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Many of you probably don’t care but I thought I would post some tidbits around the league from my talks with scouts and film reviews so far this year.

DRAFT TIDBITS

Villanova OT Ben Ijalana would be a top 15 choice if he had the size of Michael Roos, despite that he is a legit first round possibility. I have said it before and I will keep pounding this home that he should have won the Walter Payton Award. Quite an argument could be made for this kid. All of the tape I have seen he has not allowed any sacks, only one penalty and it was a bad call, and nobody else around the country has been lights out like Ijalana every play every week this year. He is the best player in the country right now. Besides being massive he is strong as an ox, has great feet, plays with good knee bend, will road grade defenders driving them 10-15 yards down the field, and he simply doesn’t get beat. If you watch most of his tape very few players actually try testing him anymore because it is almost useless. UNH DE Brian McNally did and despite being one of the best in the nation simply could not get around him.

Central Arkansas DE Markell Carter has vaulted all the way to number one on my position rankings of small school prospects. He is getting legit late round consideration right now after an impressive season. His production both in tackles for loss, sacks, and hurrying quarterbacks have raised eyebrows this fall.

As many as six App State players are getting interest from the NFL but only two are considered possible draft picks in ILB D.J. Smith and FS Mark LeGree. Both players have limitations as Smith scored just a 9 on the wonderlic last spring and is 5’10 ¼, despite being listed at 6’1 by ASU. However, he is strong, makes plays, and has the bulk to play inside linebacker in the NFL. The move from outside to inside has been the best thing for his stock as he probably lacks the smarts and hips to play outside and cover but could be a thumper inside to take on blocks by guards. LeGree is not the fastest (4.60E) but he has great ball skills and his 20 on the wonderlic puts him in elite company. He will pick up any system very quickly. The rest of ASU’s players are fringe free agents and I don’t expect any of the others to make a roster.

Lehigh OT Will Rackley had a rocky start to the year against Villanova and Drake but has since been lights out. He almost won Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors and is hovering in the mid rounds right now.

I know his numbers are down but SIU CB Korey Lindsey is the best pure cover corner in FCS. He simply blankets receivers giving no cushion and has great hips, ball skills, and can return punts. He is a projected 3rd-4th round pick right now. He has an invite to the NFLPA Texas vs. Nation Game but is likely going to the Shrine or Senior Bowl.

According to my sources you can expect Delaware QB Pat Devlin, Hampton DT Kenrick Ellis, Villanova OT Ben Ijalana, Nova WR Matt Szczur, and possibly a couple more FCS players to play in the Senior Bowl.

Southeastern Louisiana OT Kevin Hughes is getting a lot of interest right now as a 5th-7th round pick and should have been a first-team All-SLC selection. He has played pretty well this year.

At South Carolina State everyone knows about OT Johnny Culbreath but he has had a down year dropping from a PFA to FA on my board. The player to watch on their offense is OT Josh Harrison who was named MEAC OL of the Year but would have to move inside to guard at the next level.

Among those players whose stock has fallen this year include Citadel CB Cortez Allen, JSU OT Curt Porter, Gardner-Webb OG Corey O’Daniel, Wofford OG Pat Illig, and Elon DE Brandon Ward.

A couple sleepers to keep tabs on are SC State LB David Erby, Hampton DE Brandon Peguese, Yale TE Chris Blohm, Norfolk State RB DeAngelo Branche, and Princeton WR Trey Peacock who have all quietly risen up draft boards.

SCFBF - any word on Stephen Skelton at Fordham?

6-5, 250 and very athletic at TE.

danefan wrote:SCFBF - any word on Stephen Skelton at Fordham?

6-5, 250 and very athletic at TE.

Had a down year. Likely free agent right now.

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:Villanova OT Ben Ijalana would be a top 15 choice if he had the size of Michael Roos, despite that he is a legit first round possibility. I have said it before and I will keep pounding this home that he should have won the Walter Payton Award. Quite an argument could be made for this kid. All of the tape I have seen he has not allowed any sacks, only one penalty and it was a bad call, and nobody else around the country has been lights out like Ijalana every play every week this year. He is the best player in the country right now. Besides being massive he is strong as an ox, has great feet, plays with good knee bend, will road grade defenders driving them 10-15 yards down the field, and he simply doesn’t get beat. If you watch most of his tape very few players actually try testing him anymore because it is almost useless. UNH DE Brian McNally did and despite being one of the best in the nation simply could not get around him.

I agree, Ijalana is a player. But he never had a prayer to win the Payton award - voters would need to see him play in order to be convinced to vote for him and most voters don't see any of the players they are voting on.

GannonFan wrote:

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:Villanova OT Ben Ijalana would be a top 15 choice if he had the size of Michael Roos, despite that he is a legit first round possibility. I have said it before and I will keep pounding this home that he should have won the Walter Payton Award. Quite an argument could be made for this kid. All of the tape I have seen he has not allowed any sacks, only one penalty and it was a bad call, and nobody else around the country has been lights out like Ijalana every play every week this year. He is the best player in the country right now. Besides being massive he is strong as an ox, has great feet, plays with good knee bend, will road grade defenders driving them 10-15 yards down the field, and he simply doesn’t get beat. If you watch most of his tape very few players actually try testing him anymore because it is almost useless. UNH DE Brian McNally did and despite being one of the best in the nation simply could not get around him.

I agree, Ijalana is a player. But he never had a prayer to win the Payton award - voters would need to see him play in order to be convinced to vote for him and most voters don't see any of the players they are voting on.

Not to mention 80 percent of the voters still would not know why if they had seen him. Most folks don't really know what a great offensive lineman is because there are no official stats.

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:Smith scored just a 9 on the wonderlic last spring

I remember you saying this before... but, I really have a hard time believing it.

He's an accounting major. Seems like he would struggle a GREAT deal in a demanding major like that if he could only get a 9 on the Wonderlic.

Any buzz on Theo Sherman's propects? I would imagine he's between PFA and FA.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:Smith scored just a 9 on the wonderlic last spring

I remember you saying this before... but, I really have a hard time believing it.

He's an accounting major. Seems like he would struggle a GREAT deal in a demanding major like that if he could only get a 9 on the Wonderlic.

Teachers give breaks to football players, especially at schools like App where football is such an important part of the school. I'm not saying he is stupid but football players have tutors, get a lot of help from their teachers, and are given a much lighter work load than most. In fact most normal students graduate in four years but it usually takes a football player five years. Some it takes longer.

This is why people are so impressed when players like Christian Ponder or Pierre Banks come along who graduate in three years because they not only took on a heavier workload from their teammates but a heavier load than many non-athletes.

All I'm saying is that he scored low which means that he usually takes a little longer to process information or doesn't process accurately when he is rushed. He is probably rarely given a strict time limit on tests and papers but when he has to make a split second decision on the field you can tell it takes him a second longer.

With all of that said I have the results sitting here on my desk. I wouldn't lie about that.

mcveyrl wrote:Any buzz on Theo Sherman's propects? I would imagine he's between PFA and FA.

Yeah probably a free agent.

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:
Teachers give breaks to football players, especially at schools like App where football is such an important part of the school. I'm not saying he is stupid but football players have tutors, get a lot of help from their teachers, and are given a much lighter work load than most. In fact most normal students graduate in four years but it usually takes a football player five years. Some it takes longer.

I think that's more prevalent in the BCS/FBS schools than FCS. At least from the players I know. They don't all take on PE/kinesiology and a lot of guys only have their 4 years. We've lost players because of grades (2 starters, from 2009, actually had to leave) and have players who do not get in to the U, at all, because they do not meet academic requirements. We also have several players who are in grad school in their 5th year.
I realize you are making a broad statement and maybe it's more prevalent than I know but I can only respond from what I know.

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:
Teachers give breaks to football players, especially at schools like App where football is such an important part of the school. I'm not saying he is stupid but football players have tutors, get a lot of help from their teachers, and are given a much lighter work load than most. In fact most normal students graduate in four years but it usually takes a football player five years. Some it takes longer.

This is why people are so impressed when players like Christian Ponder or Pierre Banks come along who graduate in three years because they not only took on a heavier workload from their teammates but a heavier load than many non-athletes.

All I'm saying is that he scored low which means that he usually takes a little longer to process information or doesn't process accurately when he is rushed. He is probably rarely given a strict time limit on tests and papers but when he has to make a split second decision on the field you can tell it takes him a second longer.

With all of that said I have the results sitting here on my desk. I wouldn't lie about that.

Scan it and post it. I'd love to see.

I've honestly never heard of players taking the Wonderlic their junior year. I've only heard of Wonderlics done at the Combine. A borderline draft pick taking the Wonderlic his junior year for scouts... especially if he's going to perform that badly... seems especially odd. Is it normal for juniors to take the Wonderlic for NFL scouts? Is it normal for them to be made public? You listed 22 guys in your write up. Did they all take the test last year? Do you have their scores and would you post them?

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:
Southeastern Louisiana OT Kevin Hughes is getting a lot of interest right now as a 5th-7th round pick and should have been a first-team All-SLC selection. He has played pretty well this year.

Another thing about Kevin is he played about half of the season with a severe ankle sprain and fought through it without missing any time...I know at least a couple of scouts made specific mention that they were very impressed with his toughness to play through it and that a lot of kids in his situation would have sat out the last couple of games...he's really grown up both on and off the field, and hopefully he can land on somebody's roster...fine young man!!

Skjellyfetti wrote:

SmallCollegeFBFan wrote:
Teachers give breaks to football players, especially at schools like App where football is such an important part of the school. I'm not saying he is stupid but football players have tutors, get a lot of help from their teachers, and are given a much lighter work load than most. In fact most normal students graduate in four years but it usually takes a football player five years. Some it takes longer.

This is why people are so impressed when players like Christian Ponder or Pierre Banks come along who graduate in three years because they not only took on a heavier workload from their teammates but a heavier load than many non-athletes.

All I'm saying is that he scored low which means that he usually takes a little longer to process information or doesn't process accurately when he is rushed. He is probably rarely given a strict time limit on tests and papers but when he has to make a split second decision on the field you can tell it takes him a second longer.

With all of that said I have the results sitting here on my desk. I wouldn't lie about that.

Scan it and post it. I'd love to see.

I've honestly never heard of players taking the Wonderlic their junior year. I've only heard of Wonderlics done at the Combine. A borderline draft pick taking the Wonderlic his junior year for scouts... especially if he's going to perform that badly... seems especially odd. Is it normal for juniors to take the Wonderlic for NFL scouts? Is it normal for them to be made public? You listed 22 guys in your write up. Did they all take the test last year? Do you have their scores and would you post them?

At the junior pro day players are measured, run, and take a wonderlic test. That is completely normal.

The scores are not made public and my scout buddies give me certain information because they know I won't go and post it all on the internet. Not every player takes it because some schools hold junior pro days but those are usually some of the big schools. The only reason an App player would not have taken it is because they might not have been around when the scouts came in.

One thing that probably would surprise most App folks is that a few teams like Daniel Kilgore more than LeGree and Smith. Some teams feel Smith doesn't fit in their scheme while others think LeGree is a bit slow (4.6) and they project Kilgore to guard. I must say from looking at film I can see why scouts would like him. Apparently he is bigger than ASU lists him too. I'm told he might be a bit over 6'3 and is closer to 300 than 285.