#1 WR Ryeshene Bronson (Dunbar/Ft. Myers, FL)
Ratings
247: 4/90
Composite: 4/.9126
ESPN: 4/82 – ESPN 300 #260; #35 WR
ESPN Scouting Report
Size-Strength-Speed
This player has a lengthy frame with height and can continue to add bulk. Possesses very good quickness for his long-legged stride. You just wish he possessed better speed. Verified times appear accurate on tape.
Separation Skills
Climbs the ladder and might struggle to run by top level DBs vertically. Shows good initial movement off the ball and in tight quarters. Makes sharp breaking cuts on intermediate routes and flashes burst to separate. Has inside and outside ability with a nice feel for coverage and working to get open. Is a big player who possesses small receiver quickness.
Ball Skills
Will go over the middle and take the hard hit in traffic. Snatches the ball cleanly out of the air with hands away from his body. Goes high to make the traffic catch. Will catch the ball in stride with smooth agility. Presents a wide catch radius to QB.
Big Play Ability
Has very good feel of pursuit angles as he turns up after catch. Is a finisher with high effort and works to slip tackles and extend plays. Has a sudden up field step with no wasted motion to beat closers on stop or hook routes. Shows the ability to make the first defender miss. Flashes home run ability.
Bottom Line
Bronson is a prospect who has many desirable traits. However, he does lack great top-end speed. Is more shifty and quick than he is a guy that will consistently produce home runs. We are concerned he might struggle to win many footraces after the catch. Verified times appear accurate on tape. We certainly like Bronson’s feel for the game and his knack for making tough grabs and extending plays.
#2 S Kyle Gibson (Armwood/Seffner, FL)
Ratings
247: 4/90
Composite: 4/.8977
ESPN: 4/83 – ESPN 300 #161; #9 S
ESPN Scouting Report
Size-Strength-Speed
Long and rangy, and can run, close and cover a lot of ground. Very active around the ball. Will need to really fill out his frame. A physical safety who rarely backs down but he will need to get more lead in his anchor to play strong safety at the next level and be productive in the box.
Instincts/Recognition
Is put into attack mode more than he’s required to read and react from a two-high shell. Demonstrates good anticipation in the short passing game. Plays more of a hybrid/SS role and utilizes his wiry strength and good closing quickness to make big plays on the perimeter and near the line of scrimmage.
Coverage Skills
Shows he can cushion high-low routes and jump the pass quickly. Closes fast on the perimeter pass and shows good driving burst and explosion on contact. Will collision routes or undercut showing polished ball skills. Uses his length to wrap up and drag down before receivers can gain yards after the catch. While he gets to the spot quickly he also needs to avoid lunging and become more balanced to avoid leaky yardage. Good deep coverage range when deployed in more of a high-point alignment. Has shown the range to make plays in the vertical seams from the deep middle. Shows the good acceleration and top-end speed needed to position himself under the downfield pass and make a play. Will elevate and high-point. Man-to-man experience is limited but he has the transitional quickness and recovery burst to develop in this facet.
Run Support
Best when freed up to close and chase then when required to take on blocks. Has shown disruptive blitz ability as well with his good timing and acceleration. Can come from depth to fill run lanes, is able to stay on his feet, delivers through his target and works to wrap up. Some knockbacks, some stalemates and has been knocked back, but the tackle is made and the edge is typically set.
Bottom Line
Gibson is a good looking safety prospect with a lot of natural athleticism. Overall he has the size and athleticism to offer valued scheme versatility at the next level and be fixture on special teams coverage units. Could be a free safety in college with more coverage experience and refinement in man technique. May also project as a zone Cover 2 corner in the right system.
#3 OLB/TE Vincent Jackson (Jesuit/Tampa, FL)
Ratings
247: 3/83
Composite: 3/.8572
ESPN: 4/80 – #30 OLB
ESPN Scouting Report
Size-Strength-Range
Possesses excellent size at the outside linebacker position and as a potential hybrid stand-up pass rusher. Layered with great bulk and thickness but does not always display the explosive power you would expect at his size. Shows good sideline-to-sideline range and backside pursuit speed for a linebacker with his bulk.
Instincts/Take On Skills
Could improve both his diagnosing and take-on skills. Struggles with proper fits when reading and reacting from normal linebacker depth in the box. Will stalemate blockers and use his arms to lock out, but does not scrape and defeat with ideal lateral quickness or show great fluidity or agility through the wash. Better downhill filler than lateral pursuer.
Tackling
Makes very solid contact as a tackler with drive through force but can struggle to break down when not squared up. Liability at times breaking down in space. Has very strong hands for effective reach and grab tackles from the backside.
3rd Down Capabilities
Best asset is his ability to rush the passer. Anticipates the snap well, shows good first step quickness and closes strong off the edge. Lacks great bend but comes with consistent effort and will make the backside sack with his length and strong closing efforts. Limited athleticism in coverage and does not show fluid hips or clean transition. Will uses length and range to cover ground and obstruct throwing lanes but feel he will be could be a potential liability in coverage at the next level.
Bottom Line
Jackson is a tweener hybrid OLB/DE who could fit into a Jack role as a two-point edge rusher/3-4 OLB or eventually put his hand down on the ground as a true defensive end at the next level. His future success and position could be predicated by college scheme and continued physical development. Has some impressive physical measurables but athletic limitations as well.
#4 QB Quinton Flowers (Miami Jackson/Miami, FL)
Ratings
247: 4/90
Composite: 4/.8913
ESPN: 3/78
ESPN Scouting Report
Size-Strength-Speed
Has good height for a running back, below average for a QB. Possesses nice bulk with a bit of a stocky build. Sudden and explosive, and while he isn’t overly top-end fast, he shows spurts and is a nice combination of strength and agility.
Ball Skills
Moves easily and handles ball efficiently as he gets to the launch point on drop back action from under center or from the Gun.
Versatility
Plays as a dual-threat QB at this level, but might see his greatest upside as a running back/safety for the next level. A fluid athlete with very good mobility who can make plays with his feet and be serviceable with his arm. Buys time with movement to make off rhythm plays with his arm. Avoids and escapes and can really create problems when improvising. Will make a quick decision or use his athletic ability to prolong a play. In control, poised, and plays with confidence in his abilities to make a play. Has good anticipation. Arm action varies. Has a loose motion and a relatively quick arm. Motion may or may not be compact. There is a tendency to over-stride on deeper throws and become too spread out to launch the ball quickly.
Big Play Ability
Has a playmaker’s attitude. Is a threat to make plays with his arm or feet when on the move. Flashes what he needs when he needs it, especially deep. Meshes well from the shotgun or under center and is a definite threat as a ball carrier on designed plays or breakdowns.
Bottom Line
Flowers is far more effective as a runner than he is a thrower. He plays hard and is very competitive with the ball. We like his demeanor. If he were to remain at QB he would need to hone his skills and refine as a passer. An added inch or two would certainly up the interest as well.
#5 CB Mazzi Wilkins (Plant Senior/Tampa, FL)
Ratings
247: 3/85
Composite: 3/.8401
ESPN: 3/73
ESPN Scouting Report
Size-Strength-Speed
Wilkins possesses ideal size for a corner — he is tall and long armed. His weight needs to increase but probably will as he matures. Plays with solid strength. His speed is only average but he does have an ability to change direction very quickly.
Instincts/Recognition
Sees the game well. He is capable of changing direction quickly upon recognizing what is going on in front of him. As a zone defender he sees and reacts very well.
Coverage Skills
Utilizes his long arms to be an effective man cover guy. Has an ability to stick his foot in the ground and transition from a back pedal to going forward in a flash. His hips are flexible so turning and running is not a problem. Very effective as a zone defender because he gets a quick read and jump on the ball.
Run Support
A solid run support player. He will come up and set the edge or chase a play down. A decent tackler but not one who is going to punish when he does tackle.
Bottom Line
Wilkins would be a highly sought after prospect with better top-end speed, but his limited speed will likely land him at the lower BCS level where he will find a way to be a very effective player.