2016 NFL Draft Prospect Thread ...............

[hagan714]

Ryan Smith attracts more attention at N.C. Central’s Pro Day

The former NCCU cornerback is rated as a top DB and kick returner

Former Eagles cornerback Ryan Smith was coming off an impressive NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., the first NCCU player to get such an invite. He was listed as a “Top Performer” among the 37 cornerbacks at the combine.

Scouts surrounded Smith after his drills Wednesday with a myriad of questions, which media members were not privy to.

Aaron Wilson, who covers the Texans for The Houston Chronicle, said Smith is “a fast-rising NFL draft prospect.”

In Wilson’s article on NationalFootballPost.com, he wrote that Smith has private workouts scheduled with the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers.

Former Howard University all-conference defensive back Tim Watson said Smith is a second-round talent that should not last past the fourth round of the NFL draft.

“He not only has all the athleticism you want, and has good ball skills; but this young man is an elite ‘Dog Corner,’” Watson wrote in his sports blog. “He can tackle with the best of the best, and has the bulk, strength and power to be physical.”

Smith is coming off a senior season that included all-conference recognition as both a defensive back and a return specialist. He ranked third in the MEAC with a team-best 11 passes defended (two interceptions and nine pass breakups), while adding 52 tackles (38 solo).

Read more here: Ryan Smith attracts more attention at N.C. Central

Ryan Smith*|*North Carolina Central,*CB*:*2016 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

Ryan Smith Draft Profile

[hagan714]

Hardrockers' Cowan impresses during pair of NFL Pro Days

South Dakota School of Mines senior Sam Cowan is a big guy. When you are 6-foot-5-inches and weigh 298 pounds, you tend to get noticed.

Cowan went to an NFL Regional Combine held at the New Orleans Saints' practice facility March 12 in Louisiana.

Most recently, Cowan performed in front of NFL personnel at the annual South Dakota State’s Pro Day March 26 in Brookings. Cowan and 14 other players from the state showcasing their abilities in front of a group of NFL scouts.

Some of Cowan’s numbers included a 28-inch vertical jump; a nine-foot broad jump; 25 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press; a 5.05 second 40-yard dash; and he ran the pro agility drill in 4.81 seconds.

#Rapidsports: Hardrockers' Cowan impresses during pair of NFL Pro Days | Sports | rapidcityjournal.com

[hagan714]

Power play

Brandin Bryant bench pressed 225 pounds more times than any defensive lineman who participated in the NFL Scouting Combine, likely increasing his draft stock on Thursday at FAU's Pro Day.

Originally published on 3/31/2016

by Chuck King

BOCA RATON – As gaudy as the final number turned out to be, Brandin Bryant's performance didn't surprise his teammates.

The FAU defensive tackle bench pressed 225 pounds 38 times on Thursday as part of FAU's Pro Day. The total surely impressed the NFL scouts, but it wasn't anything his fellow Owls hadn't seen before.

“I knew he was going to do that,” said fellow defensive tackle Trevon Coley, who posted 22 reps. “It's always fun to watch him when he benches.”

Bryant's total was five better than any defensive lineman that participated at the NFL Scouting Combine. His time of 7.16 in the three-cone drill would have tied for eighth among all defensive linemen at the combine and would have been best among defensive tackles. Bryant's 4.85 40-yard dash time was slightly off the 4.81 he ran a couple weeks ago at the NFL's regional combine in New Orleans that would also have beaten every defensive tackle at the main NFL Combine.

The story on Thursday, though, was power.

“I wanted 40 [repetitions], but, yeah it was good,” Bryant said. “It definitely put me in a nice position.”

Bryant said he has a workout with one NFL team and interviews with two others scheduled for the coming days but declined to name the teams.

As good as Bryant's time in the three-cone drill was, Coley's 7.11 was even better.

Representatives from 31 NFL teams attended the Owls' Pro Day, an FAU official said, the most ever.

Bryant shows power at FAU Pro Day

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...2016&genpos=DT

[jeanpierre]

First run this year with the On The Clock Mock Draft Simulator at fanspeak.com...

Let me just say if we pulled this haul, I'd be in Farmer Fran ecstasy mode till opening day...

R1, S12 (Pick 12) WR Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi; Height: 6' 2"; Weight: 210 lbs.*

R2, S16 (Pick 47) DL Vernon Butler, LaTech; Height: 6' 4"; Weight: 323 lbs.

R3, S15 (Pick 78) TE Tyler Higbee, Western Kentucky; Height: 6' 6"; Weight: 249 lbs.

R4, S14 (Pick 112) DE Bronson Kaufusi, Brigham Young; Height: 6’ 6”; Weight: 285 lbs.

R5, S13 (Pick 152) NT D.J. Reader, Clemson; Height: 6' 3"; Weight: 327 lbs.

R7, S16 (Pick 237) OG Ted Karras, Illinois; Height: 6' 4"; Weight: 308 lbs.

Link to results: Fanspeak's On the Clock NFL Mock Draft Simulator

[ChrisXVI]

It's been a few weeks since I last took a stab at it on First Pick. Here's today's run through with the grades removed to not color anyone's opinions.

Round 1 Pick 12: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
- The perfect running mate for Cameron Jordan! I leave Jordan at weak side DE and put Lawson on the strong side replacing Bobby Richardson. Solidifies our D-Line with Kikaha and Edebali subbing in as situational pass rushers.

Round 2 Pick 16: Su'a Cravens, OLB/SS, Southern California
- Finally we find our Lavonte David! Potentially beats out Ellerbe as our starting weak side LB. The Saints love him and there's no way he falls past us in the 2nd round.

Round 3 Pick 15: Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona State
- Obvious.

Round 4 Pick 14: Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa
- He's raw, but there's great upside... Especially if he's available on day 3.

Round 5 Pick 13: Ken Crawley, CB, Colorado
- We need CB depth.

Round 7 Pick 16: Dominique Robertson, OT, West Georgia
- Seems like the type of late round, small school O-Lineman we take a flier on.

[jeanpierre]

I'd be surprised if Garrett is available in the fourth round...

Not sure where Cravens plays without moving a safety...

[ChrisXVI]

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

I'd be surprised if Garrett is available in the fourth round...

Not sure where Cravens plays without moving a safety...

Cravens will be a day one starter at WLB.

[jeanpierre]

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

Cravens will be a day one starter at WLB.

Then he'd better add at least fifteen pounds of toned muscle...

[ChrisXVI]

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Then he'd better add at least fifteen pounds of toned muscle...

He's the exact same size as Deone Buchanon and Mark Barron. It's the new trend.

[brees84]

R1P12 DE SHAQ LAWSON CLEMSON
R2P16 DE EMMANUEL OGBAH OKLAHOMA STATE
R3P15 DT AUSTIN JOHNSON PENN STATE
R4P14 G CONNOR MCGOVER MISSOURI
R5P13 WR MALCOLM MITCHELL GEORGIA
R7P16 ILB TRAVIS FEENEY WASHINGTON