Position re-grades: QB | RB | WR | TE | DT | LB | OLB/DE | CB | SAF
Position previews: QB | RB | WR | TE | DT | LB | OLB/DE | CB | SAF
Leading up to Senior Bowl week, I do 15-30 minutes of scouting preview work on each prospect set to attend -- watching a couple game tapes and looking over some performance data, etc., and then I give each prospect a pre-event scouting grade for the NFL based on that brief look.
After we scout their performance at the Senior Bowl week of practices, drills, etc., we update the grades and comments and re-rank. We continue to go through the same process for the NFL Combine, as we build a study for 2023 draft prospects until we ultimately choose to do an even deeper study of certain prospects and publish a full scouting report and run our computer scouting models for numerical grades on over 600+ prospects for the NFL Draft.
This is a very brief look for me, as a scout, to start to build my data and scouting notes for the weeks and months ahead, and to be ready to focus in on certain prospects in Mobile that are jumping at me from the early preview. It’s a first, sometimes second look (for me) at a prospect and their tape, actions, info and my impressions/grading can and will change as we go through the year long process.
After a January quick study, here are my impressions, grades, and ranking of each position (except O-Line, we’ll look at OLs after the Combine).
The Linebackers/non-Edge
LB Ventrell Miller, Florida (Pre-SB Grade: B)
2022: 34 solo, 40 asst tackles, 8.5 sacks, 0.0 sacks, 2 FF (11g)
6’1”/226
Projected 40-time: 4.5+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Has high end athleticism for the NFL…he’s very fast, a good athlete but he seems lost/miscast as an ILB (in college)…could be more of a 4-3 OLB or SAF/LB hybrid, and one who can rush the backfield with his speed/quickness. He’s a raw piece of clay talent for the NFL.
NFL Comp? = I’m wondering if he might be a Haason Reddick, smaller (traditionally) pass rush specialist. But he might could bulk up to be a Roquan Smith-type ILB with his movement skills.
Highlight video: https://youtu.be/3y4--m4IB-k
ILB SirVocea Dennis, Pitt (Pre-SB Grade: B)
2022: 42 solo, 52 asst tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, 3 PDs, 2 FF
6’1”/230
Projected 40-time: 4.5+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 250
I really like this LB prospect; I have no idea why he is so lowly ranked to start the process. He really moves around well…side-to-side movements are really good, acceleration towards ballcarriers or the backfield is really good. He has a good nose for reading ball carriers, tracking them, and avoiding blockers and making plays. He’ll shine at Mobile.
NFL Comp? = Eric Wilson
Video highlights: https://youtu.be/eLh0_2qrlso
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas (Pre-SB Grade: B/B-)
2022: 49 solo, 47 asst tackles, 10.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, 5 PDs (12g)
6’4”/217
Projected 40-time: 4.6+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.1+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 100
A lot of upside here. Good prospect to start with…great reach and good movement skills as a middle linebacker in college. His flaw is too thin framed to be a real impact tackler in the trenches in the NFL. But his frame should allow him to add 20+ pounds of muscle and he might be a monster IL or OLB who can disrupt as a pass rusher. Options and upside here.
NFL Comp? = Could bulk up to be a Frankie Luvu…or bigger/thicker to like a Tremaine Edmunds.
Highlight video: https://youtu.be/XW3rUA1QhtY
LB Ivan Pace, Cincinnati (Pre-SB Grade: C+)
2022: 55 solo/81 asst tackles, 20.5 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, 4 PDs, 2 FF (13g)
5’10”/239
Projected 40-time: 4.45+
Projected 3-Cone: 6.9+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 150
Another smaller, but lightning quick linebacker. Pace is built like a brick house with speed. Excellent instincts and pursuit of ballcarriers. He’s in the backfield in a flash. The NFL will punish him (draft stock) for height. He tries to list himself at 6’0”, but he looks closer to 5’10”…but he is 239 pounds, so he’s a bowling ball…with speed and aggression. There’s a place for him in the NFL, and it might be a shock how good he is.
NFL Comp? = Grant Stuard
Highlight video: https://youtu.be/7x1wIzNm2Kw
LB Carlton Martial, Troy (Pre-SB Grade: C+)
2022: 55 solo, 80 asst tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 2 PDs (12g)
5’9”/210
Projected 40-time: 4.4+
Projected 3-Cone: 6.8+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 500
What a wild prospect…so small but he’s a cat quick powerhouse bowling ball. Just a great football player. High energy with effectiveness. He can’t be a middle linebacker in the NFL unless he adds 15+ pounds of muscle...but I wouldn’t bet anything against him. He’s the first real ‘wow’ linebacker prospect I’ve watched from the Senior Bowl 2023 group…but I am conflicted because his size is an NFL detriment.
The NFL has to find a place for this guy…SAF/LB? RB?
NFL Comp? = Smaller but faster Sam Mills
Highlight video: https://youtu.be/jNJF7eHGg_0?t=148
LB Dorian Williams, Tulane (Pre-SB Grade: C+)
2022: 81 solo/51 asst tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 2 INTs, 7 PDs, 2 FF (14g)
6’1”/220
Projected 40-time: 4.5+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.1+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 200
A very nice, very effective college middle linebacker. Good size/thick, pretty nimble, good tackler. But he looks more like a big safety prospect (as a better fit) than a pure LB. He has something to offer the NFL bulking up to a traditional LB or moving to SAF/LB.
NFL Comp? = Slower Kyle Dugger (who was/is a great athlete, hard to hit his Combine numbers for others, so this is not a slam on Williams too hard)
LB Daiyan Henley, Wash State (Pre-SB Grade: C)
2022: 54 solo/52 asst tackles, 12 TFLs, 4.0 sacks (12g)
6’1”/220
Projected 40-time: 4.55+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.0+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 100
Solid linebacker prospect. Can play the run and defend the pass. Good acceleration and aggressiveness. He’s an NFL prospect for sure. Has upside…but could also get lost in the shuffle with all the other unique LB talent in Mobile.
NFL Comp? = Lesser Jayon Brown
ILB Cam Jones, Indiana (Pre-SB Grade: C-/D+)
2022: 24 solo, 30 asst tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks (5g)
6’2”/224
Projected 40-time: 4.6+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.2+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 250
Good movement skills. Mans the middle fairly well. Solid tackler, pretty good in coverage. Nothing he did was special but he looked like a legit NFL hopeful.
NFL Comp? = Ernest Jones
LB Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama (Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 45 solo, 49 asst tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks (13g)
6’2”/225
Projected 40-time: 4.8+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.5+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 100
One of the slowest, supposed top prospect LBs that I have ever seen…thought that last year during a summer preview, and think it after my 2023 preview. Slow speed, slow reactions, low impact player every time I watch him against top opponents.
NFL Comp? = Whoever the slowest LB you can think of is.
ILB Aubrey Miller, Jackson St. (Pre-SB Grade: D)
2022: 64 solo, 53 asst tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 5 FF, 6 PDs
6’2”/225
Projected 40-time: 4.7+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.4+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 350
Solid HBCU middle linebacker but doesn’t look like he translates, seriously, to the next level. He needs to put on a show at the Senior Bowl. He may need to move to SAF/LB hybrid.
NFL Comp? = Curtis Bolton
ILB Owen Pappoe, Auburn (Pre-SB Grade: D-)
2022: 51 solo, 40 asst tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 2 FF (12g)
6’1”/226
Projected 40-time: 4.8+
Projected 3-Cone: 7.4+
Consensus mainstream NFL Draft ranking overall: top 125
Slow feet in short space, no real burst or flash to the ball. So-so tackler. Not impressed with what I saw here, and undersized for an ILB for the pros.
NFL Comp? = Tae Davis
