2021 NFL Draft | Big Ten Scouting Reports: Nebraska
For information on Nebraska offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Dedrick Mills NFL Draft Scouting Report | Running Back
Positives: Junior-college transfer who is best running on the inside. Possesses an aggressive style, shows strength, and moves the pile. Keeps his feet moving and works runs. Picks up the difficult yardage and breaks tackles. Patient and effectively follows blocks. Consistently runs north and south. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield with the ability to adjust to the errant throw.
Negatives: Not a creative back who can improvise or make defenders miss. Lacks the speed and agility to turn the corner.
Analysis: Mills is a nice-sized back, though he’s a bit one-dimensional in his game. He’s a short-yardage ball carrier whose next-level opportunity will be determined by the way he catches the ball in camp this summer.
For information on Nebraska cornerback Dicaprio Bootle, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Jack Stoll NFL Draft Scouting Report | Tight End
Positives: Nice-sized tight end coming off an injury-plagued senior campaign. Explosive and strong as a blocker, stays square, and seals defenders from the action. Anchors in pass protection. Nicely adjusts to the errant throw and looks the ball into his hands. Gives effort blocking at the line of scrimmage or the second level.
Negatives: Lumbering tight end who lacks a burst. Comes with limited upside.
Analysis: Stoll is a hard-working tight end who gets the most from his ability but lacks upside. His only opportunity is as a third tight end used as a blocker and short-yardage pass catcher.
Matt Farniok NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line
Positives: Large college tackle who projects to guard at the next level. Quickly gets off the snap, stays square, and fires his hands into defenders. Keeps his head on a swivel, shows good awareness, and plays with a nasty attitude. Keeps his feet moving, shows strength, and turns defenders from the action.
Negatives: Lacks blocking balance in motion and isn’t effective at the second level. Struggles handling quick, athletic opponents. Does not make good use of angles or body positioning in pass protection.
Analysis: Farniok was a solid college lineman who got the most from his ability. He’s a size prospect who comes with limited upside.
2021 NFL Draft | Big Ten Scouting Reports: Northwestern
Blake Gallagher NFL Draft Scouting Report | Linebacker
Positives: Fierce, hard-working linebacker with average size and play speed. Quick to read and diagnose the action, locates the ball handler, and is effective in pursuit. Runs down ball handlers outside the box and explodes upfield to fill gaps in run defense. Recognizes coverage assignments, remains disciplined, and gets excellent depth on drops. Always working to make positive plays.
Negatives: Easily blocked from the action by a single opponent. Does not have great long speed for a smaller linebacker.
Analysis: Gallagher was a very productive linebacker three years running at Northwestern and is underrated in the scouting community. He has limitations but offers potential as a one-gap defender who can also double on special teams.
Chris Bergin NFL Draft Scouting Report | Linebacker
Positives: Safety-sized linebacker who has been incredibly productive the past three seasons. Athletic, fluid, and covers a lot of area on the field. Patient, efficient, and takes proper angles to the action. Plays tough, instinctive football, and remains disciplined with assignments. Easily changes direction, fires to the play, and is effective in space. Gets depth on pass drops, displays terrific lateral speed, and cuts off the corners to make plays on the ball handler.
Negatives: Not a big or stout linebacker. May be physically tapped out.
Analysis: Despite three very productive seasons for Northwestern, Bergin is rarely mentioned in scouting circles. He has size limitations, but his ability to make plays in every direction with great speed will get him consideration in a one-gap defense. Physical skills aside, Bergin displays a special teams acumen that will help him at the next level.
For information on Northwestern defensive end Earnest Brown, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Gunnar Vogel NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Tackle
Positives: Tall college left tackle who gets the most from his ability. Stays square, correctly places his hands into defenders, and seals opponents from the action. Strong, anchors in pass protection, and handles opponents in one-on-one assignments.
Negatives: Lacks footwork and lateral range and struggles sliding off the edge. Really doesn’t bend his knees or block with proper pad level.
Analysis: Vogel is a hard-working size prospect who lacks great upside, but he could back up at right tackle if he adds bulk to his frame and strength to his game.
Jason Pace NFL Draft Scouting Report | Safety
Positives: Hard-charging, run-defending safety who is best between the numbers and downhill. Reads the action, takes proper angles, and wraps up tackling. Fires up the field defending the run and brings opponents down at the point. Immediately picks up coverage assignments and remains disciplined.
Negatives: Lacks explosive closing burst and long speed. Not fast to the flanks.
Analysis: Pace possesses solid size but has limited speed. He’s a productive run defender and solely projects as a traditional strong safety at the next level.
John Raine NFL Draft Scouting Report | Tight End
Positives: Underrated move tight end who gets the most from his ability. Intelligent, consistently finds the open spot in the defense, and finds ways to separate from opponents. Possesses outstanding eye/hand coordination and extends and grabs the ball away from his frame. Adjusts to make the reception in stride. Blocks with leverage and squares into opponents.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and isn’t fast enough to split the seam down the middle of the field. Comes with average size and marginal blocking strength.
Analysis: Raine was a solid tight end for Northwestern and was effective in all areas of the position. He possesses marginal size and speed for the next level, but he can be used as a third tight end or line up as an occasional H-back.
For information on Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
2021 NFL Draft | Big Ten Scouting Reports: Ohio State
For information on Ohio State linebacker Baron Browning, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State kicker Blake Haubeil, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State punter Drue Chrisman, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State defensive end Jonathon Cooper, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State center Josh Myers, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State tight end Luke Farrell, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State linebacker Pete Werner, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State running back Trey Sermon, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
2021 NFL Draft | Big Ten Scouting Reports: Penn State
For information on Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Lamont Wade NFL Draft Scouting Report | Safety
Positives: Explosive run-defending safety with average size and speed. Hard hitter who fires upfield defending the run or screen passes and is effective facing the action. Lays it on the line, squares into ball handlers, and wraps up tackling. Takes proper angles to the action.
Negatives: Late reacting to receivers’ moves off the line, slow flipping his hips in transition, and struggles staying with opponents out of breaks. Not smooth or fluid playing over the slot receiver.
Analysis: Wade was a hard-hitting college safety who comes with average ball skills, average size, and average speed. He is solely a strong safety but comes with a special teams mentality, which is his pathway at the next level.
For information on Penn State linebacker Micah Parson, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Penn State center Michal Menet, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Shane Simmons NFL Draft Scouting Report | Defensive End
Positives: Relatively athletic college pass rusher who makes plays in every area of the field. Plays with terrific pad level, gets leverage on opponents and easily changes direction. Works his hands throughout the play, immediately alters his angle of attack, and fluidly moves in any direction. Effective both out of a three-point stance and standing over tackle.
Negatives: Not very active at the college level and was used on a rotational basis. Lacks great first-step quickness. Has seemingly chosen not to pursue a professional football career.
Analysis: Simmons possesses solid size as well as growth potential and could line up as a situational pass rusher at the next level if he’s so inclined to play in the NFL.
For information on Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on Penn State EDGE Shaka Toney, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
William Fries NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line
Positives: Experienced offensive lineman who was used at tackle and guard. Stays square, keeps his feet moving, and works his hands throughout the action. Effectively places his hands into defenders and turns them from their angles of attack. Possesses good size, out-positions opponents from the play, and seals defenders from the action.
Negatives: Lumbers around the field, isn’t quick to the second level and is ineffective blocking in motion. Lacks a dominant base and gets knocked to the ground by opponents at times. Struggles to adjust.
Analysis: Fries was a solid blocker for Penn State who was able to hold down several positions on the offensive line. He’s an average athlete who lacks upside, but his position versatility could make him invaluable and inexpensive as a backup at the next level.