NFL Draft 2014 Preview (8 page)

Strengths:
Good balance and body control. Has loose ankles and very good lateral agility. Explosive one-cut ability. Displays vision and elusiveness in the open field. Sees the cutback and weaves in and out of traffic. Has some wiggle to shake tacklers in space. Good receiver — bursts into routes, adjusts to passes and has soft hands. Fumbled only once the last two seasons. Blue-collar work ethic. Solid character.

Weaknesses:
Has a lean, narrow frame. Needs to bulk up and get stronger. Not equipped to pound between the tackles — gets tall inside and doesn’t push the pile (soft on contact). Weak tackle-breaker who cannot be counted on for yards after contact. Can become a more disciplined route runner. Questionable awareness in pass protection. Statistical production belies inconsistency.

Future:
Fluid perimeter runner/receiver with playmaking ability, though his game is rough around the edges, requiring more polish and attention to detail. Profiles as a third-down/change-of-pace back, but his football intelligence has to catch up with his physical gifts in order to earn trust he can handle the role.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I don’t know what you do with him. He has good hands, but not great speed or make-you-miss. He’s a one-cut runner with average run strength. I worry how much he’ll be able to retain. He’s not a blocker. He’s going to get overdrafted. People might get enamored with his stats. I think it’s inflated from the competition. I kept watching more and more trying to see it. I couldn’t get excited about him.”

FB-H-BACK RYAN HEWITT, #85

STANFORD
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Grade: 5.05

Ht: 6-4 1/8 | Wt: 246 | Sp: 4.91 | Arm: 32 | Hand: 9 1/4

History:
His last name is pronounced “HUE-it.” The Colorado prep was coached by nine-year NFL WR Dave Logan, who played for Cleveland and Denver. Was a three-year letterwinner at tight end and also lettered in basketball. Was recruited by Stanford as a tight end, but mainly lined up at fullback during his collegiate career. After a redshirt year in 2009, he appeared in 13 games in ’10; had two receptions for 16 yards (8.0-yard average) and zero touchdowns and did not have any rushing attempts. Was the primary blocking fullback for Stepfan Taylor in ’11, rushing 10-35-0 (3.5) and catching 34-282-5 (8.3) in 13 games (11 starts). Finished third on the team in receptions as a top target for Andrew Luck. Of his 44 offensive touches, 30 either resulted in a first down or touchdown. Appeared in 12 games (7 starts) in ’12 and carried 13-32-1 (2.5) and caught 14-129-1 (9.2), again serving as Taylor’s primary fullback. Missed the first two games of the season with an ankle injury. Was the primary blocking back for Tyler Gaffney in ’13, rushing 5-8-0 (1.6) and receiving 9-46-0 (5.1) in 13 games (11 starts). Missed an early season game with a bruised knee.

Strengths:
Fairly quick out of his stance. Attacks with urgency. Understands angles and positioning. Can block on the move. Good hands — catches away from his body and had 34 receptions as a sophomore. Lined up in multiple spots and has special-teams experience. Cares about the game and puts the work in. Clean character.

Weaknesses:
Needs to bulk up and get stronger. Athletic ability and speed are just adequate. Marginal value as a runner. Fairly straight-linish. Limited explosion and body power as a lead blocker. Tweener traits.

Future:
Smart, jack of all trades, master of none with a tweener skill set. Will go as far as his versatility, blocking, hands and special-teams utility carry him and could be best in a “move” blocking role.

Draft projection:
Priority free agent.

RB JEREMY HILL, #33 (SOPH-3)

LSU
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Grade: 5.65

Ht: 6-0 5/8 | Wt: 233 | Sp: 4.66 | Arm: 32 5/8 | Hand: 10 3/8

History:
Was a top Louisiana prep running back in 2010, rushing 302 times for 2,260 yards (7.5-yard average) and 36 touchdowns en route to being named to the Parade All-America team. Before graduating high school, though, he was arrested on sexual assault charges. Sat out the 2011 season and enrolled at Louisiana State early the following year, participating in spring drills. Made his collegiate debut in the fall of ’12 and played in 11 games (five starts), rushing 142-755-12 (5.3) and catching 8-73-0 (9.1). Did not play in LSU’s first two games and carried the ball just 13 times through six weeks, but went on to lead the Tigers in rushing. Started the
final five games; in his first college start, he became the first true LSU freshman to rush for 100 yards against Alabama (29-107-1). Ran afoul of the law again in April ’13, as he was arrested and charged with simple battery after being caught on video punching a man outside a bar near campus. After pleading guilty to a predatory attack for the second time in 15 months, he was given a six-month suspended jail sentence and two years of probation; as a result, he is on probation until July 12, 2015. Was suspended by coach Les Miles for the ’13 opener and for the first quarter of LSU’s ensuing game. Once he returned to the field, he registered one of the top seasons in school history, rushing 203-1,401-16 (6.9) and catching 18-181-0 (10.1) in 12 games (11 starts). His rushing total was the second-best single-season mark in school history, while his average yards per carry established a SEC record (eclipsing Garrison Hearst’s 6.8 in 1992). Tied a school mark with seven 100-yard games, including a 28-216-2 performance in the Outback Bowl. Concluded his two-year college career with 2,410 all-purpose yards and no fumbles lost.

Strengths:
Outstanding size. Good initial quickness — gets rolling downhill in a hurry. Quick feet for a bigger back. Slashes through holes. Spins off tackles and picks up yards after contact. Shows good hands in limited exposure — effective short receiver. Productive in a pro-style power offense — averaged nearly 7 yards per carry as a sophomore.

Weaknesses:
Shows some hip tightness and does not string moves together. Can do a better job running behind his pads between the tackles — enters the hole upright, negating his ability to move the pile. Developing vision. Gears down to cut laterally and slide to another hole. Average second-level burst. Lacks elite top-end speed to pull away from the pack and can be tracked down before reaching the edge. Was not used extensively as a receiver and did not run a variety of routes. Was contained by Alabama. Has a 29-inch vertical jump. Character, maturity and stability must be investigated thoroughly.

Future:
Big, thickly built, athletic slasher with an overinflated sense of his abilities and character red flags, which could cause some teams to shy away. Fits best in a downhill scheme and has potential to be a 20-carry back in the NFL, but must run to his size more consistently and prove his unstable behavior is behind him.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“If you can get him in the third round, you’d be happy. It’s hard to make it when you don’t have the speed. Green Bay would like Hill a lot. That is their kind of guy. He’s a little bit like the big kid the Steelers took from Michigan State (Le’Veon Bell) in the second (round) last year. Bell was a better kid and more well-rounded, I thought.”

RB CARLOS HYDE, #34

OHIO STATE
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Grade: 6.25

Ht: 5-11 7/8 | Wt: 230 | Sp: 4.55e | Arm: 32 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Grew up in Cincinnati before moving to Florida after his freshman year of high school. Participated in football, basketball and track as a prep — rushing for 1,653 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. Committed to Ohio State, but didn’t qualify academically, so he spent the 2009 fall semester at Fork Union Military Academy (Virginia) in order to raise his ACT score. Followed in the footsteps of Eddie George, who also started at Fork Union before heading to Ohio State. Arrived in Columbus in 2010 and played in seven games as a true freshman, rushing 24 times for 141 yards (5.9-yard average) and zero touchdowns. Started the first three games of the ’11 season due to a teammate’s suspension; played in 13 games overall and carried 106-566-6 (5.3) and caught 10-73-0 (7.3). Played in 10 games (eight starts) in ’12 and piled up 185-970-16 (5.2) on the ground and 8-51-1 (6.4) receiving. Missed two games with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Was involved in an assault investigation during the summer of ’13; was a “person of interest” after an altercation with a woman at a bar. Charges were dismissed, but he was suspended for OSU’s first three games for conduct not representative of the football program. Was a force upon returning to the gridiron, amassing 208-1,521-15 (7.3) rushing and 16-147-3 (9.2) receiving in 11 games (nine starts). Averaged 156.1 rushing yards per game in conference play and ended his career with nine consecutive 100-yard games. Became the first 1,000-yard running back during Urban Meyer’s tenure as a head coach. Did not start against Illinois due to an academics issue, but came off the bench to put on a 24-246-4 performance out of the backfield — along with a touchdown catch. Also had a 226-yard game against Michigan, the most ever for an OSU runner in that storied rivalry. Named the Big Ten’s Running Back of the Year.

Strengths:
Very well built — looks every bit the part. Outstanding size, explosive power and run strength — can be his own blocker and create his own holes. Punishes linebackers running downhill and almost always falls forward. Superb contact balance and finishing strength — does not go down easily and can barrel through arm tackles. Extremely powerful short-yardage/goal-line runner. Gets better with a lather as the game progresses. Took over the game in the fourth quarter vs. Northwestern (2013) and willed team to victory. Surprisingly quick in short spaces and can plant hard and go. Is solid in pass protection and can stonewall blitzers in their tracks. Good awareness and anticipation to react to stunts and adjust to movement. Soft hands-catcher. Plucked the ball very naturally at his pro day workout.

Weaknesses:
Lacks elite breakaway speed. Average elusiveness and make-you-miss. Is still learning what it means to really work and be a pro — entered program with some underachiever traits early in career. Weight fluctuated earlier in his career and needs to pay more attention to nutrition. Has missed at least two games in three seasons.

Future:
A big, strong, powerful, NFL-caliber back who carried the Buckeyes’ offense as a senior and proved he can be a workhorse. Solid all-around, chunk runner well-built for the physicality of the AFC North.

Draft projection:
Top-50 pick.

Scout’s take:
“The top back for me is at Ohio State. He is an NFL feature back. He has it all. His only negative is that he does not have top, finishing speed, but (heck), he is making chunks all the time. That is all you get in the league — tight quarters, put your shoulder down and plow. He has better run skills that Trent Richardson coming out. I thought Richardson was limited with his vision. Hyde is a power guy. He was softened up by the two-back attack they used a lot his sophomore year. When they went to more of a pure power run game his junior year, there wasn’t anyone who could stop him. He is a gamer.”

RB STORM JOHNSON, #8 (JUNIOR)

CENTRAL FLORIDA
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Grade: 5.34

Ht: 5-11 5/8 | Wt: 209 | Sp: 4.59 | Arm: 32 | Hand: 9 1/2

History:
Full name is Westleigh Storm Johnson. The Atlanta-area prep earned all-state honors in 2009 after rushing for 1,937 yards and 31 touchdowns. Originally committed to LSU before signing with Miami. The Hurricanes planned to redshirt him in 2010, but then-coach Randy Shannon wound up using him in 10 games as a true freshman. Rushed nine times for 119 yards (13.2-yard average) and one touchdown with nine kickoff returns for 194 yards (21.6) and zero touchdowns. Had the team’s longest run of the year, a 71-yard touchdown scamper against South Florida. Did not play in three games due to coach’s decisions. In April ’11, he was one of several Miami players involved in an incident at a UM residential hall that resulted in police being called. He was reportedly going to be suspended by new coach Al Golden for the season opener before electing to transfer to Central Florida. After sitting out the ’11 season due to transfer rules, he returned to the field in ’12 and carried 113-507-4 (4.5) and caught 10-20-0 (2.0). Appeared in 13 games, starting five of UCF’s first six games. Had only 21 carries the rest of the year, missing one game and not touching the ball in two others. Broke out in ’13, tallying 213-1,139-14 (5.3) on the ground and 30-260-3 (8.7) receiving in 13 starts. Had five 100-yard games, including a 20-124-3 performance against Baylor in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.