Slimm's 2012 Underrated Junior Prospects (including draft eligible underclassmen)

[Pachyderm_Wave]

I'm going to start off with a kid who's long, lean, and has an extremely bright future ahead of him in the NFL, should he decide to come out early after this season. At 6'6", 250 pounds, Devin Taylor has the ideal frame and length to man the RDE spot in a 4-3.... reminds me a little bit of a young Jason Taylor.

He had 7.5 sacks, to go with 13 TFL's last year in Ellis Johnson's attacking style defense. He's going to have the #1 recruit in the country (Jadeveon Clowney) playing opposite of him at the other DE spot this year.... another 6'6", 250 pound athletic beast.

Teams are going to have their hands full blocking these two ends, along with defensive tackle Melvin Ingram (9 sacks last year).

I look for Spurrier to have South Carolina in the SEC title game again this year... they're absolutely loaded with talent everywhere... on both sides of the ball.








Devin Taylor vs. Alabama & Georgia:




[video=youtube;caMRfFsBOVY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caMRfFsBOVY[/video]









Devin Taylor vs. Kentucky & Auburn:




[video=youtube;2GF1WejUYsA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GF1WejUYsA[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Jonathan Massaquoi is a "local" kid who's playing right down the road here at Troy University, and racked up 13.5 sacks along with 20.5 TFL's as a redshirt sophomore last season. Normally, I would think a kid like this tends to get overlooked due to playing in the Sun Belt Conference....but that's never the case at Troy.

Scouts are well aware of the talent that has come out of Troy over the years, and especially at defensive end (Demarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora, Leodis McKelvin, Jerrel Jernigan, Cameron Sheffield, etc.) If he comes out early, it's because he had another monster season, and obviously got some good news from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee....


Massaquoi is also the cousin of Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, and Browns wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi.







Massaquoi vs. Ohio:




[video=youtube;dWq3tOuFVMU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWq3tOuFVMU[/video]

 

[hoops]

Jonathan Massaquoi is a "local" kid who's playing right down the road here at Troy University, and racked up 13.5 sacks along with 20.5 TFL's as a redshirt sophomore last season. Normally, I would think a kid like this tends to get overlooked due to playing in the Sun Belt Conference....but that's never the case at Troy.

Scouts are well aware of the talent that has come out of Troy over the years, and especially at defensive end (Demarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora, Leodis McKelvin, Jerrel Jernigan, Cameron Sheffield, etc.) If he comes out early, it's because he had another monster season, and obviously got some good news from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee....


Massaquoi is also the cousin of Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, and Browns wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi.







Massaquoi vs. Ohio:




[video=youtube;dWq3tOuFVMU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWq3tOuFVMU[/video]

looks like a guy who with that big butt can carry another 15 lbs of good weight and be a 4-3 end...plays like a 4-3 end to me...don't know how he fares at the poa vs the run though

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Ronnell Lewis is another kid who falls squarely into the "hybrid" category. Too small to play defensive end in the NFL at 6'2", 240...but an ideal fit at OLB in a 3-4 for a team that runs a system like the Packers or Steelers.

This kid really jumps out at me on film with his athletic ability, even though his doesn't have the eye popping production (yet) of some other prospects I've looked at. If he continues to improve, and manages to double his production this season as a Junior, I think he has 1st round potential.





Ronnell Lewis vs. Nebraska:




[video=youtube;liV5727zYNk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liV5727zYNk[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

The defensive line classes seem to get deeper and more talented every year to me. It wasn't like this 15-20 years ago.

Donte Paige-Moss wasn't quite able to match Robert Quinn's outstanding production from the defensive end position for the Tarheels last year (remember, Quinn was ineligible) but Paige-Moss was still able to fill in quite adequately for Robert Quinn.... notching 7 sacks and 13.5 TFL's in his first season as a starter.

He's very similar to Robert Quinn in stature at 6'4", 260 pounds, but probably falls a tad short of the freakish athletic ability of Quinn. Either way, Paige-Moss is a key cog on another stellar defensive line unit for UNC that includes Seniors Quinton Coples and Tydreke Powell.






Paige-Moss vs. Tennessee:




[video=youtube;L63QHiPn52g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L63QHiPn52g&feature=player_embedded[/video]







Paige-Moss vs. Virginia Tech:




[video=youtube;QmaLtMFwN04]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmaLtMFwN04[/video]









Paige Moss vs. N.C. State & Florida St.:




[video=youtube;4KTn9mPOiAA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KTn9mPOiAA[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

I'd venture to guess that Dontari Poe is one of the least known defensive tackles in the entire country playing at Memphis, but this kid has the talent to be playing nose tackle on just about any defensive line in the SEC.

I doubt he comes out early this year, but just in case he does... he's a 6'5", 350 pound monster who possesses some pretty unique attributes.

He needs to be coached up a little more, but would come in pretty handy being groomed for a year or two behind Paul Solia for a team like Miami.


He's big #74 right in the middle for Memphis....




Dontari Poe vs. UTEP:




[video=youtube;JLM8lOj0MrU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLM8lOj0MrU&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Speaking of big guys that can move, there isn't one in the country on the defensive line with more upside and athletic ability than Jerel Worthy.


This kid is incredibly quick off the ball, and appears to understand leverage. The only problem I see with him is that he needs to use his hands better to gain control of his counterpart...

Legitimate talent and upside with 1st round ability if he reaches his potential... perhaps even top 20 potential.






Jerel Worthy vs. Wisconsin:




[video=youtube;1ErZOVCeeIQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ErZOVCeeIQ[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

I think most college football folks are fairly aware of Peter Konz and what a fabulous center he is for the Wisconsin Badgers. The Big-10 has the two best center prospects in the country as far as I'm concerned with Konz and Mike Brewster...

(I guess this one's for you hoops.... I know you love this kid)

They just don't get much better than this guy right here... watch and enjoy.





Peter Konz vs. TCU:





[video=youtube;szc_lifemDE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szc_lifemDE&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

This guy right here is a big reason why Andrew Luck is able to stand back there and pick apart defenses. Jonathan Martin isn't the best left tackle in the draft if he comes out (that would be Matt Kalil in my opinion) but Martin is plenty good enough.

Martin has pretty decent feet, but lacks the punch to really stun defenders. He tends to let defenders close the hip gap on him because he can't "sit" and punch... doesn't anchor against the rush as well as he should. Needs to get stronger...

Good player, but I need to see more from him as a Junior to give him a high grade....





Jonathan Martin vs. Arizona:




[video=youtube;x-M4PhXj3Gc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-M4PhXj3Gc[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Anyone that likes Tank Carder, can't help but like this kid right here... Shayne Skov is a patriot missile in pads...

He's a tad bigger than Carder, and the performances Skov put on towards the end of the season were some of the best in the entire country from a linebacker, especially his Orange Bowl performance against Virginia Tech. This is a kid who I think is very much subject to come out early....






Shayne Skov vs. Notre Dame:




[video=youtube;ieo_ansbJmA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieo_ansbJmA&feature=related[/video]








Shayne Skov vs. USC, Arizona & Oregon:




[video=youtube;tO1tR_VTIOk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO1tR_VTIOk[/video]








Shayne Skov vs. Virginia Tech:




[video=youtube;amQU1TPoj1g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amQU1TPoj1g&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Now this kid is one of the most underrated defenders in the country.... If you want to see what a tackling machine looks like, look no further than this guy right here...


Luke Kuechly is on pace to set the NCAA record for tackles if he keeps producing at the rate he has his first two seasons at Boston College. He's always been a fantastic tackler and stout against the run, but he's beginning to become more versatile as he improves his pass coverage. Needs to continue to add a little bulk this season as a Junior... then I think he's well on his way to NFL starter in the middle of someone's 4-3 defense.







Luke Kuechly vs. Clemson:




[video=youtube;YQchsQlvJZg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQchsQlvJZg[/video]









Luke Kuechly vs. Nevada:




[video=youtube;Iz1g1K-wPqo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz1g1K-wPqo&feature=related[/video]

 

[hoops]

hey slimm...did you put these cuts together yourself???

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Clemson isn't necessarily known for producing quality NFL talent at the tight end position, but Dwayne Allen is probably the best tight end I've seen in a Clemson uniform since Bennie Cunningham back in the 70's..

He's a terrific, and fundamentally sound blocker for a kid who's just now going into his Junior season. Not to mention a nice weapon to have in the passing game. He passes my eyeball test for the tight end position rather comfortably.





Dwayne Allen vs. Boston College:




[video=youtube;kLGLyVVS6yw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLGLyVVS6yw[/video]

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

hey slimm...did you put these cuts together yourself???

Some of 'em, mainly the SEC games... I have a guy who does a lot of them for me to get around to all the conferences in order to get a look at the numerous quality prospects. Every conference has talent somewhere...

 

[hoops]

Some of 'em, mainly the SEC games... I have a guy who does a lot of them for me to get around to all the conferences in order to get a look at the numerous quality prospects. Every conference has talent somewhere...

bravo my friend...bravo