The real USC has a number of big-time prospects in this draft, including pass rusher Melvin Ingram and big WR Alshon Jeffrey.
“The biggest problem with Jeffery is you don’t know what his body type is going to be,” said ESPN’s Mel Kiper said. “You always want a player to be the same weight and the same — in the range of speed to show that kind of game day speed that he tests out at a certain weight. The weight that Alshon Jeffery tested at is not the weight that he played at. He didn’t play at 212. He was at 225, 230. He wasn’t 216 or 212. So what’s he going to play at? What’s his best playing weight going to be? Can he be strong enough at a lower weight? Is he going to be that power forward at the lower weight? If he gets his weight up, is he going to separate enough? Is he going to be able to get open? I think that’s the question with Alshon Jeffery. In addition to not having a quarterback to give him the ball on a regular basis there.
“Bottom line is Jeffery is still going to go in the second round I believe, and he’s a very intriguing prospect. I was high on him and I dropped him down, and at the end of the day with the way his weight changed and shifted around there, it’s going to push him I think into the second, but he’ll be a guy that’s going to be an interesting case study to see what happens to a player that you didn’t have the assurance that this is going to be his body type at the pro level.
“In terms of Ingram, the big question there is what position does he figure at at the pro level? Is he a defensive end at 6’1” and a half with short arms, which as a combination usually isn’t a recipe for success as a pass rusher against these long-armed offensive tacklers you’re going against? Is he a guy that can play on his feet? Yes, a 3-4 outside linebacker may be perfect for him. Some people think he’s a middle linebacker, an inside backer. So bottom line is Ingram is going to be a heck of a player in this league, it’s just a question of what team is going to feel he’s the right fit for what they’re doing.
“In terms of (CB Stephon) Gilmore, he’s skyrocketed because he’s a good football player and he’s a great kid. When you’re smart, when you’re competitive and as intense a competitor as he is, you’re smart, your character is high, there’s no red flags there, you’re six foot and a half, you ran a great 40, 4.4, you played well, you may be a little stiff, not as fluid in coverage as some of the other guys, but the bottom line is he could go in the top ten. Just talk about Jacksonville, Carolina, I have him at Cincinnati right now at 17. But he’s going to go pretty high.”
