2021 NFL Draft | Big 12 Scouting Reports: Texas Longhorns
For information on Texas wide receiver Brennan Eagles, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Texas safety Caden Sterns, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Chris Brown NFL Draft Scouting Report | Safety
Positives: Underrated safety who is effective in coverage or defending the run. Plays heads-up football and picks up coverage assignments. Quick to read and diagnose, plays faster than his 40 time, and possesses an explosive closing burst. Works well with cornerbacks, finds the ball in the air, and gets vertical then adjusts to defend the throw. Works to get off blocks and make plays against the run.
Negatives: Must improve his tackling technique. Lack of deep speed is a concern.
Analysis: Brown possesses average size and less-than-desirable speed, but he’s a solid football player who consistently finds ways to produce. He offers possibilities as a dime safety who can also double on coverage units.
For information on Texas EDGE Joseph Ossai, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Tarik Black NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver
Positives: Michigan transfer with the size and pass-catching skill to make it at the next level. Strong, uses his hands to separate from defenders and adjusts to the throw, making the reception in stride. Uses the sidelines well, extends his hands and offers the quarterback a target. Snatches the ball away from his frame and keeps the play in bounds to pick up positive yardage after the catch. Gives effort blocking downfield.
Negatives: Lacks a deep burst, plays to one speed and cannot run away from opponents. Average route runner. Struggled with injury throughout his Michigan career and was never overly productive.
Analysis: Black possesses the size and pass-catching skill to play at the next level, but he must stay healthy and consistently produce to make a roster.
For information on Texas offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Texas defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
2021 NFL Draft | Texas Tech Red Raiders
Eli Howard NFL Draft Scouting Report | Defensive Line
Positives: Productive, durable four-year starter at the college level with limited upside for the NFL. Breaks down well, plays with leverage, and easily changes direction. Flows well to the play laterally, stays with assignments, and plays with proper pad level. Solid special teams player who blocked field goals in the past.
Negatives: Small and easily disrupted from the action by the initial block. Lacks great first-step quickness.
Analysis: Howard was a terrific defensive lineman for Texas Tech but lacks the size and speed to be anything other than a backup 3-technique tackle in the NFL.
For information on Texas Tech guard Jack Anderson, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
T.J. Vasher NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver
Positives: Tall and usually sure-handed receiver coming off a terrible campaign. Tracks the pass in the air, gets vertical, and effectively times receptions. Exposes himself to the big hit in order to come away with the tough catch. Follows the quarterback across the field to make himself an available target, adjusts to the errant throw, and displays solid eye/hand coordination. Uses the sidelines well, comes back to the action, and offers the quarterback a target.
Negatives: Lacks deep speed and a second gear. Really shows no burst in his game. Unnecessarily let the pass get inside him at times last year. Has a thin build, struggles in battles, and will struggle handling jams at the next level.
Analysis: Vasher showed terrific development in his game during his sophomore and junior seasons at Texas Tech, but he took a big step back last year when he was a non-factor most of the time. He’s a tall, thin pass catcher with natural receiving skills who will struggle separating at the next level. He offers possibilities as a possession receiver, but Vasher is now starting from scratch in many ways.
Thomas Leggett NFL Draft Scouting Report | Safety
Positives: Instinctive, hard-working safety who is best making plays downhill. Quickly locates the ball, fluidly moves in every direction, and takes proper angles to plays. Keeps the action in front of him, fires upfield defending the run, and wraps up ball handlers. Quick recognizing coverage assignments and locates the ball in the air.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and cannot recover. Neither smooth nor quick pedaling in reverse. Stiff in his hips transitioning to run with opponents.
Analysis: Leggett is a tough football player with average size, play speed, and upside for the next level. He could line up as a backup strong safety but must make his mark on special teams.
For information on Texas Tech cornerback Zech McPhearson, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
2021 NFL Draft | West Virginia Mountaineers
Chase Behrndt NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line
Positives: Versatile interior lineman with experience at guard and center. Quickly gets into blocks, stays square, and seals defenders from the action. Sets with a wide base, works to bend his knees, and correctly places his hands into opponents. Keeps his head on a swivel, works well with linemates, and anchors at the point.
Negatives: Overextends into blocks, which hurts his balance and ability to finish off opponents. Lacks footwork in space.
Analysis: Behrndt is rarely mentioned in scouting circles, but he has an NFL body as well as the strength to be a backup interior lineman at the next level.
Darius Stills NFL Draft Scouting Report | Defensive Line
Positives: Hard-charging, one-gap defensive lineman with poor size. Explosive, fires off the snap, and gets a lot of momentum going up the field. Plays with proper pad level, consistently gets leverage on opponents, and works his hands throughout the action. Fluid if asked to twist or stunt, displays good change-of-direction skills, and plays through the whistle.
Negatives: Easily controlled at the point by a single blocker or completely taken from the action by opponents. Lacks bulk and seemingly has limited growth potential.
Analysis: Stills is an explosive, hard-charging defensive lineman with an incredible first step, which makes it difficult to stop him off the snap of the ball. He has scheme limitations yet is a prototypical 3-technique lineman in a four-man front.
Michael Brown NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line
Positives: Wide-bodied blocker who is best in a small area. Displays outstanding vision, works well with linemates and gives effort. Explosive, squares into defenders, and jolts opponents with a violent hand punch. Strong enough to turn defenders from the line and gets after assignments.
Negatives: Lacks footwork in space. Struggles to adjust. Must improve his blocking balance.
Analysis: Brown is lightly considered in scouting circles but has the size and strength to back up in a power gap offense.
T.J. Simmons NFL Draft Scouting Report | Wide Receiver
Positives: Athletic receiver with the size and speed for the next level. Plays with balance and body control and extends his hands to consistently make the reception away from his frame. Tracks the pass in the air, runs to the ball, and adjusts to the errant throw, making the reception in stride.
Sturdy, makes the difficult catch in a crowd, and holds on to the ball. Keeps the play in bounds after the reception and shows the ability to pick up positive yardage. Gives effort blocking.
Negatives: Lacks a second gear and plays to one speed despite his 40-time. Rounds off routes. Minimally productive at the college level.
Analysis: Simmons passed the eyeball test and flashed ability the past three years, but he never truly elevated his game or showed much progress. He offers the physical skills to line up as a fifth or even fourth receiver at the next level, but he must improve in all areas of the receiver position.
For information on West Virginia linebacker Tony Fields II, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
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