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New Orleans Saints Scouts Attend Three Games at Virginia Tech

New Orleans Saints scouts have visited three games each for three different schools: Ole Miss, USC, and...Virginia Tech?

The New Orleans Saints scouts have been hard at work in the predraft process, visiting schools to find tomorrow’s top draft prospects. Thanks to Chase Goodbread’s Scouting the Scouts series, we know that the Saints have attended multiple games for five schools: they have seen USC, Ole Miss, and Virginia Tech three times each, and have seen Alabama and Washington each play live twice. I’ll be giving you some brief reports on which prospects the Saints may be prioritizing.

Virginia Tech Hokies (three visits). Of the three schools that the Saints have sent scouts to watch play live, this may be the most confusing. USC is a traditional powerhouse, and Ole Miss has been a fresh pipeline of NFL talent. But Virginia Tech’s 2017 NFL draft prospects aren’t considered to be a bunch of future first rounders. So who is drawing the Saints’ attention in Blacksburg, VA?

Like the Saints, the Hokies run most of their offense out of three-receiver sets. The biggest draft-relevant name to know is Bucky Hodges, a 21-year old redshirt junior. Towering above the competition at 6-foot-7 and 245-pounds, Hodges is a former tight end who now runs with the wide receivers. Blah blah blah

On defense, defensive tackle Woody Baron is intriguing. He’s an undersized nose tackle... Blah blah blah

Other prospects at Virginia Tech include defensive end Ken Ekanem, a redshirt senior. Ekanem has good size at 6-foot-3 and 260-pounds, but he hasn’t matched the production from his breakout sophomore year. Half of Ekanem’s career 31.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks were produced back in 2014. He’s lanky ... Blah blah blah

Virginia Tech also has a defensive back who impresses in Brandon Facyson, a great option at boundary corner. He has 31 pass deflections to his name but hasn’t intercepted a pass since he had five in his freshman season. Facyson can also crash downfield in run support thanks to his rare size at the position (6-foot-2, 197-pounds). This can be seen in his three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles on the season.

http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com...-virginia-tech

Round2
Bucky Hodges TE/WR Virgina Tech 6061 245 4.78 #7 rJr
freakish athlete sure. Makes some unreal snags at times for such a big guy. A one year wonder? or just starting to scratch the surface.

Round 2- I would go with an all around 3 down TE instead.
Jake Butt TE Michigan 6051 250 4.74 #88 Sr
Longer history of success and but still needs work fine tuning his game. not a freak. Think Tyler Eifert right now.

or rather go truly freakish?
O.J. Howard TE Alabama 6055 251 4.57 #88 Sr
witch is a direction I am leaning towards in round 1. Freaks like this do not come down the pike often

Round 2/3
Brandon Facyson CB Virginia Tech 6011 191 4.52 #31 Jr
I like the kids aggressive nature. He is solid in run support and good clean tackler. But the medicals need to come back clean. The lack Int production is a concern considering he is coming out of the ACC. Not like ACC is a QB dyno during his time there but he does get his hands in there early and often. This makes me question instincts and/or reaction skills. If this is the case it says a lot about a possible very high football IQ. Is there enough upside for a 2nd? just maybe. Better 3rd round prospect IMO? up-and-down tenure

Round 5/6
Ken Ekanem WDE/OLB Virgina Tech 6025 255 4.82 #4 rSr
Hmmm late round prospect with some upside. Not on my list. Too small for a strong side DE amd too slow for weak side DE. Not impressed with his play against the run nor his motor/desire. not the kind to chase a play down from the opposite side of the field. 6th rounder? How much upside is there?With that said he is a smart heady high-character player.

UDFA
Woody Baron DT Virgina Tech 6011 2784.97 #60 rSr
sleeper? A major project. desire is there but....is desire enough?b He is quick and having a decent season.

Not mentioned
Round 5-7
Chuck Clark FS Virginia Tech 5115 204 4.57 #19 Sr
flashy? noooo but decent in coverage and very effective against the run. Late round pick for depth that has the make up to be an impact player on special teams day 1. Non flashy solid players get no respect

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins