This is an annual feature around here in Curmudgeon Central – – except for that one year when I was going over all my notes for this rant and left them in the seat back of the airplane I was flying home in. So, let me start with a brief statement of what is to follow for newcomers here:
- I like college football and, in the Fall, I watch a lot of football on TV.
- I also like to “Predict” which players I am watching should be drafted by an NFL team in the next Spring. If you ask why I like doing that, I really would not have an answer for you.
- I keep a writing implement and some paper next to me as I watch college games and make notes about players I think should “play on Sundays”.
- Prior to the NFL Draft, I take those notes and “organize them” and put it here for consumption.
That is all there is to this. Note, I watch games on TV; I do NOT watch film or have access to others who might watch film. This is 99% my work and my thinking; the 1% that is not mine will be clearly labeled down below. Now, because I am making notes on games that I watch, there is an inherent bias here for bigger schools and better teams; after all, given the choice of watching Alabama/Georgia or New Mexico State/UTEP, it is pretty obvious which game I would choose.
One other note about this year’s offering … I am either getting lazy or becoming much more critical in my note taking during games. I think I watched as many games this year as in previous seasons and yet I have fewer notes and paper scraps than in the past. There are fewer players on my list this year than in past seasons and I am not sure why that is the case.
And just to be sure, this is absolutely NOT a “Mock Draft”. I find those things abominations and nothing more than space fillers. If anyone is interested in such things, there are probably fifty of them available for perusal out there; Google is your friend.
With the caveats and explanations out of the way, let me begin with the Quarterbacks in this Draft. I did not realize when I was making my notes – – but it is clear to me now – – that I have a low regard for the QB prospects this year. And before I get to my own notes, let me present that 1% of the analysis here that is not mine.
A former colleague and long-time reader of these rants has retired to a small town near Worcester, MA. Just after Halloween, he sent me a note that I have saved for today:
“There is a kid at UConn that you won’t see in your area very much but he might be a draft prospect in the Spring … Joe Fagnano has UConn bowl eligible already this year and has yet to throw an INT all year long. He is 6’4” and is a very accurate passer … Local sources here say he is also very smart which is a plus for a quarterback.”
So, let me start my QB list with Joe Fagnano whom I have never seen take a snap in a football game, but based on the information provided by my former colleague and my data search that found he is listed at 225 lbs. (good size) and that he threw 28 TDs last year with only 1 INT for the season.
- Drew Allar (Penn State): “Big and strong” is a note I underlined but I also noted that he “misses too many wide-open receivers”. And then, “Somebody is going to waste a first-round pick on him.”
- Haynes King (Ga Tech): He was the QB for my sleeper team last year, so I watched him a couple of times. “Not likely to see the field in an NFL game” was my assessment despite wanting to praise him here.
- Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): It appears as if he will be the overall #1 pick later this week. I noted that he is “very accurate” and “mobile in the pocket”. He is also “fast enough to get outside against college defenders”. “First round pick”!
- Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): I was clearly unimpressed – “Lots of hype but not a lot of substance”. I noted he is “big and slow”.
- Ty Simpson (Alabama): “Good accuracy on short throws” and “Not accurate on the deep balls.”
Obviously, I thought the QB prospects for this year’s Draft were scarce; such was also the case with Running Backs:
- Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): “Big powerful runner” and “finds holes really well”. In addition, I said, “Plenty of speed” “First round material”
- Nick Singleton (Penn State): He is “big and fast” and “a power runner”. Maybe second or third round?
- Dean Connors (Houston): “Short and powerful runner” with “good hands and enough speed to be a 3rd-down back”.
- Noah Whittington (Oregon): “Built like a bowling ball – power runner” and “always gets that extra yard when hit”. I guess he is worth a pick sometime in the Draft.
Moving on to the Wide Receivers, I have a few more citations – – finally:
- Carnell Tate (Ohio State): “Almost as good as teammate Jeremiah Smith” is a very flattering note; Smith is not yet eligible for the Draft but will be a top pick next year unless he decides to go off and become a Buddhist monk. “Runs short routes and deep routes really well”.
- Zachariah Branch (Georgia): He is a “Little guy with great hands and speed galore”. “Lack of size might make him available as a value pick in the Draft”.
- KC Concepcion (Texas A&M): “He can fly and he has good hands”. “Maybe first round but certainly second.”
- Omar Cooper, Jr. (Indiana): “Made the catch of the year to beat Penn State in final seconds.” I also noted “Lots of yards after the catch/rugged runner.”
- Malachi Fields (Notre Dame): “Big target with good hands.” [He is listed at 6’5” and 220 lbs.] “Possession receiver”.
- Germie Bernard (Alabama): “Not real fast but always seems to be a step ahead of his man”. “Decent size” he should be worth a late round pick.
Next comes the Tight Ends; foreshadowing here, there are not a lot of entries on this list:
- Jack Endries (Texas): “Big man that makes contested catches” and “Not much of a blocker”. He is probably worth a flyer on the third day of the Draft.
- Riley Nowakowski (Indiana): He is “not tall but big” and “good run/pass blocker”. Negative note was “Too slow?”
- Kanyon Sadiq (Oregon): “Big target with soft hands” and “Solid runner after the catch”. My negative note reads “Mediocre blocker”.
As a final category on the offensive side of the ball, I will lump together all the Offensive Linemen simply because the position played in college often differs from what NFL coaches do with draftees.
- Markel Bell (Miami): “Big AND tall” [Aside: Stats say 6’9” and 340 lbs.] ‘Better run blocker than pass blocker”.
- Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M): “Big man who moves people out on run plays”.
- Spencer Fano (Utah): “Amazing speed for a huge guy” and “leads runners outside 10 yards downfield”. “Second round?”
- Olivavga Ioane (Penn State): He is “big and powerful” and “run blocking and pass blocking are very good”. He “should go early … first round?”
- Tristen Leigh (Clemson): “Good on pass protection but not so good on run plays”.
- Kayden Proctor (Alabama): “Huge man” [Aside: Stats say 6’7” and 355 lbs.] “Power blocking is excellent”. “Team that likes “Tush Push” should love this guy”.
- Brian Parker (Duke): “Quick off the ball” “Good run blocker and solid on pass plays”.
- Diego Pounds (Ole Miss): “Really solid pass protector”.
Now to move over to the defensive side of the line of scrimmage, let me start with the Defensive Linemen:
- Jalen Hunt (Cincy): “Excellent inside pass rusher” and “Quick to the ball”. Second or third round?
- Kayden McDonald (Ohio State): “Run-stuffing bowling ball in the middle” and “Quick but not fast.”
- Christian Miller (Georgia): “Tall for inside DT – could become a pass defender”.
- Domonique Orange (Iowa St.): “Excellent on run play” and “Needs more push on pass plays”. [Aside: Hope the Bucs draft him so Domonique Orange can wear the Bucs’ orange jerseys on throwback weeks.]
- Jordan Van Den Berg (Ga Tech): “VERY quick” and “Always near the ball on runs”.
The distinction(s) between an “Edge Rusher” and a “Defensive End” and an “Outside Linebacker” can be blurry. I will call them “Defensive Ends” here, but some folks may provide other labels:
- David Bailey (Texas Tech): “Big, fast and sure tackler”. He is “always in the passer’s face”. “First round for sure”.
- Rueben Bain (Miami): “Stops outside runs to his side really well” and “excellent bull-rush” leads me to believe “First round pick”.
- Trey Moore (Texas): “Good run defender” and “good pass rush but not a lot of sacks”.
- Arvell Reese (Ohio State): “Outstanding speed – tackled runner on the sideline opposite him”
Next up are “Linebackers” in the classical definition of the position:
- C.J. Allen (Georgia): “Always where the ball is”
- Anthony Hill (Texas): “Tackling machine” and “spends lots of times in offense’s backfield”. Also “can cover tight end patterns very well”.
- Kyle Louis (Pitt): “Plays run and pass well” but “Is he big enough for the NFL?” I would take a flyer on him if available in late rounds.
- Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech): “Speed and powerful tackler”. “OK in pass coverage”. Early rounds?
Next, I will move on to DBs:
- Mory Bamba (BYU): “Excellent size and speed”.
- Davison Igbinosun (Ohio State): “Big CB covers well”
- Malik Muhammad (Texas): “Awfully skinny but aggressive cover corner”.
- Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame): “Not afraid to take on the run” and “good tackler”.
- Aveion Terrell (Clemson): “Good man-to-man coverage” but “may be too small for NFL”.
- Cole Wisniewski (Texas Tech): “Big hitter and big size for a DB” “will probably be a safety in the NFL”
I have no notes on kickers for this year’s draft, but I do have one Punter with a comment:
- Bret Thorsen (Georgia): “Consistently good hang time for coverage team”.
Finally, Lin-Manual Miranda seems like an appropriate ending for today:
“I’m a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal trying to reach my goal.”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………