Friday, April 13, 2012

NFL Prospect LaQuinton Evans, WR, Southern

LaQuinton Evans is a very smooth and explosive receiver who stretches the field and can take it the distance. He possesses effective eye/hand coordination and plays with great body control. Consistently gets downfield behind defenders and plays to his forty time. Easily gets vertical on DB's and fights to make the difficult catch in traffic. Evans is a very elusive receiver who gets separation from defenders and uses his frame to shield away opponents. He impressed scouts during the HBCU Bowl week with how quickly he gets into his breaks and also his sharp route running. He showed good balance and was very fluid catching the ball. Evans has a nice combination of size and speed and also has a natural feel as a route runner. Does a good job setting up defenders on sharply breaking routes underneath with the vertical ability to also be a threat down the field. Evans is not a physical receiver and needs to work on his strength for the next level. He also sometimes struggle in press coverage and tends to peek before he catches the ball, which results in some drops. Will also need to pick up his intensity as a blocker against the DBs in the NFL. Evans has good size at 6-2 205 and impressed scouts at his pro day with 4.39 & 4.44 40 times and 10-6 broad jump. LaQuinton Evans was Southern's top playmaker on offense the last two years and has all the tools to be a productive 3rd or 4th receiver at the next level. He may have to make his mark early on as a returner on special teams.  

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

NFL Prospect Chigbo Anunoby, DT, Morehouse

Chigbo Anunoby is the number one rated DT on my Black College Football NFL Draft Defensive Board. He was a terror on the defensive line during his career at Morehouse splitting time between DT and DE. Anunoby has an impressive NFL frame at 6-4 328 lbs and is well-built for the position. He's explosive off the ball and stays low out of his stance. Shows good strength at the power of attack and the balance to extend his arms to fend off blocks inside. He impressed NFL scouts during the HBCU Bowl week with his instincts and good awareness as he consistently flowed toward the action and really did a nice job locating the ball quickly. Anunoby is a marginal pass rusher but displays enough short area quickness for a guy his size. He also did a decent job of pushing the pocket as a bull rusher. Anunoby needs to play with better balance and must develop more moves with his hands to keep blockers off of him. Scouts also have some concerns regarding the DII competition he faced in college and if it will hinder him being able to elevate his game to the next level.  Overall Anunoby is a strong long arm player with a really well proportioned frame who can anchor inside and has been getting plenty of looks from both 34 and 43 teams as a developmental big body. He could develop into a zero-technique/nose tackle prospect at the next level as he physically matures with adding bulk to his frame. Anunboy has grab enough attention from teams during the NFL Draft process to warrant a draft pick in the later rounds.  

Monday, April 9, 2012

NFL Prospect Lamont Bryant, TE/WR, Morgan State


Lamont Bryant is an athletic tight end that flashed great potential during his career at Morgan State. He's been their best receiving threat the last few years but has not always lived up to the expectations that coaches had for him. Bryant flashed his ability as freshman showing good hands and mismatches in the pass game. After showing great promise early on he went into the coaches doghouse the next two years after some off the field incidents and lack of focus on the football field. Since then, he has matured from those incidents and became very focused as a senior and it showed in his play on the field this past year.
Bryant has dependable hands and is fluid releasing off the line, selling routes, and is quick getting to top speed. Runs well laterally and makes catches in stride. Nicely adjusts to errant throws, extends his hands, and offers the quarterback a big target. Good eye/hand coordination and looks the pass in. He impressed scouts during the HBCU Bowl week with his agility, body control and hands to consistently extends to make the reception away from his frame. Uses his frame to shield away defenders and protect the pass. He is at his best on underneath coverages taking advantage of linebackers and safeties. Bryant uses his size as an advantage, easily adjusts to the errant throw and makes catches away from his frame with his hands. Gets vertical to grab high passes over defenders and easily wins out in battles. He is an average blocker showing minimal strength at the point of attack and will be overpowered by defenders. Bryant is an undersized tight end with solid receiving skills but struggles with finishing off linebackers on blocking downs. He will also need to improve his route running as a receiver and become more comfortable releasing out of a two point stance instead of the three point stance he's been use to in college. Scouts are intrigued by his frame at 6-5 225 lbs and 80 inch wing span. Bryant put on a show at his recent pro day running a 4.45 40, 10-8 broad jump and 43 inch vertical. He is a great athlete who hasn't reached the surface of his potential as a football player. Bryant has put himself in a position for teams to consider drafting him in the later 6-7 rounds. Overall, he's an undersized college tight end with reliable hands and the ability to make the transition to wide receiver at the next level. Bryant will be more of a big receiver than a undersized tight end and will be a development project for teams who might fit best in a West Coast system in the NFL.