COLLEGE NEWS
“OJ” in the New Abbreviation for “Can’t Miss”
Gene Clemons, FBGP Analyst
If you’re a talent evaluator, novice or professional, and you are following the proceedings in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, then you are watching OJ Howard. Don’t worry, you don’t need to watch long, his talent is evident from the moment he touches the field. What’s not to love? He may be the most ‘can’t miss’ prospect in this draft. He has ‘star’ written all over him.
He’s the new “Juice” with similar Swiss army knife skills as the USC version of OJ just from the tight end position. Seriously, what can’t he do? If you need someone to:
Split wide: OJ
Align in the slot: OJ
Put their hand in the dirt: OJ
Line up on the wing or in the backfield: OJ
Go in motion: OJ
Throw a jump ball to: OJ
Pick up a first down: OJ
Turn a short pass into a big gain: OJ
Haul in a deep pass: OJ
Block like an offensive lineman: OJ
Block like a fullback: OJ
Block in space: OJ!
The 6’6 250lb physical specimen has Kellen Winslow/Martellus Bennett-type potential and with all due respect to this extremely deep tight end class, Howard is on a different level. At worse he’s an A+ blocker with move-the-chain ability. At best he’s an impossible to cover game-changing playmaker.
He’s already been impressive during practice and according to Football Gameplan’s Emory Hunt, he was a consistent winner in one-on-one drills as well as hauling in a couple spectacular over the shoulder catches. Most of the Twittersphere seemed to agree and it’s not really surprising. If Howard would have declared for the draft last season he would have been a first round pick and the first tight end off the board. This year it’s an inevitability.
Many prospects futures will be discussed and debated this week. They will have their skills dissected and evaluated to decide which system would fit them the best. There will be some who have discussions about prospects that would be better served to change positions. To evaluators and scouts everywhere, OJ Howard simply needs to say you are welcome. Because you won’t have to spend any time deciding where he belongs.
Tweet: @geneclemons
Email: gclemons@footballgameplan.com
Michael Roberts is a Target!
Gene Clemons, FBGP Analyst
Mike Roberts only started one season at Toledo but he quickly became quarterback Logan Woodside’s favorite endzone target. He hauled in 16 touchdowns which accounted for 35% of the total amount of scores thrown by the junior signal caller. Even as a spot duty guy his junior season, Roberts caught four touchdowns on 21 receptions.
What makes him a target isn’t difficult to discern. At 6’5” 250 lbs, he’s easy to locate on a field and able to shield defenders like a power forward attacking a rebound. There has been two big differences you see in Roberts from last season to this season. The first is his body. He seems more defined and you can tell he spent a lot of time in the weight room getting prepared to carry a much heavier load as a senior. The second is his catching radius. Because he is catching the ball far more this season with his hands instead of letting it get into his body, he has been able to bring in balls that he may have normally not reached. These two changes allowed his athleticism and natural knack for pass-catching flourish and the results are evident.
Last week at the Shrine Game he comported himself well and in the game had two catches on two targets. His performance earned him a spot this week at the Senior Bowl. This will be yet another opportunity to raise his profile against some of the best seniors that college football has to offer. Last week he lined up all over the place for the West in the Shrine Game.
This week should be interesting to see if he spends more time attached because the one true unknown, is his consistency blocking inline. His explosion off the line and his frame give him the natural tools to get the job done; and so it comes down to continuing to perfect his technique and stay on blocks longer. As a pass catcher, he has a very polished feel to him. He does a good job of getting in and out of breaks and adjusting to the level of the throw. He is also a major weapon in the red zone.
He should also be helped by better quarterback talent here at the Senior Bowl than what he had to work with at the Shrine Game. Hopefully a few more targets will come his way this weekend. Another solid week, along with navigating the combine and subsequent workouts, should put him in line for a NFL Draft early day three call from a team. Yes, Mike Roberts is a target and NFL coaches and front office executives have him clearly in their sights.
Twitter: @geneclemons
Email: gclemons@footballgameplan.com
Zach Banner is More Than Just Big
Gene Clemons, FBGP Analyst
When you first see Zach Banner, your initial reaction is understandable; he’s BIG! Banner’s more than simply big because he’s a football player, he’s even big by football players’ standards. At 6’9” 360 lbs, Banner is big for a basketball player. In fact, it’s his basketball background that alerts you to the truth about Banner.
Banner has been the starting right tackle for USC the past three seasons. In that time he has performed well against many talented defensive lineman in college football. One of his strengths is his run blocking abilities. He excels with down blocking, routinely collapsing one side of the defense and creating cavernous cutback lanes for the running back. He is a good pass blocker from the right side and has the ability to ride his defender around the quarterback.
What seems to be missed when evaluators try to value Banner is his athleticism. He moves in space extremely well. He consistently gets to the second level in run blocking and has the ability to reach block and pull like a guard. He has calm feet in pass blocking, and in space, which speaks to his basketball background. You rarely catch him off balance because his feet are always in good position. He also seems to take pride in punishing his defender. A little nasty seems to be a separator between those linemen who thrive at the next level and those that end up bouncing from team-to-team trying to stick. In the NFL, Banner could see his draft stock increased because he has abilities that make him valuable as a tackle on both sides and as a guard. With the restriction of roster limits, that versatility is paramount.
This week in Mobile will be important for Banner to continue to show that he can be a dominant force on the right side and maybe begin to show the versatility that could see him line up at left tackle or at guard. Some question his pass blocking so this will be an opportunity to silence his critics and possibly make himself more money. All of these things come without ever mentioning that his size allows him to swallow defenders in both run or pass blocking. So when you watch Banner this week look at all the other things that make him special, don’t get caught up in the obvious. We get it…he’s BIG, but he’s also a tremendous football player.
Tweet: @geneclemons
Email: gclemons@footballgameplan.com
Football Gameplan’s 2017 Shrine Game Coverage
2017 Shrine Game: Week Recap & Standouts
2017 Shrine Game: Day 3 West Practice Recap & Highlights
2017 Shrine Game: Day 3 East Team Practice Highlights
2017 Shrine Game: Day 2 West Team Practice Recap & Highlights
2017 Shrine Game: Day 2 East Team Practice Recap & Highlights
2017 Shrine Game: Day 1, OL & DL Drills
2017 Shrine Game: Day 1 Practice Recap & Highlights
———————–
2017 Shrine Game Player Interviews:
RB – Elijah McGuire, University of Louisiana
QB – Alek Torgersen, University of Pennsylvania
LB – Andrew King, Army West Point
WR – Gehrig Dieter, Alabama
S – Jamal Carter, Sr, Miami
CB – Channing Stribling, Michigan
WR – Billy Brown, Shepherd University
P/K – Austin Rehkow, University of Idaho
S – Leon McQuay III, USC
OL – Erik Austell, Charleston Southern
WR – Gabe Marks, Washington State
OL – Dieugot Joseph, Florida International
CB – Nate Hairston, Temple University
DE – Bryan Cox Jr., University of Florida
TE – Michael Roberts, University of Toledo
RB – Dare Ogunbowale, University of Wisconsin
OL – Zack Johnson, North Dakota State
DE – Avery Moss, Youngstown State
TE – Eric Saubert, Drake University
RB – Joe Williams, University of Utah
LB – Javancy Jones, Jackson State
DE – Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic
CB – Jalen Myrick, University of Minnesota
DL – Karter Schult, University of Northern Iowa
TE – Antony Auclair, University of Laval
WR – Kermit Whitfield, Florida State
OT – Storm Norton, University of Toledo
CB – Ashton Lampkin, Oklahoma State
DT – Ralph Green III, Indiana University
LB – Kenneth Olugbode, Colorado University
WR – Karel Hamilton, Samford University
S – Jadar Johnson, Clemson University
LB – Austin Calitro, Villanova University
DE – Darius English, South Carolina
CB – Tony Bridges, Ole Miss
WR – Trey Griffey, University of Arizona
CB – Treston Decoud, Oregon State
RB – De’Veon Smith, Michigan
WR – Jalen Robinette, Air Force
S – Tedric Thompson, Colorado University
Featured
- NFL Line Odds | Thursday Jun, 2018
- Check Out MyBookie | Tuesday Jan, 2018
- FBGP’s 2016 NFL Draft Grades: Cleveland Browns | Sunday Jun, 2016
- FBGPU’s Talkin’ Ball with The Czar: Head Coach Bill Zwaan, West Chester | Sunday Jun, 2016
- FBGPU’s Talkin’ Ball with The Czar: Head Coach Paul Darragh, Bloomsburg | Sunday Jun, 2016
- FBGPU’s Talkin’ Ball with The Czar: Head Coach Denny Douds, East Stroudsburg | Sunday Jun, 2016
- FBGP’s FCS Kickoff – Episode 2 | Sunday Jun, 2016
- FBGPU’s Talkin’ Ball with The Czar: Head Coach Joe Susan, Bucknell | Sunday Jun, 2016
- FBGPU’s Talkin’ Ball with The Czar: Head Coach Mark Nofri, Sacred Heart | Sunday Jun, 2016
- FBGPU’s Talkin’ Ball with The Czar: Head Coach Kevin Callahan, Monmouth | Sunday Jun, 2016