NFL's Future

Thomas Campbell

Sam Montgomery – LSU

Height: 6032

Weight: 262

Age when drafted: 23

Hometown: Greenwood, SC

Position: DE

Collegiate Number: 99

Combine notables: 4.81 40 with 1.64 split, 34.5” vertical, 7.18 3-cone, 4.51 short shuttle

Games Viewed: 2012 – Washington, Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama, Clemson 2011 – Alabama, Georgia

BACKGROUND:

Sam Montgomery was a standout defensive end at Greenwood High School in Greenwood South Carolina. He was a standout basketball player at Greenwood as well and teammate of South Carolina safety D.J. Swearinger. Montgomery racked up 26 sacks over the course of his final two years in high school and was a four-star recruit that chose LSU over in state schools such as South Carolina and Clemson.

Montgomery redshirted in 2009 and ended his redshirt freshman season (2010) with 18 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Montgomery burst onto the national scene as a sophomore with 49 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks. Montgomery’s final season in Baton Rouge ended with 8 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Read the rest of this entry » «Sam Montgomery Scouting Report»

Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports

Margus Hunt I SMU I DE I 6081 I 277 I Senior

40 Time: 4.60

Overview: Margus Hunt will be a 26 year old rookie when he’s drafted. The native Estonian that came to the State to participate in track and field. He’s a world class shot and discus thrower that began playing football in 2009. Hunt is a freak athlete at over 6-foot-8 and 277 pounds he ran 4.6 40 at the Combine and posted a 38” vertical. His otherworldly athleticism will have height/weight/speed guys drooling. There are significant questions that have to be answered before Hunt is taken. The team taking Hunt will have to be patient with him as he’s not near ready to compete as more than a situational/special teamer at the next level. I’ve seen projections with Hunt in the first round, that would be a massive mistake. There is some upside with Hunt but getting the most out of him may take awhile. Read the rest of this entry » «Margus Hunt Scouting Report»

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Barkevious Mingo I LSU I DE/OLB I 6042 I 241 I Junior

40 Time: 4.58

Overview: There’s a lot to love about Mingo but there are major concerns with his game. He played LE exclusively in 2012, lining up over the RT. He’s best suited to transition to a standup linebacker in the NFL or play LEO role in 4-3. Lacks the bulk to set the edge in the run at DE. Freakish athlete with natural movement skills and explosive burst off the edge. Questionable football instincts as he’s constantly around the pile but lacked tackle production. That speaks to his instincts because with his movement skills he should be making tackles instead of observing piles. That said, its rare to find someone with his length/athleticism combination. He could come off the board as high as No. 2 and could fall to the mid-20’s. Either way he won’t make it out of the first round, just too much upside with this guy.   Read the rest of this entry » «Barkevious Mingo Scouting Report»

Bjoern Werner I Florida State I DE I 6032 I 266 I Junior

Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE

40 Time: 4.83

Overview: Bjoern Werner burst onto the national stage after Brandon Jenkins went down with a season ending knee injury in 2011.  He proved to be unblockable at times in 2011 and continued his dominance into the 2012 season. Werner is the top all around defensive end in this draft and could be taken very highly in April. A spectacular pass rusher with the strength to set the edge in the run game, Werner is deserving of a top fifteen selection in this draft. Werner isn’t an elite quick twitch athlete and won’t blaze the 40 but his first step is excellent and gives opponents fits because he turns speed to power better than anyone in this draft. Werner could stand to add some bulk to his frame and could be viewed as a “tweener”. I think he’s a pure 4-3 RE that you can count on to be amongst the league leaders in sacks.

Pass Rush: Werner amassed 23.5 sacks in his three-year career at FSU. As stated he has an elite first step that allows his to set up a bevy of pass rush moves or blow by slower footed tackles. Werner’s ability to turn speed to power is elite caliber as he’s capable of overpowering and out leveraging bigger, stronger linemen. Werner’s short area quickness was virtually unblockable in college and will prove the same at the next level. Werner is a long athlete with long arms. Most impressive about Werner’s game is his ability to use his hands. Many collegiate pass rushers struggle with hand usage when rushing the passer. Werner routinely will get the edge and chop the tackles hands to free his lane to the QB. Teams started chopping Werner and he needs to do a better job of using his hands to protect his legs and stay upright. In a class full of elite athletes, he could get lost in the shuffle with only average athleticism. Read the rest of this entry » «Bjoern Werner Scouting Report»

Dion Jordan I Oregon I OLB/DE I 6062 I 248 I Senior

Scott Olmos-US PRESSWIRE

40 Time: 4.60

Overview: Dion Jordan plays the game at a different speed than most DE’s. He’s best suited to play as a rush linebacker in the 3-4 or SLB in the 4-3. I don’t think he’s going to maximize his abilities as a 4-3 DE unless he adds some bulk/strength. He was rumored to be playing this season in the 225 range. Jordan spent most of his senior season standing up and showed NFL scouts his ability and upside as an NFL linebacker. Jordan has the athleticism to cover backs and tight ends. He has elite pass rushing skills but still needs to develop as more than just a speed rusher. His athleticism will drop jaws at the Combine and will win over height/weight/speed guys in February. The upside for Jordan to be taken in the top five of the draft exists and could become reality after he blows the top off of Indy.

Pass Rush: Jordan possesses the speed and burst that should make him an effective pass rusher. He displays great bend off the edge and straight line speed. His bend off the edge is freakish as he loses no speed through his bend, which is rare. In addition to his ability to bend, he has as explosive of a first step as anyone in this draft. The problem with Jordan as a pass rusher is that he has limited pass rush moves and most of his sacks came as a result of beating tackles around the edge. At nearly 6-foot-7 Jordan struggles as he’s such a big target and lineman overpower him or shove him further up the field. Jordan will have to add some power and more technique as a pass rusher if he wants to take his pass rushing skills to an Aldon Smith level. Read the rest of this entry » «Dion Jordan Scouting Report»

Here’s the backstory:

Ezekiel Ansah came to BYU in 2008 from Ghana in the hopes of becoming a track star.  He wound up on the BYU football team after some coaxing by teammates.  Didn’t know how to put on football equipment.  He’s 6’6″, 270 pounds and runs a 10.9 100 yard dash.

With that story, it becomes real easy to label Ansah as raw.  He’s a project with the Jason Pierre-Paul upside.  That is the word around town, on fan boards, and coming out of the mouth of anyone that hasn’t spent time watching Ansah on tape.  This will serve as forewarning that Ansah is much more than just a raw, upside player.

When I think of raw as it relates to a football player, I think of someone that lacks instincts and/or struggles to find the football.  It may be an issue of semantics but the term I prefer when it comes to Ansah is lack of game experience.  Big difference.  I will show some cutups of Ansah in the many roles that he fills for the BYU defense and special teams.

Impact players find ways to impact the game in more than just their specialty.  When I evaluate someone that I label as an impact player, I attempt to find ways that he impacts the game outside his normal role.  Sometimes, that means he’s an emotional leader (Manti Te’o) and sometimes that means that he makes plays in whatever role is asked of him (Ziggy Ansah).  I have watched five BYU games and haven’t found one that didn’t feature Ansah in multiple roles.  He forces teams to gameplan for him as a 0-technique, 3-technique, 5-technique, and rush linebacker.  That makes him special but his ability to affect special teams puts him into an elite category for me.  Ansah is hands down one of the most impactful players in college football.  Here’s a look at the impact Ansah can have on the game.

Ansah is a stand up rusher on a three man line for the Cougars.  One of the many roles he’ll play against Notre Dame. Read the rest of this entry » «Film Study: Making the case for BYU’s Ezekiel Ansah as a top ten pick»