week and shine a light on some small-school stars that could be playing on Sundays next fall. Here's a brief breakdown of our top-10 list:
1. Villanova OT Benjamin Ijalana (6-foot-34, 317 pounds) -- Grade: 78
Durable and experienced. Good strength and physical at the point of attack. Lacks ideal height for an NFL tackle, so best fit might be at guard.
2. Delaware QB Pat Devlin (6-3, 225) -- Grade: 76
Transferred from Penn State. Accuracy and decision-making have improved as a senior. Has a good release and can make all the NFL throws but will have to adjust to pro-style offense.
3. Lehigh G William Rackley (6-3, 304) -- Grade: 74
Four-year starter with good short-area quickness and power at the point of attack. Has the tools and football intelligence to quickly emerge as a starting guard in the NFL.
4. Hampton DT Kenrick Ellis (6-44, 336) -- Grade: 70
Transferred from South Carolina. Notched 51 total tackles, including 12 for losses, in first season at Hampton (2009). Has improved those numbers significantly in 2010 (91 TT, 14 TFL). Nose tackle prospect with excellent combination of size, agility and strength. Character and maturity will need to be closely evaluated, though.
5. Southern Arkansas DT Cedric Thornton (6-3, 291) -- Grade: 61
Highest-rated D-II prospect, despite playing for a 1-9 team as a senior. Is a bit lean but has good first-step quickness and is stronger than frame would indicate. Shows good instincts and tackling skills for the position.
6. Missouri State G David Arkin (6-44, 294) -- Grade: 59
Intelligent, durable and versatile prospect with four years of starting experience. Has played guard and tackle. Needs to add bulk but has size potential and is a blue-collar, tough guy. Has the work ethic and awareness to contribute in the NFL.
7. Southern Illinois CB Korey Lindsey (5-104, 185) -- Grade: 58
Size-speed ratio is adequate but not great. He is a fluid athlete who doesn't mind mixing it up physically and does a nice job of wrapping up in space. Might be best suited to play in Cover 2-heavy scheme at the next level.
8. Abilene Christian WR Edmund Gates (5-114, 192) -- Grade: 54
Gates is former high school basketball standout who joined his cousin, Bernard Scott of the Bengals, as a walk-on football player at Abilene Christian. Gates is still a work-in-progress, but he has the size, speed and athleticism to play a versatile role on offense and special teams in the pros.
9. Appalachian State S Mark LeGree (5-114, 202) -- Grade: 51
A ball-hawking free safety. At his best playing centerfielder role in zone or man-free coveage. Needs to improve as a tackler and lacks elite fluidity in man-to-man coverage but has the instincts and playmaking skills to contribute in the NFL.
10. Villanova WR Matt Szczur (5-107, 205) -- Grade: 47
Versatile athlete, who was selected by Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of MLB's 2010 First-Year Player draft. Is built like a running back. Shows the speed and open-field running skills to push for playing time as a sub-package receiver and return specialist.