Several 2023 NFL Draft prospects could come out of the FCS. Here’s a look at the scouting reports of the FCS prospects for this draft cycle that could hear names called in Kansas City.
FCS 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
A.J. Davis, RB | Florida A&M
Strengths: Former Pitt running back who’s flashed ability. Works runs, keeps his feet moving, and breaks tackles to pick up yardage off initial contact. Powerful, bullies his way through defenders, and carries the pile. Rarely brought down by a single opponent. Runs with good lean and looks like a battering ram, but also displays running vision and patience.
Effectively helps the quarterback sell ball fakes, remains disciplined with blocking assignments, and squares into defenders picking up the blitz. Anchors at the point in pass protection and chips linebackers to knock them from their angles of attack. Shows the ability to pluck the ball from the air as a pass catcher.
Weaknesses: Displays limited quickness and speed. Marginally productive throughout his college career.
Overall: Rarely mentioned in scouting circles, Davis is a well-rounded power back who can catch the ball out of the backfield and block when called upon. He does the little things well and has enough ability to make a roster as a fifth back.
Aidan Borguet, RB | Harvard
Strengths: Small, shifty ball carrier who does the little things well. Displays outstanding vision, patiently waits for blocks to develop, and will pick and choose his spots. Quick-footed, slides off defenders, and creates yardage. Easily cuts back against the grain to avoid piles or defenders. Runs hard, doesn’t go down without a fight, and breaks arm tackles. Sees the blitz and then squares into opponents and gives effort blocking.
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Weaknesses: More quick than fast. Doesn’t pick up a lot of yardage off initial contact. Marginal pass catcher out of the backfield.
Overall: Borguet is a hard-charging ball carrier who gets the most from his ability and plays with great football intelligence. He’s not fast enough for a third-down back and lacks pass-catching hands out of the backfield, which are red flags.
Alex Jensen, OL | South Dakota
Strengths: Nice-sized college left tackle who keeps his head on a swivel, always looks for someone to hit, and stays with the action. Quickly sets up in pass protection, plays with patience, and shows ability as a position blocker. Sets with a wide base, bends his knees, and is explosive at the point. Effective with his hands, keeps his feet moving, and anchors at the point.
Weaknesses: Struggles redirecting to linebackers on the second level. Ducks his head, bends at the waist, and misses blocks. Struggled finishing blocks at the small-school level. Has short arms that may not even measure 33 inches. May have to play in confined quarters.
Overall: Jensen was a terrific tackle for South Dakota and possesses next-level length as well as growth potential. Arm length may keep him from playing tackle, but at the very least, he offers possibilities as a backup guard.
Andrei Iosivas, WR | Princeton
Strengths: Exceptional athlete who has shown a lot of progress in his game over the past two seasons. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, sells routes, and tracks the pass in the air. Adjusts to errant throws, extends his hands, and makes the reception away from his frame.
Plays heads-up football, shows good route discipline, and stays with the action. Comes across the middle of the field and easily adjusts to make the reception in stride on crossing patterns.
Weaknesses: Lacks the elite burst and second gear. Average run-after-the-catch ability. Must improve his route running and tends to round off breaks. Not a strong blocker.
Overall: A former decathlete, Iosivas has been very productive over the past two years at Princeton and comes with a large upside. He must improve the details of his game, yet he’s a developmental prospect who could make a roster this fall as a fifth receiver.
Want more information on Iosivas? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Aubrey Miller Jr., LB | Jackson State
Strengths: Sturdy run-defending linebacker who has been a tackling machine the past two seasons. Has a thick build and solid playing speed and is rarely off his feet. Breaks down well, remains disciplined with assignments, and plays with instincts.
Explosive, devastating hitter who lays out opponents. Displays good change-of-direction ability, attacks opposing ball handlers, and wraps up tackling. Effectively quarterbacks the defense and makes the calls for the unit.
Weaknesses: Not quick or fluid pedaling in reverse. Slow reacting when the ball is in the air. Lacks a closing burst on the blitz.
Overall: Miller is a hard-hitting, two-down LB with average size and a bit of a one-dimensional game. He’ll offer potential on the inside of a 3-4 alignment, but Miller must earn his wage on special teams at the next level.
Want more information on Miller? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Aubrey Miller Jr., LB, Jackson State | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Avante Cox, WR | Southern Illinois
Strengths: Consistent receiver with return potential. Quickly gets in and out of pass routes, stays low on exit, and positions himself to make the reception. Works back to the ball, easily adjusts to the errant throw, and extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame. Uses the sidelines well. Tracks the pass in the air and makes the deep reception in stride. Works hard running after the catch.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite burst and a second gear. Poor blocker. Struggles in battles. Possesses short arms and small hands.
Overall: Cox was consistently productive for Southern Illinois the past four seasons and has enough ability to make an NFL roster as a fifth receiver/return specialist.
Benny Sapp III, DB | Northern Iowa
Strengths: Nice-sized safety with an aggressive attitude. Plays heads-up football, quickly picks up coverage assignments, and tracks the pass in the air. Quick, keeps the action in front of him, and has a closing burst to the action. Works well with corners to bracket receivers out to the flanks. Fires up the field and gives effort defending the run.
Weaknesses: Does more hitting than wrap-up tackling. Lacks next-level speed and doesn’t come with much of an upside.
Overall: Sapp is a physical safety with next-level size who could make a roster if he plays well on special teams.
BJ Foster, DB | Sam Houston
Strengths: Former Texas safety who has flashed ability throughout his college career. Patient, does not bite on ball fakes, and correctly diagnoses plays. Fires up the field, aggressively defends the run, and drives his shoulders through ball handlers.
Keeps the action in front of him, tracks the pass in the air, and has a nice move to the ball. Quickly gets out to the sidelines to assist cornerbacks in coverage. Communicates well with his teammates in the secondary. Shows good range and explosiveness and wraps up tackling.
Weaknesses: Inefficient. Played just six games last season and turned in marginal production. Slow transitioning back to the ball to make a play on the pass.
Overall: Foster is a prospect who caught my eye during his sophomore season at Texas, where he flashed big-play ability and also showed a well-rounded game. He comes with solid size as well as speed, but he’ll have to play lights-out this summer and prove his worth on special teams to make a roster.
BJ Thompson, EDGE | Stephen F. Austin
Strengths: Tall, thin small-school pass rusher who shows ability. Flexible, breaks down well, and effectively uses his hands. Displays good change-of-direction ability, moves well laterally, and can bend off the edge. Fires off the snap out of a three-point stance and plays with proper lean. Relentless and agile. Shows speed in backside pursuit and easily redirects to the action. Slices between blocks, works to make plays, and gives effort against the run.
Weaknesses: Has a thin build and is easily out-positioned by tight ends. Strong for his size, but lack of bulk is an issue. Coming off a somewhat disappointing senior campaign.
Overall: Thompson is a hard-charging defender who took over games and comes with an upside. He’ll need a year or two in an NFL weight training program, but at the very least, he’s worth stashing on an NFL practice squad.
Brevin Allen, DL | Campbell
Strengths: Imposing and athletic small-school pass rusher who possesses excellent length, plays with proper pad level, and gets leverage on opponents. Fights with his hands throughout the action, moves fluidly about the field, and slides down the line of scrimmage pursuing the run. Agile, slices inside blocks to penetrate the line of scrimmage, and easily redirects to the action.
Weaknesses: Displays limited moves to get off blocks. Primarily used up the field and rarely dropped off the line. Lacks bulk and strength and is easily out-positioned by lesser tackles. Doesn’t play with a sense of urgency. Play leaves a lot to be desired.
Overall: Despite impressive measurables, Allen was marginally productive on the small-school level and never truly dominated the way many thought possible. He’s a streaky defender with a great upside but must start living up to expectations.
Cameron McCutcheon, CB | Western Carolina
Strengths: Two-year starter who began his college career at Gardner-Webb. Nice-sized corner with long arms who flashes ability. Engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, quickly flips his hips in transition, and plays physical throughout the route.
Possesses outstanding length, remains disciplined with assignments, and keeps the action in front of him. Shows excellent awareness, tracks the pass in the air, and flashes the ability to shut down opponents. Gives effort defending the run, wraps up when tackling, and brings opponents down in the open field.
Weaknesses: Possesses average speed and quickness. Doesn’t have a closing burst and often off balance.
Overall: McCutcheon looks the part and occasionally plays to it, but he’s never been a consistent force. He possesses an upside and is worth practice-squad consideration this fall.
Chris Coleman, WR | Cal Poly
Strengths: Productive receiver with an underrated game who began his career at Fresno State. Fluid releasing off the line of scrimmage, sells routes, and displays terrific short-area quickness. Remains disciplined, stays with the action, and plays with balance as well as body control.
Comes back to the ball out of breaks, positions himself to make the reception, and works his hands to separate from defenders. Displays terrific eye/hand coordination, tracks the pass in the air, and makes the difficult catch in contorted positions. Extends to make the reception away from his frame. Effective running after the catch, quick-footed, and creates yardage. Has opponents playing back on their heels. Shows punt-return traits.
Weaknesses: Lacks the deep burst and second gear. Occasionally lets the pass get inside him. Gives effort blocking but doesn’t get good results.
Overall: Coleman has flown under the radar despite being productive the past two seasons and possesses the tools necessary to line up as a fifth receiver.
Cody Mauch, OT | North Dakota State
Strengths: Nice-sized, small-school left tackle who projects to the right side. Sinks his butt at the line of scrimmage, bends his knees, and blocks with a wide base. Stays square, keeps his feet, and hands moving then seals defenders from the action.
Quickly sets up in pass protection, makes excellent use of angles, and keeps his head on a swivel looking for someone to hit. Very effective with his hands and rides defenders from their angles of attack. Attacks assignments and works to finish off opponents.
Weaknesses: Lacks footwork in pass protection and lateral blocking range. Stiff, heavy-footed, and struggles to adjust.
Overall: Mauch was an outstanding blocker for North Dakota State but lacks the agility and arm length to stay at left tackle. He’s an RT prospect who may also get consideration inside at guard, but Mauch does come with good upside potential.
Want more information on Mauch? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Cody Mauch, OT, North Dakota State | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Colton Dowell, WR | Tennessee-Martin
Strengths: Nice-sized receiver with solid pass-catching skills. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, comes back to the ball out of breaks, and extends his hands to offer the quarterback a target. Adjusts to the errant throw, possesses eye/hand coordination, and uses his frame to shield away defenders.
Consistent hands catcher who makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception downfield. Sells routes and works hard even if the play is away from him.
Weaknesses: Plays to one speed and lacks a deep burst. Rounds off routes. Marginal run-after-the-catch ability.
Overall: Dowell works hard in all areas and is an effective pass catcher, but he comes with average size and speed and limited upside.
Dakota Allen, TE | Eastern Kentucky
Strengths: Consistent pass-catching tight end with average size and speed. Starts with good knee bend, blocks with leverage, and keeps his head on a swivel. Sells pass routes, extends his hands to offer the QB a target, and makes the reception away from his frame. Displays good route discipline, adjusts backwards, and grabs the errant throw from the air. Effective running after the catch.
Weaknesses: Possesses a thin build as well as average strength and must pick up the blocking intensity. Plays to one speed and isn’t a downfield threat. Has short arms.
Overall: Allen is a solid pass catcher, but he lacks the physical skills to make it out of camp this summer.
Dallas Daniels, WR | Jackson State
Strengths: Former Western Illinois receiver coming off a career campaign. Quickly releases off the line into pass routes, finds the soft spot in the coverage, and tracks the pass in the air. Gets vertical and adjusts to the errant throw. Displays terrific eye/hand coordination as well as a sense of timing.
Nicely makes the reception in stride in contorted positions. Gets vertical and exposes himself to the big hit in order to come away with the reception. Works to come free, extends his hands, and snatches the ball out of the air. Gives effort running after the catch.
Weaknesses: Plays to one speed and cannot run to the long throw. Average run-after-the-catch skill. Must improve his route running.
Overall: After a pair of mildly productive seasons at Western Illinois, Daniels really came of age last season and caught the eyes of scouts. Though not outstanding in any particular aspect, he does enough things well to receive consideration as a late-round choice and fifth receiver on Sundays.
Want more information on Daniels? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Dallas Daniels, WR, Jackson State | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Dante Hendrix, WR | Indiana State
Strengths: Productive small-school possession receiver who displays excellent focus as well as concentration, tracks the pass in the air, and stays with the action. Extends to grab the ball out of the air and displays strong hands. Comes back into the clearing to make himself an available target, adjusts to the errant throw, and makes the reception in stride. Keeps the play in bounds after the catch.
Weaknesses: Lacks quickness and speed and plays to his 40 time. Doesn’t show much of a downfield burst. Possesses short arms for a receiver. Limited upside.
Overall: Hendrix was reliable for Indiana State and owns several of the school’s receiving records, but he comes with poor speed and marginal upside. If he plays well on special teams this summer, he could make a roster as a fifth receiver.
Dawson Weber, S | North Dakota State
Strengths: Tough, hard-working safety with average speed. Instinctive, does a terrific job diagnosing plays, and remains disciplined with assignments. Quick up the field defending screen passes and running plays, squares into ball handlers, and drives his shoulders through tackles. Tracks the pass in the air, has a nice break to the throw, and effectively times pass defenses.
Weaknesses: Lacks great lateral speed and is late getting to the flanks. Must improve his backpedal and is stiff moving in reverse. Possesses poor hands for the interception.
Overall: Weber is a physical downhill safety with marginal upside, yet he possesses a great head for the position. He could be a fourth safety on Sundays if he stands out on special teams this summer.
Destin Talbert, CB | North Dakota State
Strengths: Nice-sized cornerback who flashes next-level ability. Quickly picks up and stays with assignments, plays heads-up football, and is effective facing the action. Quickly reads and diagnoses plays, fires upfield, and works hard to get involved in the action. Gets his head back around to track the pass in the air, shows a burst to the action, and makes some very athletic plays on occasion.
Weaknesses: Displays hesitation in zone coverage. Struggles staying on the receiver’s hip out of breaks. Average interception numbers despite playing five full seasons at North Dakota State.
Overall: Talbert possesses the size, speed, and intelligence to line up in dime packages on Sundays if he elevates his game.
Devonnsha Maxwell, DL | Chattanooga
Strengths: Quick, explosive 3-technique defensive lineman who fires off the snap with an outstanding first step and plays with proper pad level. Fluid if asked to twist or stunt, displays an array of moves protecting himself, and nicely redirects to the action. Stays with assignments and works hard to make plays.
Weaknesses: Easily knocked from the action or out-positioned from plays. Lacks bulk and has limited growth potential. Displays average strength at the point of attack.
Overall: Maxwell is a hard-working interior lineman who shows pass-rush potential, but he’s a bit scheme-limited as a 3-technique.
Want more information on Maxwell? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Devonnsha Maxwell, EDGE, Chattanooga | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Dezmon Jackson, RB | Sam Houston
Strengths: Nice-sized ball carrier who consistently runs north and south. Keeps his feet moving, gets a lot of momentum going, and rarely gets brought down by a single defender. Displays vision and strength and picks up the difficult yardage.
Patient, waits for blocks to develop, and runs with authority. Drives his shoulders into defenders and falls forward when tackled. Displays a burst through the hole. Sells the ball fake.
Weaknesses: Runs with an upright style that leads to a lot of crushing hits. Gets in trouble when he tries to run laterally and cannot beat defenders around the corner. Marginally productive as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
Overall: Jackson is a nice-sized power ball carrier with potential as a short-yardage runner at the next level, but he has limitations.
Donny Ventrelli, OL | North Dakota
Strengths: College right tackle who projects to guard. Blocks with proper lean, stays square, and quickly gets his hands into defenders. Strong, turns opponents from the line, or seals them from the action. Blocks with leverage and displays outstanding vision and patience. Keeps his feet moving and is exceptional with his hands.
Weaknesses: Lacks lateral blocking range off the edge. Not a nifty or nimble lineman. May be tapped out and lacks great upside.
Overall: Ventrelli was a versatile lineman for North Dakota who played both tackle spots as well as guard. He possesses a nice build, blocks with solid fundamentals, and could be an inexpensive utility backup on Sundays.
Elijah Dotson, RB | Northern Colorado
Strengths: Productive small-school running back who is also effective catching the ball out of the backfield. Patient and waits for blocks to develop. Creative with the ability to slip off defenders or avoid piles. Displays outstanding footwork and easily changes direction or cuts back against the grain without losing speed or momentum.
Resilient, possesses the agility to turn the corner, and keeps the play in bounds. Effective receiver who extends his hands and snatches the pass out of the air. Adjusts to the errant throw and makes the reception in stride. Sells ball fakes with the quarterback.
Weaknesses: Plays to one speed and shows a limited burst. Doesn’t pick up much yardage off initial contact and isn’t effective in short-yardage situations. Possesses small hands and short arms.
Overall: Dotson has been very productive for Northern Colorado as well as his initial school — Sacramento State — since 2018. He has the ability and skill level to make an NFL roster as a third-down RB or rotational ball carrier and comes with return potential.
Ellison Hubbard, DL | Sam Houston
Strengths: Undersized but explosive defensive tackle who would be best in a one-gap system. Quickly gets his hands up, uses them to protect himself, and moves well laterally. Displays good change-of-direction ability, keeps his feet moving, and chases the action out to the flanks. Flashes power on occasion.
Weaknesses: Lacks great first-step quickness. Gets tall. Marginally productive last season on the small-school level.
Overall: Hubbard caught my eye as a sophomore at Colorado State, yet he never showed much progress. He possesses the size and movement skills desired in a 3-technique, but Hubbard doesn’t play with leverage for a shorter lineman, which will kill any opportunity he’ll have at the next level.
Fa’Avae Fa’Avae, LB | Idaho
Strengths: Hard-working and instinctive linebacker who breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and is very quick. Plays faster than his 40 time, displays good change-of-direction ability, and gets depth on pass drops. Fires up the field and gives effort defending the run. Squares and wraps up tackling. Quarterbacks the defense.
Weaknesses: Lacks the size for linebacker and speed for safety. Gets caught out of position or caught up in the trash.
Overall: Fa’Avae was a solid college LB who got the most from his ability, yet lacks the physical skills to play on Sundays. A defensive coordinator could take a liking to him if he shows special-teams ability.
Ferlando Jordan, CB | Southeastern Louisiana
Strengths: Smooth, fluid corner with nice length. Quick flipping his hips in transition, tracks the pass in the air, and gets vertical to knock away the throw. Stays with coverage assignments, shows good recognition, and displays solid hands for the interception. Effective facing the action and nicely times pass defenses. Gets vertical to snatch the ball away from opponents.
Weaknesses: Not a stout or sturdy corner. Easily taken from the action when he tries to defend running plays or screens. Gives up a lot of underneath receptions. Lackadaisical pedaling in reverse.
Overall: Jordan was highly rated in many areas of the scouting community, yet he never capitalized on his tremendous freshman campaign at Southeastern Louisiana. He possesses next-level size and enough ability to line up in a zone system, but Jordan must start to play with a sense of urgency.
Francis Bemiy, DL | Southern Utah
Strengths: Underrated small-school defensive lineman with size and athleticism as well as growth potential. Fires off the snap, keeps his feet moving, and bends off the edge. Explosive, plays with terrific pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Attracts a lot of double-team blocks, keeps his feet moving, and chases the action hard.
Weaknesses: Displays limited strength despite his size and is easily turned from the action by a single blocker. Doesn’t show a versatile game and primarily rushed the edge wide.
Overall: Bemiy was a solid player for Southern Utah who produced in a variety of ways the past four seasons. He has next-level potential but must get stronger and develop a complete game. At the very least, he’s worth stashing on a practice squad this fall.
Hunter Luepke, FB | North Dakota State
Strengths: Large, powerful short-yardage ball carrier who projects to fullback on Sundays. Runs with excellent balance, power, and displays quickness as well as footwork in a short area. Strong, keeps his feet moving, and rarely gets brought down by a single defender. Has a burst through the hole, picks up a lot of yardage off initial contact, and moves the pile.
Solid athlete who plays tough, smart football. Tracks the pass in the air, extends his hands, and makes the difficult reception in contorted positions. Shows outstanding eye/hand coordination as a pass catcher. Displays outstanding vision as both a runner and blocker. Squares into oncoming pass rushers, moves them from their angles of attack, and does a great job picking up the blitz.
Weaknesses: More of a downhill ball carrier and struggles trying to cut back against the grain. Occasionally lets the pass get inside him and doesn’t always catch the ball cleanly with his hands. Suffered a late-season shoulder injury in 2022.
Overall: Luepke is a talented and versatile RB/FB who is effective in all three facets of the position. He’s a throwback West Coast fullback who would be effective as a pass catcher out of the backfield, blocker, or short-yardage ball carrier. Luepke must show no ill effects from his shoulder injury late last season and should receive late-round consideration.
Ife Adeyi, WR | Sam Houston
Strengths: Track-and-field sprinter who plays to his speed on the football field. Displays good route discipline, quickly gets in and out of breaks, and loses no momentum on exit. Tracks the pass in the air, displays good eye/hand coordination, and extends to snatch the ball away from his frame. Possesses soft as well as strong hands, makes the catch in a crowd, and adjusts backwards to grab the ball out of the air with his hands.
Weaknesses: Lack of size is a limiting factor. Struggles in battles. Spotty production.
Overall: Adeyi is a speedy receiver who plays to his 40 time, if not faster. He’s an undersized wideout who needs room to work and projects as a slot wideout with return ability.
Isaiah Land, LB | Florida A&M
Strengths: Productive small-school pass rusher who is nimble, plays with terrific pad level, and consistently gets leverage on opponents. Immediately gets his hands up, effectively uses them to protect himself, and slices between double-team blocks to penetrate the line of scrimmage.
Strong for his size, easily changes direction, and displays good speed moving to every area of the field. Intense, chases hard, and shows a lot of athleticism. Easily bends off the edge or gets out into space to make plays. Instinctive and does more than mindlessly rush up the field. Doesn’t give up on plays and is rarely off his feet.
Weaknesses: Easily out-positioned by lesser opponents. Displays limited strength. Comes off a somewhat disappointing season. No real position at the next level.
Overall: Coming into the year, Land was the talk of the town regarding small-school prospects after a junior campaign that included 19 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss. He turned in half that production in four fewer games last season, yet was still omnipresent on the field.
The issue at hand for Land is that he’s a defensive end with safety size. Land must prove he can add 20 to 25 pounds to his frame without losing any speed or quickness. He’s a late-round prospect who should compete for a spot as a defensive front-seven player and special-teams prospect.
Want more information on Land? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Isaiah Land, EDGE, Florida A&M | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jacob Saylors, RB | East Tennessee State
Strengths: Productive ball carrier who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. Displays outstanding vision, patiently waits for blocks to develop, and then finds the hole and runs with authority. Keeps his feet moving, uses an effective straight arm to keep plays alive, and has enough quickness to bounce around defenders or piles.
Runs with an aggressive style, falls forward when tackled, and displays himself to be an effective blocker. Sees the blitz, stays with assignments, and squares into defenders. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield who adjusts to the throw and then extends his hands to snatch the ball out of the air.
Weaknesses: Runs with an upright style. Plays to one speed. Not a creative ball carrier and gets in trouble when he tries to run east or west.
Overall: Saylors was very productive on a small-school level, but he comes with average physical ability. His pass-catching skill gives him an outside shot to make an NFL roster as a fifth back.
Jadakis Bonds, WR | Hampton
Strengths: Nice-sized receiver with terrific speed. Plays to his 40 time, makes the reception at full speed, and displays himself to be a terrific vertical receiver. Adjusts to the errant throw and reaches back, and grabs the ball from the air with his hands.
Works routes, displays good route discipline, and has a strong, stout build. Comes back to the ball out of breaks, works his hands to separate from opponents, and keeps his head on a swivel as a blocker.
Weaknesses: Unnecessarily lets the ball get inside him at times or uses his frame to cradle the reception. Gets tall exiting routes. Doesn’t extend his hands to offer the quarterback a target. Really doesn’t work hard if the play is away from him.
Overall: Bonds has the size and speed to play on Sundays and comes with a large upside. Yet, he’s an athletic receiver prospect who needs a lot of work on his overall game.
Jakob Herres, WR | Richmond
Strengths: Large, super-productive wide receiver whose best course of action may be adding 15 pounds and moving to tight end. Uses his hands to separate from defenders, tracks the pass in the air, and gets vertical before competing to come away with the reception.
Gets up in a crowd, adjusts to the errant throw, and takes a pounding, yet holds onto the ball. Displays terrific eye/hand coordination and nicely makes the reception on crossing patterns. Uses his frame to protect the ball. Consistent hands catcher with soft hands. Shows outstanding focus and concentration and makes a lot of acrobatic receptions in stride.
Weaknesses: Displays limited quickness and marginal speed. Shows no burst.
Overall: Herres is a big-bodied target with consistent and reliable hands. His lack of speed and quickness is apparent on film, and he’ll struggle to separate at the next level. He possesses a long, lanky frame and should be able to add another 10 to 15 pounds. He also has the pass-catching ability to line up as a move tight end.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB | Youngstown State
Strengths: Quick, creative ball carrier who is also effective catching the ball out of the backfield. Patient, quick-footed, and sets up defenders, then makes them miss. Multi-cut ball carrier who possesses a terrific stutter step and easily alters the angle of runs without losing momentum.
Runs low and behind his pads, gets lost behind blockers, and displays a burst through the openings. Outstanding receiver who adjusts to the errant throw and immediately turns it upfield after the reception.
Weaknesses: Displays minimal strength as a runner and blocker. Often does too much dancing around and lateral running. Prone to the occasional lapse.
Overall: McLaughlin is an underrated ball carrier with the traits necessary to be a third-down back on Sundays. He must improve his blocking as well as his concentration, but McLaughlin has a real opportunity to stick on a roster.
Jason Lewan, DL | Illinois State
Strengths: Athletic defensive lineman with nice size. Smooth moving about the field, easily changes direction, and plays with consistent leverage. Has outstanding length. Gives effort, has quick hands, and plays with terrific pad level.
Weaknesses: Looks imposing on the field, yet isn’t forceful. Controlled by opposing tight ends. Really doesn’t play to his size and gets pushed around. Has struggled with injuries recently.
Overall: Lewan looks the part and has occasionally played to it, but he’s been minimally productive since his sophomore season of 2019. Measurables alone should get him an invitation to camp, yet Lewan must improve every aspect of his game.
Jason Shelley, QB | Missouri State
Strengths: Undersized but athletic QB who is a legitimate threat to pick up yardage with his legs. Patient in the pocket, scans the field, and goes through progressions. Senses the rush and moves outside the pocket to buy time. Avoids defenders and takes off upfield to pick up positive yardage carrying the ball. Possesses a live arm, puts speed on throws, and powers the ball into targets. Easily gets the ball downfield with a flick of his wrist.
Weaknesses: Small, cannot withstand the rush, and is easily brought down in the pocket. Indecisive under pressure.
Overall: Shelley is a big-armed athlete with size limitations. He’s an RPO quarterback who could make a roster as a third signal-caller.
Javon Williams Jr., RB/FB | Southern Illinois
Strengths: Big, barreling ball carrier who projects to fullback on Sundays. Powerful carrying the ball, works runs, and rarely gets brought down by the first defender. Terrific short-yardage ball carrier who falls forward when tackled. Aggressive, drives his shoulders into defenders, and grinds it out. Has a punishing style. Does a good job recognizing blocking assignments and picking up the blitz. Works to get a pad on defenders.
Weaknesses: Runs with an upright style. Limited quickness and speed.
Overall: Williams was a jack of all trades for Southern Illinois. At times, he was impossible to bring down when carrying the ball. He possesses surprising speed and quickness for a 250-pound back, but Williams must learn to block on a full-time basis if he wants a career in the NFL.
Jaylin White, CB | Cal Davis
Strengths: Smaller, feisty cornerback who gives effort. Quick to read and diagnose the action, remains disciplined in zone coverage, and shows good route recognition. Battles opponents, has quick feet, and possesses a closing burst to the play. Fires up the field defending screen passes.
Weaknesses: Overmatched by opponents, as size is a limiting factor. Indecisive. Tends to side shuffle downfield and struggles staying on the receiver’s hip out of breaks.
Overall: White gets the most from his ability and has enough skill to get looks as a potential dime back in camp this summer.
John Huggins, S | Jackson State
Strengths: Junior college transfer who began his career at Florida, then turned in two productive seasons for Jackson State. Tough, explosive, and fires up the field defending the run. Busts through blocks to make plays on the ball handler, stays with coverage assignments, and correctly diagnoses plays.
Has a nice move to the throw, tracks the pass in the air, and works to get his head back around to locate the ball in the air. Has a closing burst and works hard to get involved in the action.
Weaknesses: Inefficient and doesn’t always take proper angles. Overpursues the action on occasion.
Overall: Huggins is a nice combination of size, toughness, and ball skills. He still has a lot of rough edges in his game, but he has enough ability to at least make a practice squad next fall.
John Smith, CB | Holy Cross
Strengths: Nice-sized cornerback who plays heads-up football. Stays with assignments, effectively diagnoses plays, and fires upfield defending the run. Incredibly instinctive, diagnoses plays before they unfold, and is constantly around the action. Times pass defenses and works to get off blocks to make plays against screen passes. Opportunistic and moves to the ball consistently.
Weaknesses: Possesses poor speed and struggles to position himself against opponents. Not smooth flipping his hips and lacks an explosive closing burst.
Overall: Smith is a hard-working CB, but he’s scheme-limited with speed deficiencies. He’ll have an opportunity in a zone system, but Smith must play well on special teams.
Johnny King, WR | Southeast Missouri State
Strengths: Consistent receiver with the physical skills to play at the next level. Fights with his hands to separate from defenders, sells pass routes, and uses his frame to shield away defenders. Adjusts to the errant throw, extends his hands, and makes the reception away from his frame.
Has long arms and a big catching radius. Gets vertical in a crowd, high-points the ball over defenders, and displays a sense of timing. Strong and fights to come away with the catch. Works hard even if the play is away from him.
Weaknesses: Displays marginal quickness and really doesn’t play to his 40 time. Easily brought down by defenders after the catch. Poor route runner who is slow entering and exiting breaks.
Overall: King watched his game take off last season and was the prime target in the Southeast Missouri passing game. He possesses the pass-catching skills to play on Sundays, and if King learns to play to his athletic numbers, he could be dangerous.
Jordan Cole, LB | Southeast Missouri State
Strengths: Safety-sized linebacker who began his career at Northern Illinois. Breaks down well, flows to the action laterally, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Plays faster than his 40 time, quickly gets to the action, and easily changes direction. Squares and wraps up ball handlers to make the tackle in space. Effectively diagnoses the action.
Weaknesses: Easily controlled at the point by blocks. Primarily used up at the line of scrimmage. Marginally productive last season.
Overall: Cole has flashed ability and intrigued scouts the past three seasons, but he never truly elevated his game and may not have a true position for Sundays.
Josh Davis, RB | Weber State
Strengths: Short, but well-built ball carrier with outstanding vision. Runs low to the ground, gets lost behind blockers, and picks his way through the traffic. Patiently waits for blocks to develop, finds the hole, and has a burst.
Easily cuts back against the grain and breaks arm tackles. Sets defenders up, then makes them miss. Super quick with the ability to avoid piles and create yardage, and has a burst of speed. Consistently runs north/south, possesses the agility necessary to turn the corner, and quickly gets out into pass routes.
Weaknesses: Not a power runner and is easily brought down in the open field. Plays to one speed and lacks the breakaway gear. Pass-catching production has really dropped off the past three seasons.
Overall: Davis is a versatile ball carrier who was productive in all facets of the position throughout his college career. If Davis displays the pass-catching skills he showed early during his Weber State career this summer, he could make an NFL roster.
Justin Ford, DB | Montana
Strengths: Large, aggressive defensive back who flashes next-level ability. Explosive at the point, battles receivers throughout the route, and displays a burst to the ball out of his plant. Tracks the pass in the air, nicely times pass defenses, and works well with safeties to bracket receivers over the middle of the field.
Physically beats down opponents defending the pass. Shows good awareness in coverage and remains disciplined with assignments. Strong open-field tackler who gives effort against the run.
Weaknesses: Must be more consistent pedaling in reverse. Slow flipping his hips in transition. Never capitalized on a sensational junior campaign.
Overall: Ford was brilliant in 2021, yet he never progressed last season. He’s an enigma of sorts; his measurables scream bump-and-run, but he’s better facing the action. He’s a physical specimen with a large upside, and though he’s unlikely to be selected in the draft, Ford is worth keeping on the practice squad with the hopes of future development.
Keenan Isaac, CB | Alabama State
Strengths: Tall, physical small-school cornerback who may be best at safety. Possesses outstanding size, engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, and slows their releases from the snap of the ball. Aggressive, physically beats down opponents defending the pass, and fires up the field to stop the run.
Quick to read and diagnose plays, effective facing the action, and strong tackling in the open field. Stays with coverage assignments and shows a burst to the ball out of his plant.
Weaknesses: Indecisive. Struggles staying on the receiver’s hip out of breaks. Deep speed may be an issue.
Overall: Entering the season with little fanfare in the scouting community, Isaac made enough of an impact last year that he’ll now get late-round consideration. Predraft workouts are critical, but Isaac possesses the size, tenacity, and aggressiveness to get consideration as an eighth defensive back/special-teams player.
Kemari Averett, TE | Bethune-Cookman
Strengths: Underrated tight end with outstanding size as well as pass-catching ability. Consistent hands catcher who often lines up in the slot and extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame.
Adjusts to the errant throw, makes the catch in a crowd with defenders draped on him, and carries opponents for extra yardage after the catch. Takes a pounding, yet holds onto the throw. Uses the sidelines well. Gives effort blocking and is effective on the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses: Really did not play with a sense of urgency last season. Lacks a quick release off the line of scrimmage, lazily releases off the snap of the ball at times, and plays to one speed.
Overall: Averett has been on my radar since his days at Louisville and turned in two productive seasons for Bethune-Cookman after not playing football for a couple of years. He possesses enough size and ability to make an NFL roster as a third tight end but must get back to where he was in 2021 and consistently play to the level he’s capable of.
Korby Sander, S | Northern Iowa
Strengths: Instinctive safety who is best defending the run. Stout, aggressive, and fires up the field. Hard hitter who keeps the action in front of him and breaks through blocks to get upfield. Picks up and stays with his coverage assignments. Displays a lot of ability in zone coverage. Effectively quarterbacks the defense and gets his teammates in proper position.
Weaknesses: Displays a minimal closing burst to the ball. Plays to one speed. More of a drag-down tackler.
Overall: Sander is a nice-sized safety with a lot of experience but limited upside. He’s a traditional strong safety who must play in a scheme where he goes downhill and is not asked to cover a lot of area.
Kyriq McDonald, S | Missouri State
Strengths: Physical, hard-hitting safety with solid instincts. Stays with assignments, plays with excellent awareness, and keeps the action in front of him. Fluid moving laterally and takes proper angles. Displays solid long speed and plays to his 40 time, if not faster. Has a burst to the ball out of his plant, sells out on the blitz, and wraps up tackling. Plays tough and disciplined football.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t display great lateral speed getting out to the flanks. Barely measures 5-foot-10.
Overall: McDonald is an underrated safety with an aggressive game, who can be used in a zone system and on coverage units. Though he’s unlikely to be selected in the draft, keep an eye on McDonald in camp this summer.
Logan Floyd, OL | Idaho
Strengths: Explosive small-area blocker who bends his knees, blocks with leverage, and stays square. Strong, anchors at the point, and effectively fights with his hands. Fires into blocks and is explosive.
Weaknesses: Lacks footwork in space and struggles to adjust. Stiff and only good in a small area. Limited upside.
Overall: Floyd was a solid small-school lineman who played with terrific grit and intelligence, but he lacks athleticism for the next level.
Malik Flowers, WR | Montana
Strengths: Athletic receiver who is also a game-impacting return specialist. Tracks the pass in the air, adjusts to the throw, and nicely makes the reception in stride. Consistently extends to make the reception away from his frame. Quickly gets in and out of routes and stays low on exit, positioning himself to make the reception. Quickly turns upfield after the catch and works to pick up extra yardage.
Weaknesses: Not a sturdy receiver despite his size. Lacks a true second gear. Had a tendency to let passes get inside him prior to this season.
Overall: From a size and speed perspective, Flowers has the tools to play at the next level. He has flashed ability on occasion, but he’s been marginally productive and never really pulled together a complete game. While I don’t expect Flowers to be selected in the draft, he’s definitely worth signing as a free agent and stashing on a practice squad.
Malik Hamm, DL | Lafayette
Strengths: Three-technique who gets the most from his ability. Smooth, displays good change-of-direction ability, and moves well around the field. Plays with proper lean, gets leverage on opponents, and fights with his hands throughout the action. Slides down the line of scrimmage in pursuit of the ball handler and quickly recognizes and diagnoses plays. Fires off the snap with a quick first step.
Weaknesses: Undersized and shows little to no strength at the point of attack. Smothered at the point or engulfed by opponents.
Overall: Hamm is a high-effort defender with poor measurables and limited upside. He possesses the size of a linebacker and speed of a defensive tackle but has no true position at the next level.
Marcus Welnel, LB | Montana
Strengths: Instinctive defender who plays with great awareness. Makes the calls on defense and does a good job quarterbacking the unit. Quickly locates the ball handler, fires upfield, and gets depth on pass drops. Wraps up tackling. Displays solid range going sideline to sideline.
Weaknesses: Easily blocked from the action. Not forceful on the blitz. Average production in coverage.
Overall: Welnel was a tackling machine for Montana the past two seasons and also made a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He gets the most from his ability and plays over his head, but he’ll struggle to find a position in the NFL.
Mark Evans II, G | Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Strengths: Quick, explosive, small-school left tackle who projects as a zone-blocking guard. Quick off the snap, keeps his feet moving, and displays excellent lateral range and footwork off the edge. Sets with a wide base, works to stays square, and blocks with proper pad level.
Patient, effective with his hands, and stays with assignments. Agile, adjusts to pass rushers, and gets a pad on defenders to knock them from their angles of attack. Fires out to the second level and is relatively effective blocking in motion.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t get much movement run blocking. Grabs onto defenders due to his inability to finish blocks. Performed poorly at the Combine.
Overall: Evans was an outstanding small-school pass protector who plays much more athletic than his testing numbers would lend one to believe. He comes with average size as well as growth potential, yet I personally feel he’ll be a terrific zone-blocking guard on Sundays.
Want more information on Evans? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Mark Evans II, G, Arkansas Pine-Bluff | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Marte Mapu, LB | Sacramento State
Strengths: Small-school defensive back who projects to outside linebacker in the NFL. Disciplined, keeps the action in front of him, and takes good angles to plays. Instinctive, quick to diagnose, and plays smart football.
Fires upfield defending the run and wraps up tackling. Moves well laterally and uses his hands to protect himself. Does a solid job in coverage between the numbers, tracking the ball in the air, then getting vertical to defend the pass or make the interception.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t show a burst in his game. Not forceful on the blitz. Doesn’t cover a lot of area and lacks the speed to recover.
Overall: Mapu was productive the past two seasons as a run defender and in pass coverage, but he has limitations. He projects as a one-gap LB with average size and marginal speed. Mapu must stand out on special teams to get out of camp this summer.
Want more information on Mapu? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Mataio Talalemotu, WR | Portland
Strengths: Moderately productive college receiver with outstanding size and speed. Sells routes, tracks the pass in the air, and adjusts to the errant throw. Displays outstanding eye/hand coordination, makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception, and comes away with the catch in a crowd. Terrific down the field and extends to snatch the ball out of the air.
Weaknesses: Not a quick route runner. Must do a better job coming back to the ball rather than waiting for the pass to arrive. Never had great production despite being the top receiver in the program.
Overall: Talalemotu was a solid receiver for Portland State and made several big plays in his four seasons on the field. He possesses a large upside but must improve his route running and consistently play to the level he’s capable of.
McClendon Curtis, OL | Chattanooga
Strengths: Large, wide-bodied lineman who blocks with terrific fundamentals. Starts with good knee bend, sinks his butt at the line of scrimmage, and stays square. Displays terrific awareness as well as blocking vision. Effective and strong with his hands.
Controls defenders once engaged at the point, effectively places his hands into opponents, and has enough power to recover. Quick to the second level and engulfs opponents or knocks them back with violent hand punch. Shows great run-blocking power and consistently opens up lanes.
Weaknesses: Lacks range in pass protection. Ducks his head on occasion. Not quick or fluid pulling across the line of scrimmage.
Overall: Curtis is a nasty blocker with an NFL body and decent upside. While he played at 350 pounds on the college level, Curtis would benefit from losing about 20 pounds, and he has the tools necessary to line up in a power-gap system.
Want more information on Curtis? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: McClendon Curtis, G, Chattanooga | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Michael Gerace, OL | MAine
Strengths: Well-built, small-area blocker who gets the most from his ability. Effectively quarterbacks the offensive line, works hard, and plays through the whistle. Explosive at the point, fires into blocks, and turns defenders from the line or smothers them altogether.
Anchors in pass protection and shows ability as a position blocker. Plays with great awareness and effectively works with teammates. Effective with the shotgun snap.
Weaknesses: Does a lot of arm wrestling rather than leverage blocking. Lacks balance and agility. Heavy-footed and isn’t quick to the second level.
Overall: Gerace has solid size for the next level, but he’s an average athlete who must be more consistent with his blocking techniques.
Montrae Braswell, CB | Missouri State
Strengths: Athletic cornerback who also doubles as a return specialist. Aggressive, stays on the receiver’s hip out of breaks, and has a burst to the ball. Effectively times his pass defenses and barrels through receivers to break up the throw.
Jams receivers at the line of scrimmage and is fluid pedaling in reverse and smooth flipping his hips. Fires up the field and gives effort against the run. Instinctive and does a solid job reading as well as diagnosing.
Weaknesses: Has lapses on occasion that result in blown coverage assignments. Often seems to play with a very laid-back attitude. Usually a half-step late reacting to receivers’ moves off the line of scrimmage.
Overall: Braswell possesses next-level size as well as speed and has shown next-level ability throughout his college career. He must consistently play at a high level, but Braswell has enough ability to be a dime back/special-teams player on Sundays.
Morgan Vest, S | Northern Arizona
Strengths: Nice-sized safety who is best playing downhill. Instinctive, quick diagnosing plays, and takes proper angles to the action. Tough, shows great awareness on the field, and remains disciplined with assignments.
Crashes upfield giving effort against the run and sells out to make the play. Quickly picks up coverage assignments, stays with responsibilities, and has a nice break to the throw.
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Weaknesses: Plays to his 40 time and shows limited quickness. Not a stout safety.
Overall: Vest plays smart, tough football and gets the most from his ability. However, he lacks next-level speed and must earn his wage on special teams.
Narii Gaither, RB | Gardner-Webb
Strengths: All-purpose running back who has been productive as a pass catcher and ball carrier. Displays terrific vision and solid footwork and easily cuts back against the grain without losing momentum. Finds the running lanes, plays faster than his 40 time, and has an explosive burst of speed.
Turns it upfield, makes defenders miss, and consistently runs north/south. Resilient, follows blocks everywhere on the field, and will pick and choose spots. Quickly gets into pass routes and adjusts to the errant throw. Effective when extending to make the reception away from his frame. Remains disciplined with blocking assignments.
Weaknesses: Runs with an upright style. Often needs to gather himself cutting back against the grain. Lets the pass get inside him rather than consistently catching the ball away from his frame.
Overall: Gaither is a quick ball carrier who showed himself to be effective as a pass catcher. He offers enough skill to make a roster as a third-down back but must learn to run behind his pads.
Nash Jensen, G | North Dakota State
Strengths: Strong, small-area blocker who gets the most from his ability. Powerful, drives defenders off the line to the second level, and opens up running lanes. Sinks his butt at the line of scrimmage, bends his knees, and quickly gets into blocks.
Explosive at the point, blocks with a nasty attitude, and is always looking for someone to hit. Easily controls defenders once engaged at the point or knocks them from the action with tremendous hand punch.
Weaknesses: Occasionally late with his hands. Lacks footwork in space and the ability to slide laterally. Ducks his head on occasion and misses blocks. Marginally effective blocking on the move.
Overall: Jensen is a pure power-gap blocker who plays tough, nasty, and intelligent football. He lacks great upside and is scheme-specific but has enough ability to make a Sunday roster.
Nathan East, LB | Samford
Strengths: Super-productive linebacker who led Samford in tackling two of the past three seasons. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and works to get upfield to make plays. Instinctive, doesn’t bite on ball fakes, and moves well around the field. Quick flipping his hips in transition, fluid pedaling in reverse, and effective in space.
Weaknesses: Really doesn’t play to his 40 time or show great speed in pursuit. Undersized and easily blocked from the action or out-positioned from plays.
Overall: East is an instinctive linebacker with the size and speed to play in a one-gap system. He’s a prospect who must improve his strength at the point and make more plays in pursuit.
Nick Amoah, OL | Cal Davis
Strengths: Durable small-school lineman who starts with leverage, fires into blocks, and keeps his feet moving. Works his hands throughout the action, stays square, and shows ability as a position blocker. Possesses terrific vision and awareness, gives effort, and anchors in pass protection.
Weaknesses: Lacks balance and overextends. Ineffective blocking in motion. Not fluid on his feet and lacks agility. Has size and athletic limitations.
Overall: Amoah was a solid small-school blocker who lined up at left tackle but lacks the strength to play in a power-gap system and the athleticism or movement skills to line up in a zone-blocking scheme.
Nick Ciccio, S | Northern Colorado
Strengths: Tough run-defending safety who is instinctive, immediately locates the ball handler, and fires upfield. Breaks down well, throws his body around the action, and works to make the tackle. Immediately picks up coverage assignments and displays a sense of timing on pass defenses. Effectively quarterbacks the defense and gets teammates in proper position. Solid special-teams player.
Weaknesses: Plays to his 40 time and shows no burst. Possesses average quickness.
Overall: Ciccio was a productive small-school safety, but limited speed and quickness are red flags. He’s almost solely a zone or downhill safety who must produce on special teams this summer.
Noah Gindorff, TE | North Dakota State
Strengths: Massive tight end who struggled with a significant ankle injury the past two seasons. Leverage blocker who stays square and displays strength at the point of attack. Fires off the snap, turns defenders from the action, and gets out to the second level to remove linebackers or safeties from the action.
Consistent hands catcher who displays good route discipline and stays with assignments. Extends to offer the quarterback a target, keeps the play in bounds after the catch, and gives effort.
Weaknesses: Stiff and plays to one speed. Lacks a quick release off the line into pass routes.
Overall: Prior to his ankle injury in the late part of the 2021 season, Gindorff displayed himself as a legitimate late-round choice who can make an NFL roster as a third TE. He struggled to return to form this season before being sidelined after a second surgery on the ankle was necessary. If he’s to make a roster, Gindorff must be medically cleared and improve upon the ability he showed early in college.
Owen Glascoe, TE | LIU
Strengths: Former Penn State TE who watched his game take off last season. Imposing-looking figure on the field. Gets out to the second level and gives effort blocking. Displays ability as a position blocker. Shows good route discipline, tracks the pass in the air, and adjusts to the errant throw. Extends his hands to snatch the ball away from his frame. Displays soft hands. Sets with a wide base and blocks with proper pad level.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t play with a sense of urgency or block with a nasty attitude. Plays to his 40 time. Minimally quick and explosive.
Overall: Glascoe comes off a terrific senior season and dominated a lower level of competition. He possesses enough ability as a pass catcher and blocker to make an NFL roster as a third tight end. However, Glascoe will have to pick up every aspect of his game this summer if he’s to even make a practice squad.
Patrick O’Connell, LB | Montana
Strengths: Fierce, hard-working defender who gets the most from his ability. Breaks down well and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Instinctive, quickly locates the ball handler, and plays faster than his 40 time. Flows laterally, displays speed pursuing plays out to the numbers, and goes all out to make the tackle.
Explosive, has a closing burst, and shows ability as a pass rusher. Takes proper angles, quickly crashes inside-out, and covers a good amount of area on the field.
Weaknesses: Undersized, gets knocked around, and struggles handling blocks. Not a stout tackler. Better making plays upfield or laterally than in reverse.
Overall: O’Connell was a college defender who was fun to watch, playing as though every down were his last. And while he was constantly around the action on Saturdays, he lacks the measurables to have an impact in the NFL. His tenacity and ability to play above his head will give him an outside shot as a special-teams player.
Pierre Williams, WR | Sacramento State
Strengths: Nice-sized WR with long arms and big hands. Quickly gets into pass routes, tracks the ball in the air, and gets vertical to come away with the contested grab. Extends his hands to offer the quarterback a target, makes the reception away from his frame, and displays focus as well as concentration. Nicely makes the reception in stride and consistently finds ways to get open. Works hard even if the play is away from him.
Weaknesses: Displays limited speed and quickness and shows no burst. Cannot run to the deep throw. Must improve his blocking.
Overall: Williams was productive on the small-school level, but he’s somewhat in between being a slow receiver and small tight end. He could be used as an H-back at the next level, but Williams must vastly improve his blocking.
PJ Jules, S | Southern Illinois
Strengths: Nice-sized DB who is experienced at both cornerback and safety. Patient, effectively quarterbacks the secondary, and keeps the action in front of him. Quickly locates the ball handler, aggressively defends the run, and wraps up tackling. Quick flipping his hips in transition, mixes it up with opponents throughout the route, and can drive to the ball out of his plant. Tracks the pass in the air, has a nice move to the throw, and dives around the field trying to break up passes.
Weaknesses: Slow getting his head back around to locate the pass in the air. Not forceful on the blitz. Lacks elite next-level speed.
Overall: Jules was consistently productive for Southern Illinois and has the size and ball skills to line up as a fourth safety in the NFL.
PJ Poutasi, OL | Nothern Arizona
Strengths: Massive lineman who annihilates defenders as a run blocker. Sinks his butt, works to bend his knees, and sets with a wide base. Patient, stays square, and quickly gets his hands into defenders. Keeps his feet moving and makes proper use of angles.
Strong, fires into run blocks, and turns defenders from the line or drives them to the second level. Explosive and keeps his head on a swivel. Stays square and seals defenders from the action.
Weaknesses: Lined up at left tackle for Northern Arizona but seems unsure of himself in pass protection and gets pushed back into the pocket. Bends at the waist. Heavy-footed and ineffective blocking in motion.
Overall: Poutasi is a size prospect who comes with long arms and next-level power. Limited to a power-gap scheme, he offers possibilities as an inexpensive backup, though he’ll never be anything other than a third-tier prospect.
Roshaun Johnson, RB | Idaho
Strengths: Nice-sized ball carrier with a solid game. Patient, sees the field, and runs with authority. Possesses short-area quickness, has a punishing style, and rarely gets brought down by the first defender.
Consistently runs north/south and follows blocks. Drives his shoulders into defenders and falls forward when tackled. Smooth and fluid for a bigger back, runs with proper lean, and does what’s asked of him. Outstanding blocker who remains disciplined with assignments.
Weaknesses: Not a creative runner who can improvise if things break down. Was a rotational back at Idaho. Rarely used as a pass catcher.
Overall: Johnson was consistently productive for Idaho and had a nose for the end zone, scoring 22 touchdowns the past two seasons. He possesses the size and power to make an NFL roster as a short-yardage or goal-line back.
Ryan Greenhagen, LB | Fordham
Strengths: Hard-working, run-defending linebacker who was a tackling machine for Fordham. Breaks down well, fires up the field, and sells out to make the tackle. Patient and very instinctive.
Displays a tremendous head for the game and diagnoses plays before they unfold. Takes proper angles to the action, uses his hands to protect himself, and plays through the whistle. Stays with assignments, quickly locates the ball handler, and wraps up tackling.
Weaknesses: Consistently out-positioned from the action by a single opponent. Lacks quick and smooth change-of-direction ability. Not fluid flipping his hips in coverage.
Overall: Greenhagen is a downhill, run-defending LB who is best in the box. He displays average speed and limited versatility, but his tenacity and aggressiveness should help him as a special-teams prospect.
Ryan Miller, WR/TE | Furham
Strengths: Super-productive and versatile college skill player who projects to wide receiver at the next level. Smart, technically sound, and works hard. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, immediately gets to his top speed, and plays tough football. Sells out in all aspects, does a great job becoming the hot receiver, and catches everything thrown in his direction.
Quickly gets into routes, tracks the pass in the air, and adjusts to errant throws. Gets down to scoop up low throws, possesses hand-eye coordination, and competes to come away with the difficult reception. Possesses soft hands. Effective running after the catch, follows blocks everywhere on the field, and shows great football instincts. Works hard even if the play is away from him and does the little things well.
Weaknesses: More of an underneath wideout and lacks deep speed. Shows minimal burst in his game. Used as a tight end for Furman. Comes with marginal blocking strength.
Overall: Miller was very productive on the small-school level and showed great progress in his game. Displaying a nose for the end zone, he caught 12 touchdowns last season on 72 receptions and stood out against an outstanding Clemson secondary. Miller is a late-round choice who can be a fifth receiver/return specialist on Sundays, with the understanding that he’ll never be a vertical threat.
Shaquan Davis, WR | South Carolina State
Strengths: Tall, lanky receiver who plays to one speed. Uses his hands to separate from defenders and stay off jams and draws a lot of attention from the defense, yet tracks the pass in the air. Displays good eye/hand coordination, uses his frame to shield away defenders, and extends to make the reception away from his frame. Consistent hands catcher who displays soft hands. Gives effort blocking downfield and gets solid results.
Weaknesses: Lacks a quick release off the line of scrimmage into pass routes. Has a thin frame. Displays limited quickness in his game and isn’t a deep threat at all. Doesn’t run sharp routes and floats exiting breaks. Occasionally lets the pass get inside him.
Overall: Davis is a tall and generally sure-handed receiver with long arms. He was an imposing target on the small-school level, but he must improve the details of the receiver position.
TaMerik Williams, RB | North Dakota State
Strengths: Rotational ball carrier with next-level athletic numbers. Patient, waits for blocks to develop, and finds the running lanes. Has a burst through the hole, runs with authority, and gets a lot of momentum going. Can be tough to bring down and picks up yardage off initial contact.
Weaknesses: Plays to one speed and cannot beat defenders into the open field. Gets in trouble when he runs laterally. Caught just seven passes over the past two seasons.
Overall: Williams is a solid downhill ball carrier who is best between the tackles, but the lack of versatility in his game makes it an uphill battle for him.
Tanner Taula, TE | Illinois State
Strengths: Nice-sized pass-catching TE who showed a lot of improvement in his game last season. Stays square as a blocker, bends his knees, and gets leverage on opponents. Explosive at the point of attack and works blocks. Shows good route discipline as a pass catcher, extends his hands, and snatches the ball out of the air.
Displays eye/hand coordination and makes the difficult catch in contorted positions with defenders draped on him. Stout, takes a pounding and holds onto the throw. Effective blocking on the second level.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t show much speed or a burst. Prone to the occasional drop. Moderately productive at the college level.
Overall: Taula possesses the length, size, and upside potential to develop into a No. 3 TE on Sundays. He’s smart as well as tough but does have speed limitations.
Thomas Greaney, TE | Albany
Strengths: Large pass-catching tight end with average speed. Smooth releasing off the line of scrimmage, quickly gets to top speed, and displays good route discipline. Adjusts to the errant throw, extends his hands, and makes the reception away from his frame.
Displays soft and strong hands with the ability to snatch the ball from the air. Follows the quarterback across the field to make himself an available target and uses his frame to shield away defenders. Bends his knees, stays square as a blocker, and gives effort.
Weaknesses: Slows into blocks, lacks explosiveness at the point, and struggles finishing off opponents. Plays to one speed and isn’t a vertical threat as a tight end. Displays average quickness.
Overall: Greaney was considered a potential late-round choice entering the season, and he showed a lot of improvement in his game in 2022. That said, he lacks the speed and athleticism to be a move tight end and doesn’t show enough strength at the point of attack to be an in-line blocker. While Greaney has enough skill to be a third TE for an NFL team, he’ll have to do it the hard way as an undrafted free agent.
Want more information on Greaney? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Thomas Greaney, TE, Albany | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Tim DeMorat, QB | Fordham
Strengths: Incredibly productive QB who was awarded the highest All-Conference honors over the past three seasons. Patient in the pocket, buys time for receivers, and displays a sense of timing on throws. Effectively sets up screen passes and delivers a catchable ball.
Knows where receivers are on the field, locates the open target, and doesn’t have receivers waiting for the ball to arrive. Sells the ball fake, uses all his targets, and spreads passes around. Does an outstanding job reading the defense and is in control of the situation.
Weaknesses: Needs to improve his pass placement and often overshoots wide-open receivers. Tends to stare down the primary target and is slow moving to his second read. Not a super mobile quarterback who can be used on designed runs or consistently moved outside the pocket.
Overall: DeMorat was incredibly productive for Fordham, combining for 87 touchdown passes and more than 8,000 passing yards over the past two seasons. He dominated on the lower level of competition but must improve his pass placement and stop staring down the primary target if he’s to be successful at the next level.
Truman Jones, EDGE | Truman Jones
Strengths: Athletic defensive front-seven prospect coming off a tremendous season. Used out of a three-point stance as well as standing over tackle and easily moves about the field. Displays good change-of-direction ability, effectively uses his hands, and is rarely off his feet.
Quick diagnosing plays, stays with assignments, and sets the edge as much as he makes plays. Moves well laterally, immediately alters his angle of attack, and is strong for his size. Plays with balance as well as body control and works hard. Terrific special-teams player who blocked three kicks last year.
Weaknesses: Lacks strength and is easily knocked from his angle of attack. Average ability in coverage. Inconsistent during Shrine Bowl practices.
Overall: Jones was a consistent performer at Harvard the past three seasons and watched his game take off last year. He possesses the size and style to be used at outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. Jones also comes with special-teams ability.
Tucker Kraft, TE | South Dakota State
Strengths: Outstanding pass catcher who plays the tight end position as though he were a receiver. Fluid releasing off the line of scrimmage, athletic, and works hard even if he’s not involved in the action. Tracks the pass in the air, gets vertical, and competes to come away with the difficult grab. Works with the QB and consistently finds ways to separate from defenders to make himself an open target.
Contorts to the errant throw, grabs the ball away from his frame, and displays eye/hand coordination. Gets downfield as a pass catcher, adjusts to the throw, and makes the deep reception in stride. Easily moves about the field, was used on reverses, and catches the long ball as though he were a receiver. Bends his knees, adjusts as a blocker, and stays square to seal defenders from the action. Gets downfield and is effective blocking in motion.
Weaknesses: Average run blocker on the line of scrimmage. Doesn’t use his hands well to separate from defenders. Has a very confident attitude that rubs some people the wrong way.
Overall: Kraft was sensational as a sophomore in 2021 and returned to have a good season last year despite missing a half-dozen games with an ankle injury. He possesses the size, athleticism, and pass-catching skills to be a No. 1 TE on an NFL roster if he continues to develop his game. Though it may take some time, Kraft has the ability to be a star tight end in the league.
Want more information on Kraft? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Ty Okada, S | Montana State
Strengths: Physical downhill safety with great instincts. Quickly reads and diagnoses plays and effectively quarterbacks the defense. Fires up the field and gives effort defending the run. Stays with assignments, displays good change-of-direction ability, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself or get off blocks.
Weaknesses: Possesses average ball skills. Not swift or fluid moving in reverse. Lacks long speed.
Overall: Okada was a hard-charging college safety with a great head for the ball, but he lacks the size and speed for the next level.
Xavier Bell, DB | Xavier Bell
Strengths: Nice-sized safety with solid instincts. Quick to read and diagnose, immediately picks up coverage assignments, and flashes ball skills. Quick flipping his hips in transition, gets his head back around to locate the ball in the air, and has a nice move to the throw.
Displays range with the ability to go sideline to sideline and possesses an explosive closing burst. Occasionally lines up over the slot receiver, jams opponents at the line of scrimmage, and slows their releases.
Weaknesses: Isn’t aggressive or always willing to throw his pads into the pile despite his size. Tackles tall. Doesn’t play with a sense of urgency.
Overall: Bell possesses next-level measurables and has flashed ability in coverage, but he doesn’t present himself as a very aggressive DB. He must pick up the intensity of his game to have any chance of making it out of camp this summer.
Xavier Gipson, WR | Stephen F. Austin
Strengths: Small but explosive receiver with outstanding speed. Quick-footed, runs solid routes, and separates from defenders. Effectively makes the reception on crossing patterns, adjusting backwards to grab the throw from the air. Has a burst of speed, plays faster than his 40 time and tracks the deep pass in the air.
Displays outstanding eye/hand coordination and comes away with the difficult deep reception. Possesses both soft and strong hands and shows good concentration. Outstanding punt returner who waits for blocks to develop then picks his way through the trash. Not afraid of contact and plays tough football. Gives effort blocking.
Weaknesses: Size and height are limiting factors. Struggles to come away with passes that are overthrown. Possesses short arms and small hands.
Overall: Gipson is a polished wideout with home-run-hitting speed who can double as a return specialist. He needs space to work and will have to be used in the slot or backed off the line of scrimmage to keep him away from press coverage. Nevertheless, Gipson possesses the athleticism and pass-catching skills necessary to make an NFL roster.
Want more information on Gipson? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Xavier Smith, WR | Florida A&M
Strengths: Underrated receiver with big-play ability. Plays to his 40 time, if not faster. Gets downfield and tracks the pass in the air. Adjusts to the errant throw and displays terrific eye/hand coordination. Quickly gets in and out of routes, plays with balance and body control, and displays strong as well as soft hands.
Uses the sidelines well, gets vertical, and high-points the ball over defenders. Consistently extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame and plucks the ball out of the air.
MORE: Top HBCU 2023 NFL Draft Prospects
Weaknesses: Had a tendency to unnecessarily let the ball get inside him or double-catch throws before last season. Undersized, struggles in battles, and needs space to work.
Overall: Smith was a super-productive receiver for Florida A&M who accumulated almost 2,900 receiving yards and 25 TDs over the past three years. He improved his game immeasurably the past year and has enough ability to make an NFL roster as a receiver and return specialist.
Zeke Vandenburgh, LB | Illinois State
Strengths: High-revving linebacker coming off a career year. Instinctive, quick to read and diagnose, and takes good angles to the action. Displays terrific football intelligence, breaks down well, and uses his hands to protect himself.
Rarely off his feet, tough, and doesn’t back down from a challenge. Easily changes direction, shows the ability to immediately alter his angle of attack, and wraps up tackling. Fires upfield and is forceful on the blitz.
Weaknesses: Displays average speed in pursuit and lacks a great closing burst. Possesses short arms. Better making plays up the field.
Overall: Vandenburgh watched his game take off last year and was a force for Illinois State, constantly disrupting the action or bringing down ball handlers to make the tackle. Speed is a limiting factor, but Vandenburgh plays with a special-teams mentality and could find a home as a backup middle linebacker
