lesser-known pro-day risers

[planetdoc]

by Gil Brandt

Brock Coyle, LB, Montana
Coyle (6-foot 3/4, 235 pounds) is a great example of a player who continued to work hard after the season in the hopes of getting noticed at his pro day. He lives in Montana but went to train with a workout guru in Florida, and it paid off. He had much better athletic ability and speed than people expected, including a 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds. He'll probably be a third-day pick and could be a fourth-rounder.

Garrett Gilbert, QB, SMU
Gilbert (6-foot-3 7/8, 221 pounds) threw 88 passes on his pro day and showed off his accuracy by completing 87 of them. He's got good arm strength and probably moved himself up to be an early third-day pick, maybe even as high as late in the third round.

Rashaun Allen, TE, Southern
Allen (6-foot-4 3/4, 250 pounds) is a big target who looked very good at his pro day, especially catching the ball. He also showed good speed, running the 40 in 4.68 seconds. He has a chance to be a third-day pick.

Darrin Reaves, RB, UAB
Reaves (5-foot-6 7/8 209 pounds) is a small back with a lot of explosion, and he had good production in college. He posted a 40 time of 4.54 seconds at his pro day and will probably be a free agent.

David Hurd, OT, Arkansas
Hurd (6-foot-5 7/8, 308 pounds) reminds me a lot of LaAdrian Waddle, an undrafted free agent from Texas Tech last year who ended up starting for the Detroit Lions. He's got good size and very long arms, which is imperative for an offensive tackle.

Demetri Goodson, DB, Baylor
Goodson (5-foot-11, 197 pounds) has good height for a corner and looked very strong in man-coverage drills at his pro day. He ran the 40 in 4.53 seconds, and I think he's a possible third-day pick.

Geraldo Boldewijn and Aaron Burks, WRs, Boise State
Burks (6-foot-2 7/8 203 pounds) is probably the better of these two Boise State receivers. They're both big, tall targets (Boldewijn is 6-foot-3, 215 pounds) who weren't used a lot last year because Boise State didn't pass very much. Both have pretty good speed: Boldewijn ran the 40 in 4.56, and Burks ran it in 4.48. In a really deep wide receiver class, I expect both to be free agents.

Zurlon Tipton, RB, Central Michigan
Tipton (5-foot-11 3/4, 223 pounds) was very productive at Central Michigan. His 40 was timed at 4.70, but he has outstanding quickness, which is the most important trait in a running back. He's likely to be a free agent but could move up into the seventh round.

Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
Boyd (6-foot 3/4, 221 pounds) is the lone player on this list who was at the combine. He had an excellent pro day, and there's a lot of excitement over him right now. Even those who've seen him throughout his career would probably say it was one of the best days he's had. I'm not sure he's put himself in the second day, but definitely in the third day, and he could go as high as the fourth round.

Andru Pulu, DL, Eastern Washington
Pulu (6-foot-1 3/8, 322 pounds) was unable to work out at his school's pro day, but worked out recently in the greater Seattle area. He's a little short for a defensive tackle but is very explosive. He ran the 40 in 5.15 seconds and should be a free agent.

Tavita Woodward, DL, Hawaii
Woodward (6-foot-3 3/8, 250 pounds) is a defensive lineman, but his best chance to make it in the NFL is as a 3-4 linebacker. He worked out at Hawaii's pro day in Carson, Calif., and ran the 40 in 4.70 seconds.

Stephen Houston, RB, Indiana
Houston (5-foot-10 3/4, 225 pounds) has a good combination of size and speed. He ran a 4.52 in the 40 at Indiana's pro day and looked really smooth and athletic in his drills. He also caught the ball really well.

Pierre Warren, DB, Jacksonville State
Warren (6-foot 1/4, 194 pounds) was moved to safety after starting out as a cornerback. He's got good speed (4.59-second 40) and good instincts for the position.

Walt Aikens, DB, Liberty
There were 20-plus teams at Liberty's pro day, and they were all there to get a better look at Aikens (6-foot 5/8, 203 pounds). He's got the size everyone is looking for at corner and has pretty good speed, running the 40 in 4.49 seconds. I think he's got a good chance to be drafted in the third day.

[RealSNR]

Garrett Gilbert... isn't he the guy who played for Colt McCoy when he couldn't go the last time Texas played in a national championship?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by SNR

Garrett Gilbert... isn't he the guy who played for Colt McCoy when he couldn't go the last time Texas played in a national championship?

Same name.

Was the top rated QB coming out of high school if memory serves me correctly.

I wondered what happened to that guy when UT's offense was basically trash for the last couple of years. I didn't know he transferred to SMU (if it's the same guy).

[Wilson8]

Same guy - http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-...rt_810610.html

[SAGA45]

Jerome Couplin III, FS, William & Mary -(copy & paste) chiefsspin.com/william-marys-couplin-hungry-for-nfl-shot/

Has everything the Chiefs are looking for - size, speed, length & range...big hitter. Played in the box and in centerfield. Seems like a Dorsey-type prospect...versatile, coachable...small school gem.

[planetdoc]

More Gil brandt pro day risers

Kenneth Acker, DB, SMU
Every year a defensive back from SMU makes a roster, and Acker (5-foot-11 5/8, 190 pounds) is as good as any who have been there in previous years. He had a strong pro day, with a 4.50 40, a 36-inch vertical and a 6.94 three-cone drill. He'll be a seventh-rounder or a priority free agent.

Denicos Allen, LB, Michigan State
Allen (5-foot-10 1/4, 225 pounds) ran a 4.74-second 40 and had 26 bench-press reps at his pro day. He played linebacker in college, but I think he has a chance to be a great special teams player as a pro. He'll be a seventh-rounder or a priority free agent.

Lonnie Ballentine, FS, Memphis
Ballentine (6-foot-3, 219 pounds) ran the 40 twice at his pro day and posted times of 4.39 and 4.45 seconds. He also posted a vertical jump of 38 inches. He played all four years in college, but is a very young player -- he turns 21 Wednesday -- playing a new position at free safety. I expect him to be a sixth- or seventh-round pick.

Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona
If it's possible to have a running back this size play in the NFL, Bauman (5-foot-7 1/4, 194 pounds) will do it. He was a four-year-starter who made the all-conference team all four years. At his pro day, he ran the 40 in 4.50 seconds. He's likely to be a free agent.

Glenn Carson, LB, Penn State
You have to take a look at players like Carson (6-foot-2 5/8, 238) who started at a big school. At Penn State's pro day, he ran a 4.75-second 40 and had a 35-inch vertical and 30 bench-press reps. He has a chance to be a sixth- or seventh-round pick.

Ryan Eppes, RB, South Florida
Eppes (6-foot-1 5/8, 232 pounds) is worth a look as a free agent based on his size, speed and strength. He posted a 4.62-second 40 and had 26 strength lifts at his pro day.

Greg Hardin, WR, North Dakota
Hardin (5-foot-10 1/8, 171 pounds) has athletic ability and ran the 40 in 4.44 seconds, but he might lack the necessary weight to play in the NFL. He should be a free agent.

Torin Harris, DB, USC
Harris (5-foot-11 5/8, 189 pounds) ran the 40 in 4.46 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.96 seconds at USC's pro day. Those numbers, along with his height, are solid for his position. He also posted a good vertical and broad jump. Harris will probably be a free agent.

Micah Hatfield, WR, Oregon State
Hatfield (6-foot-1, 182 pounds) is a big, fast, athletic receiver who didn't play a lot at Oregon State. The question is, why not? At his pro day, he ran the 40 in 4.44 seconds and had fast times in the shuttle and three-cone drills. He also posted a 38-inch vertical.

Aaron Hill, LB, Minnesota
Hill (6-foot 5/8, 231 pounds) has good speed and is a top-flight competitor, which should make him a very good special teams player. He ran the 40 in 4.73 seconds and threw up the bar 21 times at his pro day. He's most likely a priority free agent.

Ryan Jones, LB, Montana Tech
Jones (6-foot-3 1/4, 249 pounds) is a small-college player who showed off his speed, athletic ability and strength at his pro day. He posted a 4.68-second 40, a 34-inch vertical, a 6.95-second three-cone drill and 28 bench-press reps.

Andrew Norwell, OL, Ohio State
Norwell (6-foot-5 3/4, 315 pounds) was a starter on a very good Ohio State team. He has long arms (33 5/8 inches) but needs to get stronger and will. I think he'll be a seventh-round pick or priority free agent.

Zach Orr, LB, North Texas
Orr (5-foot-11 7/8, 237 pounds) has good bloodlines (his dad played in the NFL) and is a very tough player, one of those hard-to-run-off types.

Tyler Russell, QB, Mississippi State
Russell (6-foot-4 3/8, 227 pounds) had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder and did not run or work out at his pro day. He has good athletic ability and is a candidate to change positions in the pros. I think he's worth a try at tight end.

Marcus Williams, CB, North Dakota State
Williams (5-foot-11, 196 pounds) has good height for a cornerback and has been well coached. He posted a 4.57-second 40 and a 35-inch vertical at his pro day.

[kccrow]

Can't believe Brandt didn't put Steele Divitto - LB - Boston College on that list.

6'2" 241, 4.72 - 40, 6.91 - 3-cone, 36" vertical, 19 reps.

[planetdoc]

Pro Player Insiders Top 20 Combine/All-Star Game Snubs

[planetdoc]

chiefs visit with Lonnie Ballentine

Free Safety from memphis (poe's old school)
unreal proday numbers:

6'3''
219 lbs
4.39 forty
1.51 ten yrd dash
38" vertical
18x bench
10'5'' broad jump

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

chiefs visit with Lonnie Ballentine

Free Safety from memphis (poe's old school)
unreal proday numbers:

6'3''
219 lbs
4.39 forty
1.51 ten yrd dash
38" vertical
18x bench
10'5'' broad jump

Jeebus...

[planetdoc]

watched his highlight video.

He is a shoulder tackler....doesnt wrap up
long strider with good closing speed.
doesnt show the short area quickness he demonstrates in his 10yrd dash
willing tackler in run support.
seems slow to diagnose in the passing game.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

watched his highlight video.

He is a shoulder tackler....doesnt wrap up
long strider with good closing speed.
doesnt show the short area quickness he demonstrates in his 10yrd dash
willing tackler in run support.
seems slow to diagnose in the passing game.

In other words, he is a free safety or cornerback project? Worth a late flier for the chiefs for sure. Ask him to trim down to 205/210 and see if his quickness increases enough to turn him into a press corner. 33" arms on a press corner? Good night. Plus leaping ability to go with it.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

In other words, he is a free safety or cornerback project? Worth a late flier for the chiefs for sure. Ask him to trim down to 205/210 and see if his quickness increases enough to turn him into a press corner. 33" arms on a press corner? Good night. Plus leaping ability to go with it.

he'd probably be better off at FS. It doesnt appear like his hips are loose enough for corner. He also doesnt seem smart enough to play with his back to the ball.

[Nightfyre]

Who knows how he might develop with real coaching though.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

chiefs visit with Lonnie Ballentine

Free Safety from memphis (poe's old school)
unreal proday numbers:

6'3''
219 lbs
4.39 forty
1.51 ten yrd dash
38" vertical
18x bench
10'5'' broad jump