nfl players who didn't play until high school

Based on all the coaches Ive spoken to in the NFL and in the SEC, his skill set his arm, especially his quick release, vision, toughness and smarts is worth a roll of the dice. Alabama didn't have its typical national-championship-caliber season in 2022, finishing 11-2. Broad Jump: 134 (96th) Arm Length: 34 (69th) If he gets beaten off the snap, he tends to stay there, and youd like to see him develop more aggressive strategies to get out of those negative situations. He had 664 snaps in the B-gaps, 574 in the A-gaps, and two over the tackles. That earned him a try-out with the Green Bay Packers, but he went undrafted. Ika will start to fall off and miss things when he gets gassed. Weaknesses: Musgrave is more of an innocent bystander than a true blocker; effort and intent dont really show up on tape. He is a player for teams who see tight ends as big receivers, have moved on from the traditional constructs of the position, and will let the developmental liabilities slide in the name of how he can burn up the field. 15 overall, and if hes as good as some NFL coaches and coaches who faced Iowa State think, New York fans will love him. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. As instinctive as he can be in open space, hes more uncertain with bodies around him. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter. Hand Size: 10 (71st). Witten was nobodys idea of a speed demon, and he wouldnt necessarily fit the modern prototype of the detached big receiver masquerading positionally as a tight end, but he made 11 Pro Bowls and had two All-Pro nods because he was consistent, tough, and fearless on the field. the whole contested catch idea is relative with him, because hes generally the one doing the contesting. One thing Levis will absolutely have to fix if hes ever to become a top-tier NFL quarterback is a first-read fixation that got him in trouble too often at the NCAA level. He caught 13 of 33 such passes for 602 yards. That may sound boring to some, but there are times when boring is preferable to zany spikes in production. Hes little at 5-8, 165, but he is super sudden and can really separate. Broad Jump: 122 (75th) Hes good at engaging defenders with his hands, and hes got the power and leverage to bull people back. Branchs intelligence and feel for the game extend to his abilities as a blitzer, where hell use a linebackers sense of how to explode through gaps to get to the quarterback. Height: 6 2 (96th) Weight: 198 (73rd) Here, it was Texas Techs Tyree Wilson (our second-ranked edge defender) working him to the outside shoulder that created the issue. Neither ever had a 1,000-yard NFL season. Matthews wasnt even recruited out of high school. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. He's a great fit for a Miami offense that values speed but probably as a change of pace back and not a three down player. 17 Star Athletes Who Didn't Start Until Their Senior Year And while hes feisty enough against press coverage (you love the competitivetemperament in those situations), again, hes a space player. Wherever you line him up, he has the quick movement skills to get open, and the speed to make something of it after the catch. NFL Comparison: Trumaine Johnson. Particulars: Attended BYU. Broad Jump: 131 (92nd) Any kind of comeback can be a problem from the slot. An NFL D-line coach we talked to last week was even more effusive about him. Alas. Other than that, Johnsons primary weakness seems to be that he isnt Bijan Robinson but as we have established, nobody else is, either. 10-Yard Split: 1.84 (35th) His throwing windows are about to be reduced exponentially, so the processes that lead to plays like this just cant happen. Yes, theres going to be a steep learning curve transition from a Vols offensive system thats rooted in the old Art Briles Baylor attack to the NFL, but with Jared Goff entrenched there and Hooker rehabbing from his knee injury, theres no rush. Bly, who is now the Lions cornerbacks coach, is Downs uncle. Some of his interceptions happened just because he was close to the ball, and he was able to go all superhero to get it. While Antonio Gates did attend college, he only played basketball. Bio: Jones was primarily a basketball star at Ben Davis High Over three seasons with the Utes, Phillips had one sack, five pressures, 107 tackles, 39 stops, and he allowed 114 catches on 178 targets for 1,362 yards, 557 yards after the catch, seven touchdowns, nine interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 79.4. Strengths: If Brown isnt starting out in the deep third, it doesnt matter, because he has the transition ability and backup speed to match a receiver from the slot or the box and take him all the way upfield to deny the reception. What is consistent with all of these great NFL players who started their rise to glory late is that they never gave up, and they overcame some pretty remarkable obstacles to reach their goals. Antonio Gates will turn 41 this year. Bio: Turner helped North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia to the 2017 GHSA Class AAAAAAA State Championship, and then transferred to the IMG Academy for his senior year. Hand Size: 9 (41st). As one QB coach told me of Hooker last week, look at him as a three-year project. Weaknesses: There are many things Achane does well on the field. Probably created more missed tackles in one on ones than anybody. Those were great football teams with terrific players, but the number of talented offensive skill players who didn't translate to the NFL is still baffling to me. Sav Rocca Easily the best name on the entire list, Sav Rocca was a latecomer to the NFL he didnt play in the league proper until the age of 36, when he caught on with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006, becoming the oldest rookie in league history. Getting UCLAs Zach Charbonnet late in the second round also is shrewd. Wingspan: 76 (9th), Arm Length: 31 (7th) Broad Jump: N/A 3-Cone Drill: N/A Despite coming from a football family with all kinds of Trojans ties, Matthews wasn't considered much of a prospect out of high school. He spent two years stocking shelves at a grocery store, until he began playing arena football, all the while trying to get the NFL to give him another shot. 40-Yard Dash: 5.08 (82nd) Arm Length: 32 (43rd) Weaknesses: Charbonnet has proven to be a good receiver on simple swing passes and screens, but I dont know how much you want him running a more advanced route palette at this point. Lewis finished his career with 5989 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Of course, when it is time to just go Beast Mode on a defense, Johnson has no problem doing that. Bench Press: 18 reps (39th) 12. Tuipulotu made The Athletics Freshman All-American second team and Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12 honorable mention, and became more productive and effective in each of his three seasons with the Trojans. section: | slug: the-chiefs-just-signed-a-player-whos-never-played-football-in-his-life | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Strengths: Brents uses his size as an advantage in that if the balls anywhere near him, its as much his as it is yours. As we detailed last week, the 6-4, 244-pound 20-year-old with 4.43 speed and a 40-inch vertical has an athletic skill set unlike anyone the NFL has ever seen. What about at quarterback, where Matt Leinart won the Heisman, then finished his NFL career with 18 total starts and a whopping 15 touchdowns and 21 interceptions? Its two yards outside the hash. In 2022 at left guard, Avila allowed no sacks, two quarterback hits, and nine quarterback hurries in 540 pass-blocking snaps. Hand Size: 10 (90th). Johnson played 262 snaps in the box, 123 at free safety, 1,029 in the slot, 33 at cornerback, and 92 along the defensive line. Iowa had four players picked in the first three rounds, including three in the top 34. Good route runner. But Spears has had some knee injuries in the past. Height: 5 9 (27th percentile) Weight: 201 (18th) He was a walk-on at USC and didnt earn a scholarship for two years in And needless to say, youd like a guy his size to be a cheat code against double teams. He can also play guard. Hes comfortable as a receiver ln explosive plays because hes not efforting to get to the ball. Bio: Branch was a four-star recruit out of Sandy Creek High School in Georgia (which Calvin Johnson also attended) who bypassed offers from Ohio State, Tennessee and Oklahoma to roll with the Crimson Tide. Stat to Know: Porter aligned in press coverage on 39% of his 2022 snaps, the third-highest total among cornerbacks on this list Marylands Deonte Banks ranked highest with 45%. Hes so loose and has good pass rush moves. Levis isnt doing himself any favors with these random plays predicated on a developmental ability to see and react to the entire route palette. There arent 31 better/cleaner prospects in this years draft.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/XkWGgTHIcz. Bio: Daiyan Henley has been around. And as he showed against LSU, Johnson will not hesitate to get grimy when a running back is coming straight at him, whether Johnson is in the box or playing deep to start. Thomas, a 6'5" pass catcher, never played varsity high school football. Editors note: Bruce Feldman builds a rapport with many eventual NFL Draft prospects, and their coaches, over a period of years prior to each NFL Draft. Hand Size: 10 (94th). Quarterbacks like Wentz and Levis, whose athletic traits pop off the tape, are always attractive until its time to successfully operate outside of structure, and then you just never know what youre going to get. But his talent was undeniable, and by time he was selected second in the 2012 NFL draft, he seemed destined for stardom. Bio: Over five seasons with the Fighting Illini, Martin transitioned smoothly from cornerback to more of a slot/safety hybrid role. Lukas Van Ness, ranked as the 52nd-best strong-side defensive end in the 2020 recruiting class, went first, going No. It wasn't at Baylor, nor was it on the football field. That allows him to adjust in quick-twitch situations where some other bigger cornerbacks might struggle. Auburns left tackle really didnt appreciate getting embarrassed by a 6-foot-2, 198-pound safety on this sack, but thats what happened. Steelers CB Ike Taylor announced his retirement from the NFL after a productive 12-year career. 10. Uzomah, and JaWuan James), and he was called up to the varsity team in his freshman year. The Lithuanian also seems to be a fast learner. Every players story is different, and everyone has to follow their own path. It kinda looks like he did. Conclusion: Smith isnt the most obviously gifted cornerback on this list his tape doesnt blow you away as much as it lulls you into a safe, happy place because hes just so consistently good in coverage. Hand Size: 10 (81st). 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.08 (97th), Wingspan: 83 (98th) He played tight end at a small California high school and walked on at Fresno State in 2000. Hes probably the best interior lineman Ive ever evaluated. Hand Size: 11 (98th). Bench Press: 30 reps (89th) Last season, he had 815 snaps in the slot, 16 in the backfield, 14 out wide, and one inline. Last week, the Chiefs signed defensive end Efe Obada, a Nigerian who didn't play his first snap of organized football until 2014. I dont know, man you cant win all of them.. Weaknesses: LaPorta might be a willing blocker; Im not sure. Schnitz played 57 games for the Golden Gophers, starting 35, and all at center. Not a great thing for the games most important position. Mauch is feisty as heck, he clearly wants to dominate on the field, and the only things stopping him from doing that are his physical limitations. Broad Jump: 117 (57th) He wasnt a full-time starter in college until 2021, when he became a fixture at right tackle. Strengths: I got to watch tape with Spears in the lower ballroom of the Omni Severin Hotel in Indianapolis in the days leading up to the combine, so lets get the details on some of his more remarkable plays last season from the man himself. And you have to like that Mims doesnt fold up against aggressive coverage he can also beat press with foot fakes and quick movement, but hes not above putting an elbow in there to get open. But he has shown he is a quick study. Bench Press: N/A Height: 5 8 (13th percentile) Weight: 188 (3rd) NFL Comparison: Vita Vea. Brown played an astonishing 56% of his 2022 snaps in the box last season; the first thing Id do as his NFL defensive coordinator is to cut that rate in half. 10-Yard Split: N/A No one knows what gets this guy motivated, though. Hand Size: 9 (20th). Arm Length: 33 (35th) https://t.co/SbtcWCu87M, Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 30, 2023. But Anderson was the best defensive player in college football the past two seasons, and I think he will be a double-digit sack guy, a force against the run, and will become a team leader before too long. Arm Length: 29 (4th) When Vea came out of Washington for the 2018 draft, he was selected 12th overall by the Buccaneers despite similar concerns regarding the consistency of his play. Its hard to say that both he and A&M would have been better off if he would have played free safety opposite Demani Richardson, especially given his value as a line of scrimmage defender on a defense that struggled to stop the run. Making him a YAC specialist who blocks a lot and gets the occasional big play isnt the ideal paradigm for him at all. And if Im Brents NFL defensive coordinator, Im asking him press receivers quite a bit more than he did last season. The Dolphins took Fitzpatrick out of Alabama with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, and they played him similarly to the ways in which he was deployed at Alabama all over the defense. 440 of Mims 1,082 receiving yards last season came after the catch, and hes fully capable of basting a defense on screens or any other quick pass especially anything with angles in which he can further use his short-area quickness to win after the catch. Strengths: Very few receivers have ever done to Alabamas defense what Hyatt did to it last season. NFL Comparison: Mike Hilton. I'm from Europe. Okereke just signed a four-year, $40 million contract with the Giants, and I wouldnt be surprised to see Henley provide similar value to his defense(s) as a do-it-all guy for his size. But in the past five years, weve seen several examples of very gifted, raw guys blossoming while on the job at quarterback in the NFL, provided they have the right coaching. Stat to Know: Sports Info Solutions defined its Unique Routes Run metrics as the number of distinct routes that a receiver ran at least once in a season. If you had asked me a year ago at this time where would Sewell get picked, Id have guessed in the top 20 of the first round, not in the fifth. The Vols were stretching defenses horizontally and vertically to an extreme degree, and that gave Hooker a lot of easy, defined openings. Weaknesses: Porters NFL coaches will want to work with him on advanced route combinations, because there are times where his aggressiveness will get the better of him in those circumstances, and hell be out of position to get to the ball. Over three seasons with the Fighting Irish, Mayer caught 180 passes on 255 targets for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns. The young talent the Eagles have added to their defense the past few years is eye-popping, and by adding Jalen Carter at No. pic.twitter.com/PNEs0WGIrH, Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 14, 2023. 10-Yard Split: 1.51 (83rd) Not at an elite level for the most part, but good enough to stay in the game. Bench Press: 14 reps (22nd) Dexter didnt play football until his junior year at Lake Wales High School in Florida. Bio: Roy played his prep football at University High School on the LSU campus, so the transition to the Fighting Tigers seemed like an easy one, especially given his four-star status. Conclusion: Im not sure how productive Washington will be at the NFL level; its hard for me to project him as an 80-catch, 1,000-yard player per season in any offense. When they both went in the first round of the 1997 draft -- Ike to the Giants, Reidel to the Bucs -- it seemed as if they were destined for greatness. Weaknesses: Texas had some interesting formations last season in which Johnson and Robinson were in the backfield at the same time, and for the most part, Johnsons blocking could have better when his buddy got the ball. 3-Cone Drill: 7.34 (80th) NFL Comparison: Connor Barwin. Michigans Mazi Smith (ranked fifth on our list of interior defensive linemen) found that out here. 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A, Wingspan: N/A Conclusion: Mims may be limited to a slot role at the next level due to his size and depending on his NFL team, but Im not ready to make him a one-trick pony based purely on his tape. When a prospect does most everything pretty well to very well, few things badly, and few things spectacularly, we tend to label him a safe pick and move to the next guy, hoping for something more explosive. Nope. Tuipulotus suddenness is impressive for his size. Ivan Maisel: JaMarcus Russell and the entire 2007 QB draft class This screen against Michigan in Week 7 is one example. Height: 6 5 (85th percentile) Weight: 330 (87th) I covered Quinn's entire career, especially the 2005 and 2006 seasons, when he passed for 7,345 yards and 69 touchdowns for the Irish. Splitting hairs regarding whether hes an every-down back might be a bit short-sighted when there are teams fully capable of having him hitting the ground running everywhere from the backfield to the slot. And by all accounts, he has the right attitude. Stat to Know: A lot of cornerbacks on this list are great when pressing receivers, but youd struggle to find too many who are better in off coverage than Turner is. Its been 50 years since the Cyclones had a first-round NFL Draft pick. Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter as Deuce Vaughn's father was emotional after the Dallas Cowboys drafted his son. Spears can de-legitimize contact at all levels of the field, which is an important attribute. He committed to Texas over offers from (deep breath) Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas A&M because he had wanted to be a Longhorn since he was a kid. The NFL rules say that a player cannot be drafted until his high school class has been out of high school for three years. Weaknesses: Tillman does not have separation skills to any great degree his speed is what it is, and he has a lot of assets to make up for it, but its just not his game. Stat to Know: Johnson forced 46 missed tackles last season on just 94 rushing attempts. White had 445 snaps outside the tackles, 96 over the tackles, 39 in the B-gaps, and three in the box. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 20th, Seattle; 2. Went undrafted in 2010, and has bounced around between a few teams as a WR/CB. Coverage will be shown on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network. The extent to which NFL teams are scared off by his relative lack of physical dominance could complicate that equation. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Ekeler was an undrafted free agent out of Western State, and he managed to transcend size and small-school concerns to become the most important non-quarterback in the Chargers offense. Bio: Mayer grew up dreaming of playing basketball at Kentucky, but when he enrolled at Covington High in Covington, Kentucky, he started playing football, and it really stuck. If such a transition is good enough for Andy Reid, it should be good enough for anybody else. As Wyoming is one of only three states that do not offer high school baseball, Nimmo played American Legion 1 receiver in this class, and probably a top-five pick. Height: 6 3 (30th) Weight: 332 (89th) Bio: Washington grew up one of eight children with his mother in the Las Vegas area, and the family moved often, homeless at times. Weaknesses: Branch is a feisty player, and stronger than you would expect for his size, but there are times when that third percentile weight does show up in a negative sense. Sixth-rounder Jaelyn Duncan, a left tackle from Maryland, has a lot of potential. He had a 0.0% Blown Block Rate in pass protection last season, and his Blown Block Rate of 0.5% in the run game tied with Notre Dames Michael Mayer for second among tight ends on this list, behind only Iowas Sam LaPorta (0.0%). He helped Justin Herbert excel as a rookie with the Chargers, and he most recently aided Jalen Hurts rise from a 2-5 start to leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl. Hell hit in the NFL because he brings a serious load at first contact, and he had some compelling answers for what to do after it. Selected in the sixth round of the 2015 draft by the Ravens out of Georgia Tech, Waller overcame personal issues to become one of the NFLs most explosive pass-catching tight ends. Lawrence Okoye will turn 30 this year. I mean, I kinda fell down, but that was crazy. Home-run hitters like this dont grow on trees. Conclusion: If Martin can get his head around route concepts as they begin, he projects well as a tough, feisty safety and slot defender who will be an asset to his NFL team in a lot of different ways. Success as a college football player doesn't always translate to stardom in the NFL. Clark Phillips III, 113th, Falcons; 5. Weaknesses: Washington is far more a rumbler than a runner. Height: 6 3 (54th percentile) Weight: 301 (38th) He never saw the field but did bounce around a few practice squads until 2017 before he was washed out of the league. Conclusion: LaPortas NFL team should be excited to play on his potential in an offense that didnt scare anybody. Stat to Know: As a pure single-high or split-field safety in 2022, Branch allowed five catches on eight targets for 46 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. 40-Yard Dash: N/A 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A, Wingspan: N/A The cornerback didn't play the sport for the first time until his junior year in high school, which means he only has six years of organized football under his belt. 20-Yard Shuttle: 5.00 (4th), Wingspan: N/A 3-Cone Drill: N/A Hes very much like Haason Reddick and Brian Burns.. The same was said of Sauce Gardner, and Sauce Gardner turned into a pretty good NFL cornerback in his 2022 rookie campaign. Grading big trades during the NFL draft: Who won the D'Andre Swift deal? An injury to his right knee in 2003 was the final blow for a guy who gave opposing defensive coordinators nightmares any time he touched the football in college. 3-Cone Drill: 6.91 (88th) Michael Strahan, Jerome Bettis, Jerry Rice, Warren Sapp, and Tom Brady all have something in common. Selected in the fourth round of the 2012 draft by the Browns out of Miami, Benjamin was that same type of scooting receiver with the ability to beat defenders on all kinds of routes. Hes done enough outside the tackles to prove that he has that on lock for his size, and Ill be highly intrigued to see how his NFL team makes the most out of his athletic potential. NFL Comparison: Darren Fells. and how hes able to affect opposing quarterbacks. Here, Levis started off reading Dingle on a similar route taking the linebacker up the seam and before that progressed, Levis threw to his outside read, the aforementioned Mr. Brown. 3-Cone Drill: N/A He didnt have a lot of school stability until he was a sophomore at Desert Pines High School in East Las Vegas. As a run- and pass-blocker, Mayer also has no issue getting grimy. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. As dominant as Avila can be against linemen who take him straight on, hell lose penetration to either side. Hooker was off to a torrid start in 2022, completing 229 of 331 passes for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 123.9 before suffering a torn ACL against South Carolina. 40-Yard Dash: 4.38 (90th) Instead they combined for six touchdowns during their brief pro careers. There are also elements of Tampa Bays Devin White in Simpsons play style in his ability to disrupt the passer from everywhere, but Simpson has more potential in coverage. Bench Press: N/A Running back Devon Achane wound up being the first Texas A&M player selected and surprisingly ahead of safety Antonio Johnson. Vertical Jump: 34 (62nd) NFL Comparison: Austin Ekeler. Broad Jump: 122 (86th) 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.74 (56th), Wingspan: N/A Now, there are times when timing, touch, and accuracy come together for Levis, and you can see where all the love comes from. Had a bust right there, and I caught the ball over his head. (Top photo of Anthony Richardson: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images). Particulars: Attended Alabama. He already has an elevated sense of getting after the passer on stunts and games. Hes not going to separate with quickness. Duncan is a 6-foot-6, 306-pound native of Owings, Maryland, who made 39 career starts and played in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl, an annual college all-star game. Vertical Jump: 39 (89th) Most cornerbacks who played at a high level at around 180 pounds did so well before our time, but Cox proved that its still possible in the modern era. Tillman accepted the Vols offer for the 2018 class. And its too easy for opposing defenders to get in Freelands kitchen and just push him back. Achane started with a bang, winning the Most Valuable Player award in A&Ms Cotton Bowl win over North Carolina at the end of his freshman season. Vertical Jump: 34 (60th) The league's top prospects stepped into the NFL Photo studio for Draft portraits. 14. When you go back to his 2021 tape well, to put it kindly, there are some pretty iffy reps. Back to the 2022 guard tape. There is no pressure on Levis to come and try and win the job now. His longest run of the 2022 season, this 52-yard touchdown against Oklahoma State, was more about Johnsons ability to just beat everyone to the goal line. Weaknesses: Hyatt faced very little press coverage in that offense, and youd expect that hell get a lot more of it in the NFL. Close. But it didn't quite pan out for either one. Height: 6 0 (77th percentile) Weight: 214 (52nd) Is it possible to give a group award? Bench Press: 17 reps (73rd) Another first-rounder, Jack Campbell, ranked as the nations No. Arm Length: 33 (81st) 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A, Wingspan: N/A In those regards, hes a modern linebacker who absolutely fits the profile. Vertical Jump: 33 (31st) NFL Comparison: Travis Benjamin. 3-Cone Drill: N/A His NFL coaches will have to put in work to get him where he needs to be in that regard. And if you want your cornerback to smother a receiver in man coverage well, this rep against Purdues Mershawn Rice is teach tape. He is truly an underappreciated NFL story @Pschrags discusses former NFL DT Eric Swann on #GMFB https://t.co/4KxS8QLdM9. Along with Maryland, he received scholarship offers from Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.

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