New Mexico Lobos
2020 NFL Draft Prospects
Alex Hart, ILB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West and made 82 tackles (9.5 for loss) with four sacks, one interception and five pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Made 58 tackles (5.5 for loss) with one sack and three PBUs as a junior in 2017. Tore his ACL three games into the 2018 season and redshirted.
Positives: Tough two-down linebacker who rebounded well from his knee injury a year ago. Breaks down well, effectively uses his hands to protect himself and slides off blocks. Plays heads-up football, stacks well against the run and gives effort. Works hard to make plays and willingly throws his pads into the pile. Stays with assignments and does not bite on ball fakes or play-action passes.
Negatives: Not quick to transition into coverage and lacks quickness.
Analysis: Hart is a two-down, run-defending linebacker with average size and speed. He plays smart football and comes with a special-teams mentality.
San Diego State Aztecs
2020 NFL Draft Prospects
Luq Barcoo, CB
Career Snapshot: Junior-college transfer who started his final season at San Diego State. Earned Third Team All-America honors, tied for the FBS lead with nine interceptions and 16 pass breakups and made 55 tackles (five for loss) as a senior in 2019. Missed two games in 2018 due to a hamstring injury.
Positives: Super productive cornerback who came out of nowhere last season. Aggressive, sticks with receivers and does not give up on plays. Stays on the receiver’s hip out of breaks, possesses a nice move to the throw and effectively times pass defenses. Effective facing the action, fluid in transition and gives effort against the run.
Negatives: Almost never gets his head back around and constantly faceguards opponents. Gives up big plays due to his inability to locate the pass in the air. Lacks great closing and long speed. More of a drag-down tackler. Had a tough week of practice at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Analysis: Barcoo put up some amazing numbers last season, which really put him on the scouting radar, but he’s a limited athlete who can only be used in certain schemes. He offers potential in zone or backed off the line of scrimmage, but Barcoo must stand out on special teams this summer to make a roster.
Daishawn Dixon, G
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter at left guard who earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors as a senior in 2019. Missed the 2018 Frisco Bowl due to a violation of team rules.
Positives: Large, nasty blocker who is best in a small area. Bends his knees, works to get leverage on opponents and stays square. Strong and large enough to engulf defenders at the point of attack and effectively uses his hands. Patient in pass protection, keeps his head on a swivel and works well with teammates. Fires off the snap into blocks and always looks to get a pad on defenders.
Negatives: Stiff, struggles to adjust and has a tendency to fall off blocks. Really cannot slide in space. Ineffective in motion.
Analysis: Dixon possesses terrific size, temperament and strength, but he has athletic and space limitations. He could be used as a backup in a conventional running offense.
Parker Houston, TE
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors and caught 18 passes for 154 yards as a senior in 2019. Made 16 catches for 178 yards and two TDs as a junior.
Positives: Hard-working tight end who also does a solid job as a pass catcher and blocker. Quickly releases off the line, immediately gets to top speed and sells routes. Extends and exposes himself to the big hit, makes the reception and takes a pounding and holds onto the ball. Goes over the middle and makes the difficult catch in a crowd. Adjusts to the errant throw and looks the ball into his hands.
Negatives: Explodes into blocks, gets leverage on opponents and plays through the whistle. Effectively blocks down on defenders and takes them from the action. More of a one-speed tight end who is ineffective downfield. Seems unsure of himself in pass protection.
Analysis: Houston has flown under the scouting radar the past two seasons and was not even graded entering his senior campaign. He’s solid in all areas and has enough ability to make a roster as a third tight end.
Keith Ismael, C
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned First Team All-Mountain West honors in each of his final two seasons at San Diego State. Earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors as a redshirt freshman in 2017. Made 14 starts at center and 11 at right guard during his first two season with the Aztecs before he moved to center full-time. Missed one game in 2018 with a concussion.
Positives: Explosive center who was very durable at the college level. Explosive at the point, fires off the snap and plays tough, nasty football. Bends his knees, gets leverage on opponents and keeps his feet moving. Stays square, fights with his hands and shows the ability to slide in space. Fluid and effective in motion. Effective with the shotgun snap. Displays vision, works well with teammates and plays through the whistle.
Negatives: Possesses average power and really doesn’t get much movement as a run blocker. Struggles to adjust. Tested poorly at the combine and really does not come across as an athletic blocker.
Analysis: Ismael was reliable and dependent for San Diego State, but he needs time to further develop his game. With proper coaching, Ismael could eventually find himself in a starting role on Sundays.
Kyahva Tezino, ILB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned First Team All-Mountain West honors in both of those seasons. Made 99 tackles (10.5 for loss) with 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Made 127 tackles (14.5 for loss) with 8.5 sacks and two PBUs as a junior.
Positives: Hard-working linebacker who is best against the run. Physical, works hard to get involved in the action and fires up the field to fill gaps in run defense. Squares and wraps up tackling and sells out to make plays. Effectively quarterbacks the defense and makes the calls.
Negatives: Not fluid or quick in his backpedal. Very stiff. Possesses poor size and speed and comes with short arms.
Analysis: Tezino was a tough, physical run defender at the college level, but he’s an average athlete with minimal next-level potential.
Juwan Washington, RB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West and rushed 199 times for 999 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2018. Carried 150 times for 500 yards and two TDs and caught 17 passes for 100 yards and two scores as a senior. Missed four games in 2019 due to a nagging ankle injury and four games in 2018 with a fractured clavicle.
Positives: Quick-footed ball carrier who runs north and south. Runs with balance, sets up defenders and makes them miss. Quickly gets through the cutback lanes, has a burst through the hole and effectively follows blocks. Terrific pass catcher out of the backfield who adjusts to the errant throw and extends to make the reception away from his frame. Keeps his head on a swivel as a blocker.
Negatives: Lacks size and gets easily brought down at the point by a single defender. Struggled with injuries last season and comes off a disappointing campaign.
Analysis: Washington was graded as a potential late-round selection entering the year, but he struggled with injuries and will fall out of the seven rounds. He’s a situational runner and third-down back who must really impress as a pass catcher to have any chance to make a roster.