Jeff Risdon, DLD Editor
The Texas Longhorns make the short drive down I-35 to San Antonio to play the high-flying Oregon Ducks in the Alamo Bowl.
This will represent Mack Brown’s finale as coach of the Longhorns after a strange and controversial “will he stay or won’t he?” trip over the last two years.
Brown’s team played better as 2013 progressed until they ran into Baylor. Their issues with slowing down the Bears will likely resurface against Oregon.
That means the Ducks offensive prospects could be in for a real impressive showing. Even though QB Marcus Mariota is returning to school for his final year, it’s still a good opportunity to watch his impressive skills in action.
Wideout Josh Huff, a Houston native, is a shifty talent with good strength for his size. He’s one of the better blocking wideouts to come along lately, and despite not being very big (5’11” and 200) he’s got impressive toughness. His ability to change speeds and almost freakish balance make him a dangerous runner as well as a return man. Others have better size and more electrifying athleticism, but Huff has the makings of a very solid 3rd wideout at the next level and should be drafted in the 75-100 overall range. He could wind up being a steal in the fourth or fifth round. He could play his way up or down during Senior Bowl week.
Offensive weapon DeAnthony Thomas is a bit of a polarizing prospect. He might be the quickest player in the country, and he can make guys miss inside a phone booth (remember those?). Many compare him to Tavon Austin from the 2013 draft, small water bug-types with versatility to attack from the slot, out of the backfield, on jet sweeps and gadget plays, and as a nightmarish return man.
The problem I encountered with DAT, or Black Mamba, is that he doesn’t have the great vision that Austin or Ace Sanders (another diminutive dynamo from last draft) use to help them make hay. He has some tentativeness at times, and because of his lack of size he’s not someone who can afford to hesitate. I love him in space and as a limited weapon, not a fulltime offensive staple. He could be drafted anywhere between the second and fifth round; I would lean towards the end of the third.
Where Oregon is really going to impact the 2014 NFL Draft is on defense. Defensive end Taylor Hart is a high-motor attack dog with good quickness to the sidelines. He doesn’t have much of a pass rush arsenal, winning with effort, toughness and agility. He’s built similarly to J.J. Watt (no, I’m not comparing them otherwise) and looks like a third or fourth round talent as a 5-technqiue at the next level. Like Huff, Hart will get a chance to shine during Senior Bowl week.
Fellow D-linemen Wade Keliikipi and Ricky Havili-Heimuli are functional beef inside that will get NFL sniffs. Keliikipi could miss the game with an injury that kept him out of a couple late games as well, and that’s unfortunate. He’s a quality nose tackle with some ability to stack and shed. Havili-Heimuli fills space and reliably plugs gaps, though he’s not as rangy as Keliikipi. Both should be late-round picks, and they could contribute as rotational players right away thanks to being fundamentally sound.
Linebacker Boseko Lokombo is a personal favorite. I first noticed Lokombo when scouting Kiko Alonso last year, and found him consistently eliminating cutback angles and funneling plays right to his mate. He’s able to do anything Oregon asked of him. He can cover, he can blitz, he can fill interior gaps against the run, and he can range to either sideline. While not as freakishly athletic as some, Lokombo has no wasted movement and helps himself with quick reactions. His instincts continually improved over his Eugene tenure. He strikes me as a player who will play for 12 years as a solid starter and glue guy but never a big star.
Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has yet to announce his NFL intentions, but if he declares he’s a surefire first round pick. He’s naturally sticky in coverage with very quick feet and great instincts. The only thing he doesn’t do at a high level is press coverage, where he can be overpowered by guys like Kasen Williams and Shaqelle Evans. He will rank no lower than 3rd on my final CB big board and could wind up atop it once I get caught up on more Ducks games from later in the season. If he declares, of course…
Brian Jackson seems like he’s been at Oregon for about 8 years, but he finally will move to the next level. He’s not outstanding athletically but he’s a master of football geometry and breaks quickly. His leadership is something that will translate to the next level. He figures to be an early Saturday pick and could wind up having a Jim Leonhard-like career.
Fellow safety Avery Patterson is speedier and rangier but smallish. That didn’t stop him from making a lot of plays; he notched 2 INTS, 6 PDs, and 6 TFLs in 2013 after picking off 3 balls a year earlier. His size (listed at 5’9” and 185) is a real limiting factor in terms of draft status, but he can outplay his likely 6th round draft slot.
Texas doesn’t have the depth of draft talent, but they do have some players worth watching.
Defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat improved his all-around game in 2013 after being a one-dimensional speed rusher earlier in his career. He led the Longhorns in tackles and sacks, the only lineman in college football to pull that off. I like how his eyes and use of his hands have developed. The diverse Oregon attack and niftiness of Marcus Mariota will challenge his all-around skills. Jeffcoat could very well wind up as a first-round pick, though I will not rate him that highly; I see a third rounder with boom/bust potential, but I do feel a lot better about him now than a year ago.
Wideout Mike Davis is a consummate #4 NFL wideout in the making. He’s got decent length but doesn’t play big. He’s got good speed but doesn’t run away from many DBs. His feet aren’t bad but he’s not a guy who reliably gets good separation. For teams looking for a NFL-ready reserve wideout in the 6th or 7th round, Mike Davis is a strong choice. He’ll get a chance to showcase himself during Senior Bowl week after challenging the strong Oregon defense.
Kicker Anthony Fera is a legit NFL talent with a big leg. He’s also able to punt. He could head his name called on Saturday, perhaps by Detroit.
I’m a bigger fan of corner Carrington Byndom than most. He has been a productive long-time Longhorn. A natural in zone coverage, his quick closing burst and good ball skills give him a chance to be an impact corner. Byndom can be a bit streaky, and he has a lot of trouble with more physical wideouts. In game notes from both ’12 and ’13, I noted his struggles in tackling; he needs to learn to hit and wrap instead of just running into a runner with his shoulder. Still, he’s got natural playmaking ability and good length, making him a middle-round candidate who can emerge as a third corner for a zone-oriented team. I’ll see more of Byndom during Shrine Game week, where there is a surprisingly impressive cast of corners.
Offensive tackle Donald Hawkins looks the part, but he has never consistently displayed the footwork or technique to make the leap to the NFL. This game will be a good test for Hawkins, as the Ducks attack with creativity and have excellent speed all over the defense.
Others to watch: Texas S Adrian Phillips, Texas G Mason Walters, Texas G Trey Hopkins, Oregon WR Daryle Hawkins
