As depicted by the picture above, Vontaze Burfict is a force to be reckoned with. Lots of folks around the NFL and scouting field have concerns with Burficts character issues. Dennis Allen did not handle Burfict properly at all during his tenure at Arizona State, which in turn led to on and off-the-field issues. ScoutHype believes that his tangible tools will weigh out his current character issues in time.
Size: Burfict comes in at a beastly 6'3" and weighing in at 253 bounds. Not only is his size very good, but he has great lateral quickness as well. There is no doubt Burfict can light up any player at any given time.
Athleticism: Burfict manages his size very well with great agility sideline to sideline. Burfict has had virtually not injuries and has great durability, not taking many plays off. His production was high throughout his college career, with a slip drop-off this past season.
ScoutHype Projected Pick: Mid to late first round; may slip into second round if combine interviews go poorly.
Overall: We firmly stand by our projection of Burfict as a mid to late first rounder. Although his character issues are very well documented, taking a chance on a guy of this caliber will pay its dividends sooner rather than later. There is no doubt in our mind that Burfict is an elite level talent who will be a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for years to come.
Player Profile: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
Fletcher Cox is another player who has really risen up the draft boards since the end of college football season. An undersized defensive tackle, Cox was a key cog in the machine for a good Mississippi State defense. Cox has been making an impact for the Bulldogs since his Freshman season, as well as an All-SEC nominee his sophomore season.
Size: At 6'4", 296, Cox is undersized for his position. While his pure size might be lacking, his athleticism and agility more than makes up for it. NFL teams may shy away from his size, but I expect his stock to rise sharply after the combine.
Athleticism/Skill Set: As previously mentioned, Cox makes up for his lack of size with great athleticism. Cox has a quick burst through the line of scrimmage, making him an great pass rusher out of the tackle position. Couple his pass rushing skills with his ability to stop the run effectively, Cox should see success shortly into his NFL career.
ScoutHype Projected Pick: Mid-to-late first round.
Overall: What Cox lacks in size he more than makes up for with pure athleticism. Playing in arguably the best conference in college football definitely helps Cox be more pro-ready. Although ScoutHype ranks Cox third, behind Devon Still of Penn State and Jerel Worthy of Michigan State, we see Cox rising post-combine and being a first round selection.
Player Profile: Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina
The safety for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Antonio Allen really came onto the scene as a NFL prospect in his senior season. The military academy transfer has contributed to the Gamecocks squad ever since he first stepped on campus. He is a playmaker playing on the defensive side of the ball.
Size: Allen is pretty tall for a safety at 6'2" but only weighing 202 pounds. NFL weight training staffs would like for him to be a little bigger with his weight, but the with his frame, he will be able to fill in as he goes through NFL weight training systems.
Athleticism/Versatility: Allen has played both safety and outside linebacker at South Carolina. He played a little linebacker during his first year at South Carolina. Had a knack for intercepting passes and picking up fumbles while in college. Primarily played strong safety while playing for the Gamecocks.
ScoutHype Round Projection: Second to fourth
Overall: Rated as the second safety in ScoutHype's positional rankings behind Mark Barron, Allen has the potential to be a second round draft pick. He will probably start out as a special teams guy, but as his career in the NFL progresses, he has the talent to be a consistent starter at strong safety.
Player Profile: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
Janoris Jenkins would have been a sure first round draft pick last year if he hadn't decided to return to Florida in which he eventually go kicked off of. Jenkins was arrested three times within a 23 month period which prompted Florida Head Coach Will Muschamp to kick Jenkins off the team before the start of the 2011 football season. A season removed from playing in the daunted SEC, Jenkins continued to show he was NFL ready while playing for the small school of North Alabama.
Size: At 5'10" and 191 pounds, Jenkins is around the average size for a NFL corner. Jenkins is an excellent cover corner, but he will also come up and help against the running game
Athleticism: Jenkins has great speed, we project him to run a sub 4.45 40-yard dash at the combine at the end of this month. Excellent cover skills will let him match-up with any receiver at the next level. He also returned punts in college.
ScoutHype Round Projection: First
Overall: Jenkins should be drafted in the first round. Dallas, Cincinnati, and New England are all teams that could use his talents. After Morris Claiborne, Jenkins has the ability to be the second or third corner drafted. He should be a starter as a rookie and he has future pro-bowler written all over him.
Player Profile: Nick Perry, DE, USC
A player that has risen quickly since the end of college football season is Nick Perry. As the film study rolls along, Perry looks sharper and sharper. An all-around athlete on the defensive side of the ball, Perry is a ferocious pass rusher and has the potential to be an elite player. A comparison that comes to mind immediately is DeMarcus Ware; Perry's size and agility are very similar to that of Ware's.
Size: Perry is 6'3" and weighs in at 250 pounds. To provide a comparison, those are very similar measureables of Arizona State inside linebacker and potential first round pick Vontaze Burfict. Perry couples his size very nicely with great athleticism.
Athleticism: Perry is great off the edge, but is versatile enough to move to the outside linebacker spot in a 3-4 defensive scheme. This versatility should boost his stock come draft time. ScoutHype truly believes he is more athletic and quicker than Mario Williams, and can provide instant impact to whatever team should draft him.
ScoutHype Round Projection: High to mid first
Overall: Perry is as close to a sure thing at defensive end in this year's draft. Because of his versatility, some teams value him more than North Carolina's Quinton Coples. The combine should only increase Perry's draft stock, and ScoutHype sees him slipping into the Top 20.
Player Profile: Sean Spence, LB, Miami
One of ScoutHype's favorite defensive players in this year's NFL Draft is the U's Sean Spence. Spence is an aggressive, and athletic outside linebacker that literally plays sideline to sideline. As a highly recruited high school athlete, Spence hails from the football hot bed of Miami, Florida. The last five years has been somewhat of a down era in Miami Hurricanes football, but Spence is most definitely a bright spot.
Size: Spence is a little undersized for a prototypical NFL linebacker. He is 5'11" and he weighs in at about 225 pounds. His size is thought to be a weakness, but with his aggressiveness and athleticism, other characteristics make up for his lack of size.
Productivity: The All-ACC linebacker tallied up 83 tackles in his senior season for the Hurricanes. His tackle numbers stayed high every year he was a starter. With his size and tackling skills, Spence has the versatility to be a 4-3 outside linebacker or even a 3-4 inside linebacker at the next level.
ScoutHype Round Projection: Late second to fourth round
Overall: Spence is a can't miss product when it comes to contributing to a NFL team. Whether he gets playing time as linebacker or even special teams, he has the athleticism to help any team in the league. He reminds us of former Canes' linebacker, Jon Beason. A successful week at the Senior Bowl opened some teams' eyes for Spence and there is no doubt in our minds, that he will be a contributor to whatever team he gets drafted by.
Player Profile: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
Kendall Wright was a four-year starter at Baylor, a two time All-Big 12 honoree, and owns five school receiving records. At 5'10", Wright is definitely lacking the ideal size that receivers nowadays possess. To make up for his lack of size, he uses his pure speed and agility, as well his evasiveness to make plays any time he touches the ball. Wright definitely has first round talent written all over him, but the size concerns are not in his favor, and could slip to the second round.
Size: Kendall Wright stands at 5"10" tall. As stated before, this is not the ideal size that most NFL wide receivers possess, but Wright can make up for size with his speed. Due to his size, Wright is best suited out of the slot, posing problems for nickelbackers or linebackers covering him.
Route Running/Hands: Wright is an excellent route runner, and is explosive off the line of scrimmage. Poses a problem for any defender covering him.
Speed/Evasiveness: Easily Wright's best skill, I expect him to run a sub-4.4 at the combine. His speed allows him to break free from defenders and run free in the open field. Wright is very difficult to bring down in the open field and he possesses great footwork.
ScoutHype Round Projection: Late first to early second
Overall: ScoutHype currently has Wright ranked as the #4 receiver in this year's class, behind Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery. According to numerous league sources, several teams have Wright listed as their #1 receiver available. The only thing standing in Wright's way of being a first round selection is his size, but we truly believe his other tangible skills outweigh his size, and he should be a first round selection.
Player Profile: Zebrie Sanders, OL, Florida State
Zebrie Sanders was a four-year starter at Florida State, starting over 40 games in his college career. Not only an exceptional athlete, Sanders was an award winning violinist as well as an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America while growing up. He possesses first round talent, but his skills need to be refined for him to endure a long and successful career in the National Football League.
Size: Sanders has the size of a prototypical offensive tackle in the NFL. He stands at 6'6" and weighs 306 pounds. His lower body strength is evident by the huge size of his thighs and legs. He is just what you would want from you right or left tackle.
Versatility: After a sub-par week of practices at Senior Bowl, Sanders could get some time early in his NFL career working at offensive guard. He lacked edge protection speed and quickness at times, getting beat off the end. At guard he would not need to be as quick for edge rushers but his huge size and strong lower body would benefit him dealing with NFL defensive tackles.
ScoutHype Round Projection: Late first to mid second
Overall: Sanders has been evaluated by us as a first-second round talent in this year's NFL draft. He has the capability of playing at tackle and guard. Although his stock might have fallen slightly due to a poor senior bowl week, Sanders should definitely not fall below the second round.
Player Profile: Ladarius Green, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette
Ladarius Green is a college tight-end that the casual football fan does not know much about because he played in the Sun Belt conference. The Louisiana-Lafayette tight-end is a sleeper due to his small school collegiate career, but it does not look to affect his ability to play in the NFL. In his senior season, Green caught 51 passes including 8 of them for touchdowns.
Size: Green is 6'6", weighing in at about 230 pounds which is perfect for a tight end in the NFL. With good speed to go along with his frame, Green has NFL teams drooling over him.
Athleticism: Green is an athletic specimen who was built to play professional football. The John Mackey Award Finalist, Green, draws comparisons to Green Bay Packers TE, Jeremichael Finley.
Versatility: In the NFL, Green will be able to line up as the traditional tight end position at the end of the offensive line, or he can be split out as an extra receiver. He has the size of a tight end, but the smooth route running of a wide receiver.
ScoutHype Round Projection: Late second to third
Overall: Green is a guy that cannot be overlooked due to his high upside. After watching his film, he could increase his every down intensity, but that clearly does not overshadow his incredible athleticism that makes up for an occasional lack of effort. Green will also become a better blocker in the pro ranks after time working with a NFL coaching staff. In the end, Green has the potential to become the next great pass catching tight-end.
Player Profile: Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple
Turn on the tape, and just watch this kid run. Pierce hails from Temple, a MAC school, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If you have not heard of him yet, get to know him. Throughout his Temple career, he has accumulated 53 rushing touchdowns and over 3500 yards. In 2011, his junior season, Pierce ran for 27 touchdowns and 1,481 yards. Although he plays in the MAC, it doesn't take away from his NFL ready running skill set.
Size: Pierce is larger to most running backs standing at 6'1", weighing 218 pounds. His large frame, helps him run as violently as he does.
Durability: In 2011, Pierce carried the ball 273 times and was a large part of the Temple Owls' offense. Labeled as a "work-horse", he has the durability to make it in the NFL. He also helped Temple to a 9-4 record including a New Mexico Bowl victory over Wyoming where he eclipsed 100 yards rushing.
Running Style: After watching one minute of Pierce's film, you can tell what kind of runner he is. He will outrun you, run around you, run through you, or he will just hurdle you. One run that stands out it his touchdown run in the fourth quarter verses Army this year. In that run he stiff arms three defenders, hurdles one, and out runs the rest of the defense for a 49 yard touchdown run.
ScoutHype Round Projection: Mid-second to fourth
Overall: Whoever drafts Pierce will get a solid running back. The one thing he needs to work on translating to the next level is his pass catching ability. Pierce only had 19 career receptions in his three years at Temple. With that said, Pierce is a fierce runner that amazes me when I watch his film. I'm very excited to see how he develops in the NFL.
Player Profile: Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
Ever since the ASU-Mizzou game on September 9th, where Osweiler led the Sun Devils to 37-30 OT victory, I've grown a liking to the big fella. I, along with many other experts, were surprised he declared for the 2012 NFL Draft; although, the past week or so, experts such as Scouts INC.'s Todd McShay and Kevin Weidl have seen what Osweiler brings to the table.
Size: Osweiler comes in at a unbeliveable 6'8" and weighs in at 240 pounds. He towers over everyone on the field, even his own lineman.
Mobility: For being as big as he is, Osweiler can make plays with his feet. I don't think he'll run a blazing 40, but when Osweiler is out of the pocket he can choose to run it or throw it across the middle or down field.
Arm Strength: Osweiler has an absolute rocket of an arm and can fit it into tight windows when necessary. Can definitely make any throw down field with relative ease.
Vision: Osweiler definitely has solid vision, but could use a little work with his decision making. If there was one thing he could have stayed in school to improve, it's definitely his decision making. This will come with learning under a good veteran.
ScoutHype Round Projection: Second
Overall: I really like Osweiler. I can see him being the third QB taken after Luck and RG3. I don't see Osweiler making an immediate impact for a team, but a year on the bench to learn the offense and hone his skills, I think he has the makings of a Pro Bowl QB.
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