*** UDRFA Thread***

gimmesix

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DENNIS HOUSTON WR WESTERN ILLINOIS | NFL DRAFT PROFILE & SCOUTING REPORT
40 TIME: 4.52 SECONDS
HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 205

Strengths
  • Does not possess top breakaway speed, though he's rarely caught from behind.
  • Has long arms to stiff-arm defensive backs in the open field. Willing to lower his pads to run through tackles for extra yardage. Goes over the middle, can spin out of tackles and take the big hit.
  • He catches the ball with his large, soft hands and is tough. Deceptive jets and a smooth route runner.
  • Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed.
  • Very soft, natural hands to cleanly catch away from his frame. Concentration is excellent. Has the lateral agility and strength to get into and out of routes smoothly.
  • Goes up high for jump balls. Good flexibility and reach to snatch back-shoulder throws.
  • Has a knack for getting open and is a quarterback's best friend - passers just need to toss the ball in his area and he'll come down with it.
Weaknesses
  • Does not own elite speed. Freezes at times when trying to juke defenders in space. Walls off his man as a blocker, allowing them to shed and make the play outside.
  • Inconsistent high-pointing passes. Allows too many throws into his body when facing the quarterback.
  • Hands are good, not great. Will drop some easy balls and sometimes will body catch. Occasionally fails to high point.
Dennis Houston, Wide Receiver, Western Illinois

A small school player to make this list is Western Illinois wide receiver Dennis Houston. Houston had his way against Ball State finishing the day with 12 receptions for 237 yards and two touchdowns. His 237 receiving yards were the most of any player in either the FCS or FBS and also was a career-high.

While most NFL Draft fans have not heard of Houston he has established himself as one of the better receivers in the FCS. Last season, he led the Leathernecks in receptions and yards which earned him a spot on All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first team. He also had a strong 2019 season leading Western Illinois in receiving yards with 539 yards.

Even with these impressive numbers, it is doubtful that Houston gets drafted due to his lack of speed and overall athletic ability.

However, he will likely be brought in as a free agent for a couple of reasons. One of these being his consistent hands. He has made numerous tough catches during his career and has even been highlighted on ESPN for his impressive catch vs. Illinois in 2019.

Along with his reliable hands, Houston shows good body control. This ability allows him to maneuver around defensive backs and come away with the tough catch in traffic.


I really like the smaller-school guys like this who excelled on their level. A lot of the time they get overlooked because of the competition they face, and then they prove they can play on any level. There's a lot more hits than misses, but these are the types of guys I'm always interested in seeing. They are the potential Tony Romos, Miles Austins, Cliff Harrises, etc.
 

TequilaCowboy

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No QB arms? Looks like it’ll be Rush and Grier again.

I can’t believe the Eagles convinced Carson Strong AND EJ Perry to come

They got Hurts on a short leash and not convinced yet on extending him. So that is still up in the air. They feel they have a shot i guess.
 

glimmerman

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big.
strong.
long arms.
stout vs the run.
like osa...he was a state wrestling champ.
better run defender than pass rusher.
very good tackler...thats the wrestling background there.
Sounds like he could be a starter compared to what we have. Our DTs flash here and there but not consistent..
 

RustyBourneHorse

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Directed more at Perry who had interest here

Hurts
Minshew
Strong

Perry is practice squad at best.

I could see us poaching him during that round cuts. Perhaps that's why we haven't signed any QBs. Perhaps they want to see how QBs perform on other rosters, and then bring in the best they see of the rookies.
 

RustyBourneHorse

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History says no more than 1 or 2 UDFAs make the first-game roster. And history says that the ones with the best chance of sticking are the ones that got the most upfront money.

So, as soon as we start hearing who got what money... with the exception of the TT kicker, who walks into camp with as good a shot as anyone... I'm not going to get too excited about any given UDFA no matter how "thrilling" any bio happens to read.

Anyone seen anything on that yet?

I'm thinking, including kicker, this could be an exception to the norm as I could see 4-5 making it. The kicker, Ball (Fl A&M), Linderstrom from Boston College, Mika Tafua, and Fryfogle are the players that I think have the best chance of the group I see to make the team as of now.
 

_sturt_

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I could see 4-5 making it

I really can't. I feel like it's just day-after-the-draft optimism at work.

Here are the locks. It's tough once you start counting after that.

LWR_Recording.png
 

RustyBourneHorse

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I really can't. I feel like it's just day-after-the-draft optimism at work.

Here are the locks. It's tough once you start counting after that.

LWR_Recording.png

I could see the WR I listed not making it. But Bell should make it at safety. Linderbaum is a C, and I could see him taking the 2 spot, and I like what I see with Tafua for LB.
 

losersgetcute

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A kicker I think highly of if still available- Jonathan Garabay, Texas Tech. He has been the most accurate K in school history there, finishing 15-of-16, a 93.8% success rate that led the Big 12 in 2021. He hit a 62 yd FG to beat Iowa State last year on the last play of the game.
Hopefully they bring in Gabe Brkic to beat him in camp.
 

Gaede

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This guy has a chance to push for that starting job. So surprised he and the West guy from Arizona State went undrafted

Yeah, I fully expect Lindstrom to make the team and push Biadasz.
 
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