Risen Star
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Nothing on Fehoko, Scott or Brooks. UDFA Hunter Luepke had a writeup too.
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4. MAZI SMITH, Michigan (6-3, 319, no 40, 2): Labeled as “the best true nose in the draft” by one scout. Made just three tackles in 2019-’20 before starting all 28 games in 2021-’22. “Very gifted athlete-size combination,” a second scout said. “Doesn’t necessarily play as hard as he should all the time. He’ll go second round because those big bodies with that athleticism are nearly impossible to find. Obviously, the character concerns could play into that. Playing (the run) requires a lot of discipline and toughness and grit. I don’t think he’s wired that way. Just going off the physical component … well then, absolutely. But that’s when people make mistakes.” Avoided jail time in January. Sentenced to 12 months on probation for a misdemeanor weapons charge. “The gun issue was a stupid thing on his part that he let happen,” said a third scout. “He had already applied for his damn (gun) permit.” Finished with 88 tackles (six for loss) and one-half sack. “Disruptive player,” said a fourth scout. “My concerns would be his motor and strain consistently throughout the game. He’s got a lot of physical tools to play nose on early downs. He can collapse the pocket, but I don’t know if he can burst and close on a guy. But with those noses, ****, if you can get anything in the pass game that’s a plus.” Arms were 33 ¾, hands were 9 ¾. “I wasn’t impressed,” a fifth scout said. “He’s stiff. He doesn’t shed blockers or move to the ball very well. I thought his instincts and his natural strength and explosion were poor for an inside guy. He is not a good football player and I don’t think he’s a good athlete. He’s just a bull in a china shop. Those guys get stalled easy up here. He’s really wide. He just doesn’t play with his arms or his elbows in tight.” Wonderlic of 22. From Grand Rapids, Mich.
6. LUKE SCHOONMAKER, Michigan (6-5, 252, 4.62, 2-3): Fifth-year senior waited until his fourth year to get on the field. “Similar to Mayer but maybe a notch below,” said one scout. “Really a solid, well-rounded player. Does everything well. More of a No. 2 tight end ideally but he could certainly be a No. 1 for some teams.” Injured both shoulders in 2022 and then pulled up lame at pro day (plantar fasciitis). “Big-body blocking tight end,” another scout said. “Uses his size and instincts well to get open in the passing game. Wish he was more productive there. He’s a No. 3 tight end with a No. 2 ceiling.” Finished with 54 receptions (35 in ’22) for 637 (11.8) and seven TDs. “Solid in everything,” a third scout said. “Good enough athlete. Got decent movement. Got a little quickness to his routes. Good hands when he’s free. Not a playmaker by any stretch with run after the catch. One of those guys, ‘This is my route, I’m open, I’m going to catch it, good to go.’ He gave block effort. Better on the edges than as an in-line guy, but he’ll try. He’ll stick his face in there. He’ll be a solid starter.” From Hamden, Conn.
4. DeMARVION OVERSHOWN, Texas (6-2 ½, 231, 4.56, 2): Backup safety in 2018-’19 before starting 31 of 33 games at strongside LB in a 4-3 defense. “Former safety growing into the position,” one scout said. “Physical enough to handle the rigors of inside linebacker. Should be on the field for all three downs. Will do nothing but develop and get better. He’s close (to a green dot).” Finished with 249 tackles (30 ½ for loss), nine sacks and 20 passes defensed. “You want to take a chance on a guy, this guy is fast and he is tough and he plays his *** off,” said a second scout. “For a linebacker, that’s all you need. He was a pleasant surprise. He figures it out. You talk about flying to the ball, range, cover. Kind of Simpsonesque; cut from the same cloth as him.” Posted 23 on the Wonderlic. “Not very smart, can’t make calls,” a third scout said. “Doesn’t take on blocks well. He’s a see-ball, get-ball (player) or special teamer. His deal is speed, which you can’t coach. More of a finesse guy. But he can fly. It’d be hard for me to take him in the first three rounds but he might go there because he runs fast.” From Arp, Texas.
10. ASIM RICHARDS, North Carolina (6-4, 307, 5.18, 4): Three-year starter at LT. “I projected him to guard,” said one scout. “He’s just a tough guy. Nasty, strong, tough and a good athlete. Fourth round, maybe.” His 34-inch arms were the longest among the top 15 guards. His 13 reps on the bench were the fewest. “He’s got to improve his upper-body power,” said one scout. “He came in as a basketball player. Had never been to a weight room until he got to North Carolina. They begged him to come back (for 2023) but he didn’t. Everything is in front of him, but he has to get it done in the weight room.” From Philadelphia. “Probably should have gone back to school,” said a third scout. “He definitely looks and moves like he can play guard. They tried to sell him to come back to school so he’d play center. I’d take him in the fourth all day. I think he can play all five positions. He’s going to end up starting.”
UNSUNG HERO
Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State: Played just three seasons but still joined Darren Sproles and Tyler Lockett as the only Wildcats to surpass 5,000 all-purpose yards. Just 5-5, he weighed 179 at the combine and then ran a disappointing 4.60 at pro day. “He’s 5-5 but he is an explosive little ****,” said one scout. “Man, this kid is so quick and tough and fast. Before you know it, he’ll be one of those guys that plays 10 years and has a pretty dang good career.”
1. HUNTER LUEPKE, North Dakota State (6-1, 234, 4.60, 5-6): Played RB in a rotation for the Bison but projects to FB. “He went 49-0 wrestling (in high school),” one scout said. “Not a mismatch in the passing game but he’ll compete and play physical with or without the ball. I wouldn’t draft him, but for the teams that need a fullback he could get by.” Scored 25 on the Wonderlic and posted a vertical jump of 36 ½. “I don’t see him like a down-and-dirty, knock-your-head-off fullback,” said a second scout. “But he’s got really good hands, runs well and blocks well enough. He’s half tight end, half fullback, half slot receiver.” Finished with 274 carries for 1,665 (6.1) and 24 TDs to go with 28 receptions and nine TDs. “He was, hands down, the best fullback in this class,” a third scout said. “He’s probably the closest thing to a Pro Bowl fullback that’s come out in a few years. You can throw it to him. He’ll be a really valuable piece for somebody.” From Spencer, Wis.
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4. MAZI SMITH, Michigan (6-3, 319, no 40, 2): Labeled as “the best true nose in the draft” by one scout. Made just three tackles in 2019-’20 before starting all 28 games in 2021-’22. “Very gifted athlete-size combination,” a second scout said. “Doesn’t necessarily play as hard as he should all the time. He’ll go second round because those big bodies with that athleticism are nearly impossible to find. Obviously, the character concerns could play into that. Playing (the run) requires a lot of discipline and toughness and grit. I don’t think he’s wired that way. Just going off the physical component … well then, absolutely. But that’s when people make mistakes.” Avoided jail time in January. Sentenced to 12 months on probation for a misdemeanor weapons charge. “The gun issue was a stupid thing on his part that he let happen,” said a third scout. “He had already applied for his damn (gun) permit.” Finished with 88 tackles (six for loss) and one-half sack. “Disruptive player,” said a fourth scout. “My concerns would be his motor and strain consistently throughout the game. He’s got a lot of physical tools to play nose on early downs. He can collapse the pocket, but I don’t know if he can burst and close on a guy. But with those noses, ****, if you can get anything in the pass game that’s a plus.” Arms were 33 ¾, hands were 9 ¾. “I wasn’t impressed,” a fifth scout said. “He’s stiff. He doesn’t shed blockers or move to the ball very well. I thought his instincts and his natural strength and explosion were poor for an inside guy. He is not a good football player and I don’t think he’s a good athlete. He’s just a bull in a china shop. Those guys get stalled easy up here. He’s really wide. He just doesn’t play with his arms or his elbows in tight.” Wonderlic of 22. From Grand Rapids, Mich.
6. LUKE SCHOONMAKER, Michigan (6-5, 252, 4.62, 2-3): Fifth-year senior waited until his fourth year to get on the field. “Similar to Mayer but maybe a notch below,” said one scout. “Really a solid, well-rounded player. Does everything well. More of a No. 2 tight end ideally but he could certainly be a No. 1 for some teams.” Injured both shoulders in 2022 and then pulled up lame at pro day (plantar fasciitis). “Big-body blocking tight end,” another scout said. “Uses his size and instincts well to get open in the passing game. Wish he was more productive there. He’s a No. 3 tight end with a No. 2 ceiling.” Finished with 54 receptions (35 in ’22) for 637 (11.8) and seven TDs. “Solid in everything,” a third scout said. “Good enough athlete. Got decent movement. Got a little quickness to his routes. Good hands when he’s free. Not a playmaker by any stretch with run after the catch. One of those guys, ‘This is my route, I’m open, I’m going to catch it, good to go.’ He gave block effort. Better on the edges than as an in-line guy, but he’ll try. He’ll stick his face in there. He’ll be a solid starter.” From Hamden, Conn.
4. DeMARVION OVERSHOWN, Texas (6-2 ½, 231, 4.56, 2): Backup safety in 2018-’19 before starting 31 of 33 games at strongside LB in a 4-3 defense. “Former safety growing into the position,” one scout said. “Physical enough to handle the rigors of inside linebacker. Should be on the field for all three downs. Will do nothing but develop and get better. He’s close (to a green dot).” Finished with 249 tackles (30 ½ for loss), nine sacks and 20 passes defensed. “You want to take a chance on a guy, this guy is fast and he is tough and he plays his *** off,” said a second scout. “For a linebacker, that’s all you need. He was a pleasant surprise. He figures it out. You talk about flying to the ball, range, cover. Kind of Simpsonesque; cut from the same cloth as him.” Posted 23 on the Wonderlic. “Not very smart, can’t make calls,” a third scout said. “Doesn’t take on blocks well. He’s a see-ball, get-ball (player) or special teamer. His deal is speed, which you can’t coach. More of a finesse guy. But he can fly. It’d be hard for me to take him in the first three rounds but he might go there because he runs fast.” From Arp, Texas.
10. ASIM RICHARDS, North Carolina (6-4, 307, 5.18, 4): Three-year starter at LT. “I projected him to guard,” said one scout. “He’s just a tough guy. Nasty, strong, tough and a good athlete. Fourth round, maybe.” His 34-inch arms were the longest among the top 15 guards. His 13 reps on the bench were the fewest. “He’s got to improve his upper-body power,” said one scout. “He came in as a basketball player. Had never been to a weight room until he got to North Carolina. They begged him to come back (for 2023) but he didn’t. Everything is in front of him, but he has to get it done in the weight room.” From Philadelphia. “Probably should have gone back to school,” said a third scout. “He definitely looks and moves like he can play guard. They tried to sell him to come back to school so he’d play center. I’d take him in the fourth all day. I think he can play all five positions. He’s going to end up starting.”
UNSUNG HERO
Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State: Played just three seasons but still joined Darren Sproles and Tyler Lockett as the only Wildcats to surpass 5,000 all-purpose yards. Just 5-5, he weighed 179 at the combine and then ran a disappointing 4.60 at pro day. “He’s 5-5 but he is an explosive little ****,” said one scout. “Man, this kid is so quick and tough and fast. Before you know it, he’ll be one of those guys that plays 10 years and has a pretty dang good career.”
1. HUNTER LUEPKE, North Dakota State (6-1, 234, 4.60, 5-6): Played RB in a rotation for the Bison but projects to FB. “He went 49-0 wrestling (in high school),” one scout said. “Not a mismatch in the passing game but he’ll compete and play physical with or without the ball. I wouldn’t draft him, but for the teams that need a fullback he could get by.” Scored 25 on the Wonderlic and posted a vertical jump of 36 ½. “I don’t see him like a down-and-dirty, knock-your-head-off fullback,” said a second scout. “But he’s got really good hands, runs well and blocks well enough. He’s half tight end, half fullback, half slot receiver.” Finished with 274 carries for 1,665 (6.1) and 24 TDs to go with 28 receptions and nine TDs. “He was, hands down, the best fullback in this class,” a third scout said. “He’s probably the closest thing to a Pro Bowl fullback that’s come out in a few years. You can throw it to him. He’ll be a really valuable piece for somebody.” From Spencer, Wis.
