Hes done enough outside the tackles to prove that he has that on lock for his size, and Ill be highly intrigued to see how his NFL team makes the most out of his athletic potential. News of Taylor's retirement spurred us to take a look at the 10 best active NFL players who started their college careers as walk-ons. However, was it really a surprise that a big corner who tested near the lower end of the range at the NFL Combine in terms of his speed went so late? I was surprised Utahs Clark Phillips III was still available after two days of the draft. This applies to Ika in both a positive and negative sense. Hand Size: 9 (39th). He redshirted as a true freshman in 2004 and was a backup in 2005. There was also this 55-yard run against Tulsa, in which Spears put moves on that defense that just werent fair. The Chicago Bears hold the first pick of Hand Size:9 (80th). As is the case for most lighter linebackers in the modern era, Simpson is better off reading gaps like a running back to get to the ball. LaPorta is an after-catch demon, who has the wherewithal to find openings in space on short passes, and an impressive determination to beat people up when their uniforms look different than his. NFL Comparison: Derek Cox. Hand Size: 10 (92nd). Arm Length: 31(46th) Conclusion: If youre a shot-caller for an NFL team in need of an old-school hammerhead who can blow through tackles and also presents some speed and wiggle. The Lithuanian also seems to be a fast learner. You have to assume this will multiply in severity against NFL competition. Its pretty easy to superimpose that kind of role for Spears. Hand Size: 9 (83rd). 6'3", 210ish, ran a 9.9 100m in college, around a 4.3 40. Over three LSU seasons, Roy totaled five sacks, 14 quarterback hits, 59 quarterback hurries, 67 tackles, and 50 stops. Hes already got a lot going for him as a blocker and as a move receiver, and most of the stuff that needs coaching is pretty coachable. Strengths: When hes fresh in a game and on point, Ikas movement skills for his size are preposterous. And none of them were ranked higher than a three-star coming out of high school. Stat to Know: Last season, Achane had 18 runs of 15 or more yards on 196 carries. NFL Comparison: Adewale Ogunleye. Bench Press: 25 reps (34th) 7. There is an argument to be made that you just make him a pass-rusher most of the time, and forget about the linebacker stuff. Bench Press: N/A When he can accentuate that with the acumen to seal off Bryce Youngs escape route, as he did on this play against Alabama thats the good stuff. Sanders profiles pretty well in that same way. The ways in which hes able to casually Godzilla defensive linemen is kind of hilarious. Finallysafety Johnson fell to the 160th player taken overall (by Jacksonville) and he was mocked from 26th to 96th immediately before the event (but mostly in the 60s and 70s). The Jets first-rounder, Will McDonald IV, was the flip side of Levis in terms of being a guy who the coaches privately were higher on than the mock drafts seemed to be. Hell need to learn to bend more naturally into his leverage and power. Uzomah, and JaWuan James), and he was called up to the varsity team in his freshman year. Vertical Jump: 33 (31st) I could also go with Zach Ertz, though Ertz has been a bit more explosive throughout his career. Arm Length: 33 (37th) I just tried to make the hit as light as possible, Spears said. 10-Yard Split: 1.47 (96th) Vertical Jump: 41 (96th) In addition, those coaches gushed to scouts about his ability, drive, toughness and leadership. 10. Height: 6 2 (86th percentile) Weight: 198 (18th) Phillips profiles very much the same way. Hes not going to separate with quickness. But it didn't quite pan out for either one. 20-Yard Shuttle: 5.00 (4th), Wingspan: N/A https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-best-players-left-after-the-first-round-joey-porter-brian-branch-michael-mayer-hendon-hooker-will-levis/. 66 also was terrific. 10-Yard Split: 1.52 (83rd) So, Ive watched a crapton of Will Levis, and Im not any more sure of his NFL potential now than when I started. Stat to Know: Hyatts 13.9 yards per target leads all receivers on this list by a large margin; TCUs Quentin Johnston ranked second at 10.9. He played tight end at a small California high school and walked on at Fresno State in 2000. Thomas, a 6'5" pass catcher, never played varsity high school football. Over five collegiate seasons, Brown had two sacks, nine pressures, 259 tackles, 78 stops, and allowed 91 catches on 150 targets for 1,296 yards, 497 yards after the catch, 12 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 87.5. Former NFL star Chris Smith has died, his agent announced on Twitter. Arm Length: 32 (52nd) Hes going to see stuff like this all the time in the NFL, so thats a thing. Stat to Know: TCU runners gained 3.3 yards before contact when running behind Avilas gaps, the highest such number for any guard on this list. He maximized his abilities, and I think Mayer will do the same in his own way with similar athletic limitations. There are also elements of Tampa Bays Devin White in Simpsons play style in his ability to disrupt the passer from everywhere, but Simpson has more potential in coverage. Its called a seam read, Spears said. He chose Texas A&M over offers from Alabama, Florida State, Houston, and LSU. Its great to plaster guys all over the field when you have that ability, but NFL teams will challenge you to play off-coverage with route combinations and reduced splits, and youd better be ready for it. Arm Length: 30 (12th) Bench Press: N/A 1 receiver in this class, and probably a top-five pick. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Ravens in 2013. His lack of film as a safety was reinforced by his testing numbers and simply raised more questions concerning his ability to match up with people down the field in a big play league. Hes a bit of a project in that regard, but the upside, and the existing tape, will have some NFL team betting with enthusiasm on what he could be. In two seasons with the Bruins, Charbonnet gained 2,496 yards and scored 27 touchdowns on 398 carries, adding 61 catches for 518 yards. Rule No. Lawrence Okoye will turn 30 this year. But if you need the kind of lateral agility and movement skills common to guards who excel in more complicates schemes, he could he a short-term to long-term project. 13. 40-Yard Dash: 4.43 (72nd) 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A, Wingspan: 77 (61st) On this deep deflection against Minnesota in Week 8, Porter took receiver Daniel Jackson all the way up the rail on the right boundary in Cover-3, and there was no way Jackson was moving Porter away from his outside position through the vertical route. Weaknesses: Brown did have 14 missed tackles last season, and thats disconcerting for a guy who plays in the box as often as he does. Because with those negative examples, I want to make sure I didnt start with an atypically bad game. Broad Jump: 129 (87th) He will need to be similarly schemed open at the NFL level, where the windows are generally tighter. Vertical Jump: 36 (82nd) (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images), The other draft I loved was the Seahawks, was what happened with Kentucky QB Will Levis, Having gotten to know him a little over the years. An injury to his right knee in 2003 was the final blow for a guy who gave opposing defensive coordinators nightmares any time he touched the football in college. Like Daniels, who finished his NFL career as one of Peyton Mannings more reliable targets in Denver, LaPorta has proven the ability to transcend broken offenses. WebHere are some notable current NFL players who didn't get a chance to show their athletic skill at the combine: Chase Goodbread Original Content Writer 1 / 10 Doug Baldwin, WR, Stat to Know: In 2021, his final season at Nevada, Henley had four interceptions. Apr 29, 2023 3 Welcome to The Athletic s pick-by-pick grades for Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Iowa had four players picked in the first three rounds, including three in the top 34. 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.99 (4th), Wingspan: N/A Sam Khan Jr.: Robert Griffin III If you want a guy who can defend flat to curl all day long, Henley should be on your list. This end zone interception against Georgia had Kelee Ringo retorting for other sins in that game. Hand Size: 10 (81st). He earned a scholarship during fall camp in 2006 but wasn't a starter until his senior season in 2008. I should have scored on that. Theres nothing wrong with that per se its not a professional death sentence. Vertical Jump: 31 (26th) The young talent the Eagles have added to their defense the past few years is eye-popping, and by adding Jalen Carter at No. This, in the same year that Tom Brady, who didnt play tackle football until high school, led the New England Patriots It kinda looks like he did. He goes to Tennessee, a team with an established starting QB in Ryan Tannehill, who turns 35 this summer, battled injuries last year and will be in the final year of his deal. It's unfair to call Warrick a complete bust because he did have a couple of productive seasons, but he never blossomed into the electric playmaker he was at FSU. Especially when that deep touchdown came on an iced field. He left CMU and walked on at Wisconsin in 2008, earning a scholarship while on the scout team that fall. Bio: White was a two-way star at Garner High in Garner, North Carolina, playing both defensive end and tight end. The Dolphins took Fitzpatrick out of Alabama with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, and they played him similarly to the ways in which he was deployed at Alabama all over the defense. David Hale: Darren McFadden He must rely on these things, and quick vision, to avoid traffic jams. WebWednesday is National Signing Day, when the nation's top high school recruits sign a binding letter of intent with their college football programs of choice. Take a look at the best photos from the red carpet. Bio: Kraft attended Timber Lake High School in Timber Lake, South Dakota, a very small farming town. As a senior in 2022, Duncan blocked for a passing offense which ranked third in the Big Ten averaging 259.8 yards per game. He was a touchdown waiting to happen whether he was blazing past a defensive back Stroud and Bryce Young, the consensus top two quarterbacks in this class, fare on such passes in 2022? From his school bio: His brother, Marlon, was a defensive lineman at USC (2017-20), earning All-Pac-12 first team in 2020, and now is with the Philadelphia Eagles. Conclusion: As 2022 was Avilas first season playing left guard, youre inclined to forgive the technical missteps and bank on the ridiculous play strength that could have him blowing NFL defensive tackles sooner than later. He was stellar on the track, and that athleticism was a huge part of why RG III helped lift Baylor to unusual heights and claimed a Heisman Trophy. Arm Length:32 (68th) He was a quarterback and defensive back at a small Kansas high school and walked on at K-State in 2003 as a safety. If you get him off his spot, hes going to stay there, at least at this stage of his development. He allowed just two quarterback hurries in 152 True Pass Set snaps. Vertical Jump: N/A Height: 6 8 (97th percentile) Weight: 374 (98th) Hyatt has a lot of that same profile, and whichever speed receiver he most reminds you of, he is absolutely That Guy. The Titans grabbed him Friday night with the second pick of the second round and we think despite what was no doubt a jolting draft night with the football world watching along, this all might end up being a good thing for Levis in the long run. He was drafted in the second round by the Packers in 2008. Over two seasons with primary cornerback experience in college, Turner had no sacks, three pressures, 65 tackles, 13 stops, and he allowed 59 catches on 130 targets for 675 yards, 215 yards after the catch, four touchdowns, three interceptions, 15 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 62.2. Kurt played college football for Northern Iowa but didnt become a starter until his senior year. No matter where he played on the offensive line, Duncan did an outstanding job protecting the Terps' quarterbacks. Therefore, he was techinically eligible to sign with anyone after track eligibility ran out at MSU. One of the more famous players, Ray Seals never played football in college but somehow snuck his way into the NFL. He was moved to the offensive line -- a position he never had played -- that fall as a redshirt. Stat to Know: Brents only lined up in press coverage on 30% of his 2022 snaps, which seems interesting for a player of his size profile. Not a great thing for the games most important position. Height: 5 9 (8th percentile) Weight: 171 (2nd) One such star decided to call it a career Tuesday. In his collegiate career, Hooker completed 633 of 951 passes for 8,982 80 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of 119.7. He played 15 games, recording three receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Broad Jump: N/A He was a tight end and defensive end in high school and walked on at Wisconsin in 2008. Bio: The son of former Steelers, Dolphins, and Cardinals edge-rusher Joey Porter, who played in the NFL from 1999 through 2011, made four Pro Bowls, and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2000s team, Joey Porter Jr. was a first-team all-state selection at North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania before committing to the Nittany Lions. Hand Size: 10 (63rd). Henley can also disrupt the quarterback from the edge, and as a blitzer. He chose to walk on at Alabama as a running back. 10-Yard Split: 1.66 (32nd) The Browns selected Mack with the 21st overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Cal, and Mack took a play style with more root strength than youd imagine for his size (6-foot-4, 311 pounds), impressive agility, and the technique and intelligence required to make seven Pro Bowls in his career. Broad Jump: N/A Well, if any place can get him and keep him on track this is the spot. In 2022, Spears gained 1,581 yards and scored 19 touchdowns on 229 carries. This interception against Tennessee had Levis giving perfunctory looks to his front-side reads (Brown and Tayvion Robinson), then traveling to the back side and making this inexplicable throw to Dane Key which was picked off by cornerback Brandon Turnage. If Hyatt was beating press all the time and running 20 unique routes (he had 12 last season, per Sports Info Solutions), he would be the lead-pipe No. Now he's in the NFL. NFL players who skipped college #10 - Vince Papale, WR, Philadelphia Eagles Vince Papale Disney Hendon Hooker, in the third round, is a terrific value. Nady didn't see the majors again until 2003. 10-Yard Split: 1.49 (93rd) man. He could use a bit of help latching onto his targets in open space, but hes a willing and effective protector. Hooker was good against two-deep coverages last season (69 of 100 for 947 yards, 742 air yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions), but he does need to work on adaptive strategies for when his receivers are pressed, and he has to re-set quickly. Height: 6 3 (51st percentile) Weight: 266 (25th) Weaknesses: Jones will lose to defenders who can get to either side of him in a hurry; hes not always as agile as youd like in space. 13 to the Packers. Strengths: When Martin knows whats in front of him, and he breaks decisively to the ball, hes got all the athleticism and the ball skills to be a real problem for enemy quarterbacks. He spent 2000 with the Carolina Panthers before retiring. Stat to Know: Of Williams 22 total pressures last season, 15 came from the middle linebacker position as either a blitzer or as a spy. Until then, the late-breaking stuff might get in his way. Phillips played 1,364 snaps at outside cornerback, 424 in the slot, 87 in the box, seven along the defensive line, and three at free safety. Weaknesses: For all of Spears effort and grit, there are times when the blocking thing doesnt go quite as well. Hooker was off to a torrid start in 2022, completing 229 of 331 passes for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 123.9 before suffering a torn ACL against South Carolina. He played 1,678 snaps at outside cornerback, 149 along the defensive line, 44 in the box, 19 in the slot, and five at free safety. pic.twitter.com/IVk7ksfahE. We generally go with more biographical information here, but it really is important to note what LaPorta was able to do with what he had to deal with. The same was said of Sauce Gardner, and Sauce Gardner turned into a pretty good NFL cornerback in his 2022 rookie campaign. Youre not going to get an excessive amount of bend and edge athleticism from Whites game, but hell surprise you once in a while, and with some technique refinement, he could be well on his way to status as an indispensable cog in a professional defensive front. Bio: Born in London, Ontario, Canada, and the twin brother of Illinois running back Chase Brown, Sydney Brown was a football and track star in high school, and had 585 snaps as a true freshman for the Fighting Illini in 2018. "I never liked soccer. Bench Press: 18 reps (39th) Is it possible to give a group award? Not that the aforementioned Jalen Carter is an easy matchup for any offensive lineman, but you can see here how Jones struggles with quick movement at times. He was a sprinter, and is one of those freak athletes. Im not bragging, and I had a fair amount of good runs, but Im talking about pass protection.. Arm Length: 32 (43rd) When hes using a rip or swim move to get into the backfield, Roys power and first-step quickness lead to a lot of stops. Like Tillman (they ran the same 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine), Decker was not a land speed wizard, nor did he create separation with anything but his wits and play strength. They're going to hang me for that, but [American football is] fun and it's contact. He originally joined the Irish as a four-star recruit from De La Salle high school in California. Broad Jump: 122 (86th) 10-Yard Split: 1.51 (83rd) I think he just played so hard. the whole contested catch idea is relative with him, because hes generally the one doing the contesting. Branchs intelligence and feel for the game extend to his abilities as a blitzer, where hell use a linebackers sense of how to explode through gaps to get to the quarterback. Steelers CB Ike Taylor announced his retirement from the NFL after a productive 12-year career. Pitt clogged the middle of the field here, so Hookers best option was to wait for Tillman to get open against fairly good lockdown coverage to the boundary. Hand Size: 10 (95th). Avila may well have the same kind of bright future. The need for multi-gap power disruptors is high, and he checks all the boxes in most categories. 3-Cone Drill: N/A Bio: Jones was primarily a basketball star at Ben Davis High Hand Size: 10 (71st). Jackson had burner skills from his first minicamp, and over time, he developed an underrated ability to alter his routes and movements to further create issues for defenses. Strengths: Smith is also excellent in off coverage because he anticipates routes so well, and he closes to the receiver quickly. Im also a fan of third-round receiver Tank Dell. 40-Yard Dash: N/A Over four seasons with the Hawkeyes, LaPorta caught 153 passes on 238 targets for 1,777 yards and five touchdowns. Arguably the best NFL player to never play football in college, Gates played from 2003 to 2018 as a tight end. Charbonnet also has the lateral speed to bounce it outside for big gains; he averaged 6.9 yards per attempt on 92 runs charted to the outside or off-tackle last season. And while Tuipulotu isnt particularly bendy in his ability to flatten his rush path around the corner, he has these bursts of acceleration at the right time to surprise tackles at the worst possible time for the tackles, and for their quarterbacks. Hes also mot afraid to catch the ball over the middle, probably because he knows he can just run away from defenders before they can get a lick on him. Bench Press: 15 reps (55th) 10-Yard Split: 1.86 (24th) He played his rookie season at 34. Conclusion: Henley comes into the NFL at a time when his type of linebacker the off-ball specialist who can legitimately cover half the field is more valuable than ever. 40-Yard Dash: 4.64 (79th) If you had asked me a year ago at this time where would Sewell get picked, Id have guessed in the top 20 of the first round, not in the fifth. Bench Press: 29 reps (82nd) Over time, he had 39 starts for the Bison 37 at left tackle, and two at right tackle. Sanders can also bring his edge experience to the table with some nice speed-to-power stuff. WebThe 2023 NFL Draft continues Saturday at 9 a.m. Arizona with Rounds 4-7. Strengths: As a straight-line runner, Kraft is a smooth glider to start, with impressive acceleration to the second and third levels. Stat to Know: As a pure single-high or split-field safety in 2022, Branch allowed five catches on eight targets for 46 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. Height: 6 0 (76th percentile) Weight: 219 (67th) Had he seen Browns backside crosser in time, it was open for a touchdown. 3-Cone Drill: N/A The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! Broad Jump: 111 (81st) As you will see, these five NFL greats were walk-ons in college for various reasons, but went on to dominate at their positions and have great careers. Broad Jump: N/A Benton might be aiming for JAG status at the next level, but he is capable of more. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. 3-Cone Drill: N/A Ivan Maisel: JaMarcus Russell and the entire 2007 QB draft class Conclusion: Brown should be an ideal fit for single-high dominant teams in need of a deep-third and slot defender who wants to mix it up in the box, but doesnt always have the wherewithal to do so. It's kind of sad that Mark Sanchez is now known as the butt fumble guy and not the star that he was in Los Angeles. Stat to Know: Last season, White allowed six catches on eight targets for 179 yards, 135 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, no interceptions, no pass breakups, three penalties, and an opponent passer rating of 156.3. 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A, Wingspan: N/A However, the Cowboys ultimately moved on from him quickly. I'll never forget the first time I was wowed by Robert Griffin III. Stat to Know: Brown did a lot well in 2022, but he was especially tough to deal with as a single-high safety. Hand Size: 10 (90th). 10-Yard Split: 1.61 (73rd) Torrences strength to and through contact is the best in this class among any offensive lineman, but he wont be able to trade on that alone when he gets to the NFL. Stat to Know: Washingtons yards after catch average of 7.8 leads all tight ends on this list, and that should not come as a surprise. At all. Johnson could be that kind of player with a few technique fixes, and maybe a couple of protein shakes. He walked on at North Dakota Statem redshirting as a defensive end while he gained the necessary weight to switch to the offensive line. If we want to label Levis a winner or a finisher as opposed to a gritty, tough guy, it might behoove us to look at his red zone performance in the 2022 season. The 6-4, 229-pounder definitely has big-time tools, starting with a huge arm, good athleticism and ideal size, but he threw 23 interceptions in his final two college seasons, and there were some concerns with how well he reads coverages post-snap. We have signed DE Shelby Harris and waived DE Lawrence Okoye.DETAILS >> https://t.co/E2ONV5zWQK pic.twitter.com/pFya9JVhAA. Torrence has snaps in which this seems possible, but it might not happen overnight. Young: Two completions in 11 attempts for 63 yards, 58 air yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 50.9. But theres a difference between production and value, and Washington can provide a ton of value as a field-tilter in all facets for his next team. Stat to Know: Mauch allowed just two sacks, five quarterback hits, and 16 quarterback hurries in 836 pass-blocking snaps through his time at North Dakota State. And while Charbonnet is willing as a blocker, he doesnt always hit the mark. 40-Yard Dash: 5.08 (82nd) Arm Length: 36 (97th) Conclusion: Im on board with the estimable Mr. Brugler here. Conclusion: Achanes athleticism has been touted for a long time, that praise is well-deserved, and he can deploy it at a level that puts defenses in a box more often than defenses would like. When in Cover-1 and Cover-3 last season, he led the nation in interceptions with five, allowing 15 catches on 29 targets for 156 yards, and one touchdown. 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.65 (50th), Wingspan: N/A Each story from each five-star recruit to players He just has a great knack for making plays (he had nine INTs in his career and four pick sixes). He also gained 2,079 yards and scored 25 touchdowns on 517 rushing attempts. Bio: Daiyan Henley has been around. 2. Here, it was Texas Techs Tyree Wilson (our second-ranked edge defender) working him to the outside shoulder that created the issue. This is where his short arms show up, and if he isnt striking the first blow outside, things can escalate quickly. Classic case of a guy who had always been able to "out-athlete" his competition but couldn't rely on that in the pros. 3-Cone Drill: N/A NFL Comparison: DeSean Jackson. He originally committed to Old Dominion, and made his impact on the edge before transferring to Georgia Tech for the 2021 season, his redshirt junior season. And on this 43-yard pass to Keyton against Florida in Week 4, Hooker had to wait for his receiver to get any separation from cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., who was making that pretty tough. Strengths: Smith loves to hit people when hes on the move, and he has all the talent required to do it at the NFL level, as Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy has observed. Arm Length: 32 (5th) Strengths: Avilas anchor is a thing of beauty when he gets under your pads and starts pushing you back, theres not much youre going to do about it. It took Smith a long time to succeed at the NFL level for multiple reasons, but when he finally caught on all the way with the Seahawks, he combined athleticism, accuracy, velocity to the second and third levels, and leadership attributes to make himself into a franchise quarterback.
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