2021 NFL Draft | Conference USA Scouting Reports: Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Bryce Foxworth NFL Draft Scouting Report | Offensive Line
Positives: Two-year starter who also saw action with the first team as a sophomore. Strong, small-area blocker who plays with solid fundamentals. Starts with good knee bend, stays square, and blocks with leverage. Works his hands and fights throughout the action. Strong and easily seals defenders from plays or turns them from the line. Possesses a next-level build.
Negatives: Occasionally bends at the waist or overextends into blocks. Lacks footwork in space. Gets tall as the play proceeds.
Analysis: Foxworth is an explosive interior lineman who is best in a small area. He comes with limited upside but could make a roster as a backup for a power-running offense.
Ky’el Hemby NFL Draft Scouting Report | Cornerback
Positives: Two-year starter who led Southern Miss in tackles as a junior. Hard-working, run-defending safety who also gives effort on special teams. Keeps the action in front of him, takes proper angles to the action, and wraps up tackling. Stout tackler who gives effort against the run and attacks ball handlers.
Patient, quick flipping his hips in transition when lined up over the slot receiver and competes to break up throws. Effectively makes the calls in the secondary.
Negatives: Possesses average ball skills and struggles following receivers out of routes. Displays a limited burst to the action and deep speed is a concern.
Analysis: Hemby is a tall, hard-working defensive back who stands out against the run while also displaying skills in zone coverage. The lack of speed is a concern, but Hamby’s play on coverage units could help him secure a roster spot next fall.
Rachuan Mitchell NFL Draft Scouting Report | Cornerback
Positives: Played in just one game last season after starting 12 as a junior. Nice-sized cornerback with a good head for the game. Smooth and fluid flipping his hips in transition. Tracks the pass in the air, displays a nice move to the throw, and effectively times pass defenses. Quick to read and diagnose, fires to the ball out of his plant, and gives effort defending the run.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and lacks a deep burst. Started just one season at Southern Mississippi and showed limited progress in his game.
Analysis: Mitchell is a feisty cornerback with decent size but poor speed. He offers possibilities as a dime back but would be best served lining up in a zone system.
For information on Southern Mississippi wide receiver Tim Jones, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
2021 NFL Draft | Conference USA Scouting Reports: UAB Blazers
For information on UAB wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr., check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
For information on UAB linebacker Jordan Smith, check out his 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Kristopher Moll NFL Draft Scouting Report | Linebacker
Positives: Two-year starter who led UAB in tackles the past two seasons. Tough, run-defending linebacker who is best making plays up the field. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and slides off blocks to make plays on the ball handler. Sells out on the blitz, gives outstanding effort, and plays through the whistle. Instinctive and quickly reads and diagnoses the action.
Negatives: Possesses safety size and marginal play speed at linebacker. Has a lot of limitations in his game.
Analysis: Moll was a hard-charging college defender but comes with limited potential at the next level.
Spencer Brown NFL Draft Scouting Report | Running Back
Positives: Four-year starter who holds the UAB record for rushing yards in one season with 1,329. Large, downhill ball carrier who picks up a lot of yardage off initial contact. Runs with good lean, follows blocks, and does not go down without a fight.
Displays outstanding vision and instincts, runs with authority, and gets a lot of momentum going up the field. Rarely brought down by a single defender, picks up a lot of yardage off initial contact, and falls forward when tackled. Displays a solid burst of straight-line speed. Stout at the point of attack, works blocking assignments, and squares into opponents.
Negatives: One-dimensional runner. Loses a lot of momentum changing direction or altering the angles of runs. Not a smooth cutback runner and is rarely used in the passing game.
Analysis: Brown is a hard-charging downhill ball carrier who is effective between the tackles. He comes with limitations but could be an effective short-yardage ball carrier at the next level.
T.D. Marshall NFL Draft Scouting Report | Cornerback
Positives: Samford transfer who began his career at receiver. Tall, lanky cornerback who is still learning the position. Quick flipping his hips in transition, mixes it up with receivers, and battles opponents to physically knock down the throw. Works well with safeties to cover receivers over the middle of the field. Sells out on the blitz, fires up the field defending the run, and wraps up tackling. Works to get his head back around to locate the pass.
Negatives: Must do a better job positioning himself against opponents. Speed is an issue.
Analysis: Marshall is a nice-sized athlete who showed flashes at cornerback the past two seasons and comes with a good amount of upside. Unlikely to be drafted, but he should be kept on a practice squad next fall for future development.
Tyree Turner NFL Draft Scouting Report | Defensive Tackle
Positives: South Alabama transfer who was used as a rotational lineman last season. Explosive one-gap defensive tackle who moves well laterally. Fires off the snap, uses his hands well, and keeps his feet moving. Consistently gets leverage on opponents, displays a variety of moves getting off blocks, and shows incredible quickness. Plays with balance and immediately locates the ball. Rarely off his feet.
Negatives: Lacks bulk and is easily out-positioned from the action. Really struggles getting off blocks. Posted pedestrian production in college.
Analysis: Turner is a short, but explosive, defensive tackle who naturally gets leverage on opponents and makes plays up the field as well as laterally. He’s a perfect fit as a 3-technique tackle, though Turner must quickly produce in camp this summer to have any shot of making a practice squad.