LSU's NFL-worthy defenders target Ole Miss' Snead, McCluster
Each week during the season, Chad Reuter and Rob Rang will analyze the biggest game of the week featuring NFL prospects as part of the weekly Draft Slant product from NFLDraftScout.com.
Game of the Week: LSU at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, CBS
Any game at The Grove is a worthwhile event, but when two of the most talented teams in the country match up, it's a must-see for fans and scouts.
Ole Miss was overrated as a preseason top-five team, but the Rebels have plenty of talented prospects deserving a shot in the NFL. Meanwhile, LSU might have dropped from the national title picture, but there's no shame losing games to heavyweights Florida and Alabama. The program remains a pro prospect factory, trailing only Southern California (42), Ohio State (30) and Oklahoma (29) with 28 draftees since 2005.
The Tigers typically have defensive linemen the NFL covets. End Rahim Alem appears to be strictly a pass-rush specialist at the next level (four sacks), though a good one because of his change-of-direction ability. Tackles Al Woods and Charles Alexander aren't elite prospects, either, but should get a shot in a training camp as run-stoppers. Junior Drake Nevis is undersized at 6-1, 292 pounds, but can explode into the backfield consistently (eight tackles for loss, three sacks).
Ole Miss has a group of strong veterans inside to protect inconsistent quarterback Jevan Snead. Right guard John Jerry recently moved inside after playing the first eight games of the year at tackle and then being suspended for the Northern Arizona game for academic reasons. His lack of lateral mobility didn't fit at tackle, but his strength could be a plus for a power running team.
Left guard Reid Neely is a bit more nimble, and would benefit from proving his ability to stand strong against the big LSU tackles. Center Daverin Geralds is a stout pass protector who doesn't get beat by many nose tackles and, though limited athletically, helps either guard create a gap wherever the run game requires.
That run game in recent weeks has been dominated by wide receiver/running back Dexter McCluster, a small but electrifying playmaker who has the speed and vision to find a way through trash and explodes once in the open field. Although his place in the NFL may be in the slot, his route-running and receiving hands are not as reliable as you'd like. But certainly his 282 all-purpose yards against Tennessee last Saturday opened scouts' eyes, along with earning him the Walter Camp Offensive National Player of the Week award. Stout 220-pound sophomore Brandon Bolden likes to run over defenders -- and let them know about it afterward.
LSU's linebackers have the ability to quite Bolden and Co. Harry Coleman lines up on the strong side, but NFL teams know his run-stopping and coverage skills against tight ends make him an ideal strong safety candidate. Outside linebacker Perry Riley is a somewhat underappreciated athlete with good strength; although he lines up on the weak side, he projects to the strong side at the next level. Junior Kelvin Sheppard leads the team with 87 tackles, eight for loss, as he plays all three linebacker spots, depending on the formation. Reserve inside linebacker Jacob Cutrera has a good motor against the run.
Ole Miss wide receiver Shay Hodge is a nice foil to McCluster on the outside, leading the team with 50 receptions for 810 yards, a 16.2-yard average and six touchdowns by using his frame to shield defenders. His lack of speed is an issue for scouts, and his hands are also inconsistent.
Snead and his receivers will find it tough sledding against a talented Tiger secondary, led by 6-1, 211-pound sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson, a tough, fast playmaker with great hands for the interception. Chris Hawkins isn't shabby on the other side with his sinewy strength and speed, but he and junior Jai Eugene get picked on consistently as teams avoid Peterson.
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| Though undersized, Ole Miss' Dexter McCluster has gained 1,188 total yards with eight TDs. (US Presswire) |
Tigers sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson should return after sitting out the last game with an ankle sprain. Running back Charles Scott, however, is done for the year with a broken collarbone. Backup Keiland Williams once again proved his ability to step up when given the carries, using his low pad level and churning legs to run through tackles and put up 116 yards with two touchdowns last week, albeit against Louisiana Tech.
Tight end Richard Dickson also missed that game, and hasn't been the safety valve over the middle he has been in previous season, but expects to play this week.
Wide receiver Brandon LaFell made one of the team's few big plays vs. Louisiana Tech, a 38-yard score that displayed explosiveness and toughness after the catch. Though he's not the quickest slot receiver in college football, his ability to move inside is a big plus for the next level, and a way to utilize junior Terrance Toliver's 6-5 frame on the boundary.
Rebels corners Cassius Vaughn and Marshay Green play physically for their size, but give up a lot of height to LaFell and Toliver. Free safety Kendrick Lewis will help in the deep half (eight pass breakups) and leads the team in tackles with 67, pounding ball carriers coming into his area.
For LSU's Jefferson to distribute the ball and Williams to run through a strong Ole Miss front seven, All-SEC pick left tackle Ciron Black and junior right tackle Joseph Barksdale must get the job done. Scouts would have liked to see Black take on injured edge rusher Greg Hardy, but Marcus Tillman and junior Kentrell Lockett are large, hustling ends that both tackles must keep under control by anchoring strong and maintaining their balance.
Two undersized but steady LSU interior linemen, right guard Lyle Hitt and sophomore center/tackle T-Bob Hebert, get to line up across from powerful junior defensive Jerrell Powe, a run-stuffer conservatively listed at 330 pounds who is also capable of pushing or splitting double-teams to get into the backfield (10 tackles for loss).
Ole Miss kicker Joshua Shene might play a part in this game, although his miss from 28 yards last week and limited leg strength make him a likely free-agent prospect in April. Wide receiver Trindon Holliday is LSU's special teams star as a kick and punt returner because of his elite quickness, although he hasn't broken free for a return score this season.
Diamond in the Rough
DE Austen Lane, Murray State (6-6, 258, 4.65)
With DeMarcus Ware (Troy), Jared Allen (Idaho State) and James Harrison (Kent State) leading the NFL in sacks since the start of 2007 with 27, 25 and 25, scouts continue to scour the so-called small schools for pass rushers.
Signed as a lanky 210-pounder, time in the weight room turned Lane into a 255-pound pass-rushing terror. Tabbed as the Preseason OVC Defensive Player of the Year following a junior campaign that saw him register 63 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and a school-record 12 sacks, Lane has put up nearly identical numbers this season (54/18/11) entering the team's finale at Tennessee Tech on Saturday.
Like many of the best NFL pass rushers (but too few collegians), Lane doesn't rely strictly on speed to generate his production behind the line of scrimmage. Instead, he features a combination of burst off the snap, balance and acceleration around the tackle, long arms and active hands to break free, and good closing speed to post his statistics. Lane is surprisingly athletic for a man his size and has a unique frame (including 37-inch arms) capable of adding another 15 pounds without a significant loss of quickness.
Lane is not only one of the top FCS prospects; a strong performance in an all-star game and/or combine workout could generate enough buzz to earn a selection in the first three rounds. --Rob Rang
Chad Reuter is a Senior Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by the Sports Xchange. Rob Reuter contributed to this report.
