In what certainly isn't a match-up of NFL powerhouses, this year's New Orleans Bowl features the still very young East Carolina and a UDFA-talent filled Louisiana Lafayette.
With Melvin White of ULL being the star of the game, he'll be the one to focus on scouting-wise. But there are three other prospects to keep you eyes on.
Melvin White, CB, Louisiana Lafayette – #22, 6'3, 191
If White gets drafted, his size is going to be a big reason. White’s 6-3 frame and long arms are his biggest asset. White has the potential to be a physical corner at the next level but he lacks polish. White has special teams ability and that will be where he’ll make an impact at the beginning of his career. He can succeed as a gunner on the punt team immediately. White’s biggest issue at this point is his tackling form. He has a tendency to duck his head and whiff on tackles. He’s very inconsistent when tackling in the open field but showed aggressiveness to get into the backfield on screen passes and in run support.
Jermalous Moten, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette – #2, 6'0, 170
Moten is an athletic corner who excels in man coverage but showed terrible form tackling when I saw him. He seemed to constantly shy away from contact which doesn’t bode well for a special teams position in the NFL
Harry Peoples, WR, Louisiana-Lafayette – #9, 5'10, 180
Peoples is the quintessential slot WR at the college level. He’s small (5-10/180) and is used all over the formation, both as a rusher and a receiver. Peoples works as an extension of the running game, getting short throws and making things happen in the open field. He showed soft hands and good lateral agility but lacks top-end speed. His size makes him a tough sell to the NFL but his quicks and football smarts could land him a job on the fringe of a roster.
Emeka Onyenekwu DE, Louisiana-Lafayette – # 45,6'3, 250
Onyenekwu showed a great motor and was relentless both against the run and pass. He was willing to chase down screen passes and showed great passion trying to get to the football. He has good size for a DE, and while he does not have fantastic burst, he was able to get to the QB and played really well versus Florida. He ended the year on a strong note with 6.5 sacks in his last 6 games. If he tests well, he could have a chance to be a developmental prospect for an NFL team.
Others to Watch:
Daniel Drake, ILB, East Carolina – #52, 6'1, 235
Robert Jones, OG, East Carolina – #55, 6'3, 310,
Michael Brooks, DT, East Carolina – #92, 6'3, 297
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