Louisiana Tech’s scouting reports for the NFL Draft are extensive. This list showcases just how special the team that Skip Holtz built was before he was fired and ended up in the USFL. The list is highlighted by a couple of transfer players, including Baylen Buchanan from Tennessee and Elijah Hamilton from Vanderbilt.
Buchanan is likely to be selected or at least made a priority as an undrafted free agent. He’s largely flown under the radar despite proving he can hang at the next level with some flashes during his college career.
Louisiana Tech 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
The Bulldogs were a tenacious group in 2021. They were led by a defense that improved as the year went on. Louisiana Tech currently has several players in the NFL and that list is likely to grow in April.
Hamilton certainly has size and speed worthy of an NFL Draft pick. But he failed to make much of an impact during his time with the Bulldogs after transferring from Vanderbilt. Still, he’s listed below with all of the Louisiana Tech players you need to know about for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Trey Baldwin, LB
Positives: Instinctive linebacker who plays smart, disciplined football. Explosive, fires up the field, and sells out defending the run. Effectively collapses outside-in when pursuing plays, gets depth on pass drops, and covers a decent amount of area on the field. Hard hitter who drives his shoulders through ball handlers yet remains disciplined with assignments. Breaks down well and throws his body around the field.
Negatives: Lacks great pursuit speed. Easily slowed by blocks. Marginal production in coverage.
Analysis: Baldwin is smart and tough but possesses average size and speed.
Baylen Buchanan, DB
Positives: Tennessee transfer who is best facing the action. Physical, works hard to get involved, and displays a burst to the ball. Keeps the action in front of him, drives his shoulders through tackles, and is productive defending the run.
Negatives: Lacks long speed. Struggles in man coverage and rarely gets his head back around to locate the pass. Lacks smooth or fluid footwork moving in reverse and ends up all over the place.
Analysis: Buchanan has shown flashes of ability throughout his college career and has enough skill to get looks as a dime back at the next level.
Elijah Hamilton, DB
Positives: Vanderbilt transfer with the size and speed to play at the next level. Best in a straight line, flashes speed, and has a closing burst. Works well with teammates.
Negatives: Marginally productive throughout his college career. Possesses average ball skills.
Analysis: Hamilton looks the part and occasionally plays to it, yet he never truly elevated his game or lived up to expectations.
Marcus Williams Jr., RB
Positives: Compactly built ball carrier who is best between the tackles. Patient, waits for blocks to develop, and finds the running lanes. Strong in his lower body and displays the ability to break tackles. Possesses terrific short-area quickness, bounces around opponents, and makes defenders miss. Solid open-field runner who consistently turns it upfield. Runs hard on the inside, does not go down without a fight, and falls forward when tackled. Solid underneath pass-catching threat.
Negatives: Lacks the speed and agility to turn the corner. Cannot beat defenders into the open field or run to daylight.
Analysis: After a sensational sophomore season at Appalachian State, Williams was a part-time running back in 2020 before deciding to transfer to Louisiana Tech. He’s a downhill ball carrier with a well-rounded game and does the little things well.
Samuel Williams, OL
Positives: Massive offensive lineman with long arms and outstanding football intelligence. Fundamentally sound, works to bend his knees, and stays square. Strong and seals defenders from plays. Plays through the whistle.
Negatives: Overextends into locks. Lacks agility and struggles to adjust.
Analysis: Williams grades out highly in the areas of size, intelligence, and effort, yet he’s a limited athlete who can only play in certain schemes. Having experience at both tackle and guard gives him an advantage to find a spot as an inexpensive utility lineman on Sundays.