In this week's column, I will once again discuss which prospects I thought stood out and the ones who left me with concerns about their ability to be successful moving forward. You will notice a lot of talk about tight ends this week, why I find myself underwhelmed so far by the pass-rushing group this season, and how expectations heading into the year can sometimes be problematic as it pertains to talent evaluation.

9 Prospects Up

1. Alex Anzalone, LB, Florida, #34 RS Junior (vs UMASS, Kentucky)

Alex Anzalone is a player a Gator friend of mind has been touting for a seemingly long time who has dealt with right shoulder issues. Anzalone looks to finally be healthy and show the type of player my friend has been raving about. The first thing that stands out with Anzalone is his athleticism. This should come as no surprise as he had over a 1,000 yards rushing and 30 TD's on the ground as a HS Senior at RB, while also having over 100 tackles.

Against Kentucky, Anzalone announced his presence instantly on the first three plays of the game with a sack, by blowing up a bubble screen, and then making a shoestring open field tackle of a scrambling QB. His athletic ability makes him above average in coverage, and as he gains more playing experience, he will get better at understanding where he is on the field and where he has help. He was beaten inside on a route where the middle of the field was the last place he could be beaten, saved only by an errant throw by the QB. The biggest thing I want to see moving forward is how Anzalone can deal with a downhill run game, when he has to take on and disengage from blocks.

2. Duke Ejiofor, DE, Wake Forest, #53 RS Junior (vs Duke)

Fittingly against the Blue Devils, Duke Ejiofor put up one of the best individual performances I have seen early in the 2016 campaign. He was truly dominant. Immediately you can see that Ejiofor has great length for his 6'4, 270 pound frame. He finished the game with 2 sacks, collected a force fumble and also recovered a fumble.

Ejiofor is pretty advanced as a pass rusher for being a RS Junior. Great hand use helped him get the edge on one of his sacks, and in another instance helped as he was able to force the QB off his spot. He also showed a rip move to win inside as he saw a crease vs his man, and on his other sack perfectly dipped his shoulder showing the bend necessary to get home. He showed great awareness immediately cutting off the angle on a swing pass to the RB, beating him to the spot where the ball was thrown to cause a deflection. When all of this is combined with a motor that has the pedal pinned to the floor, this is a player I really want to see as he plays against better competition.

3. Kyle Kalis, RG, Michigan, #67 RS Senior (vs Colorado)

In my 8th year as an evaluator, no position has had me recalibrate what I think is necessary to projecting the tools ultimately needed to be successful at the NFL level more than along the Interior Offensive Line. Athleticism and the ability to pull, win at the 2nd level were things I coveted throughout most of the time, but if you lack functional strength to stand your ground, you will quickly be exposed by the grown ass men the NFL has on its defensive lines.

Kyle Kalis is a player who 2-3 years ago I probably would not have been very high on. Kalis shows his strength in his ability to absorb contact while anchoring down, using his length to lock defenders out and not affect the depth of the pocket. He plays with a sound base, and you can see the strength in his lower half. His upper and lower body are rarely out of sync, showing good timing in his punch, with his hand placement also being very good. Wrote 'finisher' multiple times in my notes, playing through the whistle. Where Kalis has some concerns is hitting moving targets, whether in the screen game, runs to the perimeter, or trying to get his man at the 2nd level. Lots to like about the player moving forward. 

4. Jake Butt, TE, Michigan, #88 Senior (vs Colorado)

Jake Butt introduced himself during the 2015 season, and in my first exposure to him in 2016, he looked quicker and more fluid than I had previously seen. On multiple occasions versus Colorado, Butt ran drag routes where he flashed soft hands, he really does catch the football effortlessly. It was after the catch that you could see the improvements Butt made athletically, pulling away from defenders and even flashing a nice stiff arm as well. On one occasion, Butt and another Wolverine skill player ran into each other on crossing routes, and although he made the catch, I would love to ask him about the play and find out what exactly happened on that play. He is not a great blocker, but does show the technique and desire to at least try in this department, something you are seeing less and less at the college level. 

5. Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas, #83 Senior (vs TCU)

Jeremy Sprinkle was sort of lost in the shuffle during the 2015 season, a combination of being behind 2nd Round pick Hunter Henry on the depth chart, and Arkansas's heavy run first attack. While Sprinkle may not have Henry's ability as a blocker, he might have more ability as a threat in the pass game. Sprinkle is a big man, 6'6, 252 pounds and he flashes good hands combined with above average athleticism for his size. Arkansas routinely lines him up out wide, and this makes the defense decide how they want to use him. Given the strength of the Razorbacks ability to run the football, he sees great opportunities in the passing game off of play action. He should be in the discussion for being one of the first TE's to come off the board next April.

6. Cethan Carter, TE, Nebraska, #11 Senior (vs Fresno St, Wyoming)

Teams looking for a TE who can be used inline and as a blocker will be intrigued by Cethan Carter. Where Carter really caught my eye was as a pass catcher. He flashed multiple times in both games here, showing an understanding of soft spots in the defense, and his ability to catch the ball away from his frame. He showed some balance and run after catch ability on one grab, working his way up-field with multiple defenders in the area. His athleticism was also on display as Nebraska used him on an end around, not looking like a fish out of water doing so. He did have one instance where he didn't get his head around quick enough, and a fastball by Tommy Armstrong ricocheted off his chest plate. As the Cornhuskers move into Big Ten play, Carter is one guy I want to see if he can keep his momentum moving forward.

7. Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama, #12 Senior (vs Mississippi St)

Although he is used inline for the Jaguars, I don't know how successful he can be here moving forward. Where Gerald Everett stands out is with his ability as a pass catcher. He has a good-sized frame, and above average athleticism for the position. Everett showed he could provide a nice target for the QB, presenting his numbers at the right time on multiple occasions. On the GW TD catch vs the Bulldogs, his route didn't fool the defense, but he was able to locate the football in traffic and make the grab. It was important for Everett to have a good game here, as Mississippi State provides what is likely to be the best level of competition he sees the rest of the way. He did not disappoint.

8. Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU, #16 RS Sophomore (vs Baylor)

Courtland Sutton presents a massive target for the Mustangs, and offers big play ability down the field. He is a threat in classic 'rebound' situations, showing above average body control and a catch radius that is difficult for defenders to deal with. A high percentage of his work was done deep down field in 2015, and I wanted to see if he could win at the short/intermediate levels as well in 2016. 

Sutton's ability to win deep means he should face soft coverage, and exploited this on more than one occasion vs Baylor, catching passes on comebacks and quick hitches. He showed good concentration on one play where the defender tried to collect the INT, making the grab with his man flashing in front of him as the ball arrives. He did have a drop where he didn't come back to the ball hard enough, allowing the defender to cause him problems at the catch point. On his TD on a post route, he gave his man a slight head nod inside to help gain leverage back towards the middle of the field, and showed ball skills adjusting to the pass slightly thrown behind him. He should have a monster year in the Chad Morris attack.

9. Jerome Lane, WR, Akron, #7 Junior (vs Marshall)

While studying personal favorite Jatavis Brown last season, I couldn't help but notice a WR who kept making plays. What was really intriguing was the fact that this was a converted LB. Jerome Lane must have flashed his tremendous hands in practice, because the position switch has been a massive success for the Zips. Against Marshall he put his top shelf ball skills on display once more, making hands catches on a poorly thrown ball behind him, a full extension grab on a slant that was thrown high, and his ability to come back to the ball on a badly under thrown pass along the sidelines. While Lane looks to have only average athleticism for the position, he did show a nice double move on one play to get a chunk completion down field. I am anxious to see how much more he can improve as he gets more experience at the position.

9 Prospects Down

1. Deatrich Wise, DE, Arkansas, #48 Senior (vs TCU)

Deatrich Wise certainly looks the part, and at times play like a guy you would consider using a premium pick on. He has incredible length for the position, though that can be just as much a blessing as a curse for him. In certain situations, Wise lines up with an awkward looking stance where he has his outside hand raised in the air like you would see from a guy running his 40 at the combine. I am unsure what positives he gains from this, but it did him no favors in trying to gain first contact with his man. With such length, Wise needs to win early with his hands to gain the leverage advantage and lock his arms out. On the occasions Wise lined up in a 4-point stance, he did a much better job of doing this.

The biggest problem with Wise and projecting his skills to the next level is he looks like he is running through quicksand at times, very plodding as a pass rusher. In a league prioritizing getting the ball out quickly, he simply won't be able to get home with any type or regularity. Against the Horned Frogs, his sack came on a play where TCU lined up quickly and Wise cleaned up as the QB was forced off his spot. An almost identical situation presented itself later in the game on the Goal Line, and this time Wise gave a truly embarrassing effort as TCU scored a TD. Despite his frame, he doesn't have great functional strength, and I am concerned he could find any real success if kicked inside. At this moment, I am unsure where he really adds something to a football team. 

2. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan, #84 Senior (vs Illinois) 

Looking over my notes from watching Corey Davis from 2015, a recurring theme was frustration with him having both flat out drops, or if he did hang on to the football, he often double caught it. My hope was in a new calendar year, I would see marked improvement here. I was disappointed to see this trend continue in his game against Illinois. He actually took double catching the football the football to a whole new level, actually triple catching a ball at one point in the game. Dan Hawkins (an underrated commentator by the way) observed it was like Davis 'was trying to catch a rattlesnake, a description I think I will borrow from him from now on. There was also a play where Davis, who would have been out of bounds in the end zone regardless, again juggled the football and the ball fell to the turf incomplete. Unless you have rare skills, catching the ball is pretty much a prerequisite for playing the WR spot. Davis is a frustrating evaluation.

3. Javarius Leamon, T, South Carolina St, #52 RS Senior (vs Clemson) 

As I prepare my Watch Lists for each season, certain guys at small schools or on the FCS level get buzz and I try to make sure I catch any action I can for the player, especially if they are playing against top competition. Clemson certainly offered Javarius Leamon this chance, but I came away very underwhelmed with his performance and unsure if he has translatable skills for Sunday's. What stood out snap after snap was how poorly Leamon used his hands. At times his hand placement was downright awful, even on one occasion where he seemed to win his rep, his extension of his arms was awkward and lacked power. Punch timing was also a consistent issue. It was reminiscent of watching Willie Beavers last year, in the sense Leamon really only offers you a mold of clay for your OL coach. Unless that guy is a miracle worker, projecting any meaningful success for Leamon is not something I would be comfortable doing.

4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech, #5 Junior (vs Arizona St)

Patrick Mahomes reminds me a great deal of Jeff Garcia, in his mobility and how he looks playing the position. Where the similarities end is Mahomes seems like he playing backyard football way too much for my liking. Operating within structure, showing timing and anticipation, these are things he struggles to do with any regularity. He flashes plenty of arm talent, as he can really spin it, and shows plus accuracy at times. I wrote 'natural' in my notes several times, as he makes it look easy at times. He was tremendous with his ball fakes and ball handling as well, looking very comfortable on bootlegs. Mahomes problem lies in how much better he can get while at Texas Tech, playing in a system that offers little in the way of traditional NFL offense. At some point he will have to show he can be consistent on a week to week basis.

5. Vince Biegel, LB, Wisconsin, #47 RS Senior (vs Akron)

Vince Biegel is a name I have heard talked about a lot previously, and this was the first time really focusing in on his game. What stood out about Biegel, well, was that he didn't stand out in anyway. Good or bad. Which is concerning for me. I didn't see a single play where he made any noticeable positive difference. He is not what you would call a great athlete, he doesn't have exceptional play strength, he doesn't have unique size or length. He is 1/4 of a LB group made up of all white players, and he did not do anything that if you weren't looking specifically for him, where you would think you were watching a Sunday player. Not standing out negatively is a good thing in theory, but I saw a player who played assignment sound football with good fundamentals and technique. By and large, he is what he he will be, and I unsure if he offers anything worth investing a Draft pick in from my end (Worth noting, I strongly believe using a pick on a player you don't absolutely love is a foolish endeavor)

6. Dan Skipper, T, Arkansas, #70 Senior (vs TCU)

Dan Skipper plays almost exactly like you would expect a 6'10 player to play, as he struggles with leverage and getting low enough to deal with edge rushers. His movements are at times lethargic, and his lack of play strength really gives him issues. He was beaten by Josh Carraway for a sack, where he was not able to get his hands on Carraway as he dipped his shoulder en route to the QB. Skipper's height does have an added bonus on Special Teams, as he has 6 blocked FG's in his Razorback career. The last block was a game saver as TCU was attempting a game-winning kick at the end of regulation in a game Arkansas would go on to win in overtime. Once again, the quality of my position coach would be huge in his long-term projection given his added ability to block FG's does offer value for your special teams unit. 

7. Josh Carraway, Edge, TCU, #94 Senior (vs Arkansas)

8. James McFarland, Edge, TCU, #40 Senior (vs Arkansas) 

I lumped James McFarland and Josh Carraway together because the issues and concerns I have with both were basically same after watching the Arkansas game. Both are undersized for playing on the LOS, and against a massive Arkansas offensive line, this was a major problem for them. Both won on a few occasions with quickness, but found themselves erased and knocked out of the play many times. TCU builds their defense to contend in the Big 12, not concerned with how the players transition to Sunday's, and while understandable, makes it difficult to project success for them moving forward. I will keep tabs on both as the season progresses, seeing how they respond in the more wide open Big 12, and most importantly, how they play in space.

9. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State, #19 Senior (vs California)

It pains me to have Donnel Pumphrey on this list, because he has some explosiveness and tremendous agility to his game, and can be a weapon in the passing game, lined up out wide or on the slot. He had a couple highlight reel plays against the Golden Bears where he really reminded you of Ameer Abdullah, ripping off chunk plays. The issue was, against a Cal defense that isn't overly large, Pumphrey looked small. When studying him over the summer the first thing I noted was how rail-thin his frame was. How much I would consider Pumphrey would be largely dependent on what other players I had on the roster, if I already had a 3rd down back or return specialist already in place, it would be tough to add him.

Observations 

*Will Fuller and his success out the gate for the Texans is a great litmus test for me and my not wanting to add WR's who have major issues catching the football. Corey Coleman had similar struggles at Baylor, but Coleman the person had an edge to him, along with incredible skills as a deep threat and legitimate YAC ability that I was okay with overlooking issues with his hands. While Fuller showed his explosiveness at every turn at Notre Dame, I didn't see the same aggressiveness from him. This is being brought up because Corey Davis finds himself in a similar situation this season. I don't see a player on the same level as Fuller or Coleman though. As we work our way through the remainder of the football season, I will be monitoring all 3 players and seeing if the rewards ultimately outweigh the risks with all 3 of them.

*Watching 350-400 players every year is a tiring endeavor, and I found myself trying to get a head start over the summer. While this helped reduce my fall workload, it has proven a little bit of an issue in having high expectations for the upcoming pass rush group, maybe more so than I should have. And one other thing I have found out is the hype train can get out of hand for players who people project to have success. We saw it last year with Jeremy Johnson of Auburn, a player who was incredibly disappointing given how he was talked about all summer. This summer Bo Scarbrough was that guy, and he has responded with 23 carries for 68 yards thus far.

*Found it interesting that in the past few weeks we saw San Diego State as 7 point favorites vs California, and Western Michigan being 3 point road favorites against Illinois. 20 years ago this would have been unthinkable. While the Aztecs didn't cover, they did win. (Cal just beat Texas this past weekend)  Western Michigan covered with ease, in a game that was really never in doubt.

*I was intrigued to see highlights of Love Smith from his playing days at Tulsa during the broadcast of Western Michigan-Illinois. Here they are: 

https://vine.co/v/5nMq2XElKqm

*PJ Fleck was not to be outdone though, as he had his own highlights from his Northern Illinois days aired during the broadcast:

https://vine.co/v/5nbruU3Vlqu 

Fleck took it to another level though, with this gem catching a punt, something I don't believe I have ever seen in my time watching football: 

https://vine.co/v/5nMvLnaHQdZ

Fleck is absolutely a name big schools who have any inkling they may have an opening upcoming should consider. His aforementioned win in Champaign was his second victory of the 2016 over a Big Ten team, having beaten Northwestern in the opener.

*We will wrap up this week's Draft Madness with the play that Bret Bielema dialed up needing a two-point conversion to tie the game vs TCU, and as usual, because it worked, he looks like a genius. Also, it gives me a chance to incorporate the incomparable Joe Tessitore into the column:

https://vine.co/v/5nwtjAHbAvF