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East-West Game Pro Prospects
Marvin Austin - North Carolina
The East-West practices this week featured several interesting prospects that get center stage today. Keep an eye on these ten pro prospects. Each faces a key game that will clarify their grade by scouts entering the final stages of player evaluation, the NFL Combine and pro workout days.
We will have a complete scouting report on the East-West week, practices and game in the January Newsletter out early next week. We will also have an updated Small College report from each All-star games.
Offensive Prospects
QB Pat Devlin of Delaware - 6’3” 225 lbs.
This kid needs a big game after an average week of practices. After coming off a strong senior season, NFL scouts were excited to see this former D1 player perform vs top competition. He has a live arm, though his accuracy is suspect beyond the shorter routes. His ability to pick up the offense and deal with the big stage will be closely watch on game day. He needs a strong performance to remain in the 2nd tier of QB prospects. His week in Orlando did not help his cause and only an impressive game effort can redeem his status.
QB Nathan Enderle of Idaho - 6’4” 242 lbs.
Strong armed athlete had an erratic senior season with a few outstanding games and yet a couple of disappointing outings vs top competion like Nebraska. This week he had a fine practice on Tuesday, showing a strong arm and excellent size and the strength to drive the ball down the field. At midweek, he struggled with his accuracy overall and he was late delvering the ball too often. He lacked the ability to go through his progressions and find secondary receivers, locking on to primary receivers solely. Too many defenders got their hands on his passes. He needs a big game to dispel some real concerns about his current level of development.
WR Cecil Shorts of Mount Union (Oh.) - 5’11” 200 lbs.
Fine small college prospect sustained a hamstring injury at midweek that cost him valuable practice time in front of NFL scouts. He comes in at just under 6’ and a solid 200 lbs. and displays soft hands and nice body control. He had impressive early practies until the injury that probably costs him playing in the game Saturday. The comparisons with former Mount Union wideout star Pierre Garcon are obvious. Shorts is a fine prospect, though a cut below the Colts young playmaker. He is a quality D3 athlete who needs a big workout at the NFL Combine to finalize his grade and establish him as a potential NFL starter.
TE Charles Gantt of Michigan St - 6’4” 255 lbs.
He was the most complete TE prospect at the position here. He is a tough blocker who is quick off the ball and uses fine technique and stregth to get into a defender. He catches the ball well with good agility and body control to adjust and make the tough catch. Though he lacks the speed to pressure defenders in the deep seam, he is a sure handed prospect to contribute in a passing game. He helped his cause and draft status here and hopes it translates into game day production.
TE Virgil Green of Nevada - 6’3” 250 lbs.
Fast tight end has shown the natural pass catching skills and the speed to give a pro offense the vertical threat in the middle. He flashed wide receiver skills, including hands, body control and run after the catch ability that elevated his grade entering the key game. He is the type who can provide big plays and will press an ordinary group of safeties in this All-star classic. He can establish himself as a high-level pass catcher with a strong game effort.
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Defensive Prospects
DT Marvin Austin of North Carolina - 6’2” 315 lbs.
Tar Heel’s DT Marvin Austin received the most attention from scouts at the event and deservertly so. He entered the 2010 season as a possible top10-15 prospect before being suspended for the entrie year. He came in at over 6’2” and 315 lbs. and iin good condition and really put together. He showed up in good shape and has the physical talent to warrant a high pick despite the off the field issues. He is a wide body defender who has a strong base and carries his weight very well with top functional lower body girth to hold the point of attack very well. At the weekly practices, he showed an excellent combination of size, speed and strength that drew attention. He was a dominant inside force by midweek and was a man among boys in one-on-one drills. With a big game, he probably earns an invite to the Senior Bowl with a few defections this week from that event already.
DT David Carter of UCLA - 6’4” 300 lbs.
Carter had an impressive showing at midweek that really brought attention to his physical skills. He has a big frame and long arms that kept blockers off his body and allowed him to separate and run to the ball. He showed good initial reads that allowed him to win early on the down and gain an advantage he maintained throughout most plays. He displays fine quickness to move laterally and the reach to stay clean and shed while moving toward the ball. If he can display the skills in the game that he showed in the scrimmages, he will move up the charts significanty entering the important NFL Combine.
DT Terrell McClain of South Florida - 6’2” 305 lbs.
Quick tackle continues his fast rise up the charts. He is coming off a good final season, showing quickness and instincts to play in the NFL. He is a mobile wide-body defender who has a fast hand punch with the agility to make plays down the line. He has the speed to make stops outside the tackle box and projects best to the 4-3 scheme. This kid is improving quickly where his raw talent and instincts have merged to start to make plays consistently in both run defense and as a pass rusher. A big game here and he flies up the charts.
LB Chris Carter of Fresno St. - 6’1” 245 lbs.
Powerful compact defender showed the explosive burst off the edge that made him one of the feared players in the WAC. He shows the power, quickness and overall athleticism to be a complete pro defender. He is tough at the point of attack and runs well with the range to chase down runners from behind. He is very quick off the ball with the pass rushing ability to be a pro playmaker. If he shows in the game what he displayed in practices, especially pressuring the QB, he could be a hot prospect entering the NFL Combine.
CB Justin Rogers of Richmond (Va,) - 5’10” 185 lbs.
Talented prospect I have scouted several times in person over recent years. We rated him the top small college corner at the start of the season. At the EW practices, he showed quick reactions and instincts that allow him to close on the ball consistently. He can change directions easily with the ability to turn and run with receivers. He reads routes well with the ability to flip his hips easily and break on the ball. He had an interception midweek, showing the ball instincts to get into position to make big plays. He is an adequate tackler who rarely misses in the openfield. He is prepped for a huge game vs top pro prospects.
Frank Coyle writes ‘College Football Monday’ weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe, etc. He is a voter for weekly Team and Player Awards