The Big Ten is known for their linemen. Find out the top match-ups to watch this year on the Big Ten Schedule.
The Arkansas Razorbacks have a lot of turnover as a team. Find out the three guys who will make or break this crucial season for Arkansas. All three are NFL prospects.
Meet the Top 10 Big Ten juniors and the Top 10 rushing quarterbacks returning to college football.
A Conference Known for Linemen, 2012 Won’t Disappoint in the Big Ten
Later in this edition of the Scouting Notebook, I’ll break down the Top Big Ten juniors, six of which are linemen. But junior or senior, the 2013 Draft is sure to have its fair share of Big Ten linemen getting their names called. I’ll go by team match-ups in order of the Big Ten schedule.
Two games on October 6th will be both fun and somewhat easy to scout in terms of the offensive linemen. The Wisconsin vs. Illinois game is a perfect match-up of the fundamental soundness of the Wisconsin offensive line, lead by center Travis Frederick (just a junior, but the next Peter Konz?) and Ricky Wagner (the favorite for the Outland Trophy and possible late first rounder), against the uber-athletic Illinois defensive line by Michael Buchanan (who looked better than Whitney Mercilus fundamentally at times) and defensive tackle Akeem Spence (round, but explosive and has a high motor.
The second October 6th match-up is almost a situational 1 vs. 1 matchup. Jordan Hill of Penn State thrived last year thanks to the senior leadership on the defensive line around him. But this year, he’s the feature starter and will have to consistently create his own pressure. Northwestern sends out most notably senior guard Brian Mulroe, who has the natural size and quick reactions off the ball to win initially vs. Hill, but may not have the strength in the upper and lower half to impress agaisnt the athletic Hill.
After those, the next matchup is in early November, when Nebraska travels to East Lansing to play the Spartans of Michigan State. Both teams have NFL talent on both sides of the ball, but I’ll be looking at two main matchups: How the powerful, inside collapsing William Gholston (among top juniors overall) and Marcus Rush (just a soph) against new starters Jeremiah Sirels and Tyler Moore. It’ll be a lot on Rex Burkhead in blitz pickup as well. On the other side, Cameron Meredith of Nebraska vs. Fou Fonoti of Michigan State are a strongside vs. right tackle that should be a great testament to each’s power and ability to adapt. Both are like mid to late rounders, but performing well in NFL-style match-ups.
A week later, Iowa and Purdue meet up in a game that doesn’t feature two teams that are likely to push for a Big Ten title, but Kawan Short of Purdue is among the top senior prospects as of now for the 2013 NFL Draft, while Iowa’s consistent offensive line pipeline to the NFL now features James Ferentz, the son of head coach Kirk. Lot of pressure on James, especially against a talent like Short.
And finally, the greatest rivalry in sports (Ohio State and Michigan) features both mid round seniors and two promising juniors. Patrick Omameh of Michigan has the build and balance to be a potential bigger NFL guard, while on defense, Craig Roh leads a defensive line with depth yet lacking some true playmakers. Roh, I’m not quite sold on as anything more than a late rounder. As for Ohio State, no seniors return on the offensive line, but Nathan Williams and John Simon on the outside both have NFL ceilings, especially the undersized, somewhat tough-to-position Simon who may have quickness and athleticism to be a Clay Matthews like late first rounder.
As for the juniors, two major ones stand out as possible NFL starters. For Michigan, offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, and for Ohio State, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins both have NFL ceilings to their game. See below for their full scouting information, as both could be firmly on the national radar by the time this game, on November 24th rolls around.
—————————————-
What Tyler Wilson-Knile Davis-Cobi Hamilton Need to Overcome to Reach Their Goals
I recently published my latest NFL Draft Profile on both Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton over at Crystal Ball Run. The main thesis: Arkansas is in trouble as a program, especially if the Arkansas studs on offense can’t pick up the slack of losing three NFL worthy receivers and their offensive architect, head coach Bobby Petrino.
Those aformentioned offensive studs?
Quarterback Tyler Wilson, running back Knile Davis, and receiver Cobi Hamilton.
With Jarius Wright and Joe Adams (along with the occasional starting Greg Childs) departing, it’s up to Tyler Wilson to get on the same page quickly and consistently with Cobi Hamilton this year. Wilson reminds me a lot of Tom Brady as a passer. He’s still obviously distant from him, but his decision making from outside-in, his touch and velocity control from different platforms and defenses, and composure under pressure all speak to his high ceiling as an NFL passer.
But even Tom Brady needed Randy Moss to have his career year, and Wilson needs Cobi Hamilton to emerge there as well. Hamilton, more like Brandon Marshall type receiver than Moss, is a big bodied deep threat with body control and use of length to win outside the hash mark balls. He’ll need to develop more in terms of natural, non-scheme based separation as a receiver, as he’ll need to be a safety valve for Wilson this year. If he can, he may be taken higher than the 4th round, where Wright, Adams, and Childs went last April.
And as for Knile Davis, he’ll be both the stable force for this offense as well as a useful weapon in the passing game…if he’s fully recovered. Out all last year with a left ankle injury, he has NFL starter potential if he can recover well. NFL teams need to see him hit the ground running before they’ll rest with a 2nd round grade on him. And Arkansas will struggle to win close games in the SEC without a balance of pass and run. That’ll be on Davis to provide that for this trio.
——————————–
Top Big Ten Junior Prospects
This is an excerpt from my work over at www.MiamiDolphinsDraft.com on the Top Big Ten Juniors. Check out that full article as well as my Johnathan Hankins full scouting report over there.
1. Jonathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
One of the widest athletes I’ve ever seen, Hankins combines his massive wide, power, and lower body control and balance to devour the interior part of the line. He drives into his initial blocker with good pad level and pop, and naturally slides ball side in run support to attract multiple blockers. He keeps his hands inside and tight, only extending in space or to begin a rush move. He doesn’t lose balance through rush or when splitting blockers, and has some lateral balance and agility. If he’s able to develop some situational rush moves as well as stay impactful at multiple positions on the defensive line (played 0, 1, 3, 5, and 6 techniques in games I watched), he could be a worth a Top 5 pick.
2. William Gholston, DE, Michigan State
One of the best in college football at driving with his lower half and dominating with inside leverage, Gholston comes down the line from his defensive end spot with as much power as any of the defensive ends taken in last year’s draft. He’s able to drop low and not get too wide in his pursuit, holding the point of attack well and keeping his vision in the backfield. If he can develop a better counter rush, use his hands to shed inside on run support in the B-gap, and flash more ability in space, he could be a Top 5 pick in the NFL Draft.
3. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
Lewan isn’t a finished product in a lot of ways as a left tackle prospect, but all the tools are certainly there for him to make strides for his junior (and hopefully senior) years. The biggest concern for Lewan is his inconsistency in keeping his back arched and balanced, pass protection especially. His flexibility as an athlete seems to be there, but he over-extends and reaches too much. Other than that, his hand placement is solid but could be more consistent, and he keeps a very wide base with powerfully planting steps that allow him to hold his ground consistently. He has active hands as well and doesn’t slow or tire through plays or whole games. A lot to like, but Lewan just needs time to develop.
4. Akeem Spence, DT, Illinois
Spence is a bit smaller and more stout that I’d like as an impact, versatile nose tackle, but his ability to fire, explode, and readjust allows him to be consistently successful in beating interior linemen. A very thick, powerful upper half, Spence has a consistent motor and readjusts his hands well in pursuit. He’s not overly quick off the snap and isn’t the type of gap splitting you’d hope for in a nose tackle, but if he can develop some quick, lateral rush moves, he could become a very solid nose tackle, with potential ability to slip outside at a 5-technique.
5. Silas Redd, RB, Penn State
Well-built for a running back, Redd has a rare balance of vision and burst through the hole. He keeps his feet decisive in the hole and doesn’t dance or scatter when approaching contact. He’s able to keep his pad level low and drive through on interior runs. Not as powerful to maintain that consistently at the next level, his ability to drive through for yardage outside the A-gaps combined with the offense’s trust in him to pick up first downs should put him in the national spotlight this year. I’m hoping he’s able to get more involved in the passing game as well.
6. Le’Von Bell, RB, Michigan State
7. Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin
8. Jonathan Brown, ILB, Illinois
9. Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin
10. CJ Barnett, S, Ohio State
—————————————–
Top 10 Rushing Quarterbacks Returning in College Football
Keep in mind this list contains FBS, FCS and D2 quarterbacks. Two interesting notes to look at. Three play in the Big Ten, all three being in the Top 6 among top returning rushers in the conference. And two, only James Franklin and Collin Klein seem to have any chance at being a serious quarterback prospect, with the exception of Braxton Miller, who we simply have no idea of yet.
1. Denard Robinson, Michigan – 1176 yards
2. Collin Klein, Kansas State – 1141 yards
3. Tevin Washington, Georgia Tech – 987 yards
4. James Franklin, Missouri – 981 yards (JR)
5. Brandon Kelsey, Midwestern State – 967 yards
6. Casey Cooper, Ouachita Baptist – 957
7. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska – 874 yards (JR)
8. Gavin McCarney, Colgate – 750 yards (JR)
8. Alex Gillet, Eastern Michigan – 736 yards
9. Braxton Miller, Ohio State – 715 yards (So)
10. Laquintin Caston, Nicholls State – 707 yards
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
