The Supplemental Draft is designed for players who have only one year of eligibility remaining at the college level, but are disallowed from playing their final collegiate season, usually due to NCAA or team violations.
The 2016 class could see the just the second player drafted in the last 4 years (since Josh Gordon’s 2012 drafting) with Ra’Zahn Howard of Purdue offering defensive line versatility and lateral athleticism to offer rotational value. Howard, along with two other prospects have a chance to earn NFL interest.
By: Sean Dyer
1. Ra’Zahn Howard, DL, Purdue
Bio: Howard attended Asbury Park High School, helping lead them to an NJSIAA State Championship in 2011. Howard started at defensive tackle for most of his three-year career at Purdue. Howard left the program in late May of 2016 after being suspended because of an academic issue in January of 2016, causing him to miss all of spring practice and spring team activities. After leaving Purdue for academic reasons, Howard decided he was ready to join the pro ranks instead of sitting out a year and transferring to another college program.
Scouting Report: Howard spent most of his three-year career at Purdue as a starting defensive tackle before being suspended in January of 2016 because of academic issues. In May of 2016, Howard decided to leave the Purdue football program and apply for the NFL Supplemental Draft. Howard possesses a strong upper body and hands that allow him to shed blocks by throwing offensive linemen off of him. Howard can get driven backward when playing too high, but he moves well laterally, which makes it difficult for offensive linemen to stay engaged with him. At 325 pounds, Howard moves well. Howard has a high motor, running sideline to sideline to make plays. The negative to his hustle is that Howard does not have great stamina. Howard was a part of a defensive tackle rotation at Purdue often taking entire drives off to catch his breath. Howard keeps his eyes up when rushing the quarterback and knows when to disengage and change directions. He also uses plus vision to read plays.
He displayed good play recognition and was able to shut down a wide receiver screen from his defensive tackle position. Howard wraps up ball carriers and uses his strength to prevent them from breaking free. Howard is able to push the pocket for quarterbacks when he stays low. Howard’s lack of explosiveness hurt his pass rushing ability. Howard was often doubled at Purdue. He struggled to shed the double teams, but by requiring two blockers Howard helped free up other pass rushers. With his size, Howard can be a part of a defensive tackle rotation at the next level, but he will need to work on his stamina and conditioning. Howard’s suspension for academic issues is not as much of a concern as other potential violations, such as those that are drug or crime related. Howard’s upper body strength and motor are what teams will be most impressed with and may cause teams to take a chance on him.
Player Comparison: Montori Hughes, New York Giants
Round Grade: 6th Round
2. Tee Shepard, CB, Ole Miss
Bio: Shepard was a 5-star recruit coming out of Washington Union High School. He was a part of the 2012 signing class for Notre Dame, but left ND before spring workouts due to an issue with a standardized test score affecting his enrollment. Shepard then went to Holmes CC and finally transferred to Ole Miss as the No. 1 JUCO cornerback. Shepard left Ole Miss midseason in October of 2016. He said he left the Ole Miss program after coaches cut his playing time and asked him to switch positions to nickel corner because of his impaired hearing. Shepard has dealt with impaired hearing his whole life and says that it has never affected his football abilities. Shepard says that the coaching staff never talked to him first about how his impaired hearing was affecting his play. Shepard says the whole experience between him and his coaches made him “feel unwelcomed to the team and useless.”
Scouting Report: Shepard has had a long journey for a college career. Originally a Notre Dame commit out of high school, Shepard had to leave due to an issue with a standardized test score affecting his enrollment. Shepard then went to Holmes CC and became the No. 1 ranked JUCO cornerback in 2013. After transferring to Ole Miss, Shepard missed the 2014 season after tearing a tendon in his toe that required surgery. To go along with his trips from school to school, Shepard has had to deal with impaired hearing for most of his life. Shepard’s impaired hearing caused his play to suffer according to his Ole Miss coaches and he fell out of their favor. Shepard saw limited playing time before leaving the team because he thought he was being treated unfairly. Shepard felt that his hearing did not affect his play on the field. When on the field, Shepard showed quick feet and a physical style of play. Shepard is quick on his back pedal, but can get
When on the field, Shepard showed quick feet and a physical style of play. Shepard is quick on his back pedal, but can get caught staring into the backfield and wide receivers can run past him. Shepard’s flaws on the field do not appear to be caused by his impaired hearing except for possibly his slower read-react ability. Shepard sometimes gets late jumps, possibly because he cannot hear the snap count. Shepard can make up for late jumps with his ability to put his foot in the ground and change directions. Although Shepard is a physical cornerback, he is not the strongest tackler. He puts his head down, losing sight of the ball carrier and does not wrap up. He can also lose his balance when trying to run down ball carriers. Shepard uses his physicality to jam wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and also when trying to shed blocks in run support. Shepard can lay the big hit, but needs to control his body in order to avoid targeting penalties. Shepard has overcome hurdles throughout his life so he is not afraid to give his best effort.
Player Comparison: Kyle Arrington, Baltimore Ravens
Round Grade: 7th Round/Priority Free Agent
3. Jalen Overstreet, RB, Sam Houston State
Bio: Overstreet went to Tatum High School in Texas where he was an all-state quarterback. Overstreet attended the University of Texas for two years, playing one season after redshirting his true freshman year, before being dismissed from the team in 2014 by head coach Charlie Strong. Strong dismissed Overstreet for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Since transferring to Sam Houston, Overstreet has had multiple run-ins with the law. Overstreet was suspended one game in November of 2015, after he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. In March of 2016, Overstreet was charged with stealing an iPad from an apartment complex. Then in May of 2016, he was indicted by a Walker County grand jury on a Texas state jail felony charge of credit or debit card abuse. Overstreet used a woman’s debit card number to buy food four different times. If convicted, Overstreet faces up to two years in a state jail facility.
Scouting Report: Before even looking at Overstreet’s abilities on the field there are serious concerns. Overstreet was dismissed from the Texas football team by head coach Charlie Strong for violating team rules. Overstreet then transferred to Sam Houston State where he would proceed to be suspended one game for a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana, be charged with stealing an iPad from an apartment complex, and be indicted on a state felony charge of credit or debit card abuse, which if convicted could put him in jail for up to two years. Overstreet committed to Texas as a quarterback out of high school so he can be used on trick plays and halfback passes, possessing a decent arm, but he is not very impressive as a runner. Overstreet was the least impressive of Sam Houston State’s three main running backs. Overstreet does not burst out of his stance. Once he gets going initially, he can accelerate past the line of scrimmage, but he is slow to get started. Although he can accelerate past the line of scrimmage, Overstreet is more of a power back and does not have breakaway speed. A bigger back, Overstreet is not very elusive in the open field. Overstreet is also not much of an asset in the passing game, often coming off the field on third downs and obvious passing situations. When asked, Overstreet does not run routes well. He struggles to change directions and is slow in his route breaks. Overstreet’s on field abilities are likely not worth his off the field troubles for NFL teams.
Player Comparison: Andre Williams, New York Giants
Round Grade: CFL Only
Other Three Prospects
Rashaun Simonise, WR, University of Calgary– Simonise attended Vancouver College, an independent preparatory catholic school. Simonise said he sees the supplemental draft as an opportunity for him to take a shot at his dream of playing professional football and it is ideal for his specific situation.
Eddie D’Antuono, LS, Virginia Tech
D’Antuono went to Bishop Ireton High School in Virginia where he was a first-team all-state selection his senior year. He was a three-year starter at long snapper for Virginia Tech. D’Antuono left Virginia Tech after getting his degree in May and states the departure of head coach Frank Beamer as the primary reason for leaving, even though he had eligibility remaining. Because he was waiting to get his degree, D’Antuono left VT after the January deadline to declare for the regular NFL Draft.
Cameron Walton, DE, Concordia– Concordia junior college has decided to shut down their football program following the 2015 season due to financial reasons. Walton has decided to try and make it in the NFL now, instead of transferring to another college program first.
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