NFL Draft: Thursday, April 30 – Saturday, May 2nd
The much awaited NFL draft starts tonight and World Champion handicapper Jeff Allen will be watching and doing his due diligence as one of the most successful football handicappers in the world. Every year Allen goes through all the draft information available from the top services to familiarize himself with the top players and how/will/if these players will be able to help with or address the needs of the teams that they are drafted by. Inevitably, Allen finds some diamonds in the rough, players that are projected to go in the late or middle rounds that could make an immediate impact in the NFL. Tuesday, Allen released his “Diamonds” from the offensive side of the ball. Here are Allen’s three top potential surprises on defense.
No.1 Darius Philon (DT) Arkansas
HT: 6’1″ WT: 298 40 YD: 5.00
Projected Round Taken: 3-4
What the “Experts” say
Strengths: Very good athlete with frame to get bigger. An excellent athlete with superior quickness and explosion off the ball. Good motor and makes pursuit plays with speed and taking good angles.
Weaknesses: Coming out as a redhirt sophomore. Lacks experience, just one year as a full time starter. As a 21-year-old rookie, body is not physically mature.
What Allen says
Arkansas did some nice things on defense as well as run the football as evidenced by their 14-13 street-fight with Alabama and their back-to-back shutouts over LSU and Kentucky. A big part of that was Darius Philon who recorded 7.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles-for-losses in his 18 career starts. Because defensive tackle is loaded in this draft, a team that can afford top work with a high-end prospect that will produce big dividends down the road will get a steal with this go at a cheap price in the middle rounds.
No.2 Derron Smith (S) Fresno State
HT: 5’10” WT: 200 40 YD: 4.64
Projected Round Taken: 3-4
What the “Experts” say
Strengths: Three-year starter. Ball-hawk with 15 career interceptions. Always in the play.
Weaknesses: Play dropped off in senior year. Small in stature and frame. Size makes run support suspect.
What Allen says
As a Mountain West player, I was able to see this guy multiple times including a game here when the Bulldogs played UNLV. Too small, not fast enough blah blah blah. Just like his profile says, always in the play and around the ball. Along with 15 career picks, this is a guy who can play. This is a tough kid with above average talent that can play. He’s faced very good opposition (USC wideouts twice in a year) as Fresno State always over-schedules in non-conference play. Falloff in senior year could be attributed to being the best player on a poor/down/rebuilding Bulldog squad that underachieved. Smith could be an excellent fifth defensive back and nickle-package guy that can play special teams and just might develop into a starter down the road.
No.3 Bud Dupree (OLB) Kentucky
HT: 6’4″ WT: 270 40 YD: 4.56
Projected Round Taken: 3-4
What the “Experts” say
Strengths: Three-year starter with an SEC pedigree. Prototype OLB body and speed. Can rush the passer from the edge or shows good drops in zone coverage.
Weaknesses: Average football “instincts” has equated to slow reaction time resulting in production not equaling talent. Weak in man coverage.
What Allen says
Kentucky showed great improvement under Stoops this year but a Wildcat constant the last 20 years of being an SEC doormat was that UK always played pretty good defense with many standout individual players. Dupree might not be one of those hallmark players but he’s big, fast, comes with three years of SEC experience and projects to be one of the top 100 players taken in the draft and top eight from a position that is loaded with the likes of the fallen from grace Shane Ray, Vic Beasley, and Haouli Kikaha. Duprees “weaknesses” are things that can be worked on or corrected at the pro level and this guy could be playing on Sunday’s for years to come.