2016 NFL Draft Prospects

[DKphin]

Another year passes and we look to the future as a bitter taste is left from the outcome of the previous year - wash, rinse, repeat. Once again I chronicle the prospects that can potentially improve our team, but with the prior moves of the FO, we hold little hope of this happening. Let's hope that future choices are not predicated on the blunders of the past.

Prospects are in no particular order

QB
1.Paxton Lynch Memphis 6-6 230(pg.1)
13.Jared Goff California 6-4 210(pg.2)
25.Connor Cook MSU 6-4 220(pg.4)
37.Carson Wentz NDSU 6-5 232(pg.6)
49.Christian Hackenberg Penn State 6-4 236(pg.8)
61.Jake Coker Alabama 6-6 236(pg.9)
74.Jacoby Brissett NCSU 6-4 236(pg.11)
86.Nate Sudfeld Indiana 6-6 236(pg.12)
98.Josh Woodrum Liberty 6-3 231(pg.13)
110.Dak Prescott Mississippi State 6-2 226 (pg.15)
122.Jason Vander Laan Ferris State 6-4 244(pg.16)
134.Brandon Allen Arkansas 6-1 217(pg.18)
146. Max Wittek Hawaii 6-4 240(pg.19)
158.Jake Rudock Michigan 6-3 207(pg.20)
170.Joel Stave Wisconsin 6-5 236(pg.22)
182.Cody Kessler Southern California 6-1 220(pg.23)
RB
**2.Ezekiel Elliott Ohio St. 6-0 225(pg.1)
14.Derrick Henry Alabama 6-2 242(pg.2)
26.Alex Collins Arkansas 5-11 218(pg.4)
38.Kenneth Dixon Louisiana Tech 5-10 212(pg.7)
50.Devontae Booker Utah 5-11 212(pg.8)
62.Jordan Howard Indiana 6-1 225(pg.9)
75.Kenyan Drake Alabama 6-1 210(pg.11)
87.Devon Johnson Marshall 6-1 253(pg.12)
99.Keith Marshall Georgia 5-11 219(pg.13)
111.Paul Perkins UCLA 5-10 208(pg.15)
123.Tyler Ervin San Jose State 5-10 192(pg.16)
135.C.J. Prosise Notre Dame 6-0 220(pg.18)
147.Daniel Lasco California 6-0 209 (pg.19)
159.Tre Madden Southern California 6-0 223(pg.21)
171.Kelvin Taylor Florida 5-10 207(pg.22)
183.Aaron Green Texas Christian 5-11 203(pg.23)
WR
3.Laquon Treadwell Ole Miss 6-2 210(pg.1)
15.Corey Coleman Baylor 5-10 190(pg.2)
27.Michael Thomas Ohio St. 6-3 210(pg.4)
39.Tyler Boyd Pittsburgh 6-2 200(pg.7)
51.Josh Doctson Texas Christian 6-2 195(pg.8)
63.Rashard Higgins Colorado State 6-2 188(pg.9)
76.Will Fuller Notre Dame 6-0 184(pg.11)
88.Braxton Miller Ohio State 6-0 206(pg.12)
100.Sterling Shepard Oklahoma 5-10 194(pg.14)
112.Charone Peake Clemson 6-2 209(pg.15)
124.Pharoh Cooper South Carolina 5-11 203(pg.16)
136.Demarcus Robinson Florida 6-1 203(pg.18)
148.Keyarris Garrett Tulsa 6-3 220(pg.19)
160.Jakeem Grant Texas Tech 5-7 168(pg.21)
172.Kolby Listenbee TCU 6-0 197(pg.22)
184.Jordan Payton UCLA 6-1 207(pg.23)
TE
4.Hunter Henry Arkansas 6-5 253(pg.1)
16.Bryce Williams ECU 6-6 258(pg.2)
28.Jake McGee Florida 6-5 249(pg.5)
40.Austin Hooper Stanford 6-4 248(pg.7)
52.Nick Vannett Ohio State 6-6 256(pg.8)
64.Beau Sandland Montana State 6-4 253(pg.9)
77.Ben Braunecker Harvard 6-4 252(pg.11)
89.Henry Krieger Coble Iowa 6-3 248(pg.12)
101.Jerell Adams South Carolina 6-5 247(pg.14)
113.Tyler Higbee Western Kentucky 6-6 249(pg.15)
125.Temarrick Hemingway South Carolina St. 6-5 244(pg.17)
137.Steven Scheu Vanderbilt 6-5 253(pg.18)
149.Adam Fuehne Southern Illinois 6-7 257(pg.20)
161.Ryan Malleck Virginia Tech 6-4 247(pg.21)
173.Kyle Carter Penn St. 6-3 244(pg.22)
185.Darion Griswold Arkansas State 6-5 255(pg.23)
OG/C
5.Cody Whitehair Kansas St. 6-4 304(OG)(pg.1)
17.Ryan Kelly Alabama 6-4 297(OC)(pg.2)
29.Landon Turner North Carolina 6-3 325(OG)(pg.5)
41.Nick Martin Notre Dame 6-4 302(OC)(pg.7)
53.Christian Westerman Arizona State 6-3 296(OG)(pg.8)
65.Jack Allen Michigan St. 6-1 297(OC)(pg.10)
78.Joshua Garnett Stanford 6-5 317(OG)(pg.11)
90.Max Tuerk USC 6-5 285(OC)(pg.12)
102.Spencer Drango Baylor 6-6 315(OG)(pg.14)
114.Graham Glasgow Michigan 6-6 307(OC)(pg.15)
126.Sebastian Tretola Arkansas 6-4 314(OG)(pg.17)
138.Evan Boehm Missouri 6-2 302(OC)(pg.18)
150.Vadal Alexander Louisiana St. 6-5 326(OG)(pg.20)
162.Austin Blythe Iowa 6-2 298(OC)(pg.21)
174.Joe Dahl Washington State 6-4 304(OG)(pg.22)
186.Marcus Henry Boise State 6-2 299(OC)(pg.23)
OT
6.Laremy Tunsil Ole Miss 6-5 305(pg.1)
18.Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame 6-6 315(pg.3)
30.Taylor Decker Ohio St 6-7 315(pg.5)
42.Jack Conklin Michigan St. 6-6 318(pg.7)
54.Shon Coleman Auburn 6-6 313(pg.8)
66.Germain Ifedi Texas A&M 6-5 325(pg.10)
79.Jason Spriggs Indiana 6-6 301(pg.11)
91.Le'Raven Clark Texas Tech 6-6 312(pg.12)
103.Willie Beavers Western Michigan 6-4 324(pg.14)
115.Kyle Murphy Stanford 6-6 305(pg.16)
127.John Theus Georgia 6-6 313(pg.17)
139.Joe Haeg North Dakota St. 6-6 304(pg.19)
151.Cole Toner Harvard 6-5 306(pg.20)
163.Caleb Benenoch UCLA 6-5 311(pg.21)
175.Pearce Slater San Diego State 6-7 329 (pg.22)
187.Ryker Mathews Brigham Young 6-5 316(pg.23)
DT
**7.Robert Nkemdiche Ole Miss 6-3 296(pg.1)
19.A'Shawn Robinson Alabama 6-3 312(pg.3)
31.Austin Johnson Penn St 6-3 325(pg.5)
43.Kenny Clark UCLA 6-2 310(pg.7)
55.Jarran Reed Alabama 6-3 311(pg.8)
67.Sheldon Rankins Louisville 6-2 304(pg.10)
80.Andrew Billings Baylor 6-1 310(pg.11)
92.Vernon Butler Louisiana Tech 6-4 325(pg.13)
104.Adolphus Washington Ohio St. 6-3 301(pg.14)
116.Maliek Collins Nebraska 6-2 311(pg.16)
128.Matt Ioannidis Temple 6-3 299(pg.17)
140.Sheldon Day Notre Dame 6-1 293(pg.19)
152.Chris Jones Mississippi St. 6-6 310(pg.20)
164.Hassan Ridgeway Texas 6-3 303(pg.21)
176.Vincent Valentine Nebraska 6-4 329(pg.22)
188.Javon Hargrave South Carolina State 6-1 309(pg.23)
DE
8.Joey Bosa Ohio St. 6-5 275(pg.1)
20.DeForest Buckner Oregon 6-7 290(pg.3)
32.Shaq Lawson Clemson 6-3 270(pg.5)
44.Jonathan Bullard Florida 6-3 283(pg.7)
56.Emmanuel Ogbah Oklahoma St. 6-3 275(pg.8)
68.Kevin Dodd Clemson 6-4 275(pg.10)
81.Shilique Calhoun Michigan State 6-5 252(pg.11)
93.Carl Nassib Penn State 6-7 273(pg.13)
105.Bronson Kaufusi Brigham Young 6-6 285(pg.15)
117.Anthony Zettel Penn St. 6-4 277(pg.16)
129.Ronald Blair Appalachian St. 6-2 284(pg.17)
**141.Shawn Oakman Baylor 6-8 287(pg.19)
153.Charles Tapper Oklahoma 6-3 271(pg.20)
165.Matt Judon Grand Valley State 6-3 275 (pg.21)
177.James Cowser Southern Utah 6-3 248(pg.22)
189.Alex McCalister Florida 6-6 239(pg.24)
ILB
9.Reggie Ragland Alabama 6-2 252(pg.2)
21.Kentrell Brothers Missouri 6-0 238(pg.3)
33.Tyler Matakevich Temple 6-0 232(pg.5)
45.Scooby Wright Arizona 6-0 246(pg.7)
57.Nick Vigil Utah State 6-2 230(pg.9)
69.Blake Martinez Stanford 6-2 239(pg.10)
82.Jared Norris Utah 6-1 239(pg.12)
94.Nick Kwiatkoski West Virginia 6-2 241(pg.13)
106.Josh Forrest Kentucky 6-3 249(pg.15)
118.Antonio Morrison Florida 6-1 232(pg.16)
130.Luke Rhodes William & Mary 6-2 242(pg.17)
142.Brandon Chubb Wake Forest 6-0 245(pg.19)
154.B.J. Goodson Clemson 6-1 242(pg.20)
166.Elandon Roberts Houston 6-0 235(pg.21)
178.Joe Walker Oregon 6-2 236 (pg.22)
190.Akil Blount Florida AM 6-2 245(pg.24)
OLB
10.Jaylon Smith Notre Dame 6-3 240(pg.2)
22.Myles Jack UCLA 6-1 245(pg.3)
34.Noah Spence Eastern Kentucky 6-3 261(pg.5)
46.Darron Lee Ohio State 6-1 235(pg.7)
58.Joshua Perry Ohio State 6-4 253(pg.9)
70.Leonard Floyd Georgia 6-3 232(pg.10)
71.(OLB/S)Su'a Cravens Southern Cal 6-1 216(pg.10)
83.Kyler Frackell Utah St. 6-5 244(pg.12)
95.Deion Jones Louisiana St. 6-1 219(pg.13)
107.Kamalei Correa Boise State 6-3 243(pg.15)
119.Victor Ochi Stony Brook 6-1 246(pg.16)
131.Eric Striker Oklahoma 5-11 227(pg.18)
143.Travis Feeney Washington 6-4 230(pg.19)
155.Jatavis Brown Akron 5-11 221(pg.20)
167.De'Vondre Campbell Minnesota 6-4 232(pg.20)
179.Tyrone Holmes Montana 6-4 250(pg.23)
191.Yannick Ngakoue Maryland 6-2 252(pg.24)
CB
11.Jalen Ramsey Florida St. 6-1 202(pg.2)
23.Eli Apple Ohio St. 6-0 200(pg.3)
35.Vernon Hargreaves Florida 5-11 199(pg.6)
47.Mackensie Alexander Clemson 5-10 195(pg.7)
59.Kendall Fuller Virginia Tech 6-0 197(pg.9)
72.William Jackson III Houston 6-1 195(pg.10)
84.Will Redmond Mississippi State 5-11 186(pg.12)
96.Artie Burns Miami (Fla.) 6-0 193(pg.13)
108.Xavien Howard Baylor 6-0 201(pg.15)
120.LeShaun Sims Southern Utah 6-0 203(pg.16)
132.Harlan Miller Southeastern Louisiana 6-0 182(pg.18)
144.Maurice Canady Virginia 6-1 193(pg.19)
156.Cyrus Jones Alabama 5-10 197(pg.20)
168.Deiondre' Hall Northern Iowa 6-2 199(pg.21)
180.Kevin Peterson Oklahoma State 5-10 181(pg.23)
192.D.J. White Georgia Tech 5-11 193(pg.24)
S
12.Darian Thompson Boise St. 6-2 210(FS)(pg.2)
24.Miles Killebrew Southern Utah 6-2 223(SS)(pg.4)
**36.Jalen Mills LSU 6-0 196(FS)(pg.6)
48.Jeremy Cash Duke 6-1 208(SS)(pg.8)
60.DeAndre Houston-Carson William & Mary 6-1 197(FS)(pg.9)
73.Karl Joseph West Virginia 5-11 197(SS)(pg.11)
85.Sean Davis Maryland 6-1 201(FS)(pg.12)
97.Jayron Kearse Clemson 6-4 220(SS)(pg.13)
109.Vonn Bell Ohio St. 5'11'' 199(FS)(pg.15)
121.K J Dillon West Virginia 6-0 210(SS)(pg.16)
133.Keanu Neal Florida 6-0 211(FS)(pg.18)
145.Trae Elston Ole Miss 5-11 195(SS)(pg.19)
157.Tyvis Powell Ohio St. 6-3 211(FS)(pg.20)
169.Kevin Byard Middle Tennessee 5-11 216(SS)(pg.22)
181.Deon Bush Miami 6-0 199(FS)(pg.23)
193.Derrick Kindred Texas Christian 5-10 207(SS)(pg.24)

Sleepers
194.OG Joe Thuney N.C. State 6-5 304(pg.24)
195.WR Devin Lucien Arizona State 6-2 195(pg.24)
196.DT Darius Latham Indiana 6-4 311(pg.24)
197.CB Kalan Reed Southern Miss 5-11 192(pg.24)
198.OG Isaac Seumalo Oregon State 6-4 303(pg.24)
199.OLB Joe Schobert Wisconsin 6-1 244(pg.25)
200.CB DeVante Harris Texas A&M(pg.25)


**Arrest

 

[DKphin]

1.QB Paxton Lynch Memphis 6-6 230

STRENGTHS: Excellent frame for the positions. Shows impressive touch and ball placement on a variety of NFL-type throws along with impressive mobility. Shows poise, mobility and pinpoint accuracy.
WEAKNESSES: Not yet a polished passer. Thrives in Memphis' offense, which includes a lot of wide receiver screens and in-breaking routes, largely against inferior competition. Needs to work on his footwork, touch and continue to add weight to his build.
IN OUR VIEW: With continued development, Lynch could be this year's version of Blake Bortles if he declares for the draft - a prospect from the non-Power 5 conferences who checks a lot of boxes for NFL evaluators in an average quarterback class.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1999663/paxton-lynch

Is hype about Memphis QB Paxton Lynch warranted?

What the tape loves

Size and speed: We all know that NFL teams prefer their quarterbacks to be tall enough to see over the trenches in front of them and at 6-6, Lynch can do just that. What differentiates Lynch is the rare foot quickness and overall athleticism he possesses for his size.
While watching tape, I couldn't help but think of Colin Kaepernick coming out of Nevada. Raise your hand if you just groaned after reading Kaepernick as a comparison. Well, stop groaning because their size and speed outside of the pocket are about the only comparable traits between the two.
Scheme and progressions: While Lynch operates from the shotgun or pistol 95.2 percent of the time, his passing scheme isn't just quick-hitters and single-read throws. Sure, 23 percent of Lynch's throws have been behind the line of scrimmage (typical of many college passing games), but he has the same percentage of throws from 11-20 yards.
Memphis' passing game attacks the short throws in space like most spread offenses do, but it also features a more layered, intermediate attack that asks Lynch to work through more progressions than most spread quarterbacks are asked to do.
Pocket poise: Despite his outstanding foot quickness, athleticism and ability to gain yards as a runner, Lynch's instinct seems aligned with making his living from the pocket. Lynch's offensive line isn't all-world by any stretch, but he doesn't seem overly anxious when the pocket begins to constrict and he is showing an ability to slide inside the pocket and buy time.
Lynch has scrambled from the pocket just 13 times this year, but when he does break the pocket, he shows a willingness to keep his eyes trained down the field, looking to strike through the air rather than just run.

Needs improvement

Accuracy on the move: While studying the tape on Lynch, I was very excited about his athleticism and willingness to continue to look for open targets when leaving the pocket, but his accuracy on the move showed room for improvement.
Lynch's completion percentage from inside the pocket is an impressive 72.4 percent, but it's just 38.9 percent when scrambling right and 45.5 percent when rolling out to the left. On the flip side, his 65.5 percent completion rate when rolling right shows the potential to improve his consistency in this area. Ball placement on easy throws to play-action running-back or tight-end targets was erratic and didn't always allow his receiver to catch the ball in stride to continue gaining yards after the catch.
Level of competition: Quarterbacks from schools outside of the "Power Five" conferences always have the potential to have the "lack-of-competition" tag attached to them, depending on their non-conference schedule, and Lynch is no different.
I poured over my list of senior draft prospects, which is 700 deep, and Lynch has yet to face a senior cornerback who carried a draftable grade coming into this season. Unfortunately, University of Houston cornerback William Jackson -- whose size and athleticism will make him a drafted cornerback in 2016 -- was injured last week and isn't expected to be available to challenge Lynch when the Cougars host the Tigers on Saturday.
Inconsistent arm strength: While Lynch doesn't possess a pop-gun arm, the tape didn't show the consistent zip on his passes that I was expecting to see. His release has a slight wind-up and the ball rarely comes out cleanly in a tight spiral. When he's throwing between the hashes, Lynch will usually step into his throws and drive the ball with pretty good velocity, but on his field-side throws, there is way more air under the ball than I expected. I would like to see more consistency with his velocity on all throws when needed.

Is Lynch the real deal?

While there are still games to be played and a decision for Lynch to make about whether or not to apply for draft eligibility after the season, my early look at Lynch was a positive one, though not quite as overwhelming as some of the recent scouting reports I've been reading through the media.
Lynch appears to lack some of the polish I'm seeing with Goff, for example, but draft decisions aren't made based on how a player is performing right now. They are made based on the long-term projection of ceiling vs. floor. Lynch has the physical traits teams will covet and I liked his mental makeup in the five Memphis games I watched. I'm hoping to add more pieces to the Lynch puzzle this Saturday when I scout him in person vs. Houston.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-hype-about-memphis-qb-paxton-lynch-warranted

Combine Results:
Height:6'7''
Weight:244
Arm:34 1/4
Hand:10 1/4
40(1st):4.88
10yd(1st):1.71
40(2nd):4.87
10yd(2nd):1.7
Vertical:36
Broad:9'10"


[video=youtube;Yb1FjaNRgRw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb1FjaNRgRw[/video]

 

[DKphin]

2.RB Ezekiel Elliott Ohio St. 6-0 225

STRENGTHS: Elliott is extremely well-rounded as a runner with ideal size for the position along with coordinated footwork that is always in sync with his eyes. He runs with natural pad level and fantastic forward lean, using his balance, leg drive and relentless fight to move the chains and pick up every inch he can. Plays with a strong intensity for the game.
Elliott is at his best on counter run plays, stopping on a dime and transitioning his weight to shoot through holes and dart through the second level of the defense. He displays outstanding vision to quickly read blocks and rarely runs with hesitation, bouncing away from would-be tacklers without slowing down.
WEAKNESSES: Elliott needs to become more consistent as a receiver and needs refinement as a blocker, but it's tough to find weaknesses in his run style, which is why he could projects as one of the top running backs and a likely first-round pick in the 2016 class.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2060769/ezekiel-elliott

Combine Results:
Height:6'
Weight:225
Arm:31 1/4
Hand:10 1/4
40(1st):4.46
10yd(1st):1.58
40(2nd):4.48
10yd(2nd):
Bench:16
Vertical:32.5"
Broad:9'10"

[video=youtube;rjzQwMivvIc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjzQwMivvIc[/video]

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott was involved in a minor car crash Sunday before he left with the team for the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl, according to Columbus police.
Elliott was cited for driving under suspension, driving without a license and failure to control his car after he was involved in a crash at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
Police said Elliott told them he hit a puddle and slid before colliding with another vehicle that was carrying two people. One of those people suffered a minor injury.
Elliott was not injured. A court date has been set for Jan. 26

http://espn.go.com/college-football...ott-ohio-state-buckeyes-involved-car-accident

 

[DKphin]

3.WR Laquon Treadwell Ole Miss 6-2 210

STRENGTHS: One of the most physically gifted receivers at the college level even when he was a freshman. Even when covered, he's not covered due to his size, hand strength and catching radius to physically dominate defensive backs. Treadwell always picks up more yardage than he should after the catch due to his power and athleticism
WEAKNESSES: Recovered from gruesome knee injury in 2014, but pre-draft medical checks will be key to final grade with many teams. Although he won't be a receiver who consistently creates separation, he doesn't need to with his body control and ballskills.
COMPARES TO: Dez Bryant, Cowboys - Treadwell shows a Bryant-like skillset with his size and athleticism combination to be a mismatch against cornerbacks on the outside.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079899/laquon-treadwell

Combine Results:
Height:6'2"
Weight:221
Arm:33 3/8
Hand:9 1/2
Bench:12
Vertical:33"
Broad:9'9"

[video=youtube;nb3RgSad1_g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb3RgSad1_g[/video]

 

[DKphin]

4.TE Hunter Henry Arkansas 6-5 253

STRENGTHS: His fluid athleticism at the position makes him a mismatch against linebackers and safeties and his size and strength allows him to overpower cornerbacks. Henry catches the ball well in stride with strong hands and focus, tracking and finishing in contested situations, rarely dropping the ball.
WEAKNESSES: He isn't asked to block much in the Arkansas scheme, lining up almost primarily as a slot receiver.
IN OUR VIEW: His athletic skill-set, which shows in his routes and after the catch, and reliability finishing catches will make him a highly sought after prospect.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079848/hunter-henry

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The 2015 John Mackey Award winner, Arkansas junior tight end Hunter Henry, has been named to the Walter Camp Foundation All-America first team. The nation’s oldest All-America squad is now in its 126th year. The honor was announced this evening at The Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards Show.
Henry finished the season as the Razorbacks’ second leading receiver, and his 46 receptions are the most of any SEC tight end. In addition, his 647 receiving yards, 32 first down catches and plays of 15-plus yards lead all FBS tight ends.
An All-SEC first team selection and USA TODAY All-America first team choice, Henry is Arkansas’ first ever Walter Camp All-American tight end. He is also the 16th Walter Camp All-American in school history and the 14th to earn first-team honors.

http://www.thv11.com/story/sports/n...e-henry-adds-another-national-honor/77150130/

Combine Results:
Height:6'5''
Weight:250
Arm:32 3/4
Hand:9 1/4
Bench:13

[video=youtube;iV5uBnO9pyo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV5uBnO9pyo[/video]

 

[DKphin]

5.OG Cody Whitehair Kansas St. 6-4 304

STRENGTHS: Whitehair has adequate size for the position and uses his wide base to handle speed off the edge, staying balanced and sinking his hips at the point of attack. He squares well and rides defenders away from the ballcarrier, using his punch and hand placement to lock on and engage. Whitehair plays with veteran awareness, displaying excellent vision and instincts to recognize pressures pre-snap.
WEAKNESSES: While he does a nice job handling edge speed, Whitehair can get beat when he allows rushers to attack his body, forcing him upright and on his heels. His toughness is off the charts, but he could add a pinch of nastiness to his playing recipe, eliminating catch blocks. Whitehair also tends to get grabby at times, which will attract yellow laundry at the next level, appearing much more comfortable inside rather than at tackle.
IN OUR VIEW: Whitehair isn't a household name, but is one of my favorite senior prospects for the 2016 class.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1860845/cody-whitehair

The Scouting Report
A three-star recruit out of high school, Whitehair became a starter as a redshirt freshman and has started 38 games the last three seasons. He began his career at left guard and right tackle before moving to left tackle as a junior in 2014, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors a year ago. Whitehair returned to left tackle as a senior captain in 2015 and is one of the top draft-eligible NFL prospects in the Big 12 conference.
Whitehair has adequate size for the position and uses his wide base to handle speed off the edge, staying balanced and sinking his hips at the point of attack. He squares well and rides defenders away from the ballcarrier, using his punch and hand placement to lock on and engage. Whitehair plays with veteran awareness, displaying excellent vision and instincts to recognize pressures pre-snap.
While he does a nice job handling edge speed, Whitehair can get beat when he allows rushers to attack his body, forcing him upright and on his heels. His toughness is off the charts, but he could add a pinch of nastiness to his playing recipe, eliminating catch blocks. Whitehair also tends to get grabby at times, which will attract yellow laundry at the next level, appearing much more comfortable inside rather than at tackle.
Whitehair is currently ranked as the No. 2 senior offensive guard prospect and potential top-50 draft pick for the 2016 NFL Draft by NFLDraftScout.com.
What NFL Scouts are saying
“I think he's probably better at guard in our league, but he might be able to play all five positions if needed. He knows how to neutralize speed off the edge or quickness inside…very, very well-coached and it shows on film.” – AFC North scout

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...t-the-prospect-kansas-state-ol-cody-whitehair

Combine Results:
Height:6'4''
Weight:301
Arm:32 3/8
Hand:10 1/8
40(1st):5.01
10yd(1st):1.73
40(2nd):5.06
10yd(2nd):1.74
Bench:16
Broad:9'2"
3-Cone:7.32
Short Shuttle:4.58

[video=youtube;dFfYBjqTvdc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFfYBjqTvdc[/video]

 

[j-off-her-doll]

You don't get enough love for these, DK. The draft forum wouldn't be the same without them.

 

[DKphin]

6.OT Laremy Tunsil Ole Miss 6-5 305

STRENGTHS: Quickk off the snap with tremendous lower-body flexibility. He does a tremendous job staying square to defenders, sinking in his kickslide to handle speed and absorb power at the point of attack. Comes to balance on the move and peppering rushers with a quick punch.
Tunsil doesn't have a passive bone in his body and boasts the body control to protect the edge and get out in space. Recognizes extra pressures and quickly picks up defenders on combo blocks.
WEAKNESSES: Tunsil dealt with a serious injury late in the 2014 season and long-term durability is a strong concern moving forward. Over-eager at times and needs to iron out some inconsistency in his play.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079900/laremy-tunsil

Scouting report

You can tell a lot about an offensive lineman by just looking at his feet. There are different pass-protection assignments and different rhythms based on how many steps a quarterback is taking in the pocket and if play action is involved, but the basics are the basics.
There are two cardinal rules in pass protection: First, your inside foot, so right foot for a left tackle, must always be up. Your job as a bookend is to make a pass-rusher take the longest distance to the quarterback, which is around you. You can't ever let him have an easy lane on the inside.
Second, treat your behind like a camera, and your quarterback should never leave the frame. This gets you aligned correctly in a way that puts you at the right distance to force a pass-rusher to take an outside lane.
Mississippi ran a misdirection system that featured many screen passes, so it's not directly translatable to the NFL as a whole, but there are NFL blocking concepts intertwined in the offense. From a pure skill-set standpoint, one of the first things you notice about Tunsil is his size. He's listed at 6'5" and 305 pounds by the school's official site, and he looks the part.
He's strong, to the point where he can stonewall a defensive end without having to fully extend his arms, which essentially gives a defender a steering wheel. He will just snatch his hands inside like he's a defender himself and then drop a massive anchor.
That's actually one of my favorite traits of Tunsil: how often he wins inside leverage with his hands. He was thrown to the wolves early in the season, facing Auburn's Carl Lawson and Texas A&M's Myles Garrett in his first two games back from suspension. For my money, those are two of the top three pass-rushers in the Power Five this season.
This play is a great example of what I'm talking about. Auburn's DaVonte Lambert, who has inside alignment, is his assignment. That means the left tackle has to slide over a half gap just to get in front of him so he doesn't win inside, and he has to beat his man to the mark.
You'll notice Tunsil makes contact at the line of scrimmage, while all the other Rebels offensive linemen are further in the backfield. The result? Tunsil shuts his man down for four seconds, not giving much ground at all, as his quarterback had time to show action, scan the left side of the field, scan the right side of the field and then get off a clean ball about 45 air yards from where he was standing.
A lot of Ole Miss' offense is based on quickly establishing your base rather than traditional three- or five-step kick slides that offensive tackles will see in the passing game at the next level, but when given the chance, Tunsil's feet have proved to be rapid. His stride length isn't great, but it's more of an experience issue than anything else. He's showing that he's quick to get his feet back into the ground, which is a huge plus, as whenever you make contact with your foot in the air, you're likely to find a cozy spot on the grass.
He's not perfect, but he's close. The only real slip-up he had, other than a couple of rusty false-start penalties, against the elite SEC pass-rushing duo was one play against Lawson.
He was caught bending his waist too much instead of standing tall, almost like he was sitting back into a chair. Because he was leaning into Lawson, the defender used Tunsil's own body against him, knocking down his outside arm and causing Tunsil to stare at his own shoes before frantically trying to make up for lost time.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...is-the-2016-nfl-drafts-only-elite-ol-prospect

Combine Results:
Height:6'5''
Weight:310
Arm:34 1/4
Hand:10

[video=youtube;DiNgU2jU130]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiNgU2jU130[/video]

 

[DKphin]

7.DT Robert Nkemdiche Ole Miss 6-3 296

A player who will likely receive comparisons to 2015 first round pick Leonard Williams, Nkemdiche has above average athleticism for his size, using movement skills and lower body fluidity to skirt blockers and easily change directions. He can push the pocket with power and offers the versatility to make an impact vs. the run and penetrate the pocket to make plays in the backfield.
Nkemdiche started his career outside as a defensive end before moving inside to tackle after adding weight, and is probably best suited at defensive tackle in the NFL.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079896/robert-nkemdiche

On Tuesday, Nkemdiche released a statement and apologized for his actions. He also denied a report about the substance he used.

"I want to apologize to Rebel Nation, my teammates and my coaches for my actions last weekend. I made a mistake and put myself in an environment that does not reflect who I am as a person. Contrary to a report by FOX Sports, I did not use synthetic drugs. I realize the dangers of drugs and alcohol and regret the lapse in judgement. This does not reflect the core values that my mother and father instilled in our family. I am a very spiritual person, and drugs have no place in my belief system. As I move forward, I have learned a valuable lesson about the ramifications of a bad decision. I have worked very hard to have this platform, and I want to use it in the right way and be a role model for young players. I am sorry for putting Coach Freeze in this position and will accept whatever consequences are necessary, but my hope is to finish this year's journey with my brothers."

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze has not made a decision on punishment for Nkemdiche, saying earlier this week that he would wait for all of the facts to come out before determining what to do with his star defensive lineman.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ases-statement-following-fall-at-hotel-arrest

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze has suspended All-American defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche for the Allstate Sugar Bowl matchup with Oklahoma State.

http://espn.go.com/college-football...emdiche-suspended-sugar-bowl-following-arrest

Combine Results:
Height:6'3''
Weight:294
Arm:33 7/8
Hand:10 3/8
Bench:28

[video=youtube;co-mI212glU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co-mI212glU[/video]

 

[DKphin]

8.DE Joey Bosa Ohio St. 6-5 275

STRENGTHS: Excellent core strength with a NFL body at a young age. Flexible athlete and doesn't play tight. Bosa has an explosive get-off which helps him generate an immediate advantage over offensive tackles. Better yet, he possesses terrific upper body strength and technically-refined hand usage.
Controls his momentum very well with excellent break down skills to collect himself and make plays in space. Strong hands and wrists to be a reliable striker and finisher.
Natural lateral quickness to sidestep blockers with athletic swim moves to step outside and swat inside. Good initial quickness for his size, staying low and generating an immediate push. Heavy-handed and uses his full extension to put blockers on skates. Natural knee bend at the point of attack, using his limbs to work off blocks and mirror the ballcarrier.
Very disciplined and rarely loses contain, leveraging the edge and keeping his vision in the backfield. Rarely fooled with terrific secondary quickness, not taking himself out of plays due to hustle and ball awareness. Active on stunts with experience lining up inside and outside - proven threat anywhere in the front-seven.
High degree of toughness with an understanding of what it takes to be great. Football bloodlines as the son of a three-year NFL veteran.
WEAKNESSES: Not as quick as some of the NFL's elite edge rushers. Not a quick-twitch rusher and doesn't play with consistent explosion. Needs to improve his inside shoulder dip to leverage his body into blockers around the edge.
Room to improve his gap integrity and pre-snap anticipation. Will misread plays at times and crash down, leading him to be too reactionary on plays following a mistake, cautious of making another one.
COMPARES TO: Jared Allen, DE, Panthers - The popular comparison for Bosa will be J.J. Watt, but Allen makes more sense because of their strengths on the football field. And not the current, over-the-hill version of Allen, but the double-digit sack artist and five-time Pro Bowler that played in Kansas City and Minnesota.
IN OUR VIEW: He is built for the NFL game with grown man strength and toughness as well as the athletic pass rush moves that are reminiscent of Allen.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2060764/joey-bosa

Combine Results:
Height:6'5''
Weight:269
Arm:33 3/8
Hand:10 1/4
40(1st):4.89
10yd(1st):1.69
40(2nd):4.87
10yd(2nd):1.69
Bench:24
Vertical:32"
Broad:10'
3-Cone:6.89
Short Shuttle:4.21

[video=youtube;pKSG8MbJ38c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKSG8MbJ38c[/video]

 

[DKphin]

9.ILB Reggie Ragland Alabama 6-2 252

STRENGTHS: Takes accurate first steps and shows excellent closing burst to arrive with pop at the point of attack. Ragland works off blocks well with balance and anticipation, looking through blockers to keep his eyes on the prize, doing a much better job downhill rather than in reverse. He is a physical striker with reliable breakdown skills in the open field, wrapping, driving and finishing.
WEAKNESSES: He isn't the rangiest linebacker
IN OUR VIEW: He isn't as talented as C.J. Mosley, but he's a better NFL prospect than Trey DePriest, falling somewhere in the middle of those two former Alabama players.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2000915/reggie-ragland

Strengths: Old-school, take­-on middle linebacker who plays the game the way Nick Saban likes. Steps into hole and will swap paint with lead blockers in order to constrict his gap. Instinctive linebacker who trusts his eyes and goes. Showed greater understanding of angles and leverage this year. Won’t over­commit when flowing to ball carrier and almost always finds his run fits. Missed tackles fell from ten in 2014 to just three this season. Played with hand in ground as an edge rusher in some sub­packages. Showed greater willingness to take chances downhill. Nasty hitter with above average play strength.
Weaknesses: Some scouts question his play speed. Can be inconsistent with his angles when playing downhill. Could get himself in trouble miscalculating NFL speed to the perimeter. Will get locked up more often by pro linemen if he tries to take on all blocks rather than punch and shed. Alabama’s outstanding defensive front allowed him to roam unblocked for much of the year. Can handle himself in zone coverage but man cover skills are limited.
NFL Comparison: E.J. Henderson
Bottom Line: Thumping inside linebacker with throwback size and tone­setting mentality. Ragland is a confident and capable early starter in league who has the temperament to become one of the premier run­-stopping inside linebackers in the pro game. Ragland has some coverage and speed limitations, but his instincts and overall awareness should be able to mask those issues.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/reggie-ragland?id=2555169

Combine Results:
Height:6'1''
Weight:247
Arm:32
Hand:9 7/8
40(1st):4.72
10yd(1st):1.66
40(2nd):4.74
10yd(2nd):1.67
Vertical:31.5"
Broad:9'8"
Short Shuttle:4.28

[video=youtube;bMVsN5KV3Fg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMVsN5KV3Fg[/video]

 

[DKphin]

10.OLB Jaylon Smith Notre Dame 6-3 240

STRENGTHS: He is a greased up athlete with natural twitch and flexibility, showing balance, burst and excellent speed in pursuit. Scouts are enthralled with Smith's explosiveness and it isn't difficult to understand why.
He reads plays quickly and keeps his eyes glued on the ball to collect himself in space and burst toward the ballcarrier with excellent closing speed. Shows tremendous secondary quickness to unhook himself from blocks and make up ground in a flash.
He might be the nation's most forceful tackler, generating incredible power to knock ballcarriers back. Smith is every bit as fast and fluid as he is powerful, however, slipping by (or leaping over) would-be blockers in the running game and dropping effectively in coverage.
It is the ability to play back in coverage and rush the passer that makes Smith such an exciting prospect, as proponents of the 4-3 and 3-4, alike, will see him as a true three down defender.
WEAKNESSES: Smith lacks elite take-on strength for the position and can be late to stack-and-shed.
IN OUR VIEW: In today's ultra-specialized NFL, defenses routinely substitute powerful linebackers on running downs and faster, more agile defenders on obvious passing plays. Teams won't have to swap Smith out, however. Along with injured UCLA outside linebacker Myles Jack (also a projected top 10 pick), Smith is the most versatile and pro-ready linebacker in the country.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2082844/jaylon-smith

Combine Results:
Height:6'2"
Weight:223
Arm:33
Hand:9 1/2

[video=youtube;_P9RC98VuzY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P9RC98VuzY[/video]

 

[DKphin]

11.CB Jalen Ramsey Florida St. 6-1 202

STRENGTHS: Ramsey has gliding athleticism with long strides and fluid change of direction skills, staying controlled in his pedal transition and collecting himself with ease in small spaces. He has above average anticipation, vision and instincts, seeing the field extremely well with uncanny awareness and timing to create turnovers and get his hands on the ball.
He closes in a blink and wraps well as a willing run defender. He shows outstanding dip and bend as an edge blitzer, using his long arms to knock down passes and bat the ball when lined up near the line of scrimmage.
WEAKNESSES: Ramsey lacks ideal muscle and functional strength to routinely finish off-balance tackles.
IN OUR VIEW: Ramsey, who also plays a valuable role on special teams coverages, is a defensive savant with the framework that makes him a viable option at cornerback, safety or linebacker and if his 2015 tape matches or exceeds last year, he will be one of the top players drafted next spring.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2071515/jalen-ramsey

Combine Results:
Height:6'1''
Weight:209
Arm:33 3/8
Hand:9 1/2
40(1st):4.46
10yd(1st):1.58
40(2nd):4.42
10yd(2nd):1.52
Bench:14
Vertical:41.5

[video=youtube;RS7GShQR7Yk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS7GShQR7Yk[/video]

 

[DKphin]

12.FS Darian Thompson Boise St. 6-2 210

A well-rounded and rangy safety. A tall, linear athlete, he is always on the hunt with an active, fast play style, covering a lot of ground both in coverage and vs. the run. Thompson's aggressive demeanor also leads to missed plays and he needs to be more disciplined and do a better job controlling himself on the move. Nonetheless, the positives outweigh the negatives with Thompson and his versatile skill-set will be appealing at the next level.
Thompson finished among the nation's leaders with seven interceptions last season, adding 71 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and eight passes defended.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1825226/darian-thompson

Strengths Tall, angular build for the position. Eye­popping interception numbers (19) becoming the all­time leader in Boise State history this season. Soft hands and can make difficult, diving interceptions. Willing to take a chance to undercut throws and will run through receivers catch point to disrupt. Ready hitter with desired physical demeanor to play around line of scrimmage. Willing to sacrifice his body against pulling linemen in order to cave in the edge. Able to bob and weave around traffic and consistently choose the correct lane to find running backs. Saw tackle for loss numbers increase each year and will make his own luck on other side of the line.
Weaknesses Instincts and awareness in coverage will scare coaches when they study the tape. Allowed receivers to get way behind him multiple times against BYU. Undisciplined. Seems to lose track of targets around him and can be baited to vacate his deep responsibilities by crossing routes in front of him. Allowed 10 touchdowns over last three years. Needs to play with more technique and less improv. Hip tightness hinders ability to open quickly and run with necessary speed to close separation. Plays tall in space and quick lateral movement and basic change of direction can be a challenge at times. Needs to slow and gather himself when charging downhill to avoid missed tackles.
Bottom Line Looks the part and has enough production to warrant a close look, but that close look shows a player with below average man cover skills and a lack of awareness in zone coverage. An even greater concern is that too many big plays were allowed because he busted coverage or failed or to execute. Thompson does his best work near the line of scrimmage and has the frame and demeanor to become a box safety in the league, but it might take time.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/darian-thompson?id=2555154

Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist (2015)
Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List (2015)
Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List (2015)
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List (2015)
CBSSports.com All-America Second Team (2014)
2x All-Mountain West First Team (2014-15)

Combine Results:
Height:6'2''
Weight:208
Arm:30 3/8
Hand:9 1/8
40(1st):4.7
10yd(1st):1.68
40(2nd):4.72
10yd(2nd):1.66
Bench:12
Vertical:32.5"
Broad:9'10''
3-Cone:7.26
Short Shuttle:4.33

[video=youtube;xi7tMC8454w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi7tMC8454w[/video]

 

[DKphin]

13.QB Jared Goff California 6-4 210

Body type: Cal lists Goff at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds (almost exactly the same size as Matt Ryan, the quarterback five NFL personnel evaluators compared Goff to earlier this month), but he has a slender build and lacks thickness in his legs. There could be concerns about his ability to stand up to NFL hits.
Athletic ability: Decent athlete who has the necessary level of foot quickness and agility to operate roll-outs and boot-action passes and can escape the pocket when pressured.
Decision-making: Play changes after the offense got set came from the sideline. Goff was often able to make pre-determined throws against man coverage. Despite locking in on his target at times, he made good decisions on where to go with the ball and didn't put his team in bad situations with poor decisions.
Mechanics: Smooth, easy throwing motion with decent trigger speed to get it out of his hands. Showed the ability and arm talent to expedite his throws without getting feet completely set when situation called for it. Has a slight hitch in his delivery, but it doesn't really slow it down much. Goff sailed some passes when trying to drive the ball on intermediate throws between the hashes.
Accuracy: Almost had two of his slants intercepted, but on both occasions, the wide receiver wasn't able to adjust his route properly against a physical cornerback. Good accuracy to stationary targets. Generally good accuracy to receivers on the move giving them a chance to make yards after the catch. Threw receiver open on third-quarter touchdown where ball needed to be behind receiver in order to protect the throw against constricting passing window. Threw deep ball with excellent touch and placement several times.
Poise: Showed improvement with his pocket poise from 2014 tape. Saw pressure coming on a delayed blitz and calmly slid left in the pocket and delivered a strike. Was able to speed up his internal clock and get rid of the ball when pocket began caving in, but was on borderline of rushing a few throws unnecessarily. Lost his passing rhythm at one point, but never looked panicked or shaken.
Arm strength: Goff didn't often do it in this game, but he showed he was capable of making the long, field-side throw with good velocity (and accuracy). Has the arm to make all the NFL throws. He can snap the ball off with good zip with a flick of the wrist. Failed to lead receivers on deep throws a couple of times forcing them to wait on his throw. That issue might have been due to simply getting the ball out too late.
Extending plays: He really impressed with his ability to extend plays with pocket movement and footwork under duress. He consistently ran out of trouble rather than running into it and looked natural and fluid climbing the pocket in preparation to throw or run. While he did extend several plays, he was unable to finish them consistently with completions.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-qb-jared-goff-shows-vs-ucla-hes-made-for-nfl

Combine Results:
Height:6'4''
Weight:215
Arm:32 3/4
Hand:9
40(1st):4.84
10yd(1st):1.66
40(2nd):4.83
10yd(2nd):1.67
Vertical:27"
Broad:9'2"

[video=youtube;AH_wfy-7C5w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH_wfy-7C5w[/video]