SI released a ridiculously too early 2016 Mock Draft. Still, these lists are fun to glance over and SI projects two Hokies to be selected in the first round.
http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/05/04/2016-nfl-mock-draft-shawn-oakman-joey-b...
7. Chargers - KENDALL FULLER, CB Junior, Virginia Tech
The brother of Chicago Bears CB Kyle Fuller, Kendall is "a little bigger, a little more physical" than the 2014 No. 14 pick, according to Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Foster also told The Roanoke Times that Fuller is "a lot like Brandon Flowers." Given how Flowers has played for them, the Chargers would take that.
30. Packers - DADI NICOLAS, OLB RS Senior, Virginia Tech
Nine sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss last season for Nicolas, who is listed on Virginia Tech's website at 236 pounds. If he actually plays at or around that weight in 2015, the NFL buzz will follow. One of the obvious knocks on Nicolas's pro projections to this point has been that he plays too light—like Floyd, he has been closer to the 220 range.
Comments
Not surprised about Kendall, but thank God for Dadi. Everyone kills VT for having "undersized" linemen and I've about had it with that excuse. Just as an example, Beasley from Clemson is listed at 6'2, 230 range and was a top 10 pick; guy's not exactly huge. Both Kendall and Dadi have incredibly bright futures.
Beasley measured in at 6'3 246 and was projected as an OLB to be fair. He was also the strongest player pound for pound on Clemson's roster (nfl combine 35 reps on the bench which was highest for any LB and tied for highest even among the DL) as well.
Dadi's more physical and plays stronger than Beasley. I could see Beasley being the biggest overreach of the draft...not because he's only 246, but because he plays against the run like he's 215.
I don't think you'd see anyone outside of the VT fanbase make that claim. I agree Beasley may be a reach for where he was picked but from a physical strength standpoint dadi is not in the same stratosphere.
I said Dadi "plays stronger", not that he tests stronger. One can have all the weight room strength in the world, but if they don't use it, it's meaningless.
Just watch about 10 running plays for each and you'll see that on the field of play, Beasley is pretty much a speed guy and little else.
again it's very subjective. I think dadi is a liability in the run game as well or has been due to his weight. obviously with his speed and our scheme he's still able to make some plays, but when we've played power teams we've seen the results.
Two Words: Dadi Whip!
Go back and read what I wrote. I specifically said "Dadi plays stronger than Beasley" because it's exactly what I meant. Not "Dadi plays strong against the run". Not "Dadi is stronger than Beasley".
Is Kendall more physical? Kyle Fuller was a beast. I mean he single handidly destroyed GT 2 years in a row.
and he appreciates your honesty! Have a five
If he is I don't think we've seen it yet. Hard to tell based off of last year because I don't know when exactly he broke his wrist and how long he played with it like that.
Yeah, Kyle was one of the most physical corners that we've had. Probably second only to Flowers and maybe Jimmy Williams.
That's just more lazy sportswriting fitting a narrative to one quote and running with it. And I'll bet we see that old quote used dozens of times between now and the next draft.
IMO Kyle was more physical than Kendall (but Kendall is no slouch -- he is a Fuller); Kendall has better cover skills (but Kyle is no slouch - he is a Fuller).
Well, the quote came from Bud Foster. He might know what he's talking about.
Yes, I'm fully aware that it's an old quote of his. And he certainly knows a thing or two.
And I also know that he's currently Kendall's coach and coaches have a tendency to talk up current players. There's little to be lost by doing so...so they do.
You just watch how many times that one old quote gets repeated to develop a narrative on Fuller before the draft...
There'll be no shortage of new quotes about Kendall to use. The coaches haven't been shy about saying he might be the best CB the Hokies have ever had.
I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that. Kendall is certainly further along in terms of understanding the defense and is much more natural in coverage than Kyle was at the same point in their careers. However, even as a freshman Kyle showed a special enthusiasm for playing the run and being physical that Kendall has never really shown.
Now, Kendall might be more adept at press man, which may be what Foster is referring to... but I would still give overall physicality to Kyle.
Well stated...you've clearly actually watched both of them play rather than just pull out a single quote and call it analysis.
Yea, obviously the writer hadn't watched a "whole lot" of Kyle Fuller. Kyle was physical even as a freshman.
Reminds me of a Chicago writer the day after Kyle was drafted. He had obviously never seen Kyle play but had to write something. He said that Kyle's weakness was that he wasn't a good tackler. I was dumbfounded.
I read that too. And that's what you call doing your work with zero research.
From what I recall it was pretty clear that people who drew that conclusion watched a couple of games from 2012 (if they watched tape at all) when he had the bad shoulder, without doing any research on his injury history.
It is consistently annoying how inaccurate or incomplete such "scouting reports" are...
For example, it was pretty clear that for Kyshoen Jarrett most people watched the OSU game and some combination of the ECU, Duke, or UVA games just based on their comments.
I recall there was some "scout" who wrote this well before the draft and then some others repeated it. My guess is that the Chicago guy did a quick google search on Fuller and that popped up near the top and he just ran with it. Probably thought it made it sound like he knew what he was talking about.
Nice to see. Depending on how good they play/develop you have an outside shot at 2 more. Maddy would have to go complete beast mode, but has a chance. Bucky could sneak into the first round; his measurables combined with a great year would do it.
I think Bucky's draft stock might come down to usage. If he's only split out wide 50% of the time, he might be a victim of where teams think you should draft a "tight end". If he's out running receiver patterns 80% of plays, I think that will really improve his chances of being a first rounder even if the numbers are the same. How well he blocks when lined up as a tight end could change my thinking here
I think the opposite. I think the more he's lined up outside, the more NFL GMs will see him as a tweener.
Honestly, I assumed it was gonna be Kendall and Bucky. I was surprised it was Dadi.
Love seeing the Hokies get some love, but I'm hoping Kendall goes a little bit higher and a whole year later.
Other scary thing is that OSU has three players projected for that first round. I am not sure if I will give this much credit since they have Christian Hackenberg going 6th and this guy going 11th at LB
The entirety of UCLA's defense = 1 linebacker?
I thought he was more of a tight end...
Man, this mock really fell in love with the edge rushers. Some of these guys are more hype than substance.
In particular, I'm not sure why Georgia's linebackers get continually overrated. Also, I felt that Myles Jack took a step back this past year and got outplayed by Eric Kendricks.
Kendall isn't leaving early.
I hope he sticks around for his senior year... #DBU
If he's a projected top 10 pick, he can't not go early
Andrew Luck was projected as the number 1 selection in the 2011 draft had he entered.
His family is well off financially. He can afford to stay if he decides that college is fun and he wants to hang out another year. Insurance policies can be taken out for someone like him.
Sure, good thoughts. But I think most of the time you want to compete at the highest level, pro, getting paid a lot, as your ultimate dream. I think that generally outweighs classes and college life for most guys, and even if the family has money it's not quite the same as your own money, and family bragging rights.
He should
The only thing I take away from this is how it'll suck to not have Kendall as a senior.
this mock draft is ridiculous. Kendall Fuller, Daddi, Maddy, Bucky are all top ten draft picks if they have a good year.
FSU has 4 of the top 40 picks this year that tied a record. Four top 10??
If the chips fall right we'll have 12 in the top 10.
That cant be right. Didn't Miami have like 7 first round picks or something ridiculous like that in the early 2000s?
Edit: I looked it up and in 2004 Miami had 6 of the first 21st picks
I just remember what they said during the draft so I'm not sure but four top 10 picks would be ridiculous
Sure would. Bama had picks 9, 10 and 11 in 2013. Very impressive.
That would suggest 2015 VT has more NFL talent than 2012-13 Alabama
Well we all know Bama don't have that ACC speed.
Apparently, neither does Smoke Mizzell.
They had 4 in the top 40, which is still ridiculous. In 2010 Oklahoma had 3 of the top 5 picks (Bradford, McCoy, Williams) and 4 in the top 40 as well.
In 2006 Florida State had 4 in the top 40. My guess is that is the record the talking head was talking about them tying.
Great spirit there pal, but that's about as likely of happening as Brewer becoming a Heisman candidate this year.
Soooo not outside the realm of possibility?
Sure
I hope to have Kendall back as a senior, but if he projects as a first rounder after his junior year, he should leave. And Torian and Bud should use everything short of Indian burns and purple nurples to coerce him into it. That is once in a lifetime money, and he could lose millions just with a dropoff his senior year, not to mention the possibility of injury.
It's really more of a twice in a lifetime opportunity, because the money will be there next year. A drop off really isn't realistic, players as good and as dedicated and as smart as Kendall don't drop off. An injury is a concern, but players make the choice to stay from time to time, and even with an acl tear I'd bet that he would still be likely first rounder.
Counterpoint:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/04/browns-confident-ifo-ekp...
Could you even imagine this being on TV today? He would have been fired, the writers would be fired and the show cancelled.
ahh yes..the pussification of America has done significant damage
Good point, but that's a pretty extreme circumstance. That injury came at the absolute worst time possible and isn't your normal ACL tear by any means. His entire knee was shredded and some doctors are saying it's a possible career ender, something closer to Marcus Lattimore's injury.
An injury like that is always possible, but so are a million other super unlikely, incredibly tragic situations.
Who's your Dadi playing for the packers and little Fuller playing for the Bolts? Say it ain't so!
It would not surprise me if Fuller stays a full 4 and graduates though, all his brothers did...
He's had the most pro-hype though and if he's a top 15 pick not sure it's worth the risk to come back.
After seeing what happened to Ifo's first round projection after staying an extra year, I think he'd be foolish to stay
It isn't, under any conceivable circumstance, worth the risk.
I think Dadi in the Green and Gold would look gooooood
It's like Jerry Garcia used to say...
Raiders ain't picking in the top 10 again, we will be back to middle of the pack this season and playoffs next year!
Go Niners.
Never crossed my mind that Dadi could be a first round pick due to size, but if some of the edge rushers this year were really in the 235-245 range he's got a shot. Especially considering Beasley went 7th and Fowler 3rd, and neither can really play the run.
here's my thoughts on fuller.....
note: I'm sure some more football appropriate words can be added....but it's what I first thought of when thinking of Kendall leaving early.