Southeastern Conference coaches and staffers talk SEC draft prospects

[tiger7_88]

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2020/04/top-sec-draft-prospects-most-overhyped-sec-coaches-weigh-in.html

 

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If you had to put money on it, which players would you be willing to bet will be no doubt stars and perennial Pro Bowl guys in the NFL?

Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown (nine votes)

All but two of the 11 SEC staffers who took part in this poll put in a vote for Brown, a 6-foot-5, 325-pound first-team All-American who will likely be a top-10 draft pick. “Best player in America that I saw in person and on tape,” one defensive staffer said. Brown, who may have gone in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft had he turned pro, tallied 55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks as a senior for Auburn last season. “You panicked every time you had him singled up in protection, just wondering if your guy was going to be able to hold up,” a director of player personnel said. “Kevin Steele did a really good job getting him mismatched on your worst offensive lineman. Kevin also did a really good job of when the other team had him matched up or whatever, he would bring pressure away from him and cause the offense to slide protection away from Derrick that left him singled up and gave him the best matchup. I thought that was schematically really smart and something inside the game that people don’t see a lot of times.”

Alabama offensive lineman Jedrick Wills (four votes)

A second-team All-American, Wills is in position to become Alabama’s highest drafted offensive lineman since Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker went No. 10 and No. 11 overall in 2013. “I thought he was the best offensive lineman in the league, and tackles are hard to find,” a director of player personnel said. “I guess everyone was talking about Leatherwood for a long time. And up until November, all of the scouts were still talking about Leatherwood. And I said, ‘Y’all need to go look at the other guy.’ … He’s going to be a rich man. I think he’s the real deal. I always say, it’s one thing if you watch a guy on film but then (great) when you see them in person and it’s even better than what you saw on film. It was that way with him. If I was getting my pick and I was with an NFL organization, Wills would be the first person I picked.”

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (three votes)

Burrow was the only quarterback to receive any votes for this part of the survey, partly because of concerns with Tua Tagovailoa from an injury standpoint. Burrow is widely expected to go to the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. “I thought his decision making and accuracy was just ridiculous,” a personnel staffer said. “I know when we played them, he threw the ball to spots I haven’t seen done in a long time. Had things covered but just crazy accurate and really good decison-making.” Others have doubts, however, about Burrow being a surefire star in the NFL. “I wouldn’t put that money on Burrow,” a personnel figure said. “I know the guy had a ridiculous year. I just wouldn’t do that. And I wouldn’t do it on Tua because of the injuries.”

Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (three votes)

Throughout his Alabama career, Jeudy was frequently compared to two other recent Crimson Tide receivers who came from South Florida — Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley. Those comparisons are still being made as Jeudy now prepares to make the jump to the NFL. A defensive staffer brought up Ridley, who has 17 touchdown catches in his first two NFL seasons, while talking about Jeudy’s potential at the next level. “Jeudy is just as good or better than Calvin Ridley,” he said.

South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw (three votes)

While Derrick Brown is widely viewed as the safer draft pick, at least some in the SEC and NFL scouting world believe Kinlaw has the bigger upside between the two. “He doesn’t play hard every snap, but he’s a game-wrecker when he wants to be,” an offensive assistant coach said. “If you get him with the right people, he could be a great player.” The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Kinlaw, who spent two years at South Carolina after two seasons at Jones County Junior College, recorded 35 tackles and six sacks as a senior last season and was a first-team All-American. “A lot of the things he possesses, you can’t coach,” a personnel figure said. “And the guy’s continued to improve, but I still think he’s just scratching the surface of what he can be. He’s still developing as a player — junior college guy and hasn’t been in a real SEC college program for more than two years — and the improvement he made from last year to this year and then just what the guy’s got in his body, I think the sky’s the limit.”

Florida cornerback CJ Henderson (two votes)

Henderson, who posted a 4.39 40-yard dash time at the NFL scouting combine, was second-team All-SEC as a sophomore in 2018 and then a first-team selection last season. “He was far and away the best corner we played, and it wasn’t even close,” a personnel official said. “He won’t tackle anybody. They played LSU and he turned down like three or four tackles, just straight business decisions, but he can cover and that’s what he’ll get paid to do.”

Alabama safety Xavier McKinney (two votes)

A third-team All-American, McKinney led Alabama with 95 tackles last season and also tallied 5.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles. “He’s got the right DNA,” a defensive coordinator said.

Others who received votes: — *Florida tight end Kyle Pitts (two), *LSU cornerback Derek Stingley (two), LSU outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (one), LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (one), *Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (one), Georgia running back D’Andre Swift (one), Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (one), *Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (one).

 

 

Other questions asked and answered in the article:

Who were the toughest guys to prep for and match up against last year aside from the obvious top guys?

Who are some guys that maybe aren’t big names that you’d be interested in if you were an NFL GM?

Which SEC players from last season were the most overhyped?

[Waldo]

Much better breakdown than a lot of the draft fluff out there. Thanks for the info. I didn't know Henderson was a tackle avoider, huge flag. CBs need to at least try and tackle. Real talk on the QBs. 

[Jared Patterson]

Good Article!

[jfra78]

If Brown is there we better grab him

[Prowler2k18]

8 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

If Brown is there we better grab him

Being scheme diverse is a big plus for a team looking for “position-less” players. I’d be happy with him or Simmons.

[run-run-pass-punt]

Brown has always been the pick (in my mind at least), if he is there.

He's a true disruptor at the point of attack. The value that brings to an entire football team (on both sides of the ball) is IMMENSE!

[Madwolf]

Henderson not wanting tackle makes him undraftable to me.

And Kinlaw's motor really bothers me.

[CanadianCat]

I really like Kinlaw. The man looks like a BEAST but the effort comment scares me. Anytime people say that a DL has effort problems I'll pass. 

[07579394]

Andrew Thomas 1

Jedrick Wills 4