Free Agent Scouting Reports

[MightyGiants]

From former NFL scout:

QB Dominic Randolph (Holy Cross)- No report

TE Jake Ballard (Ohio State)- Ballard is simply a solid free agent signing with size for an NFL team next spring. He has played in a lot of
big games over the course of his career with limited production. He has just enough ability to get into a camp
as a 4th/5th TE for a team with a need. Overall, Ballard is not likely to be drafted, but may be given a chance
as a free agent. He is going to need to improve as a player if he is going to stick and make an NFL roster.

WR Tim Brown (Rutgers)- Brown is a player that was not highly thought of entering the 2009 season because of his size and lack of great production, but he changed our mind
with his consistency making big plays throughout the 2009 season. He is a smart receiver who knows how to get open and has shown the hands
to make tough catches seem routine. When he gets the ball in his hands he is a dangerous play maker who can make tacklers miss, has excellent
instincts running with the ball and a quick burst thru holes. He does not however have the size or playing strength to consistently run thru contact
or break tackles to gain yards after contact. An added bonus is his experience returning kickoffs where he is a good returner – Not an explosive
game changed, but a quick and decisive returner who gets the most out of returns and makes some big returns. Overall, Brown has moved from
an undraftable prospect to a possible late round selection because of his ability to make big plays. His lack of size is going to keep him from
becoming more than a backup receiver, but could contribute as a slot receiver and returner which should enable him to carve out a solid career.

WR Duke Calhoun (Memphis)- No report

WR Victor Cruz (Massachusetts)- Cruz is a two-year starter at WR for the Minutemen in 2009. He also has some experience with returning both punts & kickoffs & in working from
the slot WR position in their multiple WR formations. He has above average size & production for the position at the next level. However, he lacks
the vertical speed, burst, & acceleration to be considered a true developmental prospect for the NFL level. He does have good foot quickness & cod
ability as a route-runner, especially when working from the slot against LB’s & DS’s. He is a smart & aware route-runner in his play. He struggles to
gain separation from a CB in m/m coverage, though. He has the ability to track/adjust to the ball in the air, but is not a consistent hand catcher. He
will use his body some, instead of snatching the ball away from his body. He has marginal hand strength, as he had a ball ripped out of his hands
for an INT at Richmond. He shows good competitiveness & toughness to go into traffic for the tough catch. He is a decent blocker on the perimeter
for the run game. He has limited effectiveness to consider as a legitimate prospect as a punt or kickoff return man. Overall, he is an adequate overall
free agent consideration for a team that employs a slot WR position. He simply has no chance to match-up as an outside WR at the NFL level.

OG Dennis Landolt (Penn State)- Landolt has the size, length, growth potential, & athletic ability to be a quality back-up LG with starter potential at the NFL level in his first season. He is playing out of position at LT for the Nittany Lions out of team need. He plays smart, tough, & physical in all situations. He is a good overall athlete with good foot quickness, lower body flexibility, & short-area recovery ability. He is most effective at pulling to his right & sustaining on the move/at the 2nd level. He is more of a position run blocker in general. He does not possess the bulk strength or power to consistently gain movement off the LOS at the POA. He finishes past the whistle with a good motor. He has the initial quickness & balance to sustain a reach block. In pass protection, he struggles to anchor down against strong bull rushers off the edge. He has the feet & lower bend to mirror/slide/sustain against speed/quickness. Overall, he is a developmental LG for the next level. He has the frame to add some weight and if he is able to improve his playing strength then he can become a quality starting guard, but if he cannot improve his strength he will likely end up as a high quality backup. He reminds me a lot of former Hawkeye Seth Olsen (4th round-#132-by Denver) from last year’s draft.

OC Jim Cordle (Ohio State)- Jim is an average Big-Ten OL, who has started 4 of the 5 OL positions over the course of his career.  He is obviously a smart guy with limited size, strength, & athletic ability to ever develop into either a starter or a quality back-up for the NFL level. He has enough ability to get into a camp next spring/fall, but is not likely to make a team and have a long NFL career. He is not a better pro prospect than either Doug Datish [6th round-#198-Ohio State/Atlanta Falcons] or Kirk Barton [7th round-#247-Ohio State/Chicago Bears] who have struggled to carve out stable NFL careers.

DE Ayanga Okpokowuruk (Duke)- Ayanga Okpokowuruk has been a consistent performer for this Duke Defense. He has great durability and has a above average motor. His size is a bit concerning and he also lacks the athletic skills to be a productive pass rusher.  He tends to play high and lose leverage to often. He has good strength but has struggled to find a way to use it to fight of blocks to make plays. Overall, Okpokowuruk is not going to be drafted and his best chance will be to get signed as a free agent by a team that needs help on special teams, but he will have a hard time sticking on a roster.

DT Nate Collins (Virginia)- Collins is a first-year starter at LDE for the Cavaliers in 2009, after serving as the back-up NT his previous three seasons. He has a short, stout build with limited growth potential to develop for the position at the next level. He best fits as a 3-tech DT in a scheme that allows their DT’s to slant, shoot gaps, & play on the move. He is an instinctive, tough, & productive player with a strong motor to finish in his play. He plays hard as a run defender at the POA, despite having a great deal of trouble in holding the POA, especially against double-teams. He is an above average overall athlete with good
initial quickness at the snap & lateral range down the LOS in his chase. He has some tightness in his hips, which limits his ability to cod or move laterally quickly. He lacks the athleticism to drop weight & try to compete as an OB in a ¾ scheme. He is very inconsistent with his shed ability once engaged with the blocker along the LOS. He does a good job of using his hands & feet as a pass rusher. He stunts/twists & plays games to confuse the blocking schemes in obvious passing situations. He has at least a couple sacks simply due to his great effort & better coverage. Collins is a quick and active DT who lacks the ideal size to be a starter in the NFL. However, he has shown the quicks, agility and pass rush skills to defeat 1 on 1 pass blocks when he has a little space to move, which gives him a chance to make it in the NFL. Overall, Collins is likely to be a late round pick who contributes as a designated pass rusher from the DT position. His being able to contribute as a pass rusher while a backup will also give him the time to try and add bulk/weight. If he eventually is able to bulk up to close to 300 pounds he has the athleticism to be a solid, disruptive starting DT. ***Collins really helped himself by dominating at the East/West Shrine Game practices and showed the explosiveness and quickness needed to overcome his lack of bulk/size to be effective/productive in the NFL.

LB Lee Campbell (Minnesota)- Lee Campbell enjoyed a productive college career at Minnesota , but his athletic limitations will make it difficult for him to make an NFL roster. He is an aggressive downhill linebacker, but more often than not this works to his disadvantage. He struggles to consistently break down and play with proper base, and thus struggles to change directions, and consistently overruns tackles once out in space. His upright stance also often results in him being engulfed and driven off the POA by blockers he would normally be able to better hold his ground
against. He also lacks the speed to play sideline to sideline, and is often caught taking poor angles of pursuit. He was involved in about 1
of every 9 snaps graded, which is very average for an inside linebacker. In order to have a chance at the next level he will need to improve
his leverage and play with better instincts, as he too often takes himself out of position by not reading the ball properly. He will be an undrafted
free agent, whose best opportunity to see the field will come from a 3-4 team looking for players with his size and strength at ILB.

CB Seth Williams (Richmond)- No Report

CB Leon Wright (Duke)- Leon Wright shows above average ball skills and has translated that into being a very consistent corner at Duke. He shows a willingness to come up and make tackles but tends to just throw a shoulder and rarely wraps up. He has decent speed and quickness but lacks the fluid hips to turn and run with elite receivers. His size will also put him at a disadvantage on any jump balls or jams at the line. Overall, Wright has so many limitations that he should not get drafted, but after a very strong pro day he may. Whether he is a late pick or a free agent signing he is going to struggle to have a long NFL career.

S Michael Greco (Central Florida)- No Report

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