NFL COMBINE UPDATE

[Thumper 76]

Danny Batten and possibly Casey Knips?

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Poots has one more year. Is he coming out early?

Possibly, there is a rumor floating around the SUU campus, got the word thanks to a good friend of mine whos on the track team there so we will see.

Wow I had not heard that. He really needs to come back to school and show he can dominate and stay healthy.

[dbackjon]

Austen Lane?

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Small College- What do you think about Terrell Hudgins's chances of getting an invite to the combine?

I think they are pretty solid. A lot of my sources are saying PFA but I think with his production and dominance over his career everyone wants to get a verified 40 time on him. I just hope he doesn't get an invite and then decide not to run because that would brutally destroy his chances of getting drafted. Most think he is a 4.70-4.75 guy right now and he really needs to clock under a 4.65.

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Edwards should get one for sure. He is an amazing athlete with a stronger arm than some NFL QBs. Too many GMs are impressed enough with him that he WILL get a shot at QB, unless something bad happens to him in the postseason. NFL teams are impressed with his arm and accuracy. I can honestly say he has been the toughest player for many scouts to evaluate this fall. NFL teams have been coming through Boone like crazy to check him out. Some have sent 2-3 scouts and even a director to try and gauge where to put him.

Gilbert needs to bulk up and get more consistent. They had him do some things this year that he was not use to. Right now he is a pure FA by everyone I know so I would say he won't get an invite. Roman is too slow for a guy his size and Acitelli is too small for a tackle. Neither have a shot at the combine. Roman might get in a camp but I don't think he even warrants that. He did not have a good year.

From App State as of right now here is who I have listed as a prospect:

QB Edwards
CB Gilbert
FS LeGree
OLB Smith
WR Hillary
WR Quick

In a few years I would not be surprised if McDuffie gets looks either.

Just to understand, when you say "listed as a prospect" do you mean for this year's combines? Because the bottom four you listed all have one year left, and Quick has two. Would they be invited anyways? (I know all meet the minimum 3 years from HS requirement) McDuffie is talented, and athletic. He surely has the chance to develop into a special player.

No I mean in general. An underclassmen must declare to get a combine invite and we all know LeGree, Quick, Hillary, etc. aren't going to declare.

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Danny Batten and possibly Casey Knips?

Batten will for sure, in my opinion. Knips could but I would say he is 50/50 despite his high grade early in the year. He had an okay year but earning just second team All-MVFC honors tells me PFA at the end of the day and with a player getting a high grade in the preseason they need to have that type of year or else they usually don't get drafted. I would say he could get one but is 50/50 like I said.

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Austen Lane?

His grade was so high they did not have to vote on him. Lane is going for sure.

[dbackjon]

Austen Lane?

His grade was so high they did not have to vote on him. Lane is going for sure.

good to hear

[ASUMountaineer]

Just to understand, when you say "listed as a prospect" do you mean for this year's combines? Because the bottom four you listed all have one year left, and Quick has two. Would they be invited anyways? (I know all meet the minimum 3 years from HS requirement) McDuffie is talented, and athletic. He surely has the chance to develop into a special player.

No I mean in general. An underclassmen must declare to get a combine invite and we all know LeGree, Quick, Hillary, etc. aren't going to declare.

Ok, that's what I was thinking. Thanks man.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

SCFBF... what do you think of Nichols' chances at the next level? I think he might get drafted 6-7th round, if not then picked up free-agent much like Erik Meyer.

[JConnolly]

Small College- What do you think about Terrell Hudgins's chances of getting an invite to the combine?

I think they are pretty solid. A lot of my sources are saying PFA but I think with his production and dominance over his career everyone wants to get a verified 40 time on him. I just hope he doesn't get an invite and then decide not to run because that would brutally destroy his chances of getting drafted. Most think he is a 4.70-4.75 guy right now and he really needs to clock under a 4.65.

I'd agree with that 4.70-4.75. Thanks for the insight, I appreciate it.

[FCS Update]

Ruffin, Austin Howard, and Quinten Scott....Maybe Elija Hodge?

I like Scott the most at the next level of all of those guys. Ruffin is frustrating because he has all the talent to be a starter in the NFL but he takes plays off, doesn't have a good motor, and seems to be a guy who goes completely silent at times. Players like that just don't make it in the NFL. Plus on top of that he ran in the 4.9s in the spring. He will have to show a good motor at the Shrine Game and run in the 4.7-4.8 range and then I could easily see him getting drafted and making a roster. His postseason is going to be critical.

I thought the same thing about Austin Howard.

[native]

Dane Fletcher

Sh!t! I thought Fletcher was a senior this year and would not be back next year!

Do we have to face him again in Bozeman in 2010?!???

[CatMom]

I doubt it. We have 4 -5 guys that should, but won't be. Hell, they didn't invite Cam Luke last year so I don't hold out any hopes for this year.

Who are the 4-5 guys for this year? The only name I have on my list as a possible guy is QB Bradley George and he is really frustrating to scout. He has great size and arm strength but does not put his hips into the ball and throws off his back foot too much. If someone would work with him on his mechanics he would likely get more looks.

Luke's problem was that everyone had him at a 4.70 40 during the season and with the SFA WR they had him as a 4.40-4.45 type kid. Neither player are on NFL rosters that I know of but I would be surprised if Edison does not get picked up when the season is over, unless he has given it up.

SCFBF, Luke tried to get his time changed - for a very long time. He did a 4.55 on a soggy field in FL (his agent had him go through the drills several times there) but people had that 4.7 on their sites and he couldn't get it done. TXST staff wouldn't even help out. He's not looking/trying anymore, as far as I know. He did have a couple opps to try-out but he passed them up. I think he got dejected and has moved on.

So, how many of George's games have you actually seen the past 4 seasons? Yes, he throws off his back foot, but it's not a constant thing. QB's have these things happen but it's not a big problem in his reportoire and even when he does, he delivers. He's just big, so not very mobile. I think his biggest problem isn't so much mechanics as his age. Yes, he can be worked on and is willing to improve, as most of what he knows he learned after being in Triple A baseball for 5 years. But, you don't throw for over 9500 yds, on a mediocre team, if you aren't somewhat respectible.

So, let me restate my initial post as should/could instead. Here's my list:
Brad George - QB (scouts watching, especially the Jets)
Travis Houston - DE/Bandit (one scout has been following him for 3 years)
Andrew Brooks - TE (had scouts watching him pre-season at our camps. He got injured so may have lost stock)
O Line
Galvin Gore and/or Alex Luna

I'm sort of a novice at the combines. Do they invite lineman and D players?

We have only a handful of players in the pros from the past 4-5 years and only one of them was actually drafted so it is not a good sign for TXST players. (This includes CFL and AFL)

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

SCFBF... what do you think of Nichols' chances at the next level? I think he might get drafted 6-7th round, if not then picked up free-agent much like Erik Meyer.

From what I saw early in the year and in previous years he was a pure free agent but he was hot late in the year. I think he could get taken late as of now. I have him as a 7th-PFA projection.

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Dane Fletcher

Sh!t! I thought Fletcher was a senior this year and would not be back next year!

Do we have to face him again in Bozeman in 2010?!???

No Fletcher is a senior.

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Who are the 4-5 guys for this year? The only name I have on my list as a possible guy is QB Bradley George and he is really frustrating to scout. He has great size and arm strength but does not put his hips into the ball and throws off his back foot too much. If someone would work with him on his mechanics he would likely get more looks.

Luke's problem was that everyone had him at a 4.70 40 during the season and with the SFA WR they had him as a 4.40-4.45 type kid. Neither player are on NFL rosters that I know of but I would be surprised if Edison does not get picked up when the season is over, unless he has given it up.

SCFBF, Luke tried to get his time changed - for a very long time. He did a 4.55 on a soggy field in FL (his agent had him go through the drills several times there) but people had that 4.7 on their sites and he couldn't get it done. TXST staff wouldn't even help out. He's not looking/trying anymore, as far as I know. He did have a couple opps to try-out but he passed them up. I think he got dejected and has moved on.

So, how many of George's games have you actually seen the past 4 seasons? Yes, he throws off his back foot, but it's not a constant thing. QB's have these things happen but it's not a big problem in his reportoire and even when he does, he delivers. He's just big, so not very mobile. I think his biggest problem isn't so much mechanics as his age. Yes, he can be worked on and is willing to improve, as most of what he knows he learned after being in Triple A baseball for 5 years. But, you don't throw for over 9500 yds, on a mediocre team, if you aren't somewhat respectible.

So, let me restate my initial post as should/could instead. Here's my list:
Brad George - QB (scouts watching, especially the Jets)
Travis Houston - DE/Bandit (one scout has been following him for 3 years)
Andrew Brooks - TE (had scouts watching him pre-season at our camps. He got injured so may have lost stock)
O Line
Galvin Gore and/or Alex Luna

I'm sort of a novice at the combines. Do they invite lineman and D players?

We have only a handful of players in the pros from the past 4-5 years and only one of them was actually drafted so it is not a good sign for TXST players. (This includes CFL and AFL)

I hate that about Luke. I thought he would run 4.60-4.65 from what I saw on film so it is not hard at all to believe he ran a 4.55.

I saw George a few times over the last three years. I like him more than NFL teams do. I think he is worth bringing to a camp and some told me they would not touch him.

On the combine they invite every position, including long snappers sometimes.

[BigSkyBears]

I think UNC's Bryan Waggener should get a look for the combine. He's got size, the arm and speed. He just never had help on offense.

[GOKATS]

Sh!t! I thought Fletcher was a senior this year and would not be back next year!

Do we have to face him again in Bozeman in 2010?!???

No Fletcher is a senior.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........................., I had him going...........................

[BDKJMU]

Yeah, wishful thinking... I've seen 7th round projections for Brooks... but he's more of a maybe in my book. Just throwin him out there as he's probably the only other player on the team who could potentially receive an invite IMO.

Actually I would say Caussin has a shot to get an invite. I don't know for sure how all of the voting went down. I only know tidbits and I had not heard on Caussin or Brooks. Based on feedback I got during the year I believe Moats will get one. I would be surprised if he doesn't.

According to NFLdraftscout:

-Moats at #19 at OLB, projected 6th-7th round:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... genpos=OLB
Have Adrian Tracy also as an OLB, right behind Moats at #21 OLB, and projected 7th round.
Those 2 should be it from the CAA as far as projected OLBs. Jordan Stevens from Maine is at #99 and Osayi Osunde from Nova at #116, and McLaughlin from Maine at #156.

At de end they had W&M DT Lissimore at #56 and Kukuka from Nova at #70. I would imagine 30 some de ends would get invites, so those guys might not.

-Mike Caussin at #12 tightend and projected 7th round:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... &genpos=TE
Have Sicko from UNH at #20

-Dorian Brooks at #38 at OG:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... &genpos=OG
UMass OT Vladimir Ducasse is at #7 at OG.

-Scotty McGee at #74 at corner:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... &genpos=CB
Interstingly, his mean 40 time of 4.37 is the fastest listed among the corners- no one else among the about 220+ corners shows a sub 4.4.
So unless Scotty gets an invite as a return specialist, the CAA might not have any corners at the combine, as the other CAA are from UNH at #98, Jackman from Hofstra at #108, and Williams from UR at #119.

-Sam Daniels at #95 at DT, one spot behind Collier from UMass
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... &genpos=DT
The highest from the CAA is Gilbeaux from UD at #32.

-Rockheed McCarter at #153 WR, rated behind 6 other CAA receivers who were ranked 102-137
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/ds ... &genpos=WR
-Leonard from URI
-Harvey from Nova
-Landis from Maine
-both Cruz and Horne from UMass
-Duncan from UD
So it doesn't look like any receivers from the CAA will get invites to the combine either.

[BDKJMU]

So as far as those 6 JMU seniors, my guess would be:
-Moats- drafted late 2nd day
-Caussin- drafted late 2nd day
-Brooks- maybe a combine invite, not drafted, will get a free agent contract to be in someone's camp, long shot to make a team, hopefully could make a practice squad.
-McGee- maybe a combine invite, not drafted, will get a free agent contract to be in someone's camp, long shot to make a team, hopefully can make a practice squad.
-Daniels- no combine invite, not drafted, might get invited to tryout at a rookie minicamp, no free agent contract
-McCarter-no combine invite, not drafted, might get invited to tryout at a rookie minicamp, no free agent contract.

In 07' Akeem Jordan didn't get a combine invite as I recall, yet after a tryout with the Eagles got a free agent contract, made the practice squad, got promoted, and was the Eagles leading tackler before he got injured earlier this season.
http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagle ... dan_1.html

And then you have JD Skolnitsky who this year made the Redskins practice squad after he got suspended for his senior season. Too bad JMU didn't have him this season alongside Moats and Daniels...
http://www.redskins.com/gen/players/J_D__Skolnitsky.jsp

You have Alvin Banks who signed 2 free agent contracts with the Jets on 07' and 08' but was cut both times and don't believe he ever made their active roster.

So surprisingly I think only 2 guys this decade from JMU have made NFL rosters unless I'm forgetting someone from the early part of the decade. There are numerous who got free agent contracts but got cut in summer camps: 2 recent ones that come to mind are Evan McCollough (09') and Corey Davis (07').

Numerous others in the 2000's who might have gotten a rookie tryout but never got free agent contracts that many JMU fans thought would, guys who were All Americans: Rodney Landers, Tony Lezotte, Justin Rascatti, John Baranowsky, Kevin Winston, Jerame Southern, to name a few.

[BDKJMU]

In 07' Akeem Jordan didn't get a combine invite as I recall, yet after a tryout with the Eagles got a free agent contract, made the practice squad, got promoted, and was the Eagles leading tackler before he got injured earlier this season.
http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagle ... dan_1.html

And then you have JD Skolnitsky who this year made the Redskins practice squad after he got suspended for his senior season. Too bad JMU didn't have him this season alongside Moats and Daniels...
http://www.redskins.com/gen/players/J_D__Skolnitsky.jsp

You have Alvin Banks who signed 2 free agent contracts with the Jets on 07' and 08' but was cut both times and don't believe he ever made their active roster.

So surprisingly I think only 2 guys this decade from JMU have made NFL rosters unless I'm forgetting someone from the early part of the decade. There are numerous who got free agent contracts but got cut in summer camps: 2 recent ones that come to mind are Evan McCollough (09') and Corey Davis (07').

Numerous others in the 2000's who might have gotten a rookie tryout but never got free agent contracts that many JMU fans thought would, guys who were All Americans: Rodney Landers, Tony Lezotte, Justin Rascatti, John Baranowsky, Kevin Winston, Jerame Southern, to name a few.

And how could I forget to mention Derrick Lloyd, the 2000 Buchanan winner from JMU, another guy who never made an NFL roster. Same with De end Chris Morant, a 01' Buchanan finalist. Same with Marcus Haywood who finiahed 6th in the Buchanan voting last yr.