Following five picks from the school in the last three years, could any of the Tulsa NFL Draft prospects join that group in 2023? With four prospects coming out from the school this year, what are the Tulsa scouting reports for the 2023 NFL Draft?
Tulsa 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Deneric Prince, RB
Strengths: Big-bodied power back who is best running downhill. Patient, waits for blocks to develop, and displays short-area quickness. Runs with good lean, keeps his feet moving, and works to pick up as much yardage as possible.
Breaks a lot of tackles, picks up yardage off initial contact, and falls forward when tackled. Runs with authority. Extends his hands to make the catch away from his frame and snatches the ball out of the air. Quickly picks up and stays with blocking assignments.
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
Weaknesses: Plays to one speed, struggles trying to get around the corner, and cannot cut back against the grain. Marginal pass-catching production.
Overall: Prince is a big-bodied back with solid athleticism and underrated pass-catching ability. He’ll be perfect for short-yardage or goal-line situations on Sundays, and his blocking, as well as pass catching, give him the upper hand on making a roster.
Want more information on Prince? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Deneric Prince, RB, Tulsa | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jon-Michael Terry, LB
Strengths: Oklahoma transfer whose game took off last season. Quick to read or diagnose, instinctive, and takes proper angles. Flows well to the action, works hard to get involved, and plays big-boy football. Uses his hands to protect himself, stands up blockers, and stacks well against the run. Keeps his head on a swivel and makes the defensive calls.
Weaknesses: More of a downhill defender, lacks pursuit speed, and cannot cut off the corners from ball carriers. Average speed and ability in coverage.
Overall: Terry is a stout two-down, run-defending LB with limited upside. He’ll have to make his mark on special teams to get out of camp this summer.
JuanCarlos Santana, WR
Strengths: Athletic prospect who runs solid routes, quickly gets in and out of breaks, and stays low on exit. Effectively uses his hands to separate from defenders. Works to make himself an available target, adjusts to the errant throw, and extends to make the reception away from his frame.
Works well with the quarterback, quickly turns upfield after the reception, and uses the sidelines well. Tracks the deep pass in the air, shows eye/hand coordination, and makes the reception at full speed.
Weaknesses: Lacks naturally soft hands and drops too many easy passes. Has a smaller frame. Must improve his pass-catching skills.
Overall: Santana is an understated prospect at the receiver position with solid speed and a tough attitude. He dropped too many easy passes last year, which is something he must quickly correct, but Santana has enough ability to make a roster as a fifth receiver.
Keylon Stokes, WR
Strengths: Productive receiver who has shown the ability to take over games since his sophomore season. Plays with terrific balance as well as body control, adjusts to the errant throw, and lays out or extends to make the difficult catch.
Displays eye/hand coordination as well as focus, tracks the pass in the air, and makes the reception in contorted positions. Uses his frame to shield away defenders, consistently catches the ball with his hands, and adjusts to make the reception in stride. Works with the quarterback to come free.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Weaknesses: Lazily gets off the line into routes. Not quick into breaks. Lacks a second gear and cannot run to the throw.
Overall: Scouts have been high on Stokes the past three seasons, and at times, he justified those expectations. He’s caught a lot of passes with a high per-catch average and has shown a nose for the end zone. That being the case, Stokes must really improve the details of his position, specifically his route running, to have any chance of getting out of camp next summer.
