Asher Allen CB Georgia (5094/194/4.64c4.33pd) is a somewhat undersized corner with all the tools to be an effective pro, especially in a zone system like the Cover-2. He really could have used another season in college, but was solid as a junior and the consensus is that the arrow is very much pointed up on him. While he is a bit of a project at corner, he’s a finished product as a returner. At Georgia he went 10-146-0 (14.60 average) on punts and 47-1,110-0 (23.62 average) on kicks. Don’t let his 4.64 forty at the Combine fool you. He changed running coaches, altered his takeoff and ran a 4.33 at Georgia, which is not considered an especially fast track. He’ll probably be drafted in the third round, but could slip into the second.
Dan Skuta DE Grand Valley State (6025/249/4.72pd) is a super-productive D2 defensive end (17.5 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles as a senior) who improved throughout his career and generally stayed healthy. He’s not a big guy, so many teams (and draft experts) think he’ll be an outside linebacker. At his pro day, he had the numbers to make the switch a possibility, but teams like the Colts will interpret them as an indication that he’ll just be a better defensive end than they thought. Eerily similar to Trevor Scott, who played at Buffalo and was drafted by the Raiders sixth round last year and led all rookies with sacks. Skuta will most likely be taken in the sixth or seventh rounds.
Andy Schantz ILB Portland State (6003/234/4.71pd) played alongside Colts’ rookie sensation Jordan Senn in college. Although Schantz lacks Senns athleticism and speed, he is a tough, steady, by-the-book middle ’backer who can locate and drive to the ball carrier. He had 115 tackles as a senior, and looked comfortable in zone coverage. I saw him blitz at the Texas vs. the Nation game and he acquitted himself well. Schantz probably could have had a better chance being drafted if he ran a hair faster at his pro day, but he has a definite chance at sticking on an NFL squad as an undrafted free agent. Many people have compared him to the Bills’ John DiGeorgio, and it’s an apt analogy.
Billy Malone QB Abilene Christian (6022/235/4.95e) was a high school star in 2002 who turned down scholarship offers at Texas, LSU, Tennessee and other schools to play with his brother at Tulane. He didn’t play for two seasons behind future first rounder J.P. Losman, then was diagnosed with a circulatory problem. When he was finally cleared to play, it was too late to get into a major school, so he signed with D2 Abilene Christian. While there, he shredded the record book and brought the program renewed respect. In four seasons as a starter, he went 1,319-818-12,012-114-39 (62.02 completion percentage, 9.11 yards per attempt) — those are great numbers in any league. And if you look at him on film, you’ll see that he has all the NFL tools — big strong arm, accuracy, a nice touch, an understanding of coverages and blitzes, an ability to sense and escape the rush, great pre-snap reads and some running ability. But with all the good comes the bad. No less a source than The New York Times reported that his problems at Tulane had just as much to do with low grades, partying and marijuana use than they did with his medical condition. Malone says he’s changed, but teams will take that into consideration. And you can’t discount a circulatory condition. Perhaps the biggest problem for Malone is his age. He’ll be 26 in less than two weeks. It’s hard to be a quarterback of the future at that age, especially if you’re coming out of a D2. But there are very, very few people in the world who have Malone’s skill set and a dearth of quality quarterback prospects (not just in this draft, but in this era) will drive up his value. Right now people are saying he’s likely to be a priority free agent or perhaps a seventh rounder. But if he checks out on his physical, and he interviews well, he could climb up to the fifth round. He could be the steal of the draft, or cut before he ever plays a professional down.
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