2011 FCS NFL Prospect Tidbits

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

FCS NFL Prospect Tidbits

I have posted very little, if anything, on the 2012 FCS NFL Draft Class so I figured I would post blurbs from sources around the NFL and my own stuff.

First, I will say this is the best CB class I have ever seen in FCS with 6 CBs who have a legit shot to be drafted as of now. Tops in the group on my list is Ryan Steed of Furman with a 4th round grade. Some scouts agree with me while others think Trumaine Johnson of Montana is a little better. If you swapped their heights there is no doubt Steed would be a 2nd round projection right now. I have Johnson in the 4th-5th round. Both could go in the 3rd when all is said and done.

Cal Poly’s Asa Jackson is another one but scouts have him higher than I do as I see him as a 6th round type guy while many scouts have him in the 4th round. He is only 5’10 and he gives up more plays than you want in a possible NFL starter from the FCS level.

Other corners to keep an eye on include Coastal Carolina’s Josh Norman and Hampton's Micah Pellerin while a couple sleepers are EKU”s Jeremy Caldwell and Murray State’s Dontrell Johnson. Johnson, like Jackson and Caldwell is a very good return man whose value is improved by that asset.

There are only two offensive linemen whom I consider draftable and both are 5th-7th round types in USD’s Tom Compton and Columbia’s Jeff Adams. I like Adam’s style of play more but Compton is a finesse guy who did very well against Minnesota and UCF. He handled a couple combine guys very well.

The best upside is coming from App State’s Brian Quick but he could find his numbers down unless others step up at receiver. He could end up in the 2nd or 3rd round or find himself in the 5th round range. I don’t see him falling lower than the 4th round though because he does have some freakish qualities.

With Taiwan Jones leaving early the best RB is a late round option in Murray State’s Mike Harris. Harris is a player and the best prospect since Austen Lane at MSU. He could go in the 6th or 7th round.

EWU DT Renard Williams is overrated by the media right now as the scouts have him as a PFA and I have him as a 6th-7th round guy. Williams flashes needing to put it all together and be consistent and his Wonderlic score is a little low even for a DT.

The most overrated player on my board by scouts is B.J. Coleman of UTC whom I gave a PFA grade and late round projection to but scouts have him in the 4th and 5th round. I think that is way too high. He had some really bad games throwing several picks and had a couple dropped picks against App and others. He is not very accurate and lacks a big arm. He is a 3rd string type player in the NFL, IMO.

I have four players whom I think scouts are really sleeping on as they mostly have PFA or FA grades on them and I have all of them in the 7th round or better. I think they are sleeping on Idaho State’s Tavoy Moore whom they think runs a 4.50 40 and I will bet my house, career, everything on him running no worse than a 4.42 in the 40. He can fly. He might run under a 4.35 and should run a sub 4.4. It would surprise me if he doesn’t run 4.3s. Another one I like is Lamar WR Marcus Jackson. I have him much higher than most. He can flat out play. He’s faster than people think and he has return ability. W&M RB Jonathan Grimes is rated lower because of injuries so no shock there. I still have him in late rounds. The other one is Villanova WR Norman White who ran slow for scouts but all Nova players did. He is a player who I think is a 6th round talent but I have him as a PFA projection until he improves his 40 time for them.

A couple possible sleepers to watch for are SC State S Donovan Richard who is bigger than people think at 210 and ran a 4.49 for scouts. If he plays well this year he could go in the 5th round range.

One all-purpose guy I like more than most is App State RB Travaris Cadet. He’s a good RB and RS but can play QB, WR, etc. He is an athlete and could go in the late rounds.

Elon OG Rodney Austin is seen as a center by some and with his size (6’3, 310) and style of play could move into late rounds from my PFA grade now.

Richmond QB Aaron Corp is a guy people think has lost his passion for football and must have a big year or else he will be no better than a low level free agent. He has late round talent though.

Some other names scouts have talked about heavily include the UNH duo of Brian McNally and Chris Jeannot while Liberty’s duo of Chris Summers and Asa Chapman are mid level free agents I think could go in the 6th or 7th round next year. Chapman is a lot better than that kid from Bethel who was drafted and Summers is a physical specimen.

The player I think they are missing the most on is Jackson State’s Donovan Robinson whom scouts have as a reject and I gave him high PFA grade to. He is a tweener and I’m not saying he will make it but he will be a definite free agent and if he bulks up and becomes a little more consistent he could get drafted.

[lakesbison]

why wouldnt DJ from NDSU get pro looks? fast, shifty, great hands

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

why wouldnt DJ from NDSU get pro looks? fast, shifty, great hands

He is definitely getting looks. I just listed info on some of the top guys. He and Boyer along with a TE and OL are all getting strong looks as well.

[jcmanson]

You think Asa Chapman has a better chance of getting drafted than Mike Brown?

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

You think Asa Chapman has a better chance of getting drafted than Mike Brown?

Yes I do. The reason I say that is because Brown is not overly fast (4.5s) and is not a rare breed. There are lots of athletic QBs who can run who can be projected to play WR. Chapman is not a better college player by any means but it is very very rare for a 6'4, 380 pound DT who can stuff the run, clog the A gap, and moves like he can. Because he is much more rare I think he has a better shot but if Brown can get faster (4.4s) and have another big year and then show well at WR in the postseason then I certainly believe he could bypass Chapman. I have Brown rated slightly higher on my grade scale but I know how rare guys like Chapman are and I believe as of today someone in the NFL would pull the trigger on him before they would Brown.

[lakesbison]

DJ will put up 1500 and 15 tds, he'll be drafted, cannot wait!

[Screamin_Eagle174]

DJ will put up 1500 and 15 tds, he'll be drafted in the CFL, cannot wait!

FIFY.

[∞∞∞]

Just an update (and I know this is the wrong thread...was close enough though ), but Deron Mayo signed with the Broncos yesterday. Hopefully he makes the team. Might be ODU's first NFL player.

[houndawg]

Curious as to the NFL's take on the Saluki prospects this year: C Bryan Boemer, OT David Pickard, and FS Mike McElroy.


My take is that Boemer and McElroy won't fit the physical templates size for size or speed; although Boemer blocks NTs without help, he's maybe 6'2", and McElroy might be the highest football IQ in the draft but his 40 time is suspect after last years season-ending injury. I think McElroy plays faster than his 40 time because he reads very quickly. Pickard seems to have NFL size but played most of last season on one leg.

[clenz]

DJ will put up 1500 and 15 tds, he'll be drafted, cannot wait!

He's going to have to put up a lot of yards during the other 10 games of his season, since we all know he can't do shit against UNI.

[ODUalum11]

I believe I just saw something along the bottom line on ESPN that the Dolphins have signed Delaware QB Pat Devlin.

[Seawolf97]

StonyBrooks Paul Fenaroli - Class of 2011 has signed a 3 year deal with the Atlanta Falcons . He was a terrific blocker and center for us.

[alvin kayak]

The Citadel will get someone signed in the summer again.

[RichardHarrison]

back on topic here. Very interesting the number of NFL caliber DB's that are currently in the FCS. I feel like after this season and the combine/pro days Trumaine Johnson, CB Montana will be the #1 NFL prospect in all of FCS. Montana does have a few others in Charles Burton OT, Kavario Middleton TE, Greg Hardy TE and possibly Antwon Moutra WR. Burton probably has a shot of getting picked up as a 6th or 7th rounder, while the rest of the bunch could wind up being really solid FA pick ups.