2014 Pre Season All Pac-12 NFL Draft Prospect Team
By Ben Natan
Nov 26, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Marquise Lee (9) is defended by UCLA Bruins cornerbacks Sheldon Price (22) and Andrew Abbott (26) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
More than any other conference, the Pac-12 has some of the best talent across the board and really lacks a weak position in there conference. While the conference may not get the press that the SEC gets, it surely can compte with the level of prospects the South East is churning out. Players like Will Sutton, Marquise Lee, Anthony Barr, and Ifo Ekpre Olumu are some of the many high level players and potential first round picks that the conference has to offer.
Quarterback
1st String – Brett Hundley (UCLA): The 1st of two very talented Redshirt Sophomore quarterbacks in the Pac-12 that could go into the NFL draft next year. Hundley has an impressive ability to make plays with his arm as well as make plays with his legs. He is remarkably composed behind a terrible (truly terrible) UCLA offensive line last year. He needs to clean up his mechanics and his footwork (though that may be hindered by constant pressure), but Hundley is not only the most impressive QB prospect out of the Pac-12, but also one of the best in the country.
2nd String – Marcus Mariota (Oregon): Mariota is one of the most physically gifted and naturally talented quarterbacks in Oregon’s history. He has a great build at 6’4”, 215 lbs. with a very strong arm and has dangerous ability to make plays on the run. His combination of size, speed and arm strength are reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick during his days at Nevada. In his freshman year, Mariota was protected a bit by the Oregon offense that didn’t require too many difficult throws. Though Mariota delivered the ball beautifully when asked. Mariota has to improve his accuracy downfield but massive strides should be seen if Oregon opens the passing offense up this year.
Running Back
1st String – Bishop Sankey (Washington): Sankey is one of the more complete backs in this year’s impressive crop of runners. Sankey has great vision and burst in the running game and flashes soft hands and YAC ability as a receiver. The things truly holding Sankey back are his poor ability as a pass blocker and the play coming rom his quarterback. Hopefully Keith Price improves and allows Sankey to work with less 8 man boxes. Regardless, Sankey is going to offer any team a solid, multi faceted threat
1stString – Marion Grice (ASU): Grice is not yet a widely talked about name in the mainstream draft waves, but he will be. Grice wins at the line of scrimmage with clear vision that allows him to spot the smallest hole that he will accelerate through at his top speed. While he is not the fastest or “twitchy” runner, his vision and short area burst is impressive. He is also a very good receiver, using his 6’ frame and concentration to reel in passes and his natural running ability to do the rest of the work.
2nd String – Ka’Deem Carey (Arizona): A popular pick for one of the best running backs in the draft, Carey’s production is not solely based off his talent, but on the spread offense that Arizona runs. However, Carey is still a talented back and should be productive at the next level. He is agile and quick, with the ability to cut, juke and spin away from defenders. He also has an impressive second gear that jets him through the secondary. While he is not the prospect some make him out to be, he certainly is a contributor in the NFL.
Wide Receiver
1st String – Marquise Lee (USC): When you look at Lee, he is 6’ and under 200 pounds… Not exactly impressive measurables. However, when a ball is thrown in his direction, Lee is one of the best overall players in the country. He has great range and leaping ability to attack the ball and great hands and body control to come down with it. He runs crisp routes to gain separation and does a great job of securing the ball. Most impressive, is what he does with the ball in his hands. After the catch, he moves better than most running backs in the country. The way he accelerates in and out of his cuts is impressive and his top end speed is more than enough to outrun every player on the field. He is a top-10 talent and easily the best receiver prospect.
1st String – Kasen Williams (Washington): Williams is one of the talented pieces of a Washington offense, held back by poor play from their Quarterback. Williams, while not being the fastest wideout, has phenomenal strength and body control that allow him to come down with passes. A favorite trait, Williams will put anyone on their back in run blocking. He explodes out of his stance and makes corners pay for attempting to make a play on the ball carrier.
Slot Receiver – De’Anthony Thomas (Oregon): Ever since his freshman year, DAT or “Black Momba” has been one of the most explosive players in the country. If he touches the ball as a back or a receiver, he flies down the field with mind-boggling speed and great “wiggle” to get away from defenders. He lacks bulk to play running back at the next level, but his open field ability is rare and must be taken advantage of. He has soft hands but has to clean up his route running to be an every down receiver at the next level.
2nd String – Austin Hill (Arizona): Hill would be higher, but an offseason knee injury pushes him down the depth chart. None the less, He is a 6’3”, 210 red zone threat who has strong hands and good speed. He is able to get down the field well and go up for 50/50 balls, but also is impressive after the catch. A complete receiver, if he can recover fully, Hill could hear his name called during the first 2 days of the draft.
Tight End
1st String – Colt Lyerla (Oregon) : Lyerla is easily this year’s top tight end prospect. He has great size at 6’5”, 250 lbs. and he moves like a receiver. He has very good speed off the line and at the top end and uses that along with his strength to dominate contested catches. His strength shows up in his blocking as well, as his explosive first step and push really helped the Ducks high-powered run offense. Lyerla is most impressive after the catch; he was sometimes used as a runningback because of how fast, agile and hard to bring down he is in the open field. A complete prospect and athletic freak, Lyerla could be a Top 20 pick next year.
2nd String – Austin Sefarian Jenkins (Washington): Another talented member of a struggling Washington offense, Jenkins was able to lead all tight ends in receiving last year despite having terrible play from the Quarterback position. Jenkins is a natural receiver as he is fluid and intelligent in the open field. He has great size (6’6”, 266), good hands a great leaping ability that make him terrifying to defend in the red zone. Despite impressive size, Jenkins seems disinterested in blocking, hurting his appeal to scouts. Even more worrisome is his multiple off the field issues that, due to recent events, may scare scouts away from the troublesome but talented player.
Left Tackle
1st String – Mickey Baucus (Arizona): At 6’7” and 305 lbs., Baucus has ideal size for a left tackle position. He is quick off the ball and has long arms that he uses well when stoning rushers in the passing game. However, he seems to give up to much ground and lacks the strength to hold his blocks in either the passing game or the running game. Impressive size, but needs to improve technically.
2nd String – Michael Phillips (Oregon State): At 6’4”, 330 lbs., Phillips is a thick player which may present itself as an issue from a conditioning and athletic standpoint. However, he is very strong and has decent agility for a man his size. He lacks lateral quickness for a left tackle, but he could project to a solid guard prospect.
Right Tackle
1st String – Jake Fisher (Oregon): The key to the dominant running attack at Oregon is the strength and athletic ability of the offensive line. Fisher is a prime example of an Oregon lineman. He is 6’6” and 295 lbs, with quick, agile feet to pair with good strength. He can anchor the running game and has the feet and hands to hold up in pass protection. One of the best players at the position in the NCAA.
2nd String – Cameron Fleming (Standford): Stanford loves big, strong lineman to plow open running lanes for their running backs and at 6’6 and 320 lbs., Fleming does just that. He is decently quick off the snap, and he will consistently use his size and strength to bully defensive lineman. Not overly athletic and is inconsistent as a pass protector, but a very stout run blocker.
Guard
1st String – David Yankey (Stanford) Despite a 2012 season in which he played very well at left tackle, Yankey is getting moved inside to play a position more suited to his ability. He is not the most athletic player and therefore relies on very good fundamentals and a high motor to win as a pass blocker. He has a nice punch as a pass blocker and comes off the ball very well, both traits that will serve him well as a guard.
1st String – Xavier Su’a-Filo (UCLA): Filo is the lone bright spot on an awful UCLA line. He has a quick first step, complemented great initial hand placement. He is not overly strong and it shows when trying to sustain blocks, but he is very quick and technically sound. If he can add strength, he could be in for a big season.
2nd String – Jamil Douglas (ASU): An athletic player for a 300 pounder, Douglas has great agility and plays with an enticing mean streak. He will need to add size, but his tenacity is valuable.
2nd String – John Fullington(OSU): Fulling is light (Under 300 lbs.) and a bit slow, but he makes up for it with being a technically sound player. While he may not be a starter in the league, he is a quality backup as of now.
Center
1st String – Hroniss Grasu (Oregon): Despite playing on the same line as Kyle Long (2013 Bears’ 1st round pick), Grasu was named as his teams top lineman, and rightfully so. Grasu is very athletic, with the ability to move laterally and downfield with haste and uses great technique to make and sustain his blocks. Continuing on his current path, he is on his way to being the best center in the draft.
2nd String – Vincent Jones (Utah): A smart player, Jones has an ability to break down a defense in order to make key blocks. He is light-footed, but also posses strength enough to put defenders on their backs.
4-3 Base Defense
Defensive End
1st String – Henry Anderson (Stanford): A guy who could play at DE or DT, Anderson has great awareness as a run defender and could serve as a phenomenal strong side end. He has good strength and a high motor, and as a plus, he uses his 6’6” frame incredibly well to make his way into the backfield as a pass rusher.
1st String – Scott Crichton (Oregon State): Despite be a bit light (260 lbs), Crichton is not the fastest end on the field. However, he has dencet speed that is paired with incredible strength that he uses to beat blockers. His high motor and great hands will help as a pass rusher, but he is also a great run defender. His solid all around game will make him an attractive prospect.
2nd String – Cassius Marsh (UCLA): A bit of a tweener, Marsh has great agility for a 280 pounder and phenomenal stregth. He is better off shedding some weight to become a 4-3 DE. He has a relentless motor and usually stops at nothing to make his way into the backfield.
2nd String – Trent Murphy (Stanford): Murphy ha great size at 6’5” but will need to add weight to his 261 pound frame to be a full time defensive end (Where he best projects). He is a fluid athlete who gets off the ball well and uses his strength and an array of pass rushing moves to work his way into the backfield. He needs to improve his awareness though, as this, combined with coming in too high, will get him blown off the ball in the run game. If he can work on that and add some weight, he could be a high selection
Defensive Tackle
1st String – Will Sutton (ASU): Plenty will knock Sutton for his size (6’, 290), but people said the same thing about Geno Atkins… and look how he turned out. When watching Sutton, there is no denying that he can play. Down to down, he uses quickness, anticipation, strength, leverage and perfect hand work to penetrate the offensive line and wreak havoc in the backfield. While he may not impress anyone with his measurable, Sutton is someone who can make an immediate impact as a pass rusher in the middle of a 4-3 line. His worst-case scenario is a stud nickel defensive tackle.
1st String – Deandre Coleman (Cal): At 6’4” and 320 lbs., Coleman is best suited at a 1-tech or pure nose tackle role at the next level. Even though he is enormous, Coleman posses a great first step paired with a nice swim move that helps him get into the backfield. He is naturally strong and can push the pocket around and clog up running lanes. As Cal switches defenses and his position becomes more pass-rush oriented, we could see a big year from Coleman.
2nd String – Taylor Hart (Oregon): Despite being nearly 300 pounds, Hart is one of the most athletic tackles in the country. He is constantly asked to play all over the defensive line, even playing as a stand up rusher. He has a great first step complimented the natural stregth that comes from his size and his violent nature allows him to bull through most offensive lineman without issue. His problem is that he will, too often, use a poor initial stance that makes him less powerful or causes him to get stood up. This happens way to often and needs to be fixed, but when he is on, and his form is solid… He is one of the best.
2nd String – Danny Shelton (Washington): The 6’1 320 pounder was a key in the massive turnaround on the Huskies defense last year. He is not a spectacular player, but he is a consistent run stuffer and that is incredibly valuable in the NFL.
Inside Linebacker
1st String – Shayne Skov (Baylor): As a freshman and sophomore, Skov displayed intelligence, explosiveness, and consistency at the linebacker position for Stanford. However, after suffering an ACL tear in the 2011 season, Skov lost much of those traits during the 2012 season. He was not as quick and couldn’t break down on a down to down basis, often being a liability in the running game. He is still an intelligent player and everyone hopes he can regain form to be one of the best inside backers in the country.
2nd String – Eric Kendricks (UCLA): Despite being “undersized” at 6’, 228 lbs, Kendricks put up 150 tackles for the Bruins, one of the best tackliong seasons in their history. His is very intelligent and has great speed to make plays on the ball carrier. He will need to improve his strength as he is often found trying to run around blockers and not going through them. An exciting prospect on an athletic UCLA defense.
Outside Linebacker
1st String – Anthony Barr (UCLA): The best defensive prospect in the country not named Clowney, Barr is a 6’4”, 245 lb. freak. A former running back, Barr was switched to rush linebacker last year and all he did was accumulate 13 sacks, 21.5 tackles for a loss and 83 total tackles. He has great strength and his speed helps him do well in coverage. Barr will explode out of his stance and seems to dominate lineman with pure athletic ability. He is still very raw, but the fact ath he is getting better is terrifying to quarterbacks everywhere.
1st String – Carl Bradford (ASU): Bradford is a weight room hero, possessing a ton of natural strength that he needs to consistently put on the field. At ASU, Bradford was a moveable chess piece along the front seven, playing every linebacker position and even put at defensive end to get after the quarterback. He has a relentless motor and good instincts that will serve him well. If he improves upon applying his strength to the field, he could be quite the player in the NFL.
2nd String – Boseko Lokombo (Oregon): Lokomo is a fluid athlete that can move well to the ball and is very good in coverage. His great length is used well to get off of blocks or cover tight ends. He just needs to improve his onfield awareness to move up the boards.
2nd String – Marquis Flowers (Arizona): A former safety, Flowers is very athletic for a linebacker and plays very well in coverage. He fires off the snap and uses his long arms to manipulate blockers to make his way into the backfield and was able to lead a woeful defensive line in sacks last year. Flowers is great in coverage, but he needs to consistently get off of blocks in the running game in stead of making tackles farther downfield.
Cornerback
1st String – Ifo Ekpre Olumu (Oregon): Ifo is one of the best corners in the nation, possessing great fluidity, instincts, ball skills and a great hitting ability. He is not an elite athlete but is able to use his technical ability to cover. Along with his great coverage ability, the former safety can lay the wood pretty well for a corner making him one of the more complete packages at corner in the coutry.
1st String – Rashaad Reynolds (Oregon State): Reynolds was cast in the shadow of the fantastic Jordan Poyer last year, but Reynolds put on a pretty good season of his own. The quick athlete will use his speed and his recognition to flow to the ball and play it well in coverage. While he is not the best tackler, he is more than willing which is good to see. With another good season, he could be drafted much higher than his former teammate.
2nd String – Terrance Mitchell (Oregon): Mitchell has great length at 6’ and 200 lbs and is a great athlete, but is still a bit raw in terms of technique and playing the ball. He has great potential but needs to improve technically. If so, the sky is the limit for Mitchell
2nd String – Kieth McGill (Utah): A former safety, McGill is a 6’2”, 200 pound athlete who is good mover and hits very well. Unfortunately a shoulder injury causes him to miss the entire 2012 season, but if a full recovery happens, he could be an exciting prospect to watch
Strong Safety
1st String – Sean Parker (Washington) A bit small at 5’10”, 192, parker has trouble covering deep but when he plays up or in man coverage, he is very impressive. He is very quick and instinctual, moving well to the ball and using a great vertical ability to make a play on it. He is most impressive in the run game as he diagnoses, cahses down and lays out a ball carrier. He is a ferocious tackler and his overall game is reminiscent of former Gator and 1st round pick, Matt Elam.
2nd String – Dion Bailey (USC): Bailey played a hybrid role at USC last year, but with a defensive coordinator switch, Bailey will be moving to a full time safety. He has great on field instincts and uses his size (6’, 210) to cover tight ends and come down and hit. It will be interesting to see how he transitions as he will be tasked a lot more with covering receivers and his average top end speed may hurt him there.
Free Safety
1st String – Ed Reynolds (Stanford): Reynolds is one of the best deep safeties in the entire country. He uses his range and awareness to flow to the ball and, usually, pick it off. He takes great angles in the passing game and is also not bad as a run defender. He is a good tackler most of the time, but sometimes his fundamentals shoot out the window and he is overaggressive in his pursuit or the tackles themselves. A very intelligent athlete, Reynolds will need to be more consistent next year to be highly sought after in May.
2nd String – Deone Bucannon (WASU): Playing on a terrible Washington State defense, Bucannon was often left as the last line of defense against a player. He posses good size at 6’1” but needs to add weight to his lanky frame. He is a great tackler but is sometimes too aggressive which leads to miss tackles and big plays. In coverage he is a good straight-line athlete, but lacks the fluidity to be consistently reliable in coverage.