2017 NFL Draft: Bucknell Julie’n Davenport Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Bucknell’s Julie’n Davenport is a physically gifted but extremely raw offensive tackle prospect who should come off the board in the middle of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Julie’n Davenport is the definition of a project player who will need time to develop. However, he has the natural athleticism and size to develop into an above-average starter in the NFL. The key to his future will be how he takes to coaching.
Davenport features good overall size with a long frame, good reach and thick base. He has fluid movement skills for someone with his size which has allowed him to dominate during his college career.
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The issue is that Davenport was dominating a lower-level of competition which makes it tough to get a great read on his NFL readiness. His performance at the Senior Bowl showed that he isn’t completely ready to compete against the type of talent he’ll face in the NFL.
However, he showed enough raw skills that improving his technique could result in a starting caliber player down the road.
The biggest issue with his technique is that he tends to play upright and with a narrow stance. This negatively impacts his balance and overall effectiveness. He also needs to work on his kick slide which is full of jerky movements.
At this point in his development, Davenport does a good job fighting to gain inside hand placement. This helps him generate a push off the line and control the action. He has enough upper body strength to Velcro to the defender.
Davenport features a nice hip roll that helps him generate a strong punch. The punch helps him gain inside hands, Velcro and generate a push of the line of scrimmage. He also shows the ability to use angles and seal the defender from the play.
The key to Davenport’s success will be landing with a team willing to be patient. He also needs to show a willingness to work and take to the higher level of coaching he’ll receive.
Current Draft Range: 4th Round