IF ONE GM SINGS "I LOVE PARRIS," CAMPBELL COULD JOIN THE FIRST-ROUND BRIGADE
Parris Campbell-#21
The Ohio State University Buckeyes
5:11.7-205
Agility Tests...4.31 in the 40-yard dash…1.52 10-yard dash…2.51 20-yard dash…4.03 20-yard shuttle…40-inch vertical jump…11'-03" broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 11 times…32 1/4-inch arm length…9 1/2-inch hands…75 5/8-inch wingspan.
Background...Ohio State’s deployment of Campbell in the slot during the 2017 spring's opening practice seemed like preparation for filling Samuel's shoes this fall. The former OSU kickoff return artist looked like a natural at kick returner toward the end of the 2016 season, but he never quite looked comfortable as a pass-catching threat. The former high school running back had problems with drops and route running, and it's fair to wonder if he might get passed over by some of the young talent.
But there was an interesting revelation on the first day of spring practice: Campbell was working with a group of slot receivers. That proved to be a good move for him, especially since it meant that he could get some H-back time too. With his speed, there's no question that Campbell is dangerous with the ball in his hands, it was just a struggle to get it to him. The slot/H-back role got him the ball quicker and easier.
Prior to 2017 Campbell's production has never matched Urban Meyer's effusive praise. There were times he looked capable of being the best player on the field and others he disappears for long stretches. Such is how it goes for receivers in Meyer's distributive offense.
Campbell red-shirted his first season at OSU and suspensions threw him into the starting lineup in the 2015 season opener, but he hasn’t had the impact that he said he imagined he would have when he arrived in Columbus. So far with OSU, Campbell has thirteen catches for 121 yards and four carries for 54 yards and a touchdown.
The H-back position has been the glue of the OSU offense. The production of that position has dictated the flow of the wide-receiver unit. Campbell, however, has yet to show potential stardom on the field, mostly being an impact player on special teams and as a blocker at receiver. Nonetheless, Campbell said the H-back position is probably where he fit best in coach Urban Meyer’s offensive scheme, given his background as a running back in high school. Wide receivers coach Zach Smith added that Campbell’s ability in the running game and passing game is why he’s the primary option to replace Samuel. “It’s where I think he needed to be,” Smith said.
His big breakout season started in the 2017 spring game, where the development of Campbell and the rest of the receivers were put to the test. The emphasis for those pass catchers were separation from the defense and execution on the deep ball. Campbell’s improvement in those two areas might be an early indicator for his potential at the position. “I gave him a plan when we got back from the bowl game, and he killed it,” Smith said. “He’s playing at another level right now.”
At St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, he was a teammate of current Buckeye linebacker Dante Booker. The four-star recruit was one of the fastest players in the country and he captured All-Ohio honors as a senior, after rushing for 1,584 yards and 22 touchdowns. As a junior, SVSM was 2012 state champion with a 13-2 record when Campbell rushed for 1,353 yards and scored 28 touch-downs, including a long touchdown of 94 yards.
In 2013, Campbell helped his team to a second straight state title. He also excelled in track and has been clocked as high as 10.77 in the 100 meter dash and 22.09 in the 200 meter dash. He broke the state record in the 60-meter dash at the 2014 indoor state championships (6.85 seconds). At The Opening in Oregon in the Summer of 2013, he was among the fastest players at the camp, making the three-man final in the 40-yard dash. Campbell powered SVSM to the 2013 Ohio State outdoor track and field championship by anchoring victorious 4×100 and 4×200-meter relays and taking second in the 100.
Campbell started three times as a red-shirt freshman in 2015 on a team that had three players - Michael Thomas, Braxton Miller and Jalin Marshall - play in the NFL in 2016 and a fourth - Curtis Samuel - who was a second-round NFL Draft pick this May. One of the most talked-about players coming out of spring drills because of his fine play throughout, he only has 13 career receptions for 121 yards and a 9.3 yards per reception average during the 2016 season.
A fine return specialist, Campbell led the Big Ten Conference in kickoff returns (27.8) in 2016 and he tied a 52-year-old Ohio State record for career kickoff return average at 30.4 yards per return (Tom Barrington, 1963-65). His 584 return yards in 2016 rank third in Ohio State single season history, and his 149 return yards vs. Indiana in 2016 also rank third.
Campbell started 12 times in 2017. From the slot, he ranked second on the team with 40 receptions and first with 584 receiving yards. He scored three times as a pass catcher and once as a ball carrier, gaining 142 yards on ten reverses. He averaged 36.6 yards on nine kickoff returns, running back an 82-yarder in the UNLV clash.
The All-American and All-Big Ten Conference selection was outstanding for the Buckeyes as a senior, setting the school season-record with 88 receptions, as he became just the fifth player in school history to gain 1,000 receiving yards (1,062). He scored twelve times, tied for fourth on the OSU annual chart.
His 88 grabs topped the previous record of 85 by David Boston in 1998. He closed out his career ranking sixth in school history with 141 receptions, 15th with 1,767 aerial yards and tied for 14th with fifteen touchdowns. He was targeted 186 times during his career, catching 75.81% of those attempts. He gained 1,356 of his 1,767 yards after the catch (76.74%)
The Scouting Report
Athletic Ability...Campbell has an angular frame with smooth muscle tone, developed chest, long arms, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves. He has low body fat with a body that can carry additional bulk with no loss in quickness. He has average weight room strength for his position, but will still consistently break tackles and gain extra yardage after the catch, as he plays with better power on the field and uses his hands well to escape the jam.
Campbell is an athletic mover who builds his acceleration nicely and has the stride to get into his routes smoothly and is very slippery once he gets behind the defender. He generates a strong hand push to prevent from being rerouted coming off the snap, and has the change of direction agility and loose hips to elude in the open field. He has loose hips and good forward body lean, as it is rare to see him get upright or run a bit straight-legged. The thing you see on film is his ability to explode and take that extra step needed to maintain acceleration throughout his patterns.
He has excellent hand/eye coordination to get to the ball at its high point and the size and body control to time his leaps and contort his body to get to the tough throws in a crowd. He is very flexible for a tall receiver, flashing acrobatic moves to get to most balls thrown to him. He is a long strider with enough of a functional second gear to get on top of the defense, evident by him gaining 1,356 of his total of 1,767 yards after the catch. He has excellent balance adjusting to downfield passes and knows how to sink his hips and drop his weight to elude after the catch.
Release... Campbell gets a good initial thrust off the line, using his hands with force to defeat the jam, but when he does not get his hands up quick, he does not have the great power to simply chuck through and push off a physical press. He is more quicker than fast, but glides to top acceleration nicely and don’t be fooled by him, as he can lull a defender “to sleep” and then simply put on the afterburners to run to daylight (see 2018 TCU, Indiana, Michigan games).
He uses his size well to slip through tight areas and has enough burst to gobble up the cushion. He has adequate strength to uncover and get into his route with no hesitation. Campbell just knows how to use his frame to prevent defenders from rerouting him, when he keeps his hands active. He can threaten deep vs. off coverage and while he is very physical, he shows a smooth open field stride. As he continues to refine his route running, it will become more and more difficult for a smaller cornerback to handle the challenge of covering him, especially going for the ball at its high point.
Acceleration...Campbell is the type of player who competes with physical play and has the ability to get to the top of his route and build acceleration needed, along with that second gear to leave defenders grasping at air. He comes off the line with a strong surge, but has his most success when he uses his hands with force to beat the jam. He has the size to shield defenders from the ball and is a physical presence in the middle of the field, but must be more conscious of ball security. He does a good job of adjusting to the coverage and even though he frequently catches in a crowd, he has the fluid stride to not have to throttle down coming out of his breaks. Campbell runs crisp routes and drops his hips and sinks his weight to separate out of his cuts. He has very good feet and it is rare to ever see him shuffle then or round his breaks. He has a smooth slide to get to the open zone and a decent second gear to quickly eat up the cushion.
Quickness...Campbell shows the forward body lean and hand push to play off the cornerback to track and grab the ball without breaking stride. He plays the ball nicely when it is in flight and adjusts to make the tough grabs along the sidelines. Even when he runs mostly underneath and intermediate routes, he still needs to be accounted for at all times, as he is too slippery for a defensive back to get lethargic thinking he can cover him on deep throws (see 2018 TCU, Indiana, Michigan games).
He has the burst agility to get off the ball and the hand usage to defeat the jam, but it is his cutting ability and steady acceleration that allows him to gain advantage and run by the defensive backs. He is very good settling underneath, making him a nice target in the short area. His balance and good feet let him deal with operating in tight spaces.
Route Running...Campbell does a good job of weaving through a crowd and has valid power to leverage defenders to gain separation. He shows very good hip sinking agility and does a good job of getting depth in all of his routes. He is very good planting and driving in and out of his breaks. His ability to separate out of his up field cuts allows him to run crisp vertical routes. He not only has an explosive burst, but he stays square in his routes, especially when coming back to the ball, which he had to do often this year due to OSU’s passing attack facing constant blitzing by opponents trying to stall their aerial attack. He is solid on option routes and shows fluid gliding ability on slant patterns. He is just the rare type of player who can get open simply on his ability to set up defenders and make an effort to be precise in his cuts.
Separation Ability... Campbell is a power-oriented runner who can stem and weave to avoid, but he can also shock a lethargic defender with his ability to generate a second gear. He uses his hands very effectively to gain separation after the catch, showing the loose hips, head fake and strong leg drive to break the initial tackle. Campbell is frequently played tight, but can hand jolt the defender to rock his opponent back on their heels. He shows great awareness to uncover, but has to learn how to use his body better to shade defenders from the ball, as he does not do a great job of distributing the ball away from his opponent, leaving him susceptible to the costly drops (13 for his career on 186 targets) or deflection. He takes no wasted steps with his acceleration out of transition cuts and does a fine job on comeback routes. His speed is enough to surprise a defender on vertical routes and his body frame and quick feet lets him get to most poor throws along the sidelines.
Campbell is very conscious of sticks and chains, but has had drop issues, possibly due to impatience. He is quite nimble keeping his feet inbounds along the sidelines and makes very good body adjustments on the move, but has to look the ball in better before turning and heading up field (led to several drops of easy catches). He does a good job of looking the ball in over his shoulder and can get open and settle in the soft spot of the zone. With his physical play in the red zone, he certainly knows where the end zone is.
Leaping Ability...With his timing and body control, Campbell manages to get to most balls thrown his way, especially at going up to pluck them at its high point (40-inch vertical jump). He uses his body well to get vertical, thanks to impeccable timing. With his body frame, he should be able to continue to be dominant attacking the jump balls. Most of the passes deflected away from Campbell (14 in the last two years) could be attributed to poor trajectory on those tosses.
Hands...Campbell has a decent wingspan and normal sized hands to get to any pass thrown his way. He just needs to learn how to shield the ball from defenders using his body, but shows good scooping agility to get to the low, shoestring tosses. He will extend and pluck the ball away from the body’s frame and has soft hands to look the ball in nicely. The thing I like is Campbell’ ability to play the ball over his shoulder and make body adjustments to track the ball in flight. With his size and strong running stride, he could turn into a very capable split end and returner, adding to his pedigree, but must look to secure the ball better before attempting to run with it.
Run After the Catch... Campbell is the type to explode up the field after the catch, leaving defenders grasping at air. He is a very strong runner who powers through the initial tackle and is a load to bring down once he builds up to top acceleration. While known for his speed, his running strength will generally see him drag the smaller defenders, but when he weaves through traffic, he frustrates defenders, who struggle to contain him, especially in one-on-one confrontations. He just shows the elusiveness to create his own space, showing the vision to make that big play once he finds a crease. The ball comes alive in his hands, evident by his 58 first downs on 88 of the catches he recorded after he broke away from initial contact in 2018. He simply bounces off tackles and has the juking moves to make his man miss. Campbell ranks with the elite RAC players in the college game (1,357 of his 1,767 yards came after the catch), having gained at least ten yards after defeating the initial hit on close to 65% of his grabs where he broke initial contact.
Compares To...JuJu Smith-Schuster-Pittsburgh...While Campbell is much faster, the Ohio State product is a physical open field runner who shows blazing quickness and smoothness getting into his routes. He has the size and adequate strength to get a clean release vs. the jam, when he keeps his hands active to prevent the defender from latching on to his jersey. While he runs a lot of intermediate routes, he has the second gear to gobble up the cushion working his way into the deep zone. Few receivers in the game, college or pro, have the ability to impact a game like Campbell, especially when working inside the red zone. He is quite effective operating on slant and option routes, staying square coming back for the ball. He shows the ability to get to his top acceleration when going vertical and has the loose hips and plant-&-drive agility to excel on comeback routes.
SUN DEVILS IMPORT READY TO SHINE IN THE NFL
N'Keal Harry-#1
Arizona State University Sun Devils
6:02.3-228
Agility Tests...4.53 in the 40-yard dash…1.62 10-yard dash…2.67 20-yard dash…38 1/2-inch vertical jump…10'-02" broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times…33-inch arm length…9 1/2-inch hands…78 1/4-inch wingspan.
Background...While most players become road weary from the season-long travels, that should not be a problem for this rising star. Harry was born in Toronto, Canada, before moving as a baby to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. His grandmother brought him to the Phoenix metro area, with the blessing of his mother, to allow for more opportunity.
Harry tried several sports as a kid; soccer, football, and basketball, among others. His grandmother had hoped he would choose a less dangerous sport, but agreed to let him play football. He starred at Chandler High School after transferring from Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, earning five- star recruiting honors from Rivals.com, and was noted by many recruiting services as one of the top wide receiver recruits in the country.
As a sophomore, he tallied 41 receptions for 716 yards and five scores in nine games. In his junior season, Harry caught thirteen touchdowns on just thirty catches for 657 yards. He would finish his prolific career with 119 catches for 2,715 yards and 25 touchdowns, tacking on 48 snatches for 802 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. He also averaged more than 21 points and 10 rebounds a game during his basketball career.
Harry chose to remain home and committed to Arizona State, despite recruiting efforts by Texas A&M, Oregon, USC, among other top tier programs. In the 2016 season opening game against Northern Arizona University, Harry became just the ninth true freshman in school history to start a season opener. In his freshman season, he posted 58 catches for 659 yards and five touchdowns. Additionally, the youngster ran for 69 yards and scored twice and completed a 46-yard pass of his own. For his efforts in his rookie year, N'Keal was honored by Scout, Football Focus and Campus Insiders as a Freshman All-American.
During his sophomore campaign, N'Keal caught 82 catches for 1142 yards and eight touchdowns earning him First Team All-Conference honors. His junior season began with media accolades as he was selected to the 2018 AP Preseason All-American team. On October 27th, he made one of the greatest catches in football history according to ESPN. His acrobatic one-handed catch along with a punt return touchdown, helped lead the Sun Devils to a win over the USC Trojans, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest receivers to don an Arizona State uniform.
The following week, Harry scored three touchdowns in an upset over 15th-ranked Utah. After the comeback win against the Arizona Wildcats on November 24th, he announced his decision to forgo his senior season at ASU and to be a part of the 2019 NFL Draft. He delivered 1,088 yards with nine touchdowns on 73 grabs of 113 targets in 2018, finishing his career with 213 receptions (327 targets) for 2,905 yards, gaining 1,287 yards after the catch. He also scored 22 times, fifth-best in school history. He is one of just three Sun Devils to catch 200 passes in a career and his receiving yards are the third highest at ASU.
The Scouting Report
Athletic Ability...Harry has the ideal body frame you look for in a receiver, as he has a muscular upper body with very low body fat, well-defined mid-section, long arms, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves. His frame could carry at least another ten pounds of bulk without it affecting his impressive timed speed and acceleration. He is also one of the strongest wide-outs in this draft class (27 reps at 225-pound bench press).
Harry has outstanding size and strength for his position. He has the timed speed to threaten the deep areas of the secondary, but with his strength and ability to shield the ball from defenders, he has been very effective as a possession receiver. He uses his hands well to defeat the jam at the line of scrimmage and has the loose hips and crisp cutting ability to make the initial tackler miss and gain separation after the catch.
Harry is very good at settling underneath, showing the balance and body control to make the shoestring grabs or extend to catch outside his frame. He is very flexible in his route progression, showing the stop-&-go action to instantly redirect. He has the valid burst to get on top of the defense and shows nice body control adjusting to the deep ball in flight. He has the hip flexibility to drop his weight and the balance to change his stride without having to throttle down.
Release...Harry might get a little bit erect in his stance coming off the snap, but he has that ability to get into his routes instantly, using his hands with force to push off the press. He is too strong to jam at the line of scrimmage and uses his hip swerve efficiently to avoid defenders to get into his route progression. He can elude second level defenders with his cutting ability and shows a fluid glide in his running style.
Acceleration...Harry is used a lot on shallow and wheel routes, as he has the strength to power his way to the ball in the crowd. He has the long reach to get under the fades and bubble screens and when utilized in crossing patterns, he can turn up field in an instant after the catch. He has made steady improvement extending for the ball with defenders all over him, and is effective at dropping his hips and separating out of his cuts. He has outstanding hand/eye coordination, seeing the ball as it arrives while generating the moves needed to uncover.
On deep routes, he needs to utilize his second gear more and he will drift at times when going long distances. He has good turning motion to catch the ball over his outside shoulder, but does not turn as quick when having to look the ball in over his inside shoulder. He has that functional burst to separate at the line of scrimmage, but must utilize it more in attempts to separate on deep routes.
Quickness...Harry’s short area quickness allows him to get to quite a few balls in the short-to-intermediate areas. He has the loose hips and acceleration to ride up on a defender, but could be more sudden trying to separate on deep throws. When he keeps his pads down instead of getting erect in his stance, he is much more effective at gaining and eating up the defensive back’s cushion.
Route Running... Harry continues to improve as a route runner, but despite his speed, he does not always run with a smooth stride (takes choppy steps), especially at the top of the route. In the early stages of 2018, he did a better job of planting and cutting out of his breaks (see UTSA, San Diego State, Michigan State games). He will turn and route his deep patterns at times, but when he drops his weight properly, he is much more effective at gaining separation.
Harry’s long reach lets him catch the wheel and crossing routes without having to break stride. He looks natural extending for the ball in flight and has the body control to get into position and make plays over his outside shoulder. He is quite effective looking the ball in over his inside shoulder (see 2018 Oregon State, USC, Utah games) on deep throws. When going over the middle for the short crossers, he does a good job of getting to the ball, as he knows he has the strength to power his way through a crowd and look the ball in.
Separation Ability...Because he is used so often on short-to-intermediate routes than in the deep area game, it is difficult to get a true feel for his separation ability (gained 1,287-of-2,889 yards after the catch). He does a good job of running at a proper pad level and coming out of his breaks cleanly when working underneath. With his timed speed, he should be capable of getting open in the deep zone more often. He uses his size well to shade the defender and demonstrates the balance and body control to catch the ball and turn up field without having to break stride. He competes to stay on his blocks and takes good angles to neutralize linebackers when playing in space.
Leaping Ability...Harry’s 38.5-inch vertical is one of the best figures in college football. Along with his 6:0+ frame and long arm reach (78 34 1/8-inches), he is an inviting target for quarterbacks when working over the middle. He times his leaps in the deep zone and once he elevates, he has the strength and reach to get to most balls at their high point.
Hands...Harry has good hand strength to gain position as a blocker and uses his upper body power well to defeat the jam and get into his routes. He will cradle a few balls, but when he extends for the pass, he will generally get to most throws. He is a natural hands catcher with the ball skills to make plays on it outside of his frame. He just needs to improve his ability to look the ball in over his shoulder on deep routes.
Run After the Catch...Harry is field fast, but not elusive. He will more often power through the initial tackle to gain valid yardage after the catch rather than attempt to execute a fake or a juke to elude. Even though he is not as creative as you would like, he has the speed and vision to make the big play, if he finds a crease (see 2018 UTSA, Oregon State, Utah games).
Few receivers have that keen sense of where to be on the field that Harry displays. He is always alert to coverage and where his defender is. He does a fine job of keeping his feet when catching along the sidelines and plays with uncanny instincts to find the zone’s soft areas. The thing you see on film is his ability to adjust to the thrown ball underneath. He has the speed to get open when working in a crowd and blocks out all activity around him to concentrate on the ball in flight, knowing how to use his long reach and hands to extend and catch the pass at its highest point.
Compares To...Davante Adams-Green Bay Packers...Like the Packers star, Harry is a big, fast, strong receiver who can certainly get after the ball. He has the size and leaping ability to win mismatches vs. the smaller defenders and along with his strong hands, he will not hesitate to go up after the ball. Yes, he is a possession receiver, but he has good quickness and body control in and out of his cuts.
BUTLER READY TO SERVE SOME NFL QUARTERBACK WITH AN INVITING TARGET
Hakeem Butler-#18
Iowa State University Cyclones
6:05.3-227
Agility Tests...4.48 in the 40-yard dash…1.59 10-yard dash…2.62 20-yard dash…36-inch vertical jump…10'-08" broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times…35 1/4-inch arm length…10 3/4-inch hands…83 7/8inch wingspan.
Background...If you want to play with the "big boys," you might as well be taught by one of the best - Megatron. Prior to the NFL Scouting Combine, Butler received some help from another big former wide receiver - Calvin Johnson. The former Detroit Lions All-Pro helped Butler train after the Cyclone got in touch with Johnson through some mutual contacts.
Johnson was the ideal mentor for Butler. The three-time NFL All-Pro selection boasts a big playing frame like Butler, who said Johnson was one of the players he looked up to growing up. Having the chance to train and learn from someone of Johnson's stature and ability was not only beneficial, but entertaining. "Just a lot of receiver stuff," Butler said he learned from Johnson. "When you're a big receiver, you don't find a lot of tall receiver coaches. Just to have one for a couple of days or what not, it was a big help.”
After losing his mother to cancer in 2012, Butler moved to Texas to live with his cousins, Aaron and Andrew Harrison, who were two of the hottest basketball recruits in the nation before joining powerhouse Kentucky. Butler attended Travis High School, but struggled academically, which cost him on the recruiting trails. He lettered in both football and basketball, earning all-conference honors in 2014 after catching 28 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns. He also averaged over double figures in basketball in his junior season.
Butler chose Iowa State over Houston, New Mexico State and McNeese State, but it took him three seasons before scouts took notice. He red-shirted in 2015 and then saw action in eleven games in 2016, catching nine passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
The arrival of Matt Campbell as the Cyclones coach saw Butler's fortunes change in 2017. He received All-Big Twelve Conference recognition and was a member of the Tyler Rose Award watch list. During his breakout sophomore season, he ranked second on the team in receiving yards (697) and tied for third in receptions (41). He caught seven touchdown passes, tying for tenth on Iowa State’s season list. He ranked 47th nationally in yards per reception (17.0), as ISU’s big-play threat was responsible for four of the Cyclones' six 50-yard plays from scrimmage, catching passes for 74, 67, 57 and 52 yards. He also had two 100-yard receiving games.
Butler elevated to second-team All-American status in 2018. The first-team All-Big Twelve choice was a member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list and a semifinalist for the Tyler Rose Award, in addition to receiving All-Bowl Team honors from USA Today. He recorded one of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in Iowa State history, shattering the school record for receiving yards in a season with 1,318.
Butler was third in the nation in yards per reception at 22.0, setting a new single-season school record. He tallied 60 receptions and nine touchdown catches, tying for second on ISU’s season list. He ranked third nationally in 40-yard receptions with ten, and ranked ninth nationally in receiving yards per game (101.4) and 29th nationally in receiving touchdowns (9). He posted six 100-yard receiving games, tying an ISU season mark.
Butler ended the season and career with a streak of 28-straight games with a reception, the third-longest string in school history. Still, there was a glaring issue - dropped balls, twelve to be exact in 2018. During his two previous seasons with the varsity, he had just five drops. He ended his career with 110 receptions, 2,149 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns catches in just three seasons.
His career receiving yards rank fourth in school history and career touchdown catches rank third. He also had eight 100-yard receiving games in his career, tying for the second-best total in the ISU record book. He also owns the school record in yards per reception in a career at 19.5. He was targeted 191 times (caught 57.59%), gaining 699 of his 2,149 yards after the catch. Last season, he was the nation's best deep threat, pulling down nineteen tosses of at least twenty yards for a total of 721 yards.
The Scouting Report
Athletic Ability...Butler has a tall, thick frame, with long arm, large hands, thick thighs and calves and a big bubble. He is smooth skinned with adequate muscle development and possesses a frame that can carry another ten pounds of bulk. Some teams feel that his frame's growth potential would have seversal organizations possibly bulking him up to play tight end at the next level.
Butler has deceptive speed, as his long legs let him ride up on the defender quickly while looking effortless in his long stride. He has very good agility and balance with adequate change of direction agility. He shows good overall body control, but sometimes does not play up to his timed speed. Even though he has good leaping ability, his timing is sometimes off, as he doesn’t win as many jump ball battles as you would expect from a player of his size and arm extension. Still, he is a naturally fluid runner who despite being a bit of a long strider, he can bend and get in and out of his breaks smoothly. He shows good body control and balance throughout route progression. He is simply a big man with good athleticism.
Release...Butler has the functional strength to release and get into his routes, but lacks blazing straight-line speed. He uses his hands with force to get a strong push off the line of scrimmage. With his long arms and large hands, he has no problems avoiding the hold-up. With his big frame, he is not easily rerouted, but has to protect his legs better from low tackles. He knows how to use his body to gain advantage, but for a player his size, you would think that he would create better mismatches.
Butler’s long legs get him into his patterns smoothly. Even at close to 230 pounds, he could use additional bulk and improve his strength, but he uses his hands effectively to defeat the jam. His long arms get him a good release vs. the hold-up and shows good urgency getting into his routes. He shows a quick initial release, but does lack some explosion coming off the line. Because of his size, he can slip past the smaller defenders. With additional strength, he could power his way through the jam at the next level, but does not have that strength yet.
Acceleration...Butler is a good power receiver on crossers and sideline throws, using his strength and size to shield the ball from defenders. He has strong hands to secure the ball before running (no fumbles) and a decent second gear to turn a short pass into a long gainer. You can see that he can reach top speed through the route's progression, but his long stride could surprise a lethargic defender (see 2018 Oklahoma, Kansas, Kansas State games). He uses his speed well to get deep, but is best when used on crossers and sideline routes than when going up the seam (better down field than on deep routes, as he tends to lose sight of the ball over his head). He has the quickness to challenge deep, but until 2018, he sometimes had to run a double move to get open.
Quickness...With his size, Butler could be very physical in his initial step off the ball, but he also has the quickness to immediately defeat the press and is capable of exploding off the line. His burst from his get-off and long arms lets him keep defenders away from his body in attempts to reroute. He shows good stop-&-start quickness working in the flats and underneath. Few players with his long body are capable of generating the elusiveness to avoid, but he is effective breaking free down the sidelines. He shows no hip stiffness when trying to change direction and he can take a defensive back out of his cleats with his penchant for making sharp cuts, which allow him to get under the ball and catch it without breaking stride.
Route Running...Earlier in his career, Butler tended to glide out of his breaks. When trying to suddenly change direction, he takes some wasted steps and fails to make sharp cuts. He does show good body control to break down, but is best when operating along the sidelines where he can build to top speed and maintain it throughout his route. He sometimes suffers from what most long striders experience – rounding off his routes, but he will generally get in and out of his breaks cleanly when he doesn’t have to work in tight quarters. He is more effective when used on controlled routes, stops and quick slants.
Separation Ability...Butler possesses good overall physical tools. He is tall, well-built and strong, displaying valid speed and athletic ability for his size. He shows good initial burst and almost never gets caught up at the line of scrimmage. He is a smooth athlete that runs fluid routes and has the ability to consistently separate from double-coverage. Giving him a strong-armed quarterback and he can be that type of receiver that can take over a game.
It is Butler's hip wiggle, lateral movement and deceptive quickness that allow him to separate after the catch. He won’t be capable of putting on the afterburners to leave defenders grasping at air in the NFL, so he needs to compensate with his long stride and hip snap to separate. He just seems to excel at sneaking up on his opponent and while he lacks blazing vertical speed, he uses his body well to elude. Even though he has a smooth running stride, he will need to add more strength in order to separate consistently vs. the more physical NFL cornerbacks. He is the type that relies more on foot quickness in transition to get open, combining that with good weave and leverage to move and create space.
Leaping Ability...Butler's size gives him an advantage vs. jump balls, but his vertical jump (36-inches) is also impressive. He competes with very good timing. He has the big, lanky frame to twist and bring the ball down. His long arms also let him reach for passes most normal-sized receivers can’t get to. He has big hands and the leaping ability to consistently win the jump-ball. He's not afraid to go over the middle and will make plenty of catches in traffic. He also does a great job of adjusting to the ball in the air and will make the diving catch.
Hands...Butler has the body control to get to the difficult throws. He does know how to get open and understands sticks and boundaries, doing a nice job of keeping his feet in bounds. He shows he can reach and pluck for the ball away from his frame, but there are far too many drops and bobbles (12 in 2018) on balls thrown his way (104 targets in 2018). He has big mitts for hands and secures the ball well after the catch, having never fumbled the ball during his career, but he has to concentrate better to reduce that high drop rate.
He generates a strong jolt with them to defeat the press and works hard with his hands to sustain when blocking in-line. He is a natural hands catcher that can make the difficult grab, but when he drops some, it is usually due to concentration issues. It is rare to see him use his body to field the ball, as he is perfectly capable of extending for the ball. In 2018, he has shown marked improvement with his hand/eye coordination, but needs to rectify the cases of the "dropsies" before he ends up on the pine at the NFL level.
Run After the Catch... Butler is a terrific load to bring down after the catch. He is a physical open field runner (just lacks upper body strength) who will drag defenders when fighting for extra yardage. Even though there is not a lot of shake in his hips and he is a bit of a long strider, he runs with the stride and pad level needed to break tackles consistently. At 6:05, he’s not going to “get small” and slip past the crowd, so he has to utilize his size and reach to fight for yardage. He runs hard and once he breaks free, his burst lets him beat even the speedy defenders in attempts to take the ball to the house (see 2018 Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas games).
Compares To...Andre Johnson-ex-Houston Texans...Butler will sometimes revert to gliding in and out of his routes, but he has the leg drive to break tackles and turn a short catch into a big gain. He does a great job of keeping his feet in bounds and making the acrobatic sideline grab. He has the power to keep defenders off his body, shocking a lethargic cornerback with his hand punch to defeat the jam. He has the body control to settle underneath and then break up field. With his leaping ability, he should be more capable of getting to the jump balls at the NFL level.
SAMUEL MAKES UP FOR LOST TIME AS A SENIOR AFTER LOST 2017 SEASON
Tyshun "Deebo" Samuel-#1
University of South Carolina Gamecocks
5:11.2-214
Agility Tests...4.48 in the 40-yard dash…1.60 10-yard dash…2.66 20-yard dash…4.14 20-yard shuttle…7.03 three-cone drill…39-inch vertical jump…10'-02" broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 15 times…31 3/8-inch arm length…10-inch hands…75 1/8-inch wingspan.
Background.. The Retail Management major is known for his nickname "Deebo," which comes from the neighborhood bully character played by actor Tiny Lister in the movie "Friday." The South Carolina native attended Chapman High School, where in his senior season, he led his team to the Semifinals of the AAA playoffs.
Samuel had 166 catches for 2,751 yards and 36 touchdowns during his career, as he also rushed 133 times for 898 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He finished with a record of 53 career touchdowns. He posted 94 tackles and 12 interceptions as a defensive back, resulting in most school attempting to recruit him with the "athlete" designation. He won the High School Sports Report Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year Award and played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Samuel was rated as a three-star recruit, by the 247 composite, committing to the University of South Carolina to play college football. Durability issues would prevent Samuel from emerging until his senior season. As a true freshman, he played in five games, making three starts while finishing fourth on the team with 12 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Samuel started, but suffered a hamstring injury in the 2015 season opener against North Carolina and continued to have issues with the hamstring, sitting out the next seven contests. He returned to action against The Citadel, moved back into the starting lineup for the season finale against Clemson and responded with a then-career-best performance, logging five catches for 104 yards and a his first career touchdown, a seven-yard catch.
In 2016, Samuel shared the Steve Wadiak MVP Award with Jake Bentley. He was the Steve Spurrier Award winner as the Offense's MVP and was selected as the Most Explosive Player on offense by his teammates. He led the squad with 59 catches for 783 yards despite playing in just ten games. He also rushed 15 times for 98 yards and six scores, returned 16 kickoffs for a 26.9-yard average with one score, returned two punts for eight yards and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass.
Samuel ranked third in the Southeastern Conference in receptions per game (5.9), fourth in receiving yards per game (78.3), third in kickoff return average and second in all-purpose yardage per game (132.0) in 2016. He battled hamstring issues throughout the Mississippi State game and did not play against East Carolina, Kentucky or Texas A&M due to the balky hamstring.
More injury woes limited him to three appearances during the 2017 schedule. In the first game of the season against North Carolina State, Samuel had five catches for 83 yards, two touchdowns and also returned the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. In week two vs. Missouri, Samuel once again returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and finished with five catches for 45 yards, as he also ran the ball two times for 30 yards and a touchdown.
In week three against Kentucky, on the first play from scrimmage Samuel caught a 68-yard touch-down pass from Gamecock quarterback Jake Bentley. With 2:27 left in the third quarter, Samuel caught another pass from Bentley and was awkwardly tackled by Kentucky's Derrick Baity Jr., bending his leg back. It was announced after the game by head coach Will Muschamp that Samuel had broken his right fibula and would miss the rest of the season.
Despite the injury, it was announced that he could possibly return later on in the season, but he suffered a sprained foot in rehab and would not return. Samuel would finish the season having not even played three full games, yet accumulated 250 yards receiving for three touchdowns, two carries for 30 yards and a touchdown, and two kickoff returns for a pair of touchdowns and a combined 194 yards.
Everything came together for Samuel in 2018. He garnered first-team All-American honors as an all-purpose performer by the AFCA and was a second-team as a kick returner by the FWAA. He was named first team All-SEC as an all-purpose performer by both the Associated Press and the league’s coaches. The team's Comeback Player of the Year caught 62 passes (tied for ninth in school history) for 882 yards (10th) with eleven receiving touchdowns (second). He scored thirteen times (tied for fourth) and logged 1,678 all-purpose yards (ninth). He had four pass receptions of 50 yards or more, as his 5.2 receptions per game ranked fifth in the SEC, his 73.5 receiving yards per game ranks sixth, his 123.2 all-purpose yards ranked second, while his 24.8-yard kickoff return average ranked fourth.
Samuel caught 148-of-223 passes for 2,074 yards and eleven touchdowns during his career, gaining 1,244 yards after the catch. He rushed 25 times for 154 yards and a score, completing both pass attempts for 42 yards and two touchdowns. His average of 29.0 yards on 42 kickoff returns (1,219 yards) rank second in conference history behind a 34.3-yard average by Evan Berry of Tennessee (53 for 1,820; 2014-17). His four kickoff returns for touchdowns set the school record and tied six others for the SEC mark.
The Scouting Report
Athletic Ability... Samuel has a well-built frame with only average arm length, but he has big hands (10-inches), tight waist and abdomen. He has a developed upper body with good muscle structure (more rangy than ripped), along with proper thickness in his thighs, calves and ankles, along with a good bubble.
Samuel shows good athletic ability for his position, demonstrating the change of direction, balance and body control to not take any false steps getting into his routes. He lacks sudden quickness or deep speed, but builds his acceleration nicely and shows the body torque to get in and out of his breaks cleanly. He is a quick, short strider with good playing speed for his size, but is better utilized in the short-to-intermediate areas, as he has very good balance running his routes and does a good job of adjusting to the ball in flight.
You can see that athleticism with his ease of movement extending for the ball away from his frame and elevating to reach the pass at its highest point. He might not have that explosive burst to simply pull away from defenders in the deep areas, but he has valid foot quickness and body control to maintain the route’s progression and good strength to bounce off tackles to generate additional yardage after the catch.
Release...Samuel has a solid understanding for route building/progression. He comes off the line hard and tries to look fast, using his hands well to attack the center of a defensive back to get a strong push-off for a clean release. He is a physical type, but also has decent moves to escape and get up field. He shows good timed speed, but with his short stride, he is not the type that will suddenly explode and get up field in an instant (more of the type that builds his acceleration steadily). He has the strength to defeat the jam and knows how to use his size to lean into and push off the defender when trying to create room to operate. He has adequate moves to elude and it is very difficult to reroute him due to his ability to fend off defenders and protect his body.
Acceleration... Samuel is best when utilized in the short areas, as he shows very quick reactionary ability and the ability to adjust and contort his body to get to the ball in flight. He flashes good ability to uncover and with his frame, he might be better served playing in the slot, where he shows the ability to sit, slide, get open, fight for the pass in a crowd and catch the ball outside his frame (see 2018 Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee contests). On the times he attacks the deep zone, he will run crisp routes and has enough speed to beat second level defenders (amassed 592-of-882 yards last year after the catch).
He demonstrates solid agility when adjusting for the long throws, but despite 4.48 timed speed, he will never be confused for being a “burner.” Samuel is very capable of moving the chains in the short area. He shows a functional burst to get under the ball and presents a nice target for the passer going over the middle. His size allows him to turn a short catch into a big gain and he knows how to shield the ball from defenders working underneath. If isolated on a linebacker or a safety, he can easily separate. Against the cornerbacks, he has the strength to break arm tackles.
Quickness... Samuel flashes decent initial quickness off the ball. He might lack the suddenness to gain advantage, as he won’t “wow” you with explosive acceleration, but does build to top speed throughout his route. It is rare to see him be late coming off the ball. He shows good quickness coming off the ball and the body control to generate crisp stop-&-go action. Despite his size, he is effective at taking short, quick steps rather than long striding. He runs at a good pad level and shows urgency driving off the line. He might not have blazing speed, but demonstrates the hand usage and strength to defeat the press. He shows good explosion going vertical and the linear speed to beat most foot races when challenged by second level defenders in man coverage.
Route Running... The thing about Samuel is that he is a savvy route runner who knows how to create, knows how to stick, leverage, elude and make square cuts working over the middle. There is little gather at the top and it is rare to see him have issues in and out of his break point, thanks to loose hips and a low pad level. He plays with good awareness and body control, demonstrating the footwork and timing to make sharp cuts without having to gather. He is a underrated route runner, quickly getting his head around to track the ball in flight. He runs tight up field routes and has good stop-&-go action working underneath. He does a good job of eating up the defender’s cushion and is very capable of sinking and planting coming out of his breaks. The thing you notice on 2018 film is that Samuel had a penchant for adjusting on his route so the quarterback did not have to throw a perfect pass every time (see Vanderbilt, Florida, Ole Miss games). He attacks the ball on its descent and does not wait for the pass to intersect on his routes.
Separation Ability...Samuel is not the type that will simply explode past defenders, rather, he has enough quickness into and out of his break point to free himself from second level defenders. He just lacks that explosive burst to separate from opponents in the deep field. He has all the tools and good field vision to locate and settle into the soft areas in the zone, but lacks the burst to suddenly pull away from the cornerbacks after the catch. He is more of the type that will use his hands to get a strong push off the defender. He shows the field vision and enough quickness to come back for the poorly thrown ball. In 2018, he made good improvement in selling his routes to gain separation, demonstrating the functional burst needed to get into and out of his breaks.
Leaping Ability...Samuel is an exceptional leaper (39-inch vertical jump). Along with his height and extension ability, he is very capable of going vertical for the ball. He has the power and timing skills to fight for the ball coming on a high delivery. He has good ability and flexibility to adjust to the ball, whether thrown high, low or behind him and is known for his knack for making the tough catch. He makes solid adjustments getting to off-target throws and will not hesitate to extend and compete for the ball in a crowd. He tracks the ball well in flight and the leaping ability to elevate over the defender and reach the ball at its high point.
Hands...Samuel has large hands (10-inch width) that compensate for shorter-than-ideal arms (31 3/8-inches). Still, he can extend and pluck the ball away from his frame. He does not use his body as a crutch, but must do a better job of securing the ball before trying to head up field. He usually has reliable hands, along with the courage to “lay out” for off-target throws. He also demonstrates good reactionary quickness. As a blocker, he has the hand punch to stall second and third level defenders. He has strong hands, which he uses with force to defeat the press. He does a nice job of extending for the ball away from the body’s framework.
Run After the Catch...Samuel has the leg drive, upper body power and balance to break arm tackles, but by being utilized mostly in the short areas, he has had to constantly fight for the ball with defenders draped all over him. He gets up field with a nice array of moves, compensating for a lack of an explosive second gear. He just struggles to run away from third level guys. He is an instinctive runner (rarely will he run into spots), but is not going to surprise a cornerback with a sudden burst to score from long distances.
He maintains his acceleration while doing a nice job of shifting his weight and sinking his hips. His balance comes in handy when he tries to avoid defenders on the run. He is a strong runner who takes only a short time getting back to top speed after the catch and can generate a strong burst, especially when running the flash screen. His stop-&-go precision let him elude and he keeps legs moving and shoulders squared to break tackles.
Special Teams...Look at Samuel's kickoff return ability as a tremendous draft asset. He has the ability to rank with the elite kick returners in the league. He shows patience, vision and aggressive running style with the power to break tackles on the move. With four touchdowns to his credit and a 29.0-yard average (second in SEC history), he brings great added value to his resume.
Compares To...Cordarrelle Patterson-Chicago Bears...Patterson is bigger, but both offer value in a variety of roles - deep threat, physical over the middle, capable of executing reverses and excelling on special teams. Samuel has made very good improvement adjusting his feet to stay in bounds working along the sidelines. He runs sharp up field routes with the stride to cover ground. He finds the ball quickly when contesting for it in the crowd, maintaining concentration to look the ball in. He displays fluid hip swerve and the flexibility to adjust on the run. He has the athletic ability to extend and pluck the ball away from the body’s frame.
RIDLEY EXPECTED TO FOLLOW HIS BIG BROTHER TO THE NFL
Cavin "Riley" Ridley-#8
University of Georgia Bulldogs
6:01.2-199
Agility Tests...4.58 in the 40-yard dash…1.57 10-yard dash…2.69 20-yard dash…4.28 20-yard shuttle…7.22 three-cone drill…30 1/2-inch vertical jump…10'-04" broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 13 times…32 5/8-inch arm length…10 1/4-inch hands…78 1/4-inch wingspan.
Background...The brother of Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley, the Georgia Bulldog is not as flashy as his older brother, but his lunch-pail attitude is perfect for a team that shuttles in multiple receivers. Smart and instinctive, the fourth-year junior got a jump start on his Georgia career after graduating early from Monarch High School.
Ridley was a 2016 Under Armour All-American Game selection and a four-star prospect, ranking as the sixth-best receiver in the state of Florida (21st in the nation). Listed as the top performer on offense for Team Highlight at the Under Armour Game, he caught 25 passes for 586 yards and six touchdowns his junior year.
After Ridley enrolled at UGA in January, 2016, he sat out the season as a red-shirt. He appeared in eleven games in 2017, as he had just twelve catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Among his three catches vs. Auburn was a one-handed grab that covered 57 yards. He also caught two passes for 59 yards vs. Tennessee, including a 47-yard touchdown with ten seconds remaining.
Ridley appeared in fourteen games in 2017, starting seven contests, but again, he was just a complimentary piece of the passing game. He finished with fourteen catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns. In the national title clash vs. Alabama, he was thrust into the national spotlight, collecting a career-best six catches for 82 yards.
The 2018 season saw Ridley become a vital cog in Georgia attempts to stretch the field. He caught 44-of-60 targeted passes, gaining 146 of his 570 yards after the catch while reaching the end zone a career-high nine times. He also earned a career-best twelve starting assignments through fourteen appearances. For his performance, he was one of three Bulldogs to be named Offensive Most Improved Player at the team's post-season awards gala.
The Scouting Report
Athletic Ability...Ridley has a good sized frame with a solid build, but he looks much stronger than he actually is (muscles don’t translate to the football field). He has good upper body development, a big bubble and developed thighs and calves. On tape, he appears to have good structure, but his bench press figures indicate that he needs to spend more hours in the training room to improve his core strength.
Ridley is like most Georgia receivers – they are not afraid to stand tall and take a hit. He has good hands to get a clean release vs. the press and adequate deep speed, needing to build his acceleration rather than be sudden in his moves. He is not the type that can simply rely upon his speed to pull away from defenders, but he is a good playmaker who knows how to use his size to create separation. He does a good job of avoiding the jam and he utilizes his lateral agility to get by second level defenders.
He has the size to power through at the line of scrimmage vs. corners, but could be better suited using his change of direction agility and stutter-steps to escape at the next level while working on his core strength in the training room. He lacks suddenness, but is smooth and fluid getting into his routes.
Release...Ridley knows how to use his frame to shield the ball from the defender. He is an inviting, target working over the middle and is effective when used on the bubble screen, thanks to his lateral agility. He has much better short area quickness than when asked to stretch the field. He builds his speed as he goes, rather than being sudden. Used on the deep post, his size comes more into play than his adequate timed speed, as he has the long arms and reach to look the ball in over his outside shoulder, but it is not often you will see him lay out going for the ball. Even though he is a big target, he does not consistently separate on long patterns.
Acceleration...Ridley is part of that old adage for big receivers – he’s more quick than fast. He has to improve his burst to be an effective red zone target, as he won’t always lay out for the ball. He seems to be more comfortable working over the middle of the field rather than fly down the sidelines from the “Z” receiver position. He doesn’t explode off the line and with his long stride, it takes him a bit to reach top speed. He shows good quickness on his get-off and some burst in and out of his short area cuts, but he won’t win many long distance foot races.
Route Running...Ridley runs crisp routes underneath. He does a good job of sinking his weight to come out of his breaks cleanly. He is more effective on slants and option routes than going long. He also shows good urgency working back on comeback routes, knowing how to stay square and balanced in his approach back to the ball. He can make the sharp 90-degree cuts in short-to-intermediate routes, but too often in 2018, he took soft angles when threatening the secondary. Keep him active on screens, posts and hitches if you want to get better production from him, as he knows how to lower his body weight getting into his breaks. He also shows good hand placement and physicality that makes it tough for smaller corners to push him off the route.
Separation Ability...Because he rounds his cuts so often going deep, he’s not going to be a go-to type of receiver at the next level, despite what some scouts say. He needs to develop better and quicker double moves, as he does not do a good job of selling the route, in fact, he telegraphs his moves too much. He is best working in a crowd, using his body to shield the ball from defenders. He has the loose hips and change of direction agility to take a seam when working in the intermediate areas. He will never be confused for an explosive route runner, but he knows how to generate enough body lean and contact to create separation.
Leaping Ability... Ridley shows good ability to adjust to the ball, but it is much better in the short-to-intermediate areas, as he can’t generate consistent separation on deep patterns. He can run, jump and contort his body to make the tough catch in a crowd, doing a nice job of hanging in the air to get to the ball at its highest point. He just looks very natural adjusting to off-line throws, coming up with good production catching in a crowd. He has good vertical skills and uses his body well to position and push out defensive backs to make the tough catch. He also shows good timing, as it is rare to see him leave his feet too early.
Hands...Ridley does a good job of reaching and plucking the ball away from his frame. His problems occur when he tries to head up field before he can secure the pigskin (does not have fumble issues, but does drop more than his share of catch-able balls). He uses his size well to push out the defensive back and he looks impressive catching the pass over either shoulder. He has above average hand/eye coordination and while he will body catch a few tosses, he does not use it as a crutch. He can make most of the catches he should, along with a few that he shouldn’t, as he has that fearless attitude going for the ball in a crowd.
Run After the Catch...Ridley has the vision to spot the seam and take advantage of squeezing through the tight areas after the catch. He needs to gather himself before turning and cutting up field, as he does tend to cross his feet some, causing him to lose balance when he gets too anxious after the catch. You can see on film that he has the ability to bounce off tackles and gain valid yardage after the catch. He prefers to run through arm tackles rather than make the defender miss, but will have to increase his core strength to do that at the next level.
Compares To...Brandon LaFell-ex-Carolina Panthers...Like LaFell, Ridley can be a nice complimentary piece, but is not number-one target material. He lacks blazing speed to consistently get over the top of man coverage in the NFL. He has room to improve as a red zone target. Still, he's a playmaker who knows how to use his body and time his jumps to make big plays in the vertical passing game. He can pluck on the run and gets up the field quickly and displays good body control for his size. He will bounce off some tackles and gain yards after contact, but he just lacks elite elusiveness to be anything more than a shifty runner with good vision.
