We highlight and profile the 2017 NFL draft-eligible prospects from college football games 49ers' scouts attended during Week 12.
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Now, let's get started.
We continue our Scouting 49ers' Scouts series with a look back on some of the draft-eligible players from the college football games 49ers' scouts attended during Week 12. The Internet, and Twitter in particular, provide some insight into where NFL teams are sending scouts for college football games. We will likely never know the full list of games, but it does give us some insight.
Thanks to Chase Goodbread and the folks at NFL.com's College Football 24/7, along with various sources on Twitter, we have a look at some of the Week 11 action where 49ers' scouts were credentialed to attend.
Weeks 1-7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
* = indicates junior status
+ = injury status
Week 12:
Louisville Cardinals vs. Houston Cougars
Louisville
RB Brandon Radcliff, No. 23, 5'9" - 210 lbs., 4.59 40 - (6th)
WR James Quick, No. 17, 6'1" - 180 lbs., 4.39 40 - (5th)
WR Jamari Staples, No. 2, 6'4" - 195 lbs., 4.45 40 - (7th)
WR Ja'Quay Savage, No. 19, 6'2" - 214 lbs., 4.54 40 - (UDFA)
TE Cole Hikutini, No. 18, 6'5" - 248 lbs., 4.84 40 - (5th)
TE Keith Towbridge, No. 89, 6'4" - 261 lbs., 4.83 40 - (UDFA)
C Tobijah Hughley, No. 61, 6'2" - 290 lbs., 5.10 40 - (UDFA)
DE Drew Bailey, No. 14, 6'5" - 285 lbs., 4.97 40 - (UDFA)
DT DeAngelo Brown, No. 97, 6'0" - 308 lbs., 5.23 40 - (6th)
OLB Devonte Fields, No. 92, 6'3" - 245 lbs., 4.72 40 - (3rd)
ILB Keith Kelsey, No. 55, 6'0" - 236 lbs., 4.83 40 - (5th)
SS Josh Harvey-Clemons, No. 25, 6'4" - 228 lbs., 4.59 40 - (3rd-4th)
RB Brandon Radcliff, No. 23, is a very physical and violent downhill running back with a compact build. A difficult force to bring down, Radcliff's bruising style of running bulldozes through defenders with impressive power and strength fighting off initial hits and keeps his legs driving moving the pile. An ideal inside runner, he runs low and with great pad level running behind his pads finding the cracks with decent vision and instincts. He lacks breakaway speed, but brings added value as a natural pass catcher, as well as in the return game.
WR James Quick, No. 17, is true to his namesake as a 'quick' athletically gifted natural pass catcher. Ideally a slot receiver at the next level, Quick is quicker than fast (4.39 40 speed does not show in pads), but displays excellent suddenness in his game gaining separation with his quick feet and savviness as a route runner. A five-star recruit out of high school, there are a lot of flashes in Quick's game, staying consistent (struggles with drops) is crucial for him to find success in the NFL.
WR Jamari Staples, No. 2, is a great size and speed wide receiver. At 6'4", Staples boasts excellent length with a thin frame and nice quickness and the suddenness to separate from defenders with great athleticism and speed. Shows a great ability to elevate above the rim attacking balls at its highest point extending his arms snatching the catch with his strong hands. Displays the toughness and grit to make contested catches and absorb hits taking a pounding in the middle of the field. Lacks smooth fluidity as a route runner and lacks explosion releasing off the line of scrimmage. Staples is an effective downfield blocker, and can block in space with a sound base and the ability to swing his hips blocking in space.
TE Cole Hikutini, No. 18, is an athletically gifted pass-catching tight end displaying solid hands as a receiver with the ability to extend away from the body to make the catch, and is excellent at stick routes (a tight ends' bread and butter) showing great skills releasing from the line of scrimmage, good speed, and nice suddenness in his game showing the ability to separate from defenders. A lackluster blocker in all facets of the game, Hikutini will need to address blocking technique considerably at the next level.
DT DeAngelo Brown, No. 97, is a wide bodied run stuffer with great power and leverage (built low to the ground) at the point of attack and flashes some difficulty to move off his spot. Brown also possesses impressive foot quickness (solid athleticism), nice quickness off the snap, shows nice lateral movement, solid short area quickness causing havoc in collapsing the pocket and has the sneaky athleticism to beat offensive lineman one-on-one with quickness (nice swim move) and the power to bull rush opponents off the line. The plugging run stuffer and gap occupier is best suited as a nose guard in the 49ers 3-4 defense as a stout run defender and the athleticism, balance, and burst to push the pocket and penetrate gaps.
OLB Devonte Fields, No. 92, a natural pass rusher flashing top level first round talent, has an excellent combination of size, speed, and athleticism, with great fluidity, balance, bend, and change of direction skills. A terror off the edge with superb bendability and his effortless change of direction capabilities, Fields is a pass rush specialist with the potential to be a top-tier edge threat at the next level. Fields had a very impressive freshman year at TCU in 2012 (53 TKLS, 18.5 TFL, 10 sacks), but injuries (played with a torn labrum from Week 4 of the 2015 season) and off-field issues (alleged assault of an ex-girlfriend) have halted his progress. Fields would bring solid skills off the edge for the 49ers; however, the off-field red-flags he comes with will require some serious background checks.
ILB Keith Kelsey, No. 55, is an athletic playmaker bestowing a tenacious mentality with great explosiveness, quickness, and speed. Kelsey is a strong tackler hitting with explosion, displays decent range, sound instincts and technique with a great ability to read run keys and explode and close fast with superb play speed to track down the football. Shows effectiveness blitzing through gaps and off the edge. Kelsey is fair in coverage and shows some stiffness in transition. Kelsey is at best attacking downhill with impressive closing speed firing up the field filling gaps maintaining great balance and body control.
SS Josh Harvey-Clemons, No. 25, is a large imposing defender with an excellent combination of size, strength, and athleticism. The transfer from Georgia boasts tremendous size and length (very long limbs) for the position, light feet, good agility, impressive balance and change of direction skills, and sound awareness. An aggressive defender, Harvey-Clemons is a force inside the box and takes full advantage of his amazing length in coverage. A red-flag prospect, Harvey-Clemons was dismissed from Georgia for violating team rules (two separate suspensions reportedly for marijuana use).
Houston
FB Tyler McCloskey, No. 45, 6'1" - 245 lbs., 5.04 40 - (UDFA)
WR/RB Greg Ward Jr., No. 1, 5'10" - 185 lbs., 4.49 40 - (UDFA)
WR Chance Allen, No. 21, 6'2" - 215 lbs., 4.54 40 - (UDFA)
DE Cameron Malveaux, No. 94, 6'5" - 270 lbs., 4.86 40 - (7th-UDFA)
DT B.J. Singleton, No. 93, 6'3" - 314 lbs., 5.17 40 - (UDFA)
OLB/ILB Steven Taylor, No. 41, 6'1" - 225 lbs., 4.77 40 - (4th-5th)
OLB Tyus Bowser, No. 81, 6'3" - 240 lbs., 4.67 40 - (5th-6th)
CB Brandon Wilson, No. 26, 5'11" - 200 lbs., 4.55 40 - (7th-UDFA)
OLB/ILB Steven Taylor, No. 41, is an amazing and explosive athlete with tremendous speed and quickness running sideline-to-sideline chasing down ball carriers, wreaks havoc in the backfield as a punishing blitzer (superb closing speed), terrific instincts with a nose for the ball, plays with great suddenness, and is solid in coverage with excellent range. His gap penetration, awareness, burst, and spin moves off blockers are impressive, and has excellent run and chase skills with sound tackling. Taylor is an absolute playmaker and is one of the best blitzing linebackers in the game. A scheme diverse prospect, Taylor could easily fit as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but will need to build up play strength for the next level in order to avoid losing battles against stout offensive lineman.
OLB Tyus Bowser, No. 81, was a former collegiate basketball player with the Houston Cougars during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 season. Bowser has great first-step explosion coming off the edge, displays pass rush ability with nice bend, agility, athleticism, speed, and the skill set to make plays. He shows fluidity in space and excellent movement skills (short area quickness), and bestows good length (long arms). A physical player, will need to continue to gain strength in order to succeed at the next level.
Missouri Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Missouri
RB Alex Ross, No. 5, 6'1" - 220 lbs., 4.59 40 - (UDFA)
WR Chris Black, No. 1, 6'0" - 192 lbs., 4.49 40 - (UDFA)
TE Sean Culkin, No. 80, 6'6" - 250 lbs., 4.75 40 - (UDFA)
*DE Charles Harris, No. 91, 6'3" - 260 lbs., 4.74 40 - (1st-2nd)
DT Harold Brantley, No. 90, 6'2" - 280 lbs., 4.96 40 - (7th-UDFA) Dismissed from school for failing to fulfill academic expectations. Suffered multiple injuries in an auto accident prior to the 2015 season. Transfer to Div. II Northwest Missouri State.
DT Josh Augusta, No. 97, 6'4" - 355 lbs., 97, 5.47 40 - (UDFA)
DT Rickey Hatley, No. 95, 6'4" - 320 lbs., 5.06 40 - (6th-7th)
OLB Donavin Newsom, No. 25, 6'2" - 240 lbs., 4.68 40 - (UDFA)
+ILB Michael Scherer, No. 30, 6'3" - 235 lbs., 4.74 40 - (UDFA) Out for the year knee injury.
CB Aarion Penton, No. 11, 5'10" - 195 lbs., 4.52 40 - (7th-UDFA)
CB John Gibson, No. 5, 6'0" - 195 lbs., 4.55 40 - (UDFA)
*DE Charles Harris, No. 91, is an intense high-motored prolific pass rusher that comes from a list of great pass rush specialists from Mizzou - Aldon Smith (sad panda). The former high school basketball superstar displays excellent first-step quickness, tremendous instincts, impressive suddenness, and superb speed off the edge with nice closing speed. Harris shows great technique with active hands keeping them up avoiding containment, array of solid pass rush moves (love the spin move in either direction), great strength and balance, and can flatten off the edge with a purpose, as well as win pursing the action from the back side (relentless in pursuit). Although he lacks bulk (will need to gain more functional strength), Harris shows a good ability to stack and shed, and setting the edge in the run game, but needs more consistency playing with leverage. A 3-4 prospect for the 49ers, Harris is a bit stiff in space, but has decent fluidity moving all over the field; nevertheless, rushing the passer is his bread and butter.
DT Rickey Hatley, No. 95, is an underrated solid defensive lineman with next level skills that may not wow you (not a stat all-star), but does all the dirty work consistently well. Hatley displays an NFL size frame, workman like ability, and plays with a stout base and strong hands. The former high school basketball and track athlete showcases decent first-step quickness, good ability to play front-side blocks at the point of attack, eats space occupying and stacking double teams, and clogs running lanes. Does not possess ideal athletic ability to defend against back-side blocks, but sticks to keys and carries his lunch-pail to work between the tackles. Rotational depth player at the next level.
Tennessee
QB Joshua Dobbs, No. 11, 6'3" - 208 lbs., 4.67 40 - (7th-UDFA)
*RB Alvin Kamara, No. 6, 5'10" - 215 lbs., 4.55 40 - (2nd)
*RB Jalen Hurd, No. 1, 6'3" - 230 lbs., 4.57 40 - (3rd) Left school citing numerous injuries and scheme fit on 10/31/16. May transfer for 2017 or declare. Red flag for quitting team.
OG/C Dylan Wiesman, No. 71, 6'3" - 304 lbs., 5.35 40 - (UDFA)
*DE Derek Barnett, No. 9, 6'3" - 257 lbs., 4.76 40 - (1st)
DE Corey Vereen, No. 50, 6'2" - 249 lbs., 4.84 40 - (7th-UDFA)
DT Danny O'Brien, No. 95, 6'2" - 301 lbs., 5.18 40 - (UDFA)
+OLB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, No. 21, 6'0" - 225 lbs., 4.72 40 - (5th) Out for the year shoulder injury.
CB Cameron Sutton, No. 23, 5'11" - 186 lbs., 4.50 40 - (2nd-3rd)
CB Malik Foreman, No. 13, 5'10" - 178 lbs., 4.52 40 - (UDFA)
*RB Alvin Kamara, No. 6, showcases a solid combination of size, power and strength, speed, agility, and athleticism with impressive quick feet, quickness, nice change of direction skills, and tremendous burst with good acceleration. Kamara possesses sound vision and instincts, showcases impressive inside running ability slashing and making decisive consecutive moves in a short area maintaining low pad-level exploding through the cracks hitting the hole with impressive power, and displays great speed and lateral quickness beating the edge on the outside. He displays superb skills as a receiver out of the backfield (natural pass catcher) with solid reliable hands, adjusts well to the ball, and is a good route runner. Kamara runs behind his pads with good power and is fast in pads with the capability of hitting the home run pulling away from defenders. Brings value in the return game.
*DE Derek Barnett, No. 9, is an extremely disruptive player excelling as a pass rusher with a motor running hot and is relentless in pursuit with a nose for the quarterback. Barnett provides a solid combination of size, strength, agility, balance, and athleticism. Displays decent burst off the edge with excellent bend and dipping of the shoulder flattening out with nice balance and body control.
CB Cameron Sutton, No. 23, brings decent size to the position with great length and range. The former high school baseball and basketball athlete displays fluidity to his game with solid ball skills, sound awareness, adept at playing with his back against the quarterback, shows patience in coverage, and great in press coverage (can jam with the best). He is a willing and aggressive tackler; however, his tackling skills need improvement. Sutton also brings value in the return game.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Both Penn State and Rutgers have several draft-eligible prospects that will likely find their way on to an NFL camp as either a late 7th round prospect or an undrafted priority free agent.
Penn State
OT Paris Palmer, No. 73, 6'7" - 305 lbs., 5.26 40 - (UDFA)
C Brian Gaia, No. 72, 6'3" - 295 lbs., 5.10 40 - (UDFA)
DE Evan Schwan, No. 94, 6'6" - 263 lbs., 4.79 40 - (7th-UDFA)
OLB Brandon Bell, No. 11, 6'1" - 233 lbs., 4.75 40 - (7th-UDFA)
+ILB Nyeem Wartman-White, No. 5, 6'1" - 248 lbs., 4.72 40 (UDFA) Out for the year knee injury-numerous knee injurious (torn ACL in 2015).
SS Malik Golden, No. 6, 6'0" - 205 lbs., 4.57 40 - (7th-UDFA)
Rutgers
+WR Janarion Grant, No. 1, 5'10" - 174 lbs., 4.48 40 - (7th-UDFA) Out for the year ankle injury.
WR Andre Patton, No. 88, 6'3" - 210 lbs., 4.59 40 - (7th-UDFA)
OT J.J. Denman, No. 77, 6'5" - 321 lbs., 5.36 40 - (UDFA)
OG Chris Muller, No. 70, 6'6" - 314 lbs., 5.33 40 - (7th-UDFA)
C Derrick Nelson, No. 69, 6'3" - 295 lbs., 5.25 40 - (UDFA)
DE Julian Pinnix-Odrick, No. 53, 6'5" - 275 lbs., 4.92 40 - (7th-UDFA)
DT Darius Hamilton, No. 91, 6'3" - 285 lbs., 5.06 40 - (7th-UDFA)
+OLB Quanzell Lambert, No. 22, 6'1" - 257 lbs., 4.72 40 - (UDFA) Out for the year knee injury.