Well, there won’t be any competitive advantages in this game as both Kansas State and Auburn had off-weeks to prepare for one another. Kansas State is 0-3 all-time versus Auburn, with their most recent loss coming in 2007. To win, Kansas State needs senior WR Tyler Lockett to do his best Jordy Nelson impression. For Auburn, their top player isn’t even draft eligible. True sophomore Montravious Adams is an explosive play-maker to look for on the defensive line, as he can play inside at DT or outside at DE.
With that in mind, read up on the top seniors prospects to watch, and enjoy the Big 12-SEC Thursday night match-up.
By: Alex Brown
Auburn Tigers
Nick Marshall, QB, #14
Marshall enters this game as a divisive draft prospect. He is a very raw passer in terms of consistent mechanics and decision-making, but wows at times with his arm talent and ability to create explosive plays with his feet. The lack of traditional post-snap passer progressions also makes for a difficult evaluation, as Marshall rarely is forced to work through multiple reads. Still, he is an elusive, fluid ball carrier that exposes poor tackling and makes defenses run sideline-to-sideline. He’s a developmental, day three type of prospect because of the streaky accuracy that’s tied to his inconsistent mechanics.
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, #44
Auburn lost starting RB Tre Mason to the NFL Draft after last year’s title run, but CAP has filled in admirably so far in 2014. What stands out most is his overall decisiveness. Quick to find a lane, gather his feet and explode through, CAP doesn’t waste time dancing in the backfield. While he lacks elite qualities, Artis-Payne wins with his feet and eyes to consistently gain positive yards. I see some Zac Stacy to his game, and he’ll be in that day three range.
Reese Dismukes, OC, #50
Ranked as our top senior center, Dismukes will be making his 40th career start against Kansas State. He possesses the strength to hold his own versus 0-techniques, the mobility to scoop block to the second level and the awareness to address stunts at the line of scrimmage. To maintain his status a day two prospect, he has to be sharper with aiming points and improve at running his feet through the point of attack.
Angelo Blackson, DT, #98
Off the hoof, Blackson really looks like a freak talent in Auburn’s starting nose tackle position. At 6’4, 306 pounds, he fires out of his stance with quickness and has the long, powerful arms to create instant push. Working against Blackson, however, is his overly aggressive play-style. Quick to get upfield but out of control in doing so, he’s susceptible to both traps and draws. I want to see better gap integrity from the fourth-year senior, and he’ll have to play with much more discipline versus the midline option K-State will run.
Gabe Wright, DT, #90
Wright plays next to Blackson as the 3-technique and wows with his first step quickness. Because he gets out of his stance so fast, Wright immediately engages and places opposing blockers in precarious, holding situations. He cross-trained at DE in spring ball and started the season on the edge, but has since shifted back to his interior spot. I didn’t like Wright’s leverage or sloppy midsection during preseason evaluations, but he has cleaned up his frame considerably and shown more athleticism in 2014. He’s skilled with his hands as a pass rusher and a rising senior prospect for Auburn.
Robinson Therezie, SAF, #27
Senior safety Robinson Therezie opened the year with question marks regarding eligibility, but his viciousness as a striker remain unquestioned. I like to call Therezie “DJ Swearinger-lite” for his quick feet, authority as a tackler and natural instincts. With similar vitals (Therezie listed at 5’9, 212 pounds, Swearinger listed at 5’10, 208 pounds), NFL teams will view Therezie as a hybrid linebacker/safety on sub-packages. He’ll probably draw early 4th round grades with the skill set to also contribute on special teams.
Jermaine Whitehead, SAF, #9
More of a traditional safety prospect with experience working in single-high coverage, Whitehead is the ball hawker in Auburn’s defensive backfield. In studying Auburn over the summer, Whitehead impressed with range in lid coverage (over-the-top) but struggled mightily as a tackler. He’s shown more willingness to throw his body around in run support, but does his best work in reading the eyes of the quarterback and breaking on the throw. Look for Whitehead to shade towards Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett. Whitehead has a better chance to be an NFL “starter” than Therezie, but impact-wise they fall into the grade range for me.
Kansas State
Jake Waters, QB, #15
At the helm for the Wildcats, Waters operates Kansas State’s option heavy attack in a much different way than former starter Collin Klein. Jake Waters is extremely undersized as an NFL QB, but still possesses a big-time arm to make all the throws. His low-driving release point leads to struggles with both the spiral and trajectory of passes, as he doesn’t stand tall through his motion and get on top of the throw. I currently view him as a priority free agent prospect, but Waters has the showcase opportunity to prove otherwise.
Tyler Lockett, WR, #16
The number one threat on K-State’s roster, Lockett stands out on tape with his pure speed and savvy route running skills. Pressing the leverage of the defensive back, he understands how to adapt his route to the coverage he’s facing. Further, you see the rapid-fire footwork to cleanly stick and accelerate out of the route break. The big limiting factor with Lockett’s grade is his lack of size (5’11, 175), and tied into that is the more concerning issue that involves his catching radius. Lockett appears uncomfortable when forced to extend for the catch, looking to body every pass thrown his way. If he doesn’t improve his hands, he’ll be a Devery Henderson, boom-or-bust vertical WR for NFL teams.
B.J. Finney, OC, #66
As solid a center prospect you’ll find in the Big 12, Finney consistently locks and secures an inside fit on defenders. He actually shares a similar play-style with Auburn OC Dismukes in that he punches, pivots and holds the point. BJ Finney lacks great lateral quickness or athleticism in climbing to the second level, but projects as a solid utility blocker on the interior with potential to play guard or center. He’ll have his hands full with an attacking set of Auburn defensive linemen.
Notes:
-Junior WR Sammie Coates is listed as questionable for the contest with a knee injury. Coates missed the San Jose State game but an off-week may have him ready to go. He led the Tigers in receiving a year ago, and has an impressive blend of explosive vertical speed and raw power to break arm tackles after the catch.
-Despite Coates’ injury, Auburn may have its best WR corps since 2004 (Courtney, Ben Obomanu, and Devin Aromashadu). Three juniors with NFL traits to watch are Duke Williams, Ricardo Louis and Melvin Ray.
-At linebacker, Auburn junior Kris Frost has made tremendous progress since being named a starter last season. Frost reads and reacts at a much faster pace in his second season starting, making for an easy NFL projection with his size, speed and explosiveness as a tackler.
-Kansas State junior CB Danzell McDaniel showed a lot of positive NFL traits when I evaluated his game versus Iowa State. He’s a JUCO transfer with plus size at 6’1, 205 pounds and the natural movement skills to click and close into position. This week’s matchup will be a major step up in level of competition, so I’m interested to see how he handles himself versus the Auburn receivers listed above.
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