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Rang's Gang: A bounty of middle and late-round steals in the 2016 NFL Draft
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
April 21, 2016 4:32 pm ET
In scouting hundreds of players in preparation for the NFL Draft, it is impossible not to develop some favorites.
Rang's Gang is the collective answer to the question I'm often asked: "If you were running a team and you needed a (insert position), who would you take?"
There's only one rule: no consensus first-round prospects. Anyone can compile a list of the top players per position and call them favorites. Let's dig deeper.
This year's squad joins a historical team including Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (Class of 2012), Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (2013), Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (2012) and one of the better, if more unheralded, rookies last year -- Colts nose tackle David Parry -- who started all 16 games after going undrafted.
Introducing this year's favorites ...
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Kevin Hogan, Stanford, 6-3, 218, 4.72
Hogan is a likely Day 3 selection, but I would not be the least bit surprised to see him enjoy a more fruitful NFL career than a couple of the quarterbacks selected ahead of him in the 2016 draft. Hogan possesses plenty of arm strength, has accuracy in the pocket as well as on the move and is an underrated athlete, timing faster in the 40-yard dash (4.72) and 3-cone drill (6.90) than either Paxton Lynch or Dak Prescott. He also possesses the intangibles I value at the position, including leadership, grit and experience on the big stage.
Running Back: Devontae Booker, Utah, 5-11, 219, 4.56*
The combine recheck was arguably just as important to Booker, my top-rated senior running back, as it was to anyone invited back to Indianapolis, including Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. That is because Booker, who rushed for a combined 2,773 yards and 21 touchdowns in just 23 games for the Utes, was unable to participate in the Senior Bowl or run for scouts prior to the draft due to a torn meniscus (Nov. 14). Booker lacks breakaway speed but he has vision, runs low and hard and possesses capable hands out of the backfield.
Wide Receiver: Keyarris Garrett, Tulsa, 6-3, 220, 4.40
Statistics can be very deceiving when scouting players but Garrett's NCAA-leading 122.2 receiving yards per game last year is very much a reflection of his talent, rather than just a lack of competition. Boasting long arms, explosive leaping ability and a deceptive long-stride which helps him get behind defenders, Garrett reminds me a bit of the Steelers' talented (but currently suspended) Martavis Bryant in his ability to make big plays down the sidelines.
Tight End: Ben Braunecker, Harvard, 6-3, 250, 4.68
Though he didn't receive a lot of fanfare for it, Braunecker was one of the real winners of the combine, ranking among the leaders at tight end in every category. Better yet, the tape matches the track, with Braunecker earning a trip to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after catching 48 passes for 850 yards and eight scores in just 10 games. Quick off the ball, competitive as a blocker and a reliable pass catcher, Braunecker could join former Crimson quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as a rare skill-position standout from the Ivy League capable of making the NFL jump.
Offensive Tackle: Shon Coleman, Auburn, 6-5, 307, 5.18
Remember that scene in the early Jim Carrey classic Ace Ventura: Pet Detective when he first notices Ray Finkle in the Miami Dolphins team picture? Ventura's words, "Who the hell is that?!" popped in my mind when I saw Coleman in person at the combine. Few players look better "on the hoof" than Coleman, which is mind-boggling considering that he was diagnosed -- and has since defeated -- acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Tenacious? Tough? You bet, both on and off the field. Coleman is a bit unpolished in pass protection but he's athletic, powerful and highly aggressive. He may not get drafted until the mid-second round or later and may very well wind up sliding inside, but I'll bet you he is starting by his second year.
Interior Offensive Line: Isaac Seumalo, Oregon State, 6-4, 303, 5.18
Seumalo was a highly-regarded recruit who earned all-conference honors as both a freshman and sophomore, despite rotating between center, guard and tackle. Two foot surgeries, however, robbed Seumalo of the 2014 season and with the Beavers struggling through a 2-10 season last year, he apparently fell off the map for some. That is a mistake. Compact, athletic, and powerful, Seumalo is a top-100 candidate if teams are satisfied with his medical and a future starter on the interior
DEFENSE
Defensive End: Jonathan Bullard, Florida, 6-3, 285, 4.91
Of the players on this year's squad, Bullard probably has the best chance of breaking my rule of no first-round picks, but frankly the roster would be incomplete without him. Bullard popped off the tape as a junior playing alongside Dante Fowler, Jr. but really stepped up his play in 2015, earning first-team All-SEC honors with 66 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He is as tenacious and aggressive as a real-life 'gator (or bulldog, for that matter), showing a combination of size, strength, quickness and instincts to slide up and down the defensive line in the NFL, just as he did at Florida.
Defensive Tackle/Nose Guard: Maliek Collins, Nebraska, 6-2, 311, 4.96
After registering barely half of the tackles for loss (seven) and sacks (2.5) in 2015 that he had in a breakout 2014 season (13, 4.5), Collins has lost traction among this year's extraordinary defensive tackle class and now projects as a possible mid-round pick. In most classes, I think he would warrant second-round consideration. Collins possesses an exciting blend of initial burst, agility and length (33 1/8-inch arms), projecting best to a one-gap scheme.
Edge rusher: Kyler Fackrell, Utah State, 6-5, 245, 4.62
Fackrell's name is rarely mentioned among fans and the media as one of the better edge rushers in the 2016 draft, but scouts certainly appreciate his exciting combination of length, agility and closing speed. He was an immediate standout for the Aggies, earning All-Mountain West honors as both a freshman and sophomore with a combined 169 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 8 sacks and four interceptions -- one of which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown, setting a school record. Fackrell missed virtually all of the 2014 season with a torn ACL but returned healthy as a senior, registering a career-high 15 tackles for loss. He is not as powerful as his frame suggests, instead relying on his burst, bend and awareness to make plays but Fackrell is one of the few stand-up rushers in this class with double-digit sack potential.
Traditional LB (Off Line of Scrimmage): Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, 6-1, 244, 4.67
Schobert was not highly regarded coming out of high school and his relatively average size and athleticism could leave him just as underrated among NFL scouts and coaches. Schobert, however, is one of this year's best examples of a prospect who is a much better football player than athlete. A former walk-on, Schobert was named the Big Ten's Linebacker of the Year in 2015 after registering 79 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. Schobert may lack ideal traits but he possesses terrific instincts and body control, slipping by would-be blockers and wreaking havoc behind the line of scrimmage as well as in coverage.
Nickel Cornerback: Tavon Young, Temple, 5-09, 183, 4.38
Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State may have fielded the most gifted teams in 2015, but one of my favorites to watch was Temple, which featured several passionate, productive players with NFL futures. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich, defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis and wide receiver Robby Anderson literally overshadowed the diminutive Young a bit, but his combination of quickness, speed and tenacious play could help him surprise for an NFL team willing to overlook his frame. While small, Young is scrappy, showing burst to break on the ball as well as excellent hand-eye coordination to rip it free as it arrives.
Perimeter Cornerback: Artie Burns, Miami, 6-0, 193, 4.42
Young's quickness and grit make him a natural candidate to move inside but Burns will be remaining outside where his terrific length (including 33 1/4-inch arms) and experience in press coverage are best suited. He's a pure speed demon, breaking a 38-year-old record (for athletes under the age of 21) in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in at 7.68 seconds while splitting time between the football field and track for the Hurricanes. Burns shed the track star label this past season, showing increased physicality as a tackler and leading the ACC with six interceptions. Like some of the others on this list, Burns is a favorite for sentimental reasons as well as his talent on the field. He lost his mother to a heart attack in October and opted to enter the NFL early in part to help raise his two younger brothers, as well as his son.
Safety: Karl Joseph, West Virginia, 5-10, 205, 4.57
Frankly, Joseph only qualifies for this list because of the torn ACL which ended his 2015 season in early October. Had Joseph remained healthy throughout his senior campaign, his penchant for big hits and interceptions (NCAA-best five in 2015 prior to injury) likely would have placed him firmly in the first-round conversation and therefore ineligible for this list. What Joseph may lack at the moment in health and ideal height, the team captain more than makes up for with competitiveness and closing speed, searching out the ball (or ball-carrier) like a heat-seeking missile. Voted West Virginia's Defensive Player of the Year following his true freshman season (104 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions) and a consistent standout since, Joseph is the perfect quarterback on defense to cap this year's Rang's Gang.
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
April 21, 2016 4:32 pm ET
In scouting hundreds of players in preparation for the NFL Draft, it is impossible not to develop some favorites.
Rang's Gang is the collective answer to the question I'm often asked: "If you were running a team and you needed a (insert position), who would you take?"
There's only one rule: no consensus first-round prospects. Anyone can compile a list of the top players per position and call them favorites. Let's dig deeper.
This year's squad joins a historical team including Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (Class of 2012), Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (2013), Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (2012) and one of the better, if more unheralded, rookies last year -- Colts nose tackle David Parry -- who started all 16 games after going undrafted.
Introducing this year's favorites ...
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Kevin Hogan, Stanford, 6-3, 218, 4.72
Hogan is a likely Day 3 selection, but I would not be the least bit surprised to see him enjoy a more fruitful NFL career than a couple of the quarterbacks selected ahead of him in the 2016 draft. Hogan possesses plenty of arm strength, has accuracy in the pocket as well as on the move and is an underrated athlete, timing faster in the 40-yard dash (4.72) and 3-cone drill (6.90) than either Paxton Lynch or Dak Prescott. He also possesses the intangibles I value at the position, including leadership, grit and experience on the big stage.
Running Back: Devontae Booker, Utah, 5-11, 219, 4.56*
The combine recheck was arguably just as important to Booker, my top-rated senior running back, as it was to anyone invited back to Indianapolis, including Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. That is because Booker, who rushed for a combined 2,773 yards and 21 touchdowns in just 23 games for the Utes, was unable to participate in the Senior Bowl or run for scouts prior to the draft due to a torn meniscus (Nov. 14). Booker lacks breakaway speed but he has vision, runs low and hard and possesses capable hands out of the backfield.
Wide Receiver: Keyarris Garrett, Tulsa, 6-3, 220, 4.40
Statistics can be very deceiving when scouting players but Garrett's NCAA-leading 122.2 receiving yards per game last year is very much a reflection of his talent, rather than just a lack of competition. Boasting long arms, explosive leaping ability and a deceptive long-stride which helps him get behind defenders, Garrett reminds me a bit of the Steelers' talented (but currently suspended) Martavis Bryant in his ability to make big plays down the sidelines.
Tight End: Ben Braunecker, Harvard, 6-3, 250, 4.68
Though he didn't receive a lot of fanfare for it, Braunecker was one of the real winners of the combine, ranking among the leaders at tight end in every category. Better yet, the tape matches the track, with Braunecker earning a trip to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after catching 48 passes for 850 yards and eight scores in just 10 games. Quick off the ball, competitive as a blocker and a reliable pass catcher, Braunecker could join former Crimson quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as a rare skill-position standout from the Ivy League capable of making the NFL jump.
Offensive Tackle: Shon Coleman, Auburn, 6-5, 307, 5.18
Remember that scene in the early Jim Carrey classic Ace Ventura: Pet Detective when he first notices Ray Finkle in the Miami Dolphins team picture? Ventura's words, "Who the hell is that?!" popped in my mind when I saw Coleman in person at the combine. Few players look better "on the hoof" than Coleman, which is mind-boggling considering that he was diagnosed -- and has since defeated -- acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Tenacious? Tough? You bet, both on and off the field. Coleman is a bit unpolished in pass protection but he's athletic, powerful and highly aggressive. He may not get drafted until the mid-second round or later and may very well wind up sliding inside, but I'll bet you he is starting by his second year.
Interior Offensive Line: Isaac Seumalo, Oregon State, 6-4, 303, 5.18
Seumalo was a highly-regarded recruit who earned all-conference honors as both a freshman and sophomore, despite rotating between center, guard and tackle. Two foot surgeries, however, robbed Seumalo of the 2014 season and with the Beavers struggling through a 2-10 season last year, he apparently fell off the map for some. That is a mistake. Compact, athletic, and powerful, Seumalo is a top-100 candidate if teams are satisfied with his medical and a future starter on the interior
DEFENSE
Defensive End: Jonathan Bullard, Florida, 6-3, 285, 4.91
Of the players on this year's squad, Bullard probably has the best chance of breaking my rule of no first-round picks, but frankly the roster would be incomplete without him. Bullard popped off the tape as a junior playing alongside Dante Fowler, Jr. but really stepped up his play in 2015, earning first-team All-SEC honors with 66 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He is as tenacious and aggressive as a real-life 'gator (or bulldog, for that matter), showing a combination of size, strength, quickness and instincts to slide up and down the defensive line in the NFL, just as he did at Florida.
Defensive Tackle/Nose Guard: Maliek Collins, Nebraska, 6-2, 311, 4.96
After registering barely half of the tackles for loss (seven) and sacks (2.5) in 2015 that he had in a breakout 2014 season (13, 4.5), Collins has lost traction among this year's extraordinary defensive tackle class and now projects as a possible mid-round pick. In most classes, I think he would warrant second-round consideration. Collins possesses an exciting blend of initial burst, agility and length (33 1/8-inch arms), projecting best to a one-gap scheme.
Edge rusher: Kyler Fackrell, Utah State, 6-5, 245, 4.62
Fackrell's name is rarely mentioned among fans and the media as one of the better edge rushers in the 2016 draft, but scouts certainly appreciate his exciting combination of length, agility and closing speed. He was an immediate standout for the Aggies, earning All-Mountain West honors as both a freshman and sophomore with a combined 169 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 8 sacks and four interceptions -- one of which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown, setting a school record. Fackrell missed virtually all of the 2014 season with a torn ACL but returned healthy as a senior, registering a career-high 15 tackles for loss. He is not as powerful as his frame suggests, instead relying on his burst, bend and awareness to make plays but Fackrell is one of the few stand-up rushers in this class with double-digit sack potential.
Traditional LB (Off Line of Scrimmage): Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, 6-1, 244, 4.67
Schobert was not highly regarded coming out of high school and his relatively average size and athleticism could leave him just as underrated among NFL scouts and coaches. Schobert, however, is one of this year's best examples of a prospect who is a much better football player than athlete. A former walk-on, Schobert was named the Big Ten's Linebacker of the Year in 2015 after registering 79 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. Schobert may lack ideal traits but he possesses terrific instincts and body control, slipping by would-be blockers and wreaking havoc behind the line of scrimmage as well as in coverage.
Nickel Cornerback: Tavon Young, Temple, 5-09, 183, 4.38
Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State may have fielded the most gifted teams in 2015, but one of my favorites to watch was Temple, which featured several passionate, productive players with NFL futures. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich, defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis and wide receiver Robby Anderson literally overshadowed the diminutive Young a bit, but his combination of quickness, speed and tenacious play could help him surprise for an NFL team willing to overlook his frame. While small, Young is scrappy, showing burst to break on the ball as well as excellent hand-eye coordination to rip it free as it arrives.
Perimeter Cornerback: Artie Burns, Miami, 6-0, 193, 4.42
Young's quickness and grit make him a natural candidate to move inside but Burns will be remaining outside where his terrific length (including 33 1/4-inch arms) and experience in press coverage are best suited. He's a pure speed demon, breaking a 38-year-old record (for athletes under the age of 21) in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in at 7.68 seconds while splitting time between the football field and track for the Hurricanes. Burns shed the track star label this past season, showing increased physicality as a tackler and leading the ACC with six interceptions. Like some of the others on this list, Burns is a favorite for sentimental reasons as well as his talent on the field. He lost his mother to a heart attack in October and opted to enter the NFL early in part to help raise his two younger brothers, as well as his son.
Safety: Karl Joseph, West Virginia, 5-10, 205, 4.57
Frankly, Joseph only qualifies for this list because of the torn ACL which ended his 2015 season in early October. Had Joseph remained healthy throughout his senior campaign, his penchant for big hits and interceptions (NCAA-best five in 2015 prior to injury) likely would have placed him firmly in the first-round conversation and therefore ineligible for this list. What Joseph may lack at the moment in health and ideal height, the team captain more than makes up for with competitiveness and closing speed, searching out the ball (or ball-carrier) like a heat-seeking missile. Voted West Virginia's Defensive Player of the Year following his true freshman season (104 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions) and a consistent standout since, Joseph is the perfect quarterback on defense to cap this year's Rang's Gang.