As the final event in the all-star game circuit, the Collegiate Gridiron Showcase has more than a few intriguing prospects and a handful of potential draft picks.
Here are my notes on standout prospects after sitting down and evaluating the practices on Tuesday. The big winner of the day was Monmouth’s Neal Sterling, but there were plenty of other players that flashed NFL ability.
By: Alex Brown
Quarterbacks
The most high profile passer, Pete Thomas, threw during pass skeleton drills, 7-on-7 and some team snaps but wasn’t fully padded up for the practice. I’ll have more on that situation in tomorrow’s notes, but Thomas more than looked at weigh-ins and on the field. He has clean mechanics, an over the top delivery and efficient weight transfer to increase velocity. While he struggled to place the ball vertically and wasn’t able to fully participate during team, he moved through progressions quicker than the other passers here. His development at the event will be something I focus my attention on as the week progresses.
Small schooler Jerry Lovelocke from Prairie View A&M had the most impressive physique but lacked urgency to his drop backs and was consistently late processing coverage information. Lovelocke can spin a clean ball and hit every level of the field, but he’s behind the eight ball in terms of footwork, progressions and overall passer instincts. He’s a big, athletic and strong-armed project that could draw priority free agent grades from teams.
Running Back
Colorado State junior Dee Hart has good tape as a shifty zone scheme RB, but he looks extremely undersized in person. Bounced around by contact, Hart may not have the build to handle NFL hits. His lower half is very slight and he measured in at just 5074 and 189 lbs. Hart also fought the ball on short check down targets, dropping two consecutive passes by my count. He’ll have to show more this week to earn a late draftable grade from NFL teams.
Wide Receivers
Neal Sterling out of Monmouth stole the show in the weigh-ins, checking in at 6032 and 239 pounds, and carried that weight smoothly as a route runner during practice. He’s not an explosive athlete, but he’s very controlled in his movements and a natural hands receiver at the catch point. Sterling turned heads with his ability to position vertically and track the football. He’s caught my attention as the most intriguing prospect here.
Kansas WR Nigel King, who was an early entrant to the draft, created vertical separation on a consistent basis and outclassed most of the corners he faced during one-on-ones. King has more long speed than I saw on tape and is comfortable plucking the football away from his framework, two traits that are critical to the position. I wasn’t impressed with his footwork off the line or downfield to setup routes, so I’ll be watching to see if he can tighten up his release and be a more efficient receiver prior to the ball being thrown.
Texas WR John Harris ran his patterns with excellent pace, but simply didn’t show the extra gear to win vertically or separate from defenders. He’s more of an oversized slot than an outside receiver, in that he finds holes in coverage well and needs distance at the line of scrimmage to cleanly work into his route.
I had high hopes entering the week for Baylor WR Levi Norwood, but he struggled to separate himself from the pack and quite literally struggled to separate from defensive backs during one-on-ones. A slot only guy at the NFL level, Norwood’s lack of burst or an extra gear limits his upside as a prospect. Additionally, he dropped a handful of catchable targets and had difficulty winning contested catch points.
Tight End
Purdue TE Gabe Holmes showed promise early in his career but a knee injury seems to have sapped some of that dynamic ability. Holmes was sluggish as a route runner, unable to threaten safeties with vertical speed and also inconsistent at the catch point. He made an outstanding one-handed grab early in practice, but later failed to secure a contested reception and dropped an open target.
Offensive Line
QB Pete Thomas wasn’t the only player without pads, as Alabama OG Leon Brown couldn’t practice during Tuesday’s practice. Brown weighed in heavy at 346 pounds, so I’ll be watching how he moves his feet and positions during practice on Wednesday.
Among those that struggled, Rice’s Ian Gray and North Texas’ Antonio Johnson stopped their feet after first contact and repeatedly lost during pit drill one-on-one’s. Both players are built with wide bases, but the lack of foot speed and balance is concerning for NFL evaluators.
Notre Dame College small schooler Doniel Gamrell showed positive traits with the girth and anchor to absorb power moves, but he’ll have to improve his punch timing to win on the edge.
Defensive Line
Ole Miss DE Carlos Thompson played just like he did on tape, flashing at times with the ability to bend and burst off the edge while struggling with balance against the run. He’s a twitched up edge rusher that projects to a 4-3 RDE position, but unfortunately he won’t be receiving a good look versus a handful of slower footed offensive tackles. Thompson is very much a priority free agent prospect worth a look by 4-3 teams as the open DE or 3-4 teams as an overhang, edge rusher.
Texas A&M Commerce nose tackle Charles Tuaau consistently won the line of scrimmage and had his way with the interior offensive linemen from the Wranglers roster. Even after having his left knee wrapped for a minor injury, Tuaau continually reset the line of scrimmage as a shade one-technique. His struggles in the classroom led to multiple stops as a collegiate player, but his size and anchor ability will draw NFL attention.
The other DE to watch is Marshall’s James Rouse. Played both inside and outside, Rouse has the size and strength to be a base DE for 4-3 defenses. Rouse has enough of a first step to setup counter moves or work with power, but will need to show more than flashes to impress evaluators this week. His measurements, 6041 and 272 lbs. with 33 1/8’s arms are ideal on the edge. Rouse is another UDFA prospect worth a flyer.
Linebackers
Syracuse OLB Dyshawn Davis looks like a Will LB from a build perspective, but not in coverage. He was consistently late reacting to route developments and could not hold opposing tight ends in check. Davis has to do a better job of feeling out the route, landing his hands early to direct the route and transitioning with clean footwork.
Another WLB prospect was Mississippi State’s Matthew Wells, who made a handful of nice plays in coverage, including a tip-drill interception. Wells is the definition of a tweener in that he plays the role of an outside linebacker and carries the body of a strong safety. During practice, Wells flowed quickly to the ball and positioned well in zone coverage. He’ll be appealing as a nickel down linebacker, but his tweener traits may have him on the outside looking in on draft day.
Defensive Backs
Miles College CB Travis Lee allowed a handful of underneath receptions at practice, but moved fluidly through the hip turn and displayed the closing burst to impact the catch point. Lee was an active communicator as well, talking with teammates about potential route combinations. Corners need to have a confident makeup and Lee certainly has the attitude for the position; however, he’ll have to work through technique issues and inefficient footwork. He competed day one and will be a player I watch closely in one-on-one’s tomorrow.
The top cornerback of the day was Colorado State Pueblo’s C.J. Roberts, who moved explosively through his backpedal and transition to get his hands on multiple passes. Sinking back and reading through the curl pattern, Roberts also drove on the football to secure an impressive interception in 7-on-7. Roberts latches onto the inside hip of the receiver and is comfortable playing from a semi-trail position.
Stephen Godbolt from Webber International had his flashes at practice, weaving through his back pedal and doing his best work in off-man coverage. Godbolt shows the quick feet and ball skills to be a developmental prospect in the NFL, but lacks the technique or punch to win at the line of scrimmage in press coverage. He’ll have to improve his hand usage and press skills at the Gridiron Showcase practices to solidify a priority free agent grade.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
