Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech


Power is a trait that can be hard to find in elite quantities. But when you can add that kind of power to your NFL roster, you don’t hesitate. That’s the kind of power that Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson brings to the fold. And, as his 2023 NFL Draft scouting report details, it’s part of what amounts to an astronomical ceiling.

Tyree Wilson NFL Draft Profile

The Travon Walker effect is in full swing. In the 2022 NFL Draft cycle, Walker essentially came out of nowhere to become the first overall pick. Even more fascinating than his rise was his profile. Walker didn’t have elite production or anything close to it. But with elite raw power and athleticism, the ceiling he offered was simply too enticing to pass up.

Walker’s dramatic rise had analysts searching for the “next” Walker in the 2023 NFL Draft class, and Wilson was an early candidate to fill that void. Wilson has many of Walker’s hallmarks — length, power, and athleticism off the line — but he also has the production to solidify his early first-round profile.

MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades

It took a couple of years for Wilson, a former three-star recruit for Texas A&M, to catch on. But he found his stride with the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In 2021, he amassed seven sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. And in 2022, he duplicated that sack total while also piling up 14 TFLs and a forced fumble.

In a class that also has Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., Wilson isn’t the bonafide EDGE1. But his rare athletic makeup and absurd power capacity have defensive coordinators salivating about what he can look like at his ultimate ceiling.

  • Position: Edge rusher
  • School: Texas Tech
  • Current Year: Redshirt senior
  • Height/Weight: 6’6″, 271 pounds
  • Length: 35 5/8″
  • Hand: 9 5/8″

Tyree Wilson Scouting Report

Wilson has been mocked as high as the top five in the 2023 NFL Draft, and in some cases, he’s seen as a candidate to unexpectedly overtake Anderson as the top EDGE on the board. Does his talent warrant such a lofty investment?

Wilson’s Positives

It’s nearly impossible not to be awestruck by the tools Wilson possesses. At 6’6″, 271 pounds, with arms nearly 36″ long, Wilson has an outrageously large and dense frame with a dominating wingspan. He can generate disruption on the edge, but his size also enables him to rotate inside to 3-technique and provide value there.

Size alone, of course, isn’t enough. A level of functional athleticism must also be present. Luckily for Wilson, he has that and more. The Texas Tech EDGE shows off intense acceleration capacity when he has room to open up his strides and churn his legs. Additionally, he has a high-level initial burst when he’s able to pin his ears back. His long-track explosiveness allows him to surge through gaps and pressure blockers on stunts.

For his size, Wilson has excellent explosive capacity, and he can channel that momentum into force at contact. Moreover, the Texas Tech EDGE has the explosiveness to overtake the tackle to the apex and acquire space to surge inside. He’s also flashed the ability to control his acceleration and throttle up into the apex with long, powerful strides.

With his size, you’d think bend would be an area of weakness for Wilson. It may not be a surefire strength just yet, but he does have bend capacity to further unearth. He’s shown he can tuck his hips under the apex and change directions quickly while sustaining acceleration. He has a definite degree of ankle flexion, which he can use to pry around blockers on stunts.

Wilson has shown he can reduce his surface area and splice his way around blocks. He can pinch moderately tight angles and pivot around blocks when he has enough space. With those opportunities, Wilson has proven himself to be able to corner with surprising control and quickness after piercing through gaps. Furthermore, he has the flexibility to snap his hips into place upon extending and driving his power forward.

Wilson is more of a linear athlete overall, but he does have serviceable agility and twitch. At his maximum, he’s a surprisingly fleet-footed mover, and he can quickly chop his feet to accelerate into contact as a rusher. He can also use modest lateral twitch to displace tackles and bait them into extending early. Furthermore, Wilson flashes impressive lateral agility when shading around moving blocks to invade gaps.

Wilson’s athleticism is very much a selling point, but the Texas Tech EDGE’s chief foundational trait is his otherworldly power capacity. Wilson has the elite power capacity required to obliterate a blocker’s center of gravity with ruthless extensions. He generates dominating power with full extensions and can sustain power exertion with steady leg drive.

Tyree Wilson
Oct 16, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) runs the ball as Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive lineman Tyree Wilson (19) chases during the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Wilson’s hands have extreme knock-back power, and he consistently drives blockers back on initial contact. The Texas Tech EDGE can quickly extend, then reload and re-exert with violent arm movements. He’s able to bulldoze blockers with power generated by his burst and length. It’s not brash to say Wilson’s power profile is almost generational — players with this kind of force capacity don’t come around often.

Power and strength often go hand-in-hand to an extent, and it’s not a shock to see that Wilson has both in elite quantities. The Texas Tech EDGE has the raw strength to hold blocks from inside while surveying option plays, then rip himself free to commit in pursuit. As a pass rusher, he can wrench down opposing anchors and extensions with devastating force. Additionally, he can lock his anchor into place and steamroll linemen into the pocket with overwhelming strength.

The operational area is where Wilson stands to improve. Even after the 2022 season, he can still become more consistent with his leverage management and hand usage. But he’s already shown promise in both areas.

Wilson is tall and can struggle with leverage, but he improved at getting his base under him across the 2021-2022 stretch. He does have the ability to sink his pads and drive power forward. Additionally, he can actively acquire leverage, load up his base, and forklift linemen with raw power exerted on the torso. He can also get skinny to squeeze through gaps as a stunting lineman and use his length to pry through.

Expanding on Wilson’s operational traits, his hand usage is visibly trending up as well. Especially in 2022, Wilson flashed improvement when bringing a consistent pass-rush plan and stacking successive moves. He became visibly more patient and reactive down the stretch and even showed that he could flash his hands to bait linemen and rip down extensions while swerving around the edge.

Wilson has shown he has the capacity to stack successive moves and build off of his initial power exertions. His power moves — such as bull-rushes, long-arms, and forklifts — can be devastating, but Wilson was also able to win with combos like push-pull-arm-over, rip-swim, and dip-and-rip. He can attack the opponent’s torso with extensions, then wrench hands off his frame and swim inside, flashing excellent timing with his violent hands.

Wilson has shown he can win with various mixes of finesse and power, but power will always be his primary trait as a pass rusher. He can effectively long-arm blockers and re-establish his anchor while driving his legs forward. He can also violently swat down levers with swipes and cross-chops and surge around blockers. And when infiltrating the pocket, he actively uses his length to reach and wrap around passers.

The Texas Tech defender is a high-motor rusher who consistently draws double- and triple-teams and still fights to break through. He’s a relentless rusher with undaunted energy and zeal on the attack, and that motor, combined with his power, gives blockers plenty to deal with on a down-to-down basis.

In pursuit, Wilson has the play strength and wide reach to easily make solo tackles, engulfing ball carriers with his wingspan. The Red Raider EDGE also brings solid range in pursuit with his long strides, and he has enough burst and speed to close gaps on runners as they turn upfield. In a similar vein, he’s shown he can identify RBs sneaking into the flats and run them down.

Wilson’s Areas for Improvement

At times, Wilson can be a bit late timing the snap, although he improved his timing and explosiveness channeling in 2022. Even so, Wilson can’t always sustain acceleration while pinching tight angles, as his tall frame can be hard to shrink. His hips do show slight stiffness at times, and Wilson can be locked up at the apex as a result. He has definite bend capacity, but he’s not elite there.

Wilson sometimes experiences a delay when he needs to change directions. He isn’t always able to halt his momentum or control his mass and doesn’t bring elite lateral mobility.

His frame is tall and slightly high-hipped, which leads him to come into blocks too tall, limiting his ability to drive power forward with maximum efficiency. Similarly, Wilson sometimes drifts too far upright when approaching blocks, hindering his ability to drive.

MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board

Wilson can be more consistent in sinking his pads, activating his lower body, and magnifying power. He improved here in 2022, but he still too often neutralizes his base early in reps by aligning upright into contact.

Moreover, Wilson doesn’t consistently stack counters off extensions. His hands are heavy but can be faster and more violent at times. He can also better load up his arms to maximize power exertion and energy efficiency. Wilson can be heavily reliant on two-hand extensions and isn’t always quick to adapt when his rushes stall out.

Among other things, Wilson sometimes appears uncontrolled and can channel his traits more efficiently, both heading into contact and working around the edge. He occasionally fades out at the tail end of reps and doesn’t have elite range or functional athleticism in space.

Current Draft Projection for Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson

Wilson has the tools to buoy a blue-chip ceiling, and his grade reflects that. In the 2023 NFL Draft, he’s a borderline top-ten prospect on my board who’s deserving of early first-round capital. He’s not EDGE1 — that honor goes to Anderson. But Wilson is in the tier just beyond, and he’s a worthy investment with his high-upside profile.

Wilson is still far from a finished product. At his size, he can still be more consistent with his leverage acquisition and management, and his hand usage also remains a work in progress. That said, Wilson is trending up in both areas, and as long as he can keep driving his power effectively and keep employing hand combinations with greater speed and consistency, he has game-wrecking potential.

MORE: 2023 NFL Draft EDGE Class

Wilson’s game revolves around a domineering physical profile that features hyper-elite size, length, and power output. That overwhelming power gives Wilson a consistent edge in contact situations. But beyond that, Wilson also has stellar explosive capacity, violent hands, a relentless motor, surprising bend and ankle flexion, and the strength to hold the edge in run defense.

With his burst, power, play strength, and aggression, Wilson has enormous upside in 3- and 4-point stances, and he can even generate speed-to-power in 2-point stances from wider alignments. He can be a multi-phase destroyer at defensive end with vast alignment versatility, and his physical build grants him a blue-chip ceiling.



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How Many Teams Are in the USFL?


With the NFL in offseason mode and the latest version of the XFL in full swing, many eyes are turning to season No. 2 of the USFL. Let’s examine how many teams are in the USFL, as well as other information that might impact the size of the league.

How Many USFL Teams Are There?

There are eight total USFL teams in the 2023 season:

  • Birmingham Stallions
  • Houston Gamblers
  • Memphis Showboats
  • Michigan Panthers
  • New Jersey Generals
  • New Orleans Breakers
  • Philadelphia Stars
  • Pittsburgh Maulers

Seven of the eight teams that will play this season were part of last year’s long-awaited relaunch. The eighth team — the Tampa Bay Bandits — relocated to Memphis and are now known as the Showboats.

Will the USFL Add More Teams in the Future?

The old USFL of the 1980s played for three years before folding in 1986. The league was plagued by owners anxious to sell, mismanagement, stadium issues, and other factors that doomed the entity just as it was starting to gain momentum.

And “momentum” might be the key here. Fox Sports is investing $150 million over three years in this venture. For sustained growth and financial stability, the league probably needs to show it’s on solid ground after that third year.

When the old USFL launched its first season in 1983, it had 18 teams. We should take note that the current iteration only has eight.

That has to be deliberate. Fewer teams means fewer owners, which makes for a more controlled environment when venturing into this risky and rewarding terrain. Each owner has more power and, thus, more responsibility to the league.

MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades

Given the adversity confronting the USFL — including a sustained pandemic that ended the season of its sister league, the XFL, only two years earlier — the debut season could be deemed a success.

Jordan Ta’amu lit up the league with superior dual-threat QB play. A year later, he’s helping lead the undefeated DC Defenders of the XFL. Similarly, Sal Cannella was snatched up by the XFL’s Arlington Renegades last November and presently is tied for fourth in that league in receptions. QBs Kyle Sloter and Luis Perez also became XFL starters.

The NFL also took notice, with various teams locking in contracts with notable USFL performers. For example, the Cowboys signed Generals standout KaVontae Turpin, who dominated the USFL with a 44-540-4 receiving line in 10 regular-season games. He went on to become Dallas’s primary kickoff and punt returner last season.

As for possibly expanding the league, back in 2021 — when the new USFL was still in its infancy — Executive Vice President Daryl Johnston suggested that if the league could successfully enter a second or third season, then expansion would be a distinct possibility. There have been rumors, for example, that Denver and Oakland could be on a shortlist for future expansion.

Smart growth is in the cards. This league wants to expand. It simply needs to safeguard itself against growth for the sake of growth. They have to be strategic, knowing that a new market could result in a meaningful growth of USFL revenue potential and fandom.

Fox Sports’ critically important minority stake serves as a bridge of sorts for this nascent league. A more physical bridge (if we can call it that) was last year’s decision to play in Birmingham, Alabama. This reduced costs, helped unify the brand, and put the league on firmer footing entering year No. 2.

MORE: USFL 2023 College Draft Results

Now they’re taking an important step: playing games in other cities around the country. A slight loss of control is counteracted by the USFL’s enlarged geographic footprint.

This marks a key next step for the USFL, which surely will examine a range of financial and fan-driven metrics in 2023 to determine if and when expansion teams might bolster the league’s long-term prowess.

For now, the USFL hopes it’s on the right track.



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How To Watch, What To Expect, and More for Florida QB


When is the pro day for Florida QB Anthony Richardson this cycle, and how much does the Gators’ passer stand to gain performing in front of NFL evaluators? Here’s a preview of Richardson’s pro day ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.

When Is Anthony Richardson’s Pro Day in 2023?

Richardson will appear at the Florida Pro Day, which is set to take place on Thursday, March 30. The pro day will be held on the Gators’ campus and will start at 10 a.m. ET, running through to 12:30 p.m.

You can view the full list of pro day dates here at Pro Football Network.

How To Watch Anthony Richardson’s Pro Day | TV Channel, Start Time

Richardson’s Florida Pro Day will be broadcast live on SEC Network from 10:00 a.m. onward. For NFL draft commentary, you’ll also be able to stream the event through NFL+ starting at 11:30.

A cast including David Carr, Steve Smith, and NFL draft analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks will provide live coverage and analysis during Richardson’s throwing session.

MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades 

In addition to Richardson, Gators prospects such as Justin Shorter, O’Cyrus Torrence, Gervon Dexter, Richard Gouraige, Ventrell Miller, Trey Dean III, and Rashad Torrence II will also be present at the Florida Pro Day.

Anthony Richardson’s Latest Mock Draft Rankings and Projections

Earlier in the cycle, it wasn’t a lock that Richardson would even declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. But as the season went on, Richardson’s high-end natural talent became impossible to deny. Flashes of progression helped build momentum into the offseason, where Richardson has now cemented himself as an early first-round pick.

There are occasionally mock projections where Richardson falls into the teens. But for the most part, Richardson is projected to be a top-10, and often top-five, selection — along with Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah projected Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts in his most recent mock draft and said the following: “Will Levis could easily be the pick here, but Richardson’s unbelievable athleticism would be a fun fit in Shane Steichen’s offense.”

MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board 

The Richardson-Steichen marriage has long been proposed as a particularly good fit in the 2023 NFL Draft QB class. Several PFN mocks, including Tommy Garrett’s most recent projection, have Richardson going to Indianapolis as well.

Richardson is most often the third QB selected in mocks, but he’s still in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick. He’s gone as high as No. 1 to the Panthers and has also been projected to the Houston Texans at No. 2. The consensus view is that Richardson’s rare natural ability will push him up the board and lock him into the first few picks.

What To Watch for at Anthony Richardson’s Pro Day

There are four top-10 QBs who will go to four different teams in April, but all eyes are on Frank Reich, Scott Fitterer, and the Carolina Panthers, who ultimately control the board at No. 1 overall.

The Panthers staff made their rounds last week, attending pro days for Stroud, Young, and Levis. They also had dinner with those QBs, trudging through an arduous but ultimately rewarding information-gathering process. Now, Richardson is the last QB to check off the list.

Through the process, Richardson has been one of the more polarizing high-level QB prospects, but there’s no denying the historic level of talent he possesses. At the NFL Combine, Richardson ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and logged a 40.5″ vertical — a positional record — at a rocked-up 6’4″, 244 pounds.

Richardson can still improve his accuracy and decision-making at times, but he’s flashed the necessary processing ability and poise, and his dual-sided creation capacity and arm talent are a truly generational mix. During a 30-minute news conference on Tuesday, Reich himself acknowledged that Richardson is worth a premier capital investment.

“There are plays and throws all over the tape that scream top pick, top of the draft pick,” Reich said. “That’s a credit to him. I think he has upper-body mechanics that are really solid. Obviously, his completion percentage is lower than you want at this level, but I don’t get too discouraged [about] things like that.”

MORE: The Carolina Panthers’ Draft Plans — C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, or Anthony Richardson

Reich continued, “I see a lot of upside. Talking to him a little bit at the Combine, you could tell how smart of a guy he is. A guy like that, without totally getting into it, the more experience he gets, he’s a guy that you feel like he’s going to get better fast.”

The Panthers will be able to speak with Richardson and spend time with him more intimately at and after the pro day, but much like Levis last week, the Florida event will also be an opportunity for Richardson to show off his rocket arm.

Richardson’s easy velocity generation alone should awe onlookers. But on top of that, if Richardson can go through a throwing script that forces him to adjust his pace and trajectory, and if he maintains precision through it, it could be an important marker for scouts judging his execution.

It doesn’t outweigh the tape, but all Richardson has to do is prove his talent is worth banking on more than most. He’s well on his way, and his Florida Pro Day could be another step in the right direction.



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Betting Update on Sportsbooks in Stadiums: Latest NFL Decision


The NFL has approved access to sportsbooks in stadiums on game days. The seemingly significant decision further conjoins two entities that have been increasingly linked as national anti-gambling laws have softened. How did the NFL get here, and how might it relate to college stadiums?

The Vote To Approve Sportsbooks in NFL Stadiums

On March 28, 2023, NFL owners approved the usage of sportsbooks in their stadiums on game days. The decision was both monumental and unsurprising — the continuation of a recent NFL trend toward embracing sports gambling.

As The New York Times‘ David Chen pointed out, only 11 years ago, the NFL stated in a deposition that sports gambling would “negatively impact our long-term relationship with our fans, negatively impact the perception of our sport across the country.”

Tuesday’s vote put a final stamp on a shift that began years ago. For example, do you remember a time when NFL halftime shows didn’t include scrolling chyrons of the best offensive players of the day, based on stats?

The rise of fantasy football certainly contributed to a greater focus on yards and touchdowns. The league and its broadcasting partners simply responded to industry demand.

MORE: 100% Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator

The same can be said for betting, particularly as an increasing number of states legalize sports gambling.

The NFL has danced along this narrow line. Tuesday’s vote cements the relationship. The fact is, bettors could always make wagers on their phones, provided they were in a state where betting was legal. They could even bet from their stadium seats before the start of the game.

But the brick-and-mortar angle to this vote is a game-changer, as it solidifies the relationship for years and decades to come.

About half of the NFL’s franchises currently reside in states with legal sports gambling. Those teams will benefit financially. Additionally, the move might spur more states to approve sports gambling, as it should grow state revenue through the taxing of higher gambling profits from NFL teams, as well as profitable bettors.

Sportsbooks in College Stadiums?

Ironically, on the same day as the NFL owners’ vote, the U.S. gambling industry issued a ruling to “ban sportsbooks from partnering with colleges to promote sports wagering, bar payments to college and amateur athletes for using their name, image or likeness, and end the use of the terms ‘free’ or ‘risk-free’ to describe promotional bets.”

The policy shift was passed down by the American Gaming Industry, which serves as the country’s trade association for commercial gambling. Moreover, the group established strict rules in an effort to keep people under 21 years old from participating in, or viewing, sports betting advertising.

FanDuel Sportsbook: Risk-Free $3,000 Bet on the Super Bowl!
FanDuel Sportsbook: Risk-Free $3,000 Bet on the Super Bowl!

Underage gambling has been a contentious issue in political and higher education circles, as well as those governing trade associations and sports-related interest groups. Technological advancements have made it easier to pinpoint online users by age. However, there’s a unique challenge when addressing such changes on college campuses, where sometimes the student body is evenly split among “underage” and “of-age” students.

Existing sports gambling partnerships with schools like Michigan State University and the University of Colorado Boulder will expire on July 1 of this year.



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Anthony Richardson to Seattle? Plus, Justin Shorter and O’Cyrus Torrence Show Off at Florida Pro Day


Florida headlined Thursday’s NFL pro day schedule, and there were some terrific performances at Appalachian State as well. With the latest on those workouts, as well as a few updates from last week, here is Thursday’s pro day report.

Pro Day News and Rumors: Anthony Richardson Stars in Interviews

While there are reports Richardson did not have dinner with the Carolina Panthers last night, people in Gainesville told me the signal-caller did meet with the franchise extensively yesterday. For those keeping score, Richardson completed 55 of 62 passes, though there were several drops.

He missed on a pair of 65-yard throws, but I’m told the receivers were not fast enough to run under his deep ball. There were a few passes that came out of his hand wobbly, and Richardson struggled to throw to his left. Passes to the right side were on the mark.

When it comes to Richardson the person, I’m hearing good things. He’s been described as humble and very down-to-earth during interviews. If you watched Football Insiders with Trey Wingo, Brett Yarris, and myself, I mentioned that I’m also getting excellent character reviews on C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young.

Speculation from league insiders during Florida’s pro day is the Seattle Seahawks could be the team that leapfrogs the Indianapolis Colts and trades up with the Arizona Cardinals to secure Richardson. Several reasons were given.

The cost to move up won’t be much for the Seahawks, who have another first-round pick — the 20th selection.

Additionally, the general manager and coach who draft Richardson have to be on safe footing. Even Russell Wilson couldn’t get Pete Carroll and John Schneider fired. Finally, Richardson is the type of freaky athlete that the Seahawks have drafted in the past and had success with — think Tariq Woolen and DK Metcalf.

As far as Richardson’s bust factor, people say it doesn’t matter. The fourth pick of last year’s draft, Sauce Gardner, signed a four-year deal worth $33.4 million, guaranteed. Kyler Murray will be the fifth highest-paid quarterback this season and is scheduled to make $39 million. In other words, the risk is worth the reward.

MORE: FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades

Justin Shorter looked good catching passes from Richardson today. He measured in at 234 pounds, five more than his Combine weight of 229. Shorter needs to polish his game, but he caught the ball well and is physically impressive.

He’s being looked at as a hybrid pass catcher — a sort of go-between a possession receiver and move-tight end. The Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars have shown plenty of interest in Shorter.

Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter looked terrific, even at 318 pounds which was ten heavier than his Combine weight. He looked agile and fluid during drills, and the increased weight had no effect. Dexter is reportedly at 15% body fat at his present weight.

I was told trainers had him doing a lot of cardio just before the Combine, and Dexter dropped a bunch of weight. The big defensive tackle has official 30 visits with the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens.

Offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence came in at the same weight at which he tipped the scales at the Combine — 330 pounds. But he looked cut up and smooth during position drills. Torrence ended the season at around 344 pounds and dropped weight during the pre-draft process. The Tennessee Titans ran him through offensive line drills. Torrence has official 30 visits with the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Detroit Lions.

Brenton Cox Jr. was welcomed back to UF with open arms for his pro day after being pushed out of the program at the end of last October. He came in at 259 pounds, up from his Combine weight of 250. Cox was unable to better his Combine 40-time (4.83 seconds) and only worked defensive line drills. He’s getting plenty of looks from the Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, and Minnesota Vikings.

Underrated linebacker Amari Burney had a terrific workout. He timed the forty as fast as 4.48 seconds, touched 33 inches in the vertical jump, 10’ in the broad jump, and completed 22 reps on the bench press. He has an official 30 visit with the Baltimore Ravens and has met with the Eagles.

Burney completed defensive back drills today at 230 pounds as opposed to linebacker drills. Since he was the only linebacker at the pro day, scouts gave him the option to work out by himself or participate with the defensive backs. Burney chose the latter. Ironically, his 40-time was two-tenths faster than the UF defensive backs who worked out — Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II.

Camerun Peoples Drawing Interest at Appalachian State

More than two dozen teams descended on Boone, North Carolina for Appalachian State’s Pro Day.

The big ticket item on hand was linebacker Nick Hampton, who stood on his Combine marks but did position drills.

Primarily used as a 3-4 pass-rushing linebacker in college and during the Senior Bowl, Hampton was asked to make plays in reverse and looked good. His drops were smooth, and he quickly changed direction and caught the ball well. The Green Bay Packers ran the drills and did plenty of extra one-on-one work with him later in the workout. Hampton also met with the Indianapolis Colts, Lions, and Vikings during his pro day.

MORE: Broback’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft — Jaxon Smith-Njigba Rises, Will Levis Falls

He’s a natural fit as a 3-4 OLB, though several teams believe he can play with his hand in the ground. While he tips the scale under 240 pounds, his natural pass-rush skill trumps any inability to hold up against the run. It’s unlikely Hampton gets past the third round.

Running back Camerun Peoples sat on most of his numbers from the Combine and did position drills. The Packers have shown interest in the big ball carrier. He also met with the San Francisco 49ers and Bengals.

Offensive lineman Cooper Hodges tested incredibly well. His marks included 5.06 seconds in the 40, 29 reps in the bench press, 29″ in the vertical jump, and 9′ in the board. A right tackle for the Mountaineers, Hodges projects to guard and even did some snapping today. He’s already gone on an official 30 visit with the Kansas City Chiefs.



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