1. Owamagbe Odighizuwa - UCLA - LB/DE - 6'3''/267 lbs, 4.62 40, 39'' Vertical, 10'7'' Broad Jump - And the webzone explodes. "He's a reach", "we should have traded back", "but there was [insert player name] still on the board", "fire Baalke". Baalke doesn't care. Picks a freak athlete, that he'll have add some bulk and put at DE in the 3-4 to be the bookend to Tank Carradine on the other side. As long as medicals check out, which I believe will, him and Tank will make a nice pair for a long while.
STRENGTHS: Provides consistent disruption from right defensive end position. Scouts love pass rushers with long arms and the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Odighizuwa has that trait, despite limited sack numbers. Combination of burst and power to beat tackles to the outside, and has shown good balance and agility to spin back inside.
In the Bruins' versatile 3-4 base defense, his main responsibility is to seal the edge and play the run, using his length and power to occupy blockers to help plug run lanes and give the other rushers a chance to disrupt the pocket.
On some passing downs, Odighizuwa does stand up as an edge rusher and has a chance to show off his skill-set as a pass rush threat, using his natural bend and athleticism to beat blockers in space.
Can beat tackles inside with good initial quickness and a powerful bull rush. When moving inside, quickly slips past guards to pressure the backfield.
WEAKNESSES: Two surgeries on his hip that required sitting out the 2013 season will require thorough medical checks. Pass rush arsenal is still a work in progress. Lacks the explosive burst off the edge or nifty change of direction expected of a first-round pick.
PLAYER OVERVIEW Odighizuwa (Oh-DIGGY-zoo-wuh) the entire 2013 season after two separate surgeries on his left hip but returned in 2014 to play a versatile role on the edge of the Bruins' 3-4 defense.
Odighizuwa doesn't have impressive numbers, but the tape tells a different story. His active hands are always working and his versatility to rush or play the run will be attractive. His position and scheme versatility could land Odighizuwa a spot within the first 64 picks of the 2015 draft, and certainly qualifies him as one of the feel-good stories of the year.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737142/owamagbe-odighizuwa
2. Ali Marpet - Hobart - OG - 6'4''/307 lbs, 4.92 40, 30 reps in the bench, 9'0'' broad, 30 1/2'' vertical - a guard to replace Iupati leaving.Will be a competition between him and Thomas and Looney and possibly Martin (if he's not at Center) to start at LG. Played against lower competition which will be a knock, but didn't give up a sack at all in 2014, so he's at least dominating his competition which is all you can ask for. Nice movement skills, with very good technique. Could play some RT in a pinch. Some will view this as a little early for him, but I believe he'll go sooner than most anticipate.
STRENGTHS: Compact build with a solid base to anchor and dig his cleats in the ground. Mechanically sound upper and lower halves, keeping his movements in clean unison. Nice job staying square with knee bend and coordination to latch-and-drive, keeping his feet moving to get push. Keeps his elbows in with active hands to control defenders. Understands leverage and blocking angles. Enough flexibility in his joints and plays with hip snap at the point of attack. Sets up quickly with adequate quickness in his kickslide with balanced lateral movements and body control to get away with lean. Quick thinker with reflex adjustors to counter rush moves, showing the reaction time to cut off inside moves. Nice job on combo blocks to engage at the point, but uses his eyes to seek out his next victim. Comfortable in his own skin with a high football IQ and smarts off the field. 110-percenter with NFL toughness and play speed. Two-time team captain with several accolades at the D-III level.
Durable. Finished his career with 37 straight starts at left tackle. Strong work ethic with self-motivating habits and an unassuming personality.
WEAKNESSES: Shorter-than-ideal arm length for the edges and lacks an engulfing wingspan. Has some bad weight in his midsection and has room to get stronger and add bulk. Narrow base and lacks a wide kickslide to routinely reach the corner vs. NFL speed rushers. Overaggressive and will get his shoulders extended past his feet. Got away with some bad habits at the Division-III level that won't work in the NFL, allowing rushers to initiate contact and lowering his eye level when finishing off blocks. Doesn't have much experience inside at center or guard, his likely positions at the next level. All of his college experience is against a lower level of competition.
PLAYER OVERVIEW A three-year All-Conference and two-time Division-III All-American performer, Marpet dominated competition at that level and didn't waste anyone's time at the Senior Bowl, performing well against the nation's top senior prospects (first Hobart player invited to Mobile and will likely be the first Hobart football selected in the NFL Draft). He doesn't stand out physically, but he is always under control with core strength and coordination. The hungry man from Hobart, Marpet is a tenacious technician, who eats glass for breakfast and gets his money's worth on each snap. A competitive overachiever with zero passiveness to his game, Marpet has the next level intangibles and skill-set to start in the NFL for a long time, ideally suited inside at either guard or center as a bargain brand version of Cowboys' Zach Martin.
Lightly recruited as a prep player, Alexander "Ali" Marpet was 230 pounds as a senior in high school and received moderate interest from a few FCS programs, but ended up at Division-III Hobart. After seeing part-time duty as a true freshman, Marpet won the starting left tackle job as a sophomore and started every game, earning First Team All-Liberty honors. He started all 11 games in 2013 as a junior left tackle and was awarded First Team All-Conference and All-American honors. Marpet again started all 13 games as a senior in 2014 and didn't allow a sack, becoming the first lineman in Liberty League history to earn a share of the Offensive Player of the Year award, also earning First Team All-Conference and All-American honors
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2169061/ali-marpet
3. Tyler Lockett - Kansas St. - WR - 5'10''/182 lbs, 4.4 40, 35 1/2'' Vertical, 10'1'' Broad Jump - For those that want Dorsett in the 2nd, this is pretty much the same guy a round later, with the added bonus of being probably the best return man in the draft. Holds 17 school records. Quick, slot guy that can get deep. He reminds me a lot of T.Y. Hilton. He needs to work on drops/fumbles, but anytime he gets the ball, he has a chance to score. Great character guy too. One of the top route runners in the draft. Great bloodlines.
STRENGTHS: Runs like the wind with speed to stretch the field and get behind the secondary on vertical patterns. Sudden, decisive footwork off the snap and in his breaks to sell routes and attract holding penalties. Dynamic and deliberate route runner. Doesn't slow down in his cuts, showing sharp burst to create space. Deadly stop-and-go and double moves with a strong understanding of how to separate in his routes. Slippery as a ballcarrier with excellent start/stop quickness, changing gears well with his spatial awareness and vision. Instinctive and decisive returner. Tracks and adjusts well, confidently attacking the ball with his hands. Terrific sideline awareness to toe tap with coordination while finishing. Scrappy and not afraid to get physical in tight coverage, using his hands to create room to work. Experienced lining up inside and outside, starting 42 games in college. Extensive experience as a return man at Kansas State with a school-record 2,196 career kick return yards (28.5 average) and four touchdowns and 488 career punt return yards (15.2) and two scores. Holds 17 school records, including breaking his father's career marks for catches (249), receiving yards (3,710) and touchdown receptions (29). Two-year team captain with strong football character and instilled competitive drive. Football bloodlines as his father (Kevin) and uncle (Aaron) both played wide receiver for Bill Snyder at Kansas State in the mid-1990s' Kevin was a second rounder (47th overall) in the 1997 NFL Draft and played seven seasons in the NFL.
WEAKNESSES: Shorter-than-ideal and thin-framed with very little muscle mass or room to bulk up. Short arms and small hands with a marginal catching radius. Will fight the ball at times with a bad habit of running before securing, leading to drops. Not a reliable plucker away from his body. Light and can be knocked off his route easily, struggling to win in contested situations despite his high competitive nature. Was rarely engaged by Big 12 defenders before he touched the ball and has never been challenged by press coverage. Goes down too easily with arm and fingertip tackles and won't pick up yardage after contact with virtually no power to his game as a ballcarrier. Limited as perimeter blocker. Room to improve his ball security with six fumbles on his resume. Frail-looking frame leads to durability concerns and was banged up at times in college, including a lacerated kidney (Nov. 2011) and a nagging hamstring issue that plagued him throughout 2014.
PLAYER OVERVIEW The Wildcats' first four-time All-American and all-time leading receiver, Lockett broke all of his father's receiving records at Kansas State and is hoping to be drafted ahead his draft slot as well (47th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft). Lockett is lighting fast with or without the ball and can take the top off a defense and be a dangerous threat as a return man. He is more than just speed and quickness with the precise routes and savvy ability after the catch to be effective and make-up for his lack of size. Lockett is praised by Kansas State coaches for his practice habits and constant commitment to improve, but his limited size dimensions, inconsistent ballskills and smallish catching radius raises questions about his NFL future ? considered a poor man?s T.Y. Hilton by some scouts, his best fit is likely as a slot receiver and day one return man on special teams.
Lockett held offers from Kansas and Kansas State out of high school, deciding to follow in his father's footsteps by enrolling in Manhattan. He made an immediate impact as true freshman with a pair of kick return touchdowns, also seeing playing time on offense with 18 receptions, earning All-American honors as a return specialist. Lockett became a full-time starting receiver in 2011 as a sophomore and finished second on the team with 44 catches for 687 yards and four scores, adding two kick return touchdowns and earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. He led the Wildcats in receiving as a junior in 2013 with 81 catches for 1,262 yards and 11 scores and was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, also earning First Team All-Big 12 honors on offense. Lockett started all 13 games in 2014 as a senior and became the 11th consensus All-American in school history with 106 receptions for 1,515 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors as a receiver and return man.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1860834/tyler-lockett
4. Zack Hodges - Harvard - DE/OLB/ILB - 6'3''/250 lbs, 4.68 40, 33.5 Vertical, 10'5'' Broad Jump - Lined up all over for Harvard's defense, but Baalke makes him an ILB. Has a relentless motor. Smart kid (double major in Government and Philosophy) who will be able to learn behind Bowman and Wilhoite this year and take over for Wilhoite next year.But this year can line up anywhere for us in nickle or if we go to a 4-3 on certain plays. Needs to add bulk. His story is unreal: Lost his father at 6, him and his mom were homeless at times, his mom died at 16, still makes into Harvard and excels there.
STRENGTHS: Lines up all over the defensive line for Harvard, inside and outside, and also stands up to drop and play on his feet.
Hodges has an excellent first step with instant acceleration and nonstop momentum towards the ball, taking sharp angles with perceptive vision. He plays with low pad level and natural leverage to power through the line of scrimmage while staying balanced through contact.
Motor is much more of a positive than a negative, using his relentless mentality and active playing style to only be blocked for so long.
WEAKNESSES: Lean-limbed frame, lacking ideal bulk. Hodges tends to be overaggressive and needs to control his energy to consistently break down and not wear himself out. Like most college rushers, he has room to improve his hand use and pass rush repertoire, but Hodges is still in the learning stages of his development and has a long ways to go before hitting his ceiling. Admits he needs to work on defeating double teams and chips.
PLAYER OVERVIEW Hodges, who became a starter for the Crimson as a sophomore in 2012, has had a productive collegiate career. He was an FCS All-American last season and earned the 2013 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year honors.
A double major in government and philosophy, Hodges admitted it "really sucks" trying to balance the demands of both school and football.
"In the long run it will pay off," he told NFLDraftScout.com. "You realize you're not smart as you think you are. Not as talented as you think you are. It teaches you that you really need to work for what you want. Everyone is hard working, down to earth. I appreciate those values here."
Hodges lost his mother when he was 16, and moved from North Carolina to Atlanta to help his family. Harvard was one of the first schools to pursue him as a high school junior, and ended up being Hodges' final campus visit. He went to a baording school to improve his grades and said it "exposed me to another life. Provided me with a duality that I'm thankful for."
Hodges has played inside and outside linebacker for Harvard, and insists he does not have a preference.
"Just put me on the field and tell me what you want me to do," he said. "The NFL is an interest. Being able to play at the highest level is definitely an interest.
"But honestly, with the experiences I've had in my life, I know nothing is promised. I've woken up in a totally different world from when I went to bed the night before, my entire life was upside down. I just try and focus on today and I can focus on tomorrow when it comes.
Hodges needs to continue and add bulk and get stronger to better shed at the point of attack, but he understands how to generate power using leverage and lower body momentum in his rushes. Harvard has been fielding a football team for almost 150 years, but has only produced 20 NFL draft picks in school history.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1851481/zach-hodges
4. Tony Lippett - Michigan St. - WR - 6'2''/192 lbs, 4.61 40, 36'' Vertical, 9'6'' Broad Jump - Meet our new Cornerback. While he think he would be an alright WR, I think he'll make a better CB with time. Started first 5 games in 2011 at CB, before moving back to WR, then started the the last 3 games at MSU at WR/CB. In the 3 games at CB, he was targeted 8 times, had 3 PBU, and only gave up 13 yards. He wouldn't have to start for us his first year, which would give him time to learn CB fully. In the video I post, look at: 2:57, 3:12, 3:30, 4:09 to see him playing D/ST.
5. Ryan Russell - Purdue - DE/OLB - 6'4''/269 lbs, 4.75 40, 25 reps in the bench, 32 1/2'' Vertical, 9'11'' Broad Jump - Will play OLB. Will learn to play behind Brooks, Aldon, and Lynch. Takes over Skuta's role. Has all the physical tools (long armed, good speed, well put together) to be a menace, but played out of position at Purdue so production was never there.
STRENGTHS Looks the part. Long-armed with angular body. Takes wide, quick steps and can be difficult for tackles to handle when stunting. Quick feet with long steps to close on quarterback quickly in "T/E" twists. Flexible upper body. Very good change of direction to harass boot-action pass plays. Flashes a quick first step. Has adequate power at the point of attack. Still very raw with traits to potentially mold.
WEAKNESSES Plays with a narrow base and loses balance. Has traits to get into linemen first, but doesn't bring anything in his hands to jar them. Raw pass rusher. Doesn't seem to have a plan and loses interest when stymied. Completely dominated by Wisconsin right tackle Rob Havenstein. Evaluators have expressed concern about competitive toughness. Content to stay blocked and doesn't fight to improve position. Out of position to finish tackles and misses more than he should.
BOTTOM LINE Russell will frustrate NFL teams because he has many of the physical traits they covet, but he doesn't do enough with them. With just 8.5 sacks over the last three years, his production won't interest most teams, but his potential might.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/ryan-russell?id=2552277
"Russell has the look of a NFL player with intriguing next level potential, but up to this point the consistency hasn't been there. The switch to the 3-4 base defense last year didn't do him any favors as he finished his junior season with only two sacks, giving him seven sacks in his career over 35 starts"
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1754396/ryan-russell
6. Deontay Greenberry - Houston - WR - 6'2 1/2''/211 lbs, 4.52 40, 35 1/2'' Vertical, 9'8'' Broad Jump, 21 reps of 225 - Combine snub. Was a top 10 WR coming out of HS. Should have gone back for his Sr. year, but has a ton of potential. Before the start of his Jr. year, was considered a earlier round pick. Had a disappointing Jr year though. Soph. stats: 82 catches,1202 yards,11 TDs. Do to poor QB play, his stats dropped as a Jr.: 72 catches 841 yards, 6 TDs. Would be the perfect guy to study under Boldin.
STRENGTHS Has excellent size and overall length. Played outside and from slot. Shows some acceleration at top of post routes to gain moderate separation. Shows an ability to make challenging adjustments to poor throws.
WEAKNESSES Upright into routes and breaks. Needs to improve route running for next level. Too much wasted motion out of press coverage with head fakes and jukes at top of his routes. Tied for second in FBS with 11 drops. Struggled to make contested catches and had way too many focus drops.
SOURCES TELL US "You expect him to be able to win the deep stuff, but he doesn't have that second gear. He needs to get way better with his routes and hands to find a place in the league." -- AFC North scout
BOTTOM LINE Possesses the size, but lacks the speed, route sharpness and hands that are desired from the position. He has some ability, but might need to work his way up the ladder to get a legitimate shot.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/deontay-greenberry?id=2552604
7. De'Vante Bausby - Pitt State - CB 6'1''/180 lbs, 4.42 40, 37.5'' Vertical, 11'0 Broad Jump, 14 reps of 225, 7.09 3-cone, 4.24 short shuttle - Small school cornerback with good size and great athleticism. Super raw, but put him on the PS and let that kid learn.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/577857/highlights/125846379/v2 <------ Highlight video of him.
7. Terrell Watson - Azusa Pacific - RB - 6'1''/239 lbs, 4.51 40, 35 1/2'' Vertical, 10'4'' Broad Jump, 22 reps of 225 - With the signing of Bush, I don't think RB becomes as dire this year. We take a flier on a productive small school kid. Probably the best size/speed combination at RB in the draft. Good agility. Played against weaker competition. Inexperieced in pass pro. High character kid. Productivity increased every year.
Stats:
2014: 319 att - 2,212 yds - 6.7 ypa - 29 TD
2013: 301 att - 1,869 yds - 6.0 ypa - 23 TD
2012: 200 att - 1,163 yds - 5.5 ypa - 11 TD
2011: 108 att - 703 yds - 6.5 ypa - 15 TD
STRENGTHS Big bruiser. Has shattered just about every school record for his position, including the ones leftover from Christian Okoye's time at the school. Rushed for 63 touchdowns over last three seasons. Strength in lower body to rip through arm tackles. Nifty jump cut for a man his size, with adequate change-of-direction ability. Strong fourth-quarter runner. Useful out of backfield in screen game.
WEAKNESSES Played against small defenders that lacked the starch to bring it to him. Predictable in that he likes to make his cutbacks to the right. Doesn't feature a second gear to pull away from defenders. Plays with high pad level and takes big shots because of it.
BOTTOM LINE Upright power back with a bit more foot quickness than expected. Watson can make defenders miss in the hole, but he lacks the burst NFL teams will be looking for. His nose for the end zone is intriguing and he's worth a camp invite
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/terrell-watson?id=2553127
***PRIORITY FAs:
Cedric Thompson - Minnesota - Safety - 6'0''/211 lbs - Thompson, who didn't receive an invitation to the NFL combine, ran his 40-yard dash in the 4.38-4.44 range and recorded impressive results in the vertical (40.5-inches), broad jump (10-feet-2) and bench reps (21), according to a scout in attendance. The Gophers safety, who is currently projected as an undrafted free agent, finished his senior season second on the team in tackles (83) with four passes defended and two interceptions.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25088918/nfl-draft-s-thompson-steals-show-at-minnesota-pro-day
David Irving - Iowa St - DE/DT - 6'7''/280 - Baggage galore including domestic violence, fourth degree theft (stealing a stop sign during a street party), and disorderly conduct. Was dismissed from the team this fall and entered the draft. Physically a freak though.
Jerry Lovelocke - Praireview A&M - QB - 6'4''/248 lbs - Raw, needs to learn. Would make a good PS guy and we can see what we have while in camp.
STRENGTHS Big quarterback with strong hands and above-average arm strength. Gets good depth in his drops and sets up quickly. Won't rattle easily in pocket and keeps eyes upfield, searching for a play to make. Able to shake off would-be sacks with pure lower-body strength. Short-yardage and goal-line finisher as rusher. Shows leg drive and falls forward behind his burly frame. Scored 19 rushing touchdowns. Team leader with positive personality.
WEAKNESSES Has tendency to launch himself upward when transferring weight forward rather than sitting down and driving ball with his lower body. Needs coaching and game experience to learn to get through his progressions rather than locking in prematurely. Gives away intentions with his eyes, bringing safeties to the party. Babies too many throws rather than sitting down and ripping them. Has issues with easy throws sailing on him. Lacks elusiveness outside of pocket.
BOTTOM LINE As an NFL prospect, Lovelocke is nowhere near ready to make an NFL team. However, he is worth bringing into camp to gauge how quickly he can pick up mechanical tweaks and reading defenses if taught by an NFL coach. With his size and arm, he should find his way into a camp.
Tyrell Williams - Western Oregon - WR - 6'3 1/2''/204 lbs - Big bodied, athletic small school WR. Ran a 4.38 40, 6.53 3-cone, 4.22 shuttle, while jumping 39 1/2'' Vertical, and 107'' Broad Jump. Great agility for his size. Good write up on him:
http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2015/03/scouting-report-tyrell-williams-wr.html
I just cant see us drafting a 6'3 267lbs guy to play in our 3-4 D-line we'll have to wait at least a yr for him to add on weight and hope he can still play at a high level at a higher weight.. We need D-line help now not later im not counting on tha cowboy or on a 34 yr old Dockett with a busted knee ...