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After spending the last two weeks evaluating players at the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl, it's time to head to San Antonio to take in a couple of days of practice for the Texas vs. Nation game.
The Texas-Nation game is improving every year in terms of overall talent level and it's closing the gap on the Shrine Game, so I'm interested to see how the overall group in San Antonio shapes up. Here are five players in particular I'll be keeping an eye on.
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Tim Steadman/Icon SMIIntangibles and improved accuracy make T.J. Yates an intriguing prospect.
North Carolina QB T.J. Yates (Scouts Inc. grade: 33)
Yates struggled early in his career and fans were calling for him to be replaced heading into this season, but Yates showed the maturity, leadership and improvement you'd expect from a senior and has helped his stock in the process. He made much better decisions this season and was much more accurate in the intermediate and deep areas of the field. Yates has also shown sneaky mobility and improved pocket presence and awareness for the rush.
I saw him in person in the season-opener against LSU and was impressed by the leadership ability and the way he helped hold his team together in the face of multiple suspensions and distractions that could have been totally overwhelming. This week I'll be watching Yates' accuracy, whether he can get the ball out on time and into tight windows. However, given the way he led his team and the improvements in his game, Yates has already gone from completely off the radar to a late-round possibility, and he could certainly increase his chances of getting a shot in the NFL with a good week in Texas.
Hampton NT Kenrick Ellis (6
Ellis has a very good build for a 6-foot-44, 336-pounder. He has a very powerful upper body and active, heavy hands to shock and shed blockers. He can win one-on-one matchups and also hold up against double teams, and he is a powerful bull-rusher who plays hard.
However, he plays with a narrow base at times and can be knocked off the ball when he does, and Ellis comes with some character concerns after beginning his career at South Carolina, then being suspended and eventually dismissed from the team. He's on the fringe of the third round right now but could improve his stock with strong performances both in workouts and in the interview room.
Ole Miss DT Jerrell Powe (65)
I like Powe's upper-body strength and he has a decent anchor against the double team, and even at 6-2, 320 pounds, he flashes the ability to make plays outside the tackle box. You'd like to see a little more initial quickness, though, and his lack of balance means he is on the ground too often for a player his size. Powe's in the middle of the fourth round right now and this week I'm looking for him to be more active and play with a better base and balance.
Florida Atlantic TE Robert Housler (49)
I've studied Housler's tape and I'm interested to see how the 6-5, 236-pounder looks in person. He's undersized and doesn't offer much as a blocker, but Housler has exceptional burst off the ball and can stretch the seams in the passing game. He has the body control to make tough catches outside his frame and can produce after the catch, and his natural speed and athleticism could make him a good pass-catching tight end in the NFL.
In a weak overall tight end class, Housler could improve his fifth-round grade with a strong week in San Antonio, and I'm especially interested to see how he carries his weight and whether he can add some bulk to help improve his blocking.
Tennessee WR Denarius Moore (42)
Moore has more-than-adequate speed and route-running skills, and he shows good body control and natural hands. However, this week I'll be watching how well he can get down the field and adjust to the ball. Moore builds speed rather than exploding off the line and I want to see how he tempos his routes and whether he has the suddenness to create separation. He's a fringe fifth-rounder as it stands now.
