NFL Draft 2014 Preview (51 page)

Future:
Smoother-than-fast, ballhawking nickel corner who is more effective as a pass defender than run supporter. Benwikere’s game lacks physicality, yet his zone cover skills could allow him to carve a role in the slot and on special teams. Would benefit from a demanding position coach.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s not as strong as you’d like because the wrist injury set him back in the weight room. He’s going to struggle in man coverage. If you confine him to short areas, he has a chance. He is an athlete with good hands, and he makes plays on the ball. You see him jump routes and play the ball aggressively in the air.”

SS NAT BERHE, #20

SAN DIEGO STATE
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Grade: 5.14

Ht: 5-10 1/2 | Wt: 193 | Sp: 4.71 | Arm: 30 5/8 | Hand: 8 1/2

History:
His last name is pronounced “burr-HEY.” Lettered in football and track as a California prep. Redshirted in 2009. Played in 12 games in ’10, including two starts out of the warrior spot, and recorded 39 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception with one tackle for loss. Missed one game with a concussion. Started all 13 games in ’11, with the first six at the “Warrior” and the final seven at “Aztec” (hybrid safety-linebacker positions) — had 67-4-2 with 3 1/2 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Led SDSU in total tackles in ’12 and had 94-5-2 with two tackles for loss in 13 starts out of the “Aztec.” Led the team in tackles in ’13, starting 13 times at “Aztec” and recording 99-6-0 with 5 1/2 tackles for loss and one sack. Team captain.

Strengths:
Instinctive defender with a nose for the ball. Secondary leader. Reads and reacts quickly. Active and energetic — terrific pursuit effort. Motor runs hot. Plays fast. Good balance and body control. Smooth pedal. Good ball reactions. Disguises coverages. Sells blitzes and baits quarterbacks (see vs. Fresno State’s David Carr). Tough, confident and competitive. Aggressive tackler. Plays with abandon. Flashes explosive striking ability. Lives and breathes football. Experienced, four-year starter with desirable makeup. Very likeable personality.

Weaknesses:
Cornerback size with short arms and small hands. Has a light frame with limited weight potential and could stand to get stronger. Pedestrian timed speed. Plays a bit out of control and will miss some tackles in the open-field. Takes some bad angles. Leaks yards when he comes in high and has to grab and drag instead of driving through the ball carrier. Average production on the ball. Limited special-teams experience.

Future:
Compactly built, highly competitive strong safety who flies around the field, though he lacks ideal speed. Has the look of a solid backup and core special-teams player with potential to compete for a more prominent role down the line.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s a safety trapped in a cornerback’s body. Nothing on paper looks exciting. He is a good, hard-nosed football player though. I wouldn’t be surprised if he found a way to make a roster. Coaches will love him. I graded him as a (priority free agent).”

SS-RCB TRE BOSTON, #10

NORTH CAROLINA
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Grade: 5.10

Ht: 5-11 5/8 | Wt: 204 | Sp: 4.59 | Arm: 31 3/8 | Hand: 9 3/4

History:
Full name is Jayestin Tre’von Boston. Played both defensive back and running back as a Florida prep. Played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2010, making three starts at right cornerback and one at left corner and recording 32 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception with one tackle for loss and two forced fumbles. Missed three games with a sprained ankle. In ’11, started 11-of-13 games (four at LCB, four at nickel and three at free safety) and had 70-2-3 with 1 1/2 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Led the team in tackles in ’12, starting 12 games (nine at FS, three at SS) and totaling 86-6-4 with one tackle for loss. Had a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown at Virginia. Made 13 starts at free safety in ’13, registering 94-8-5 with 4 1/2 tackles for loss. Led the team in tackles.

Strengths:
Can secure tackles in the box when he has a clear path. Drops downhill quickly and can slip into short hole. Vocal leader of secondary. Three-year starter with experience at safety and corner.

Weaknesses:
Average instincts — could stand to improve diagnostic ability and anticipation. Choppy pedal and stiff transition. Limited range — does not explode off the hash or cover enough ground with the ball in the air. Takes some inaccurate angles and struggles to break down in space. Selective hitter and inconsistent tackler in general. Personality could clash with some people.

Future:
Converted cornerback and free/strong safety tweener whose inconsistent play and questionable physicality will turn teams off. Will have to turn heads on special teams to have longevity as a backup.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Scout’s take:
“He freelances too much. You see him come up and make a big play, but he is not supposed to be there. When he is supposed to be there, he blows it and gives up a big play. He’s good in run support and filling the alley, and he’s a solid competitive tackler. He’s loose in coverage — I didn’t see the range. He’s effective controlling between the tackles in the middle of the field. I didn’t see outside ability. I thought he was more of a strong safety type. I put him in the sixth (round). He was immature early. How that’s viewed could affect his standing.”

RCB BASHAUD BREELAND, #17 (JUNIOR)

CLEMSON
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Grade: 5.41

Ht: 5-11 3/8 | Wt: 197 | Sp: 4.62 | Arm: 31 3/4 | Hand: 9

History:
Has an infant daughter. Played quarterback and defensive back as a South Carolina prep. Also lettered in basketball and track, winning state titles in the 400-meter hurdles as both a sophomore and junior. Redshirted in 2010. Saw his first collegiate action in ’11 and played in 14 games (seven starts) at cornerback, recording 53 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions with one tackle for loss. Was limited during an injury-plagued ’12 season, registering 32-3-0 with 2 1/2 tackles for loss and one sack in 10 games (five starts). Suffered an abdominal strain early in the year and eventually underwent groin surgery in December, missing the final three games of the year. Had a breakout ’13 campaign, appearing in 13 games (12 starts) and totaling 74-13-4 with five tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Was suspended for the first half of the Maryland contest after he was ejected for targeting against Florida State.

Strengths:
Fluid athlete. Quick-footed and loose-hipped. Can shadow, mirror and stay in phase. Plays with a sense of urgency and is aggressive supporting the run. Gives effort to pursue from the back side.

Weaknesses:
Needs to bulk up and get functionally stronger. Gets wired on blocks. Lacks ideal speed. Average explosion and leaping ability. Plays into the boundary. Tends to play out of control and his tackling technique needs work — misses too many. Exposed vs. Florida State’s Rashad Greene.

Future:
Lean, rangy cover corner who sticks his nose in run support and competes against bigger receivers. Is relatively raw, but has an appealing temperament and moldable tools.

Draft projection:
Third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He looked really good in drill work, but he runs 4.6 all day. I was a little disappointed at the Combine. He didn’t look as smooth opening his hips and breaking on balls. I thought he would have been better after watching him on tape. I wanted to see a guy with a little more fight in him. He shorted his pedal sometimes.”

FS TERRENCE BROOKS, #31

FLORIDA STATE
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Grade:
5.29

Ht: 5-10 7/8 | Wt: 198 | Sp: 4.42 | Arm: 31 | Hand: 9

History:
Was a two-way player as a Florida prep, playing cornerback, wide receiver and running back. Appeared in 10 games as a true freshman 2010, recording two tackles, one pass breakup and zero interceptions as a backup cornerback and special-teams player. Did not play in four games (coach’s decision). Served as FSU’s dime defender in ’11, recording 17-5-1 with one-half tackle for loss in 11 games. Recorded his first career interception against Notre Dame, picking off a pass in the end zone to clinch the Champs Sports Bowl. Missed two contests (coach’s decision). After spending two years in a reserve role, he started all 14 games at free safety in ’12 and had 51-4-2 with one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. Started 13 games for the ’13 national champions (five at free safety, eight at strong safety), registering 56-5-2 with eight tackles for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles. Missed the Wake Forest game because of a concussion and left the Miami game at halftime for the same reason.

Strengths:
Fluid and flexible. Pedals and transitions smoothly. Has cornerback speed — plays fast and covers ground. Has a 38-inch vertical jump. Patrols zones with awareness and anticipation to react to threats. Keys quickly, trusts his eyes and does not hesitate. Aggressive in run support — swoops down with urgency, runs the alley and plays with abandon. Dependable makeup — solid character. Tough and durable. Has ability and mentality to contribute on special teams.

Weaknesses:
Could stand to bulk up and get stronger. Inconsistent tackler — arrives out of control, does not always see what he hits and will miss some tackles seeking the knockout blow. Is built like a cornerback, sustained a concussion as a senior and durability could be an issue given his aggressive playing style. Minimal production on the ball — was not a playmaker. Has average hands and leaves some INTs on the field. Poor short-shuttle time (7.35 seconds) at the Combine.

Future:
Lean, athletic, confident, competitive hybrid safety who should be a solid backup and core special-teams player at a minimum given his combination of fluidity, range and physicality. Has starter-caliber ability if he can improve his ball skills, and offers versatility as a “robber” or box defender.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is a little safety. He had a concussion and shoulder issues. He doesn’t play that fast. He has little production. Everyone makes mistakes evaluating these guys in shorts. He has the height-weight-speed. He’s built like a corner. It’s a big man’s game. Receivers are getting bigger. Tight ends can run. If anything, he is a nickel safety. He’s not a ballhawk.”

SS DEONE BUCANNON, #20

WASHINGTON STATE
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Grade: 5.42

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 211 | Sp: 4.49 | Arm: 32 3/8 | Hand: 9 3/4

History:
His name is pronounced “DAY-own byew-CAN-nin).” Defensive back-receiver who also golfed as a California prep. Fractured his left collarbone in his final high school game. Played in 12 games (eight starts at strong safety) as a true freshman in 2010 and had 84 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions with four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Started 11-of-12 games in ’11 and registered 80-4-3 with two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal. Appeared in 12 games (11 starts) in ’12 and had 106-4-4 with three tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. Led the team in tackles. Was suspended for the first half of the UNLV contest as punishment for a hit to the head on a defenseless receiver. In ’13, started all 13 games and totaled 114-1-6 with 4 1/2 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Led the Pac-12 in tackles and tied for the lead in interceptions. Also played on the kickoff and punt coverage teams and tied for the team-lead with seven special-teams tackles. Three-time captain concluded his college career ranking among the WSU all-time leaders in tackles (384) and interceptions (15).

Strengths:
Good length and overall size. Reads run and drops downhill quickly. Has an old-school mentality — likes contact and is a physical tackler (seeks to punish the ball carrier). Shows pop on contact. Covers kicks and has an ideal mentality for special teams. Productive four-year starter.

Weaknesses:
Struggles to recover from missteps and will not track anyone down from behind. Some tightness in his hips. Takes some inaccurate angles. Man-coverage limitations (struggles to mirror slot receivers). Can be overaggressive and miss tackles. Does not always arrive under control in space — can be shook in the hole. Lacks discipline on the field and makes too many mental mistakes.

Future:
Good-sized, athletic, physical safety who stands out as a straight-line striker on tape and sets the tone. Has coverage limitations, but brings aggressiveness and intensity to carve a niche as a downhill box defender and core special-teams player. Must learn to become more assignment sound to maximize his potential. Has some similarities to Tampa Bay FS Dashon Goldson.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
A lot of people are enamored with the kid because he is big and a pretty big hitter and has 15 interceptions. Watch him get juked by (Marcus) Mariota and give up a 60-yard TD or earholed because he does not have a feel and never sees the crackback coming. He gets shook out of his jock because he is too stiff to redirect.”

LCB-PR TRAVIS CARRIE, #18

OHIO
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Grade: 5.36