By: Derrick Klassen
Stanford
Josh Garnett, OG, #51
Stanford’s knack for producing high level offensive linemen continues with Garnett. Garnett is the spearhead of Stanford’s rushing attack as he is always ran behind, either from his normal left guard spot or as a pulling guard. Garnett’s menacing power and “play to the whistle” mentality make him a force as an interior run blocker. Once he gets his hands on a defender, the snap is over for said defender. Garnett is not the most fluid or high-speed athlete, but he more than meets the baseline for athleticism and he is smart enough to often compensate for his clunky movement ability. Garnett has all the makings to be the first interior linemen off the board in the spring.
Kevin Hogan, QB, #8
It seems like just yesterday that Hogan was seen in the same light as other high profile PAC12 quarterbacks like Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley. Hogan struggled after his touted freshman season, but has, in a sense, resurrected himself in his senior season. Hogan has taken his mental processing to a new level. He was always a smart quarterback, but in his senior year, Hogan has been spot on with pre-snap reads and has adjusted quickly when necessary. Though, Hogan’s elongated release and middling arm strength create for a poor combination moving forward. Despite his physical limitations, Hogan has a lot of experience in a pro-style offense and has shown clear improvement as a player, and that is going to be more than enough to get him on an NFL roster.
Blake Martinez, ILB, #4
Martinez is yet another intelligent linebacker to hail from Stanford. His diagnoses of plays is almost always speedy and accurate. He takes steps toward the playside as soon as the ball is snapped, which helps him mask his average athleticism. Martinez is also valuable as a coverage piece because he is able to quickly decipher route concepts and lock onto the correct receiver. Mentally, Martinez is superior to most every linebacker in the nation, but his average athleticism does not always allow him to capitalize on that. Regardless, Martinez has an NFL future.
Kyle Murphy, OT, #78
Murphy plays the left tackle spot next to Josh Garnett. Murphy brings the same power to his game that Garnett does, making that side of the line a terror for opposing teams.His punch can be deadly, both in placement and in power. Murphy does not quite have the same footwork refinement as his counterpart, though. Murphy can get flat-footed, both as a pass blocker and run blocker. Sluggish footwork aside, the power and understanding of his position that Murphy displays is going to make him a valuable asset to an NFL team.
Iowa
Austin Blythe, C, #63
Violence is the name of the game for Blythe. He wants to beat the man in front of him to the ground, whether it be a nose guard lined up right over him or a linebacker at the second level. Blythe starts off every block with a forceful punch and ends them by driving the defender well away from the play. His feet can get tangled when flowing from left to right or when taking on blocks as a pulling center, but his violence and brute strength tends to let him get away with some clunky movement. The mean streak and power that Blythe has coupled with him coming from a school known for producing linemen should separate him from the rest of the centers in the class by a fair margin.
Jordan Walsh, OG, #65
Like any proper Iowa linemen, Walsh has “farm strength”. He is not an explosive mover or puncher, but once he is locked in, he drives his legs to move defenders and clear a path. It isn’t pretty, but the job gets done. Walsh is also a better mover than was to be expected, allowing him to properly set himself up to attack defenders with a solid base and a clean angle. Granted, Walsh can lose some of these plays because his hand placement can get lazy, leaving him to fire his hands too far outside of a defender’s frame. There is a lot to like about Walsh as an athlete and a fighter, though the work that will be required to improve his technique will more than likely make him a Day 3 player.
Tevaun Smith, WR, #4
Smith is a bit of an oddball, though it is evident that he has talent. He is not a speed demon, but the explosive burst in his stop-start movements and lateral agility is outstanding. Smith can stop on a dime and make a jump cut that leaves defenders whiffing at air. With how well Smith can move in tight spaces, he is going to be a major threat as a short to intermediate receiver who can move the chains whenever necessary, and do so in a number of ways. Smith may not take the top off the defense often, but his presence as a chain mover will be valuable in the league.
Desmond King, CB, #14 (JR)
After a season in which King racked up 8 interceptions, it became evident that he was one of the best cornerbacks in the nation. His blend of physicality, awareness and ball skills makes him a threat to create a turnover at any time. King’s length and fighter mentality allows him to slow down receiver’s at the line, as well as throughout the route. Though, it is King’s route recognition and ball skills that truly make him a menace. He can sense when a route is going to be thrown before it is and can close in it quickly, allowing him to at least swat the pass to the ground. King may not have the hip fluidity to thrive in a man coverage based scheme, but he has all the makings to be one of the better zone cornerbacks in the league.
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