James Madison University just beat out Villanova for the best record in the Colonial Conference last season. In addition, they are sending the most prospects to the 2022 NFL Draft this year. Here are the scouting reports for every draft-eligible prospect coming from the Colonial Conference.
Colonial 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
The Colonial scouting reports include some deep quarterback prospects and a number of defensive projects.
Chris Ferguson, QB | Rhode Island
Positives: Well-traveled quarterback with the physical skills to play on Sundays. Buys time for receivers, spreads the ball around to all his targets, and protects the football. Puts touch on throws, delivers solid fade and corner patterns, and is always on the same page as his receivers. Effectively sets up screen throws, displays a sense of timing, and possesses a solid arm. Effectively sells ball fakes.
Negatives: Stares down the primary target and is slow to move his head. Doesn’t pick up yardage with his legs. Does not always sense the rush. Inconsistent with his accuracy.
Analysis: Ferguson was all over the map and played for three different schools the past three seasons. Yet, when you boil it down, he possesses the size and arm strength to play on Sundays.
Christian Benford, CB | Villanova
Positives: Physical cornerback who may be best inside at safety. Quick flipping his hips in transition, possesses outstanding size, and physically beats down opponents to defend throws. Shows good discipline in zone, quickly picks up coverage assignments, and immediately diagnoses plays. Mixes it up with receivers throughout the route, possesses a solid burst to the action, and competes.
Negatives: Slow getting his head back around to locate the ball and does a lot of face guarding in man coverage. Not quick or smooth pedaling in reverse. Does a lot of clutching and grabbing receivers throughout the route. Deep speed is a concern.
Analysis: Benford is an aggressive corner with nice size who must play in a system facing the action. He projects as either a zone corner or safety.
Cole Johnson, QB | James Madison
Positives: Nice-sized, strong-armed quarterback who has flown under the radar. Incredibly patient and buys as much time as necessary for receivers. Resilient and stays with plays. Looks away from covered targets, knows where receivers are on the field, and goes to the underneath outlet if nothing else is available.
Possesses a next-level arm with the ability to power the ball through tight spots. Sells ball fakes, goes through progressions, and has the size to withstand the rush. Disperses the ball to all his receivers.
Negatives: Late delivering passes and has receivers waiting on the ball. Must improve his pass placement. Average deep accuracy.
Analysis: Johnson has received a lot of chatter lately, and while he possesses the size and arm strength for the next level, he needs a lot of work on the fine points of being a quarterback.
Daniel Smith, QB | Villanova
Positives: Undersized quarterback with a great head for the position. Patient in the pocket, sells ball fakes, and does an outstanding job controlling the offense. On the same page as his receivers, goes through progressions, and spreads the ball around to all his targets. Displays a sense of timing and throws with an over-the-top delivery.
Accurate with passes and gives receivers a chance to come away with the catch. Elusive when he takes off with the ball. Protects the football and takes the safe underneath outlet rather than forcing throws downfield.
Negatives: Lack of size and pocket stature is a major obstacle. Cannot drive passes downfield.
Analysis: Smith was a terrific college quarterback who was accurate in the short and intermediate game, but he offers limited upside for the next level.
David Kroll, OL | Delaware
Positives: Massive small-area blocker who fires off the snap, shows explosiveness, and is strong enough to turn defenders from the action. Sets with a wide base, quickly sets up in pass protection, and stays square. Anchors at the point, works his hands throughout the action, and keeps his feet moving. Does a solid job bending his knees and sinking his butt for a bigger blocker.
Negatives: Lacks agility and does not finish blocks. Lacks quick, smooth footwork sliding off the edge. Big, lumbering lineman who cannot block in motion. Limited upside.
Analysis: Kroll was a solid left tackle at Delaware but lacks the mobility and agility to be anything other than a power-gap guard at the next level.
Davis Cheek, QB | Elon
Positives: Well-sized pocket passer with the physical skills to develop for the next level. Buys time for receivers, senses the rush, and remains poised in the pocket. Spreads the ball around using all his targets and puts touch on screen throws. Delivers deep passes in front of targets and lets them run to the ball.
Stands in the pocket and takes a big hit in order to get the throw away. Possesses a live arm and flashes the ability to throw strikes downfield. Looks away from covered targets. Takes off upfield only if nothing else is available. Loses nothing rolling outside the pocket and throwing on the move.
Negatives: Delivers the ball sidearm at times. Sporadic with his accuracy.
Analysis: Cheek possesses the size, arm strength, and overall ability to develop into an NFL passer. Nevertheless, he needs to polish his game, stay healthy, and quickly produce in camp this summer.
Demarcus Gilmore, OT | Towson
Positives: College right tackle with a massive build and guard size. Quick off the snap, stays square, and works blocks. Keeps his feet moving and can slide off the edge. Turns defenders from the action and seals them from plays.
Explosive at the point and jolts defenders with terrific hand punch. Keeps his head on a swivel, shows patience in pass protection, and makes good use of body positioning to seal defenders from the action.
Negatives: Rarely finishes blocks. Inconsistent with his hands. Doesn’t sink his butt at the line of scrimmage.
Analysis: Gilmore is a massive, wide-bodied blocker with solid quickness and strength. He’ll need to shed a few pounds yet could back up for a variety of systems at the next level.
Evan Horn, S | New Hampshire
Positives: Nice-sized safety who plays with a fearless style. Quick recognizing assignments, chases the action hard, and sells out to make tackles. Effectively quarterbacks the secondary. Works with corners to bracket receivers over the middle of the field. Quick flipping his hips in transition.
Negatives: Not smooth pedaling in reverse. Lacks range and cannot get to the sidelines in time. Does not show the ability to quickly burst to the ball out of his plant.
Analysis: Horn possesses next-level size and a head for the game, but he lacks the speed and quickness necessary to play on Sundays.
Forrest Rhyne, LB | Villanova
Positives: Undersized linebacker with a terrific game. Patient, shows great instincts, and remains disciplined with assignments. Does not bite on ball fakes, displays good change-of-direction skills, and moves well laterally. Tough and sells out defending the run.
Negatives: Displays no force on the blitz. Plays to one speed. Marginally effective in pursuit due to his lack of speed.
Analysis: Rhyne is a terrific football player who lacks the size, quickness, and speed for Sundays. He plays with a special-teams mentality, which gives him a slight advantage.
Kasim Hill, QB | Rhode Island
Positives: Athletic college quarterback who may be best served switching positions. Patient in the pocket as it collapses around him, buys time, and possesses a strong arm. Can make all the throws, gets the ball through the tight spots, and gives receivers a chance to come down with deep receptions.
Throws outstanding corner and fade patterns. Throws tight spirals and a catchable ball. Does not leave the pocket unless it’s completely necessary. Does not force the ball to covered targets.
Negatives: Lacks pocket stature and is easily brought down at the point by a single defender. Not a tall quarterback and seems to struggle seeing over the line of scrimmage. Has receivers leaving their feet or adjusting to catch errant throws. Reportedly has hands that measure barely eight inches.
Analysis: Hill possesses a next-level arm yet is built more like a middle linebacker than an RPO quarterback. His ability to make all the throws is worth bringing him into camp, though Hill may be best at a linebacker spot.
L.B. Mack III, LB | Rhode Island
Positives: Short, explosive linebacker with a solid game. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and holds his ground against blocks. Remains disciplined with assignments, quickly reads and diagnoses the action, and works hard.
Fast and explosive blitzing up the field, easily changes direction, and is effective in lateral pursuit. Gets depth on pass drops and is relatively fluid pedaling in reverse. Slices to the inside penetrating the line of scrimmage and gives effort defending the run.
Negatives: Lacks size and is easily out-positioned from the play. Used primarily up at the line of scrimmage last season. Gets caught up in the trash.
Analysis: Mack is a hard-working linebacker who plays much faster than his 40 time and shows ability as a pass rusher and in pursuit. Lack of height is a limiting factor, though he could make a roster as an eighth linebacker/special-teams player.
Liam Fornadel, OL | James Madison
Positives: College lineman who was used at both left and right tackle but projects to guard in the NFL. Possesses a wide-bodied build, sets with a wide base, and works to bend his knees. Strong, stays with assignments, and seals opponents from the action. Effectively works his hands throughout the play. Controls opponents once engaged at the point. Displays outstanding vision as well as blocking intuition.
Negatives: Lacks footwork in space. Struggles against quick or nimble opponents. Heavy-footed and lacks balance pulling across the line of scrimmage.
Analysis: Fornadel is a small-area blocker whose best, and possibly only opportunity, is at guard in a power-gap scheme.
Mike Greene, DL | James Madison
Positives: Quick, explosive defensive lineman who projects as a 3-technique tackle. Fires off the snap with a tremendous first step, plays with excellent pad level, and consistently gets leverage on opponents. Smart, quickly gets his hands up and uses them to protect himself, and keeps his feet moving.
Locates the ball handler, slides off blocks, and works to defend the run. Quick when asked to twist or stunt, consistently focused on by opponents, and moves well laterally. Plays with balance and rarely gets knocked off his feet.
Negatives: Lacks size and gets controlled by a single opponent. Easily disrupted by the initial block. Possesses an average closing burst. May not have much growth potential.
Analysis: Greene comes with limitations, yet his quickness off the snap and ability to change direction and move laterally in pursuit of the play make him a perfect projection to the 3-technique spot.