For the second day of practices, I shifted my focus during one-on-one drills to the offensive and defensive line. There were notable standouts at receiver in this practice, along with a handful of solid practice performers on the offensive line.
Here are the practice notes from 2015 College Gridiron Showcase Wednesday’s set of practices. Be sure to keep checking Optimum Scouting for more notes on this event, as I’ll be evaluating the Thursday practices and the game itself on Saturday afternoon.
By: Alex Brown
Quarterback
Day one, Louisiana-Monroe QB Pete Thomas was a limited participant without full pads because he didn’t have his helmet. Thomas controls his velocity on downfield passes without altering his throwing mechanics, but robotically works through his reads. After misfiring on a 9-route to Levi Norwood, he noticeably improved on dropping vertical throws in the bucket. I already knew Thomas had the size and arm talent needed at the next level, but I’m more interested in watching his performance during the game on Saturday. How he handles pressure and operates off-schedule will be important for evaluators to watch.
Running Back
Colorado State’s Dee Hart practiced exactly the same as he did on Tuesday. Making quick decisive cuts in the running game and dropping easy targets during 7-on-7, Hart is only a change of pace back at the next level. His diminutive frame appears smaller in person than on tape and he looks more like a priority free agent prospect than a draftable one. If he can bulk up his lower half, then Hart’s quick feet and vision could keep him in the NFL.
Wide Receivers
Monmouth WR Neal Sterling tweaked a hamstring at the end of the first practice and that injury limited him on Wednesday. Unable to participate in team drills, Sterling only worked through warmups and individual drill work. As one of the top prospects at the event, Sterling will hopefully be able to recover in time for the game on Saturday. We’ll have an update on his status after Thursday’s practice.
The star of Wednesday’s practice was Stony Brook WR Adrian Coxson. On the first day of practice, Coxson made a handful of plus adjustment grabs along the sideline. Day two was more of the same in terms of reliable hands and body control, but I saw intent and decisiveness as a route runner to get open. In addition to beating man cover defenders, Coxson also showed a willingness to compete as a blocker.
Baylor’s Levi Norwood did a better job of attacking the ball away from his framework in practice, compensating for his inability to separate at the top of the route. Through two practices, it’s apparent that he projects as a slot-only WR with his struggles to separate on the outside. He needs to be schemed into a free-release at the line of scrimmage and a two-way go versus a nickel corner. The fact that he only has one gear will limit his upside at the next level, but his ball skills and ability after the catch could get him on a roster.
Kansas WR Nigel King had a few uncharacteristic drops, but performed well for the most part. Outside of Neal Sterling, King’s skill set and body type project best to the NFL game. He has the long gait to eat up cushion and threaten vertically, and more importantly has the length and body control to finish at the catch point. He’s a fringe draft talent because of his lack of production and still developing routes, but strong workout numbers could put King in position for a 6th-7th round projection.
Tight End
Gabe Holmes out of Purdue showed signs of life as an NFL prospect on Wednesday, using his frame to position and push off for separation at the top of the route. Holmes is confident to extend for the catch, but simply doesn’t have natural hands to pluck and secure the football. He too often gets two hands on the football and allows the defender to rip it out of his hands.
Offensive Line
A reserve at LSU, Evan Washington flashed some translatable skills during one-on-one’s with his anchor strength and initial punch. Problems arise when Washington is forced to sustain blocks in pass pro, however, as he tends to lunge forward and stop his feet. He’s too reliant on his initial punch and needs to improve his patience in pass pro. Another concern is how hesitant he seems to be as a second level blocker. Washington’s footwork will be exposed at the NFL level, but his size and natural athletic ability will land him on a practice squad for certain.
Alabama OG Leon Brown also had his positive moments, rotating in at left tackle, right tackle and right guard. Brown kick slides surprisingly well for a 346-pound blocker, and his best fit at the next level may be at right tackle if he can keep his weight down. His punch timing needs work to maximize the length advantage he possesses, but Brown does have the wide base and powerful anchor to get a priority free agent look from NFL teams.
Iowa State’s starting right tackle Jacob Gannon had a solid showing, setting patiently in pass protection and reacting under control to opposing pass rushers. Gannon has the length to develop into a swing tackle at the next level, but he’s often late to fire his hands and isn’t forceful with his initial punch. Given his balance and patience to mirror, NFL teams would be smart to target Gannon at the conclusion of the draft.
On the interior, Connecticut’s Alex Mateas displayed his versatility at center and guard. Mateas stayed square with opponents during one-on-one’s, locked out and showed he could anchor the interior pocket. Beyond winning his one-on-one’s, Mateas also was controlled in climbing and cutting off opposing linebackers as a second level blocker.
And at right tackle, Notre Dame College’s Doniel Gamrell cutoff inside counters and utilized his length with better punch timing than the first day of practices. Gamrell needs to keep his feet moving after engaging, as he didn’t do a consistent job of gaining width and depth versus speed rushers. He’s a project at the next level but big enough and athletic enough to develop at right tackle.
Defensive Line
The injury bug hit two of the more talented defensive tackle prospects with Ashton Dorsey being limited with a wrapped left thigh and J.T. Surratt going down with what appeared to be a minor ankle sprain.
As far as standouts, the top two prospects on the defensive line have been Marshall DE James Rouse and Ole Miss DE Carlos Thompson.
Thompson is a one-trick pony with his first step burst, but he is very effective at setting up his speed rush component. His redirect athleticism and overall movement skills will intrigue 3-4 defenses to view him as an overhang edge rusher. Thompson has a plus burst off the line and when closing on the football.
Rouse on the other hand, has more dynamic ability in that he’s played inside at 3-technique and outside in multiple fronts. With a blend of size and quicks, Rouse could land in a 3-4 scheme as a closed DE. He doesn’t have the bend to finish speed rush attempts, but does stunt effectively to the inside. Disruptive in one-on-one’s and team period, Rouse continues to perform well in Arlington, TC.
Linebacker
UNLV linebacker Josh Shirley flashed quite a bit in practice, making plays as the force defender, rallying to the ball in coverage and getting to the quarterback as a pass rusher. Shirley easily discarded running backs in pass pro, and was successful in a limited number of reps versus offensive tackles in one-on-one’s. Shirley’s length and movement skill make him a potential 3-4 or 4-3 strongside outside linebacker.
Defensive Backs
The trio of small school corners –Webber International’s Stephen Godbolt, Colorado State-Pueblo’s C.J. Roberts and Miles College’s Travis Lee continued to make splash plays and tease evaluators with inconsistent results. Travis Lee lacks the build and strength to win at the line of scrimmage, C.J. Roberts struggled to defend the catch point due to a lack of length, and Stephen Godbolt too often ran ahead of the receiver’s route. All three have shown NFL traits but never on a repeat.
Texas Southern CB Tray Walker looks the part of an NFL cornerback from a dimensions standpoint. Walker supplements his 6’2, 195 pound frame with explosive movements and downfield balance to track the football. He still needs to get a little stronger, but has the long, lean, athletic body that teams look for.
Another corner with the right size and movement skills is Tulane’s Taurean Nixon. He can flip his hips, turn open with vertical routes and win out of recovery mode. When defending 9-routes, he will need to improve at finding the football but the skill set is there.
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