Geathers' prospects under draft scrutiny

[pantherfan81]

By Charles Chandler

[email protected]

Posted: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS Former South Carolina defensive end Clifton Geathers looks the part of a first-round NFL draft pick, but may not get close to that distinction.

He's 6-foot-8, 299 pounds and believes he can run the 40-yard dash in around 4.7 seconds, which he'll get a chance to prove when he works out at the combine.

Geathers also has extraordinary football bloodlines. His uncle, Jumpy Geathers, had 62 sacks for four NFL teams during a 13-year career. His father, Robert Sr., is a former third-round pick of the Bills and his brother, Robert Jr., is a starting defensive end for the Bengals.

But Geathers' status for the draft is under scrutiny at the combine.

He turned pro a year early, going against his coaches' advice. They told him they believed he could've been a first-round pick if he'd waited.

But Geathers decided he was ready and declared for the draft. He acknowledged Saturday that he could go anywhere from the first round to not getting drafted at all. He's generally expected to be a late-round pick.

"I just felt I had matured and kind of took the leap and hopefully God will carry me on," said Geathers.

Geathers said one of his dream scenarios would be to get drafted by the Carolina Panthers and help replace one of his favorite players, Julius Peppers, who's an unrestricted free agent.

"If Carolina were to pick me up, that's one thing I would love," said Geathers. "I would love taking his place and filling his spot and just making the name for myself that Peppers made for himself."

Geathers has yet to approach Peppers-like productivity, however. He had three sacks, one forced fumble and one forced fumble last season for the Gamecocks. Geathers also served a one-game suspension last season due to his being arrested for participating in a nightclub incident.

However, Geathers is hoping for a prosperous pro career and sees similarities between himself and Peppers.

"I'm probably a little bit bigger than him," said Geathers. "We probably run the same speed. Everything he does, I do."

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/02/27/1278418/geathers-prospects-under-draft.html

Never heard of this guy personally, what's your take on this?

[theyhateme45]

LOL!!! He graduated Class of 2001 From carvers bay high school in Georgetown, Sc... He's my classmate. Good dude... average player.

[theyhateme45]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/02/27/1278418/geathers-prospects-under-draft.html

Never heard of this guy personally, what's your take on this?

The boy is huge.... He got into some off the field issues at S.Carolina this year... Always had a lot of raw potential

Has brother Robert Geathers who is my High Scool classmate has been average at cincy.

Jumpy was also a beast in the NFL... he was on the redskins when they won the superbowl (Had the 1st sack of the game)

I think he has a lot of maturing to do, and still needs to development to be a star at the next level IMO.

[unicar15]

Personally, I think we have time to wait on a guy like this to develop. If we could take him in the 5th instead of taking JPP in the 2nd then I'd be all for it. DE is a position we need to address but not necessarily with a guy that will be a instant contributor.

[[email protected]]

Im a homer but geathers was a monster at S.Carolina. He has game changing potential for sure. I doubt he can come in a nd be an instant starter but I would love to see him in a Panthers jersey. He will probably be a late pick like Captain and play with that chip that is needed these days.

[Panther'sBigD]

Or he could be Stanley McClover 2.0. Whatever happened to that guy?

[Scrumtrilescent]

He was so scared about getting injured again next year and losing out, even if he was a collegiate version of Peppers...sometimes dominant, but mostly absent. Too bad, he could've improved for another year and having Cliff Matthews on the other side would have only helped his draft stock the next year. Oh, well. More PT for Devin Taylor.

[SMF]

Or he could be Stanley McClover 2.0. Whatever happened to that guy?

He's a mall cop at Carolina Place now. When a shoplifter runs from him, he always overpursues and lets the guy run right past him.

[C47]

He's a mall cop at Carolina Place now. When a shoplifter runs from him, he always overpursues and lets the guy run right past him.

Post of the day so far!

[OneBadassCat]

I like the confidence. I'd take a chance on him.

[unicar15]

Or he could be Stanley McClover 2.0. Whatever happened to that guy?

Every DE in this draft could end up being Stanley McClover. There isn't an end in the draft that is a Mario Williams/Peppers type pass rusher. They could all be busts.

[Snake]

This guy was a monster in High School. We played them for state one year. He was well over 300 pounds back then so he must have shed a few since collage.

[DaCityKats]

would love to get him as a mid to late round pick up.

[PantherDude]

If he is available, I think we should take a look. Well, unless we get a WR first & if he is still avaiable when it's our 2nd turn to get someone.