Quick Draft Dish: Week One

WEEK ONE

NORTH CAROLINA VS. SOUTH CAROLINA

·       NORTH CAROLINA SR QB MARQUISE WILLIAMS (#12) has decent size (6’2” 213), arm strength, and mobility. He is however, a very poor decision maker. Three times inside the Gamecock’s red zone, Williams threw really bad interceptions. It was hard to tell who he was even trying to throw the ball to. Two of the interceptions were in the end zone. With decision making like he has, it is hard for me to take him seriously as a prospect moving forward.

·       SOUTH CAROLINA JR OLB SKAI MOORE (#10) is a prospect that shows excellent sideline-to-sideline range. He is a very good coverage backer. He is a sure tackler. He intercepted the two passes in the end zone I spoke about in the last paragraph. I would love to see him stay for his senior season and bulk up before transitioning to the NFL.

VILLANOVA @ UCONN

·       VILLANOVA SR QB JOHN ROBERTSON (#19) is a player I was anxious to get a look at, and my first impression was…meh. He has good mobility, he escapes the pocket well, but his arm strength is underwhelming. If I get another chance to view him I will, but after this game, color me unimpressed.

TCU @ MINNESOTA

·       TCU SR OT HALA VAITAI (#74) is an uninspiring as a left tackle prospect. Vaitai struggles with his feet and he often lunges at defenders. He has good size (6’6” 308), but his technique needs work. He may need a position change at the next level.

MICHIGAN STATE @ WESTERN MICHIGAN

·       WESTERN MICHIGAN SR OT WILLIE BEAVERS (#72) is a big physical player. Beavers has very good strength at the point of attack. He can re-anchor well. The majority of the game he got the best of DFD favorite, MICHIGAN STATE SR DE SHILIQUE CALHOUN (#89). In the fourth quarter, fatigue seemed to set in. On consecutive plays, he gave up a sack on an inside spin, and then got called for a hold. Beavers has a chance to be the next great offensive line prospect from the MAC.

WASHINGTON @ BOISE STATE

·       BOISE STATE SR DS DARIAN THOMPSON (#4) opened my eyes to what my ears have been hearing. Thompson has great size for a DB (6’2” 205). He is rangy, takes great angles, and tackles well. I will definitely see more of him.

SE MISSOURI STATE @ MISSOURI

·       SE MISSOURI STATE SR WR PAUL MCROBERTS (#1) reminds me of former ELON WR Aaron Mellette. Two years ago, I got one chance to watch Mellette against an FBS opponent and he left me disappointed. McRoberts has size (6’3” 197) but has a small frame. He has good hands but runs limited routes. He does have some shiftiness to him. McRoberts is a guy I would love to see up close at the Senior Bowl (if he is invited), before I write him off.

LOUISVILLE VS. AUBURN

·       LOUISVILLE JR DE DEVONTE FIELDS (#92) is not only making the transition to another school, he is changing positions. Two years ago at TCU, Fields was one of the best defenders in the Big XII. After being kicked out of school for domestic violence issues, he spent a year at community college, before landing at Louisville. Fields is now a standup OLB in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme. He has good burst around the edge and is a solid run defender. He will now be tested more in the coverage aspects of the position. He will really have to excel in all facets of the game to get teams to overlook his baggage.

·       LOUISVILLE JR DS JOSH HARVEY-CLEMONS (#25) is another member of the Cardinals nomad defense. JHC is a rangy safety prospect with good hands, great size (6’4” 220), and he will lower the boom when necessary. He also has off the field issues. He was kicked out of Georgia for multiple drug arrests.

ARIZONA STATE VS. TEXAS A&M

·       TEXAS A&M RSOPH WR RICKY SEALS-JONES (#9) is built an awful lot like former Aggies WR Mike Evans. Seals-Jones has the size (6’5” 225) and speed like Evans, but he doesn’t have the polish or production of his predecessor. I am curious to see if he can develop a rapport with his QB’s this season, he would be better served staying at least one more season in College Station.

ALABAMA VS. WISCONSIN

·       ALABAMA JR RB DERRICK HENRY (#2) is a huge physical back. Tackling him is what I imagine tackling a refrigerator would be like. Henry has really good speed for a back of his size (6’2” 240). You usually do not see a back of that size in the NFL. He has soft hands. Henry struggles with blitz pickup and other pass protection aspects. He also struggles creating his own space.

·       ALABAMA SR RB KENYAN DRAKE (#17) is coming off a nasty leg injury he suffered a year ago. Drake didn’t show any ill-effects of the injury in this game. Drake is the opposite of his teammate Henry. He is an excellent receiver and is good in pass pro. He excels at making guys miss in space. If he passes the medicals, he has a chance to be a 2^nd round pick.

OHIO STATE @ VIRGINIA TECH

·       OHIO STATE SR WR BRAXTON MILLER (#1) showed in this game that his position switch may be worthwhile. Miller showed great hands and the ability to move in the open field. Miller was the Buckeyes starting QB in 2013 before suffering a season ending injury before last offseason. Miller has a chance to elevate his grade this year by continuing to show what he did in this game.

ARKANSAS STATE @ SOUTHERN CAL

·       SOUTHERN CAL SR QB CODY KESSLER is a fringe Top 100 player. Kessler is an accurate thrower who lacks top arm strength. He isn’t particularly mobile, but he moves the pocket well enough. In this game, he was sacked five times (and knocked down multiple others) in the first twenty minutes. If the SOUTHERN CAL offensive line had this much trouble with the Red Wolves, it may not be good once they hit the meat of their schedule. As talented on paper as the Trojan offensive line is, I expect they will figure it out.

·       ARKANSAS STATE SR TE DARRION GRISWOLD (#19) is one of the best blocking tight ends I have seen in some time. He has the skills to block inline and in space. Griswold only had two catches for 46 yards, but he showed an ability to stretch the field. His stock is way up in my opinion.