Ra’Shede Hageman – © USA TODAY Sports Images
December 27, 2013 Bowl Games: 2014 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch
by BigBlueInteractive.com Contributor Sy’56
MARSHALL
Potential UDFAs to Look For:
#26 Gator Hoskins – TE – 6’2/244
#76 Garrett Scott – LT – 6’5/294
MARYLAND
#17 Goins, Isaac – CB – 5’11/190
Under the radar cover corner that I saw twice in 2013. I had no intention of scouting him but his speed and acceleration caught my eye a few times. After a closer look, I came away thinking Goins could be a diamond in the rough. He has such fluid and agile hips. Combining that with his deep speed leads me to believe he can handle the pace of the NFL as a cover man. He won’t be a fit for the physical defenses. He is an aggressive player and is not afraid to mix it up, but he simply doesn’t show the presence of when taking on blocks from receivers nor does he make an impact as a tackler. I think Goins has a shot at being a late round pick that makes an impact at the next level.
Potential UDFAs to Look For:
#41 Marcus Whitfield – OLB – 6’2/240
#16 CJ Brown – QB – 6’3/210
SYRACUSE
#96 Jay Bromley – DT – 6’3/280
Undersized when it comes to weight and girth, but has the length to make up for it. Can easily add weight if he gets put in to a scheme that needs him to anchor more. But Bromley is a solid, penetrating interior defender that makes plays behind the line of scrimmage (18.5 TFL and 10.5 sacks over past two years). I question his ability to play in a gap controlled scheme because he can be overwhelmed by power and size. I think a limited amount of teams will be interested in him, making him a late round pick.
Potential UDFAs to Look For:
#11 Marcus Spruill – LB – 6’0/224
#59 Mackly MacPherson – C – 6’2/286
MINNESOTA
#99 Ra’Shede Hageman – DT – 6’6/311
Fifth year senior that started off as a TE, but moved to the DL in his redshirt season. By far the top prospect in this game. Hageman was a bit of a late bloomer, as he did not make much of an impact until last season. With that said, he has come a long way and some consider him to be a top 45 prospect. He has shown flashes on tape of sheer dominance at the point of attack. He has tremendous movement ability for a player his size. When his pad level is right and he fires out of his stance at the right time, he creates a new line of scrimmage whenever he wants. The upside here is about as high as any defensive tackle in this class, and it could end up getting his name called in the first round.
#21 Brock Vereen – CB – 6’0/202
Fourth year starter that has played mostly at cornerback, but played safety for the final six games of the 2012 season and had some action there this season as well. Vereen’s best trait is the versatility he brings to the table as a result of his size/speed combination. He is a strong 200+ pounds and plays a physical brand of football. He can attack downhill and make tackles in the open field. He can line up at the point of attack across from a receiver and play solid press coverage. I think he ends up being a 4th-6th round guy when all is said and done.
Potential UDFA to Look For:
#57 Aaron Hill – OLB – 6’2/231
BYU
#3 Kyle Van Noy – OLB – 6’3/245
Highly decorated fourth year senior that almost came out after an impressive 2012 season. Van Noy is an edge rusher that makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage (37.5 TFL 17 sacks past two years). Some project him to be a top 45 talent although I think he is a notch or two below that tier. Van Noy has outstanding quickness and movement ability. He bends well and can change direction with ease. I question his ability to play a power game, however. Too often did I see him overpowered by a lone blocker. He was be ridden out of a plays and be neutralized by guys that won’t be playing in the NFL. He doesn’t have a lot of experience dropping in to coverage and when he did, it didn’t look like a natural role for him. I think Van Noy is a limited player that needs a very specific role to succeed. I will likely have him graded in the 3rd-4th round area.
#55 Eathyn Manumaleuna – DT – 6’2/305
Versatile player that started his career in 2007. Has played a NT in the 3-4, DE in the 3-4, and DT in the 4-3 in games I’ve seen. Solid movement ability for a 300+ pounder. Strong against the run, can anchor his position and use his hands to free himself of blockers. Will make a lot of plays between the tackles against the run. I think Manumaleuna’s best position at the next level is at 3-4 DE. He is a stout run defender that can be a solid role player at the next level. I think he ends being taken between rounds 5-7.
#2 Cody Hoffman – WR – 6’4/213
Fifth year senior that has started all four years. All time BYU leader in catches, yards, and touchdowns. Highly decorated that some have projected to the top 100 overall. I’ve seen Hoffman four times this year and was never impressed. He failed to stand out and I think he will struggle to make an impact in the NFL. At his size, I’d expect a player to be more physical but Hoffman was often tossed around by the stronger defensive backs he was matched up against. In addition, he doesn’t have deep speed and struggles to run himself open underneath. Hoffman is a solid hands catcher that will get drafted at some point, but there are too many important factors to the position that I don’t like about him.
#41 Uani’ Unga – ILB – 6’1/233
Under the radar linebacker that always caught my attention while scouting Van Noy. Unga started off at Oregon State before transferring in 2010, sitting out the 2011 season. 2013 is really the first season that he has made an impact, thus why you rarely see his name out there. He has very good movement ability, showing top tier balance and short area quickness. He is a linebacker that gets off blocks well and will get his hat in on a lot of action. Drops in to a deep zone coverage with ease and there were times where he actually matched up with slot receivers and stuck with them on seam routes 20-30 yards down the field. Unga may not be a top tier prospect, but I think he is a guy that should be drafted late to see if he can evolve in to a rotational and/or quality backup.
Potential UDFAs to Look For:
#9 Daniel Sorenson – S – 6’1/215
#82 Kaneakua Friel – TE – 6’5/250
WASHINGTON
*#25 Bishop Sankey – RB – 5’10/203
Third year junior that is expected to leave school this offseason. I’ve seen Sankey a lot in 2013 and I think he may end up being the top running back from this class when all is said and done. Don’t be mistaken by his lack of elite size, Sankey is a tough ball carrier to bring to the ground. He breaks a lot of tackles by missing the meat of a hit from tacklers. His low center of gravity, elite balance, and ability to change direction allow him to gain extra yards every time he touches the ball. Once in the open field he has shown the ability to run away from defensive backs. I’m not sure he will show the elite speed at workouts, but he makes it happen on gameday. Sankey should be a taken somewhere in the first two rounds with the possibility of sneaking in to the end of round one.
*#88 Austin Seferian-Jenkins – TE – 6’6/266
When a tight end prospect with Division I basketball experience at this size is coming in to the NFL, everyone perks up. Seferian-Jenkins had a big year in 2012 but failed to take the leap this year. I was disappointed in the games of his that I saw. He lacks the quick twitch and movement skills that I like in receivers. In addition, he doesn’t make an impact as a blocker. At his size, I have to believe there is an issue with his desire to mix it up in the trenches. I would advise him to go back for his senior year because the upside is there, he simply needs to show that he can improve on his weaknesses. Coming out now could result in him being a 3rd or 4th round pick. If he can put out some better tape in 2014, he could be a 1st rounder in the 2015 class easily.
#1 Sean Parker – S – 5’10/190
Fourth year senior that has started every game since the start of 2011. If it weren’t for his lack of ideal size, Parker would be considered a first round pick. He is a consistently productive defensive back that can play multiple roles. He actually has the movement ability to play cornerback at the next level in most schemes and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up there. Parker has great ball skills and anticipates the action as good as any safety in the nation. He is rarely fooled, rarely caught out of position. I like his game a lot in a league where the passing game has completely taken over the offensive game. There is a lot you can do with him. I view him as a 3rd-4th rounder that will play at a level that exceeds his draft position.
#17 Keith Price – QB – 6’1/202
Fifth year senior that has a shot at getting drafted late. Price is a thick-framed signal caller that can rifle the ball in to tight gaps. He is a smart player that takes calculated risks. Athletic player that doesn’t look to run first in most cases but makes an impact with his legs. Price has had some bad games, however. Bad to the point where I think there is a shot he won’t be in the league within 2-3 years. His accuracy woes when throwing the ball deep are scary. He doesn’t have the necessary touch when throwing in the intermediate window either. A QB coach may want a kid with more tools than Price when looking for a project, but I think the toughness and arm strength will get him drafted somewhere in the later rounds.
Potential UDFAs to Look For:
#37 Princeton Fuiamano – ILB – 6’1/217
#8 Kevin Smith – WR – 5’11/214
BBI Guest Contributor
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.