Tag: Dez Fitzpatrick

Ravens 2021 Draft Prospect Profiles

The Baltimore Ravens will be looking to capitalize on a very deep 2021 draft class. Here are draft profiles for some of the biggest names

The Baltimore Ravens will have great players to choose from at many different positions during the 2021 NFL draft. With a few big needs and a couple of other sneaky ones, having nine picks will certainly help Baltimore come out of this draft with a phenominal class.

Throughout the draft process, there have been plenty of rumors and rumblings about players that the Ravens could be interested in and potentially select. Here are the draft profiles for the prospects that have been linked to Baltimore the most.

 

Wide Receiver:

Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU

Kadarius Toney, Florida

Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville

 

Tight End:

Brevin Jordan, Miami

 

Offensive Line:

Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State

Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame

Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma

Landon Dickerson, Alabama

 

Defensive Line:

Christian Barmore, Alabama

 

Edge:

Azeez Ojulari, Georgia

Kwity Paye, Michigan

Jaelan Phillips, Miami

Gregory Rousseau, Miami

 

Linebacker:

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame

 

Safety:

Trevon Moehrig, TCU

Ravens Draft Prospect Profile: Dez Fitzpatrick

The Baltimore Ravens could look to add a wide receiver in the 2021 draft. Dez Fitzpatrick is one name to keep an eye on

The Baltimore Ravens have been looking to upgrade their wide receiver group during the 2021 offseason, signing Sammy Watkins to a one-year deal. However, the team might not be done adding pass catchers, as they could look to select a wideout in the 2021 NFL Draft.

One player who Baltimore could look at in the later rounds is University of Louisville receiver Dez Fitzpatrick. The former Cardinal has valuable experience playing on the outside, but also has experience playing with Lamar Jackson, which Baltimore could consider a major plus.

The 6-foot-2, 202 pound receiver caught 154 passes for 2,589 yards and 21 touchdowns during his four years in college, and showed that he does a little bit of everything. Fitzpatrick is one of the best route runners in the 2021 class and uses his elite stop-start ability to leave defenders in the dust. While he won’t overly impress anyone with his speed, he doesn’t need it because he’s extremely physical and can outmuscle defenders for the football.

The biggest concerns with Fitzpatrick are that he isn’t overly dynamic, and has to rely on mostly technique sometimes as opposed to elite speed or amazing body control. He also had stretches where he made little to no impact in college, but some believe that was due to the quarterback play at Louisville once Jackson departed for the NFL.

Fitzpatrick might truly be the best receiver in the draft for the Ravens based off of his skillset, production and where he’ll be available in the draft. Many view him as a Day 3 prospect being taken anywhere in the fourth to sixth round. Fitzpatrick is an established option who fills exactly what Baltimore needs and could provide an immediate impact if given the chance. If the Ravens decide to select other positions in the first few rounds of the draft and save taking wide receiver for later, Fitzpatrick could be a name to keep an eye on.

2021 Senior Bowl fantasy prospects

Looking at the Senior Bowl for fantasy players

The 2021 Senior Bowl offers up a chance to review the newest crop of potential NFL rookies and that’s been even more important in these COVID-19 times. Evaluating new players will be more challenging than ever with the incoming players having played fewer games, jumbled schedules or no schedules at all, or having opted out for the 2020 season. Add in the lack of an NFL Combine this year and the Senior Bowl is the only place to watch a collection of college players from various schools play together.

Of course, the bulk of the first round of the NFL draft usually involves declared juniors looking to cash in early on their talent. But in past years, the Senior Bowl allowed a glimpse of players that would go on to productive NFL careers, and therefore produce fantasy value. Few players take more than five or ten turns with the ball since they attempt to give everyone playing time.

Notable players from recent Senior Bowls:

2020

QB Justin Herbert (pass 9-12-83, TD)
QB Jalen Hurts (pass 6-13-58 TD)
RB Joshua Kelley (rush 15-105)
RB Antonio Gibson (rush 11-68)
WR Chase Claypool (receive 2-6, TD)

2019

QB Daniel Jones (pass 8-11-115, TD)
RB Tony Pollard (rush 8-60, TD)
WR Terry McLaurin (rush 1-19, receive 4-53)
WR Andy Isabella (receive 7-74, TD)

2018

QB Josh Allen (pass 9-13-158, 2 TD rush 5-19)
RB Kalen Ballage (rush 10-57)
RB Rashaad Penny (rush 9-64, receive 1-74 TD)
WR DJ Chark (receive 5-160, rush 1-9)
WR Tre’Quan Smith (receive 5-79, TD)
WR Michael Gallup (receive 3-60)

Notable 2021 performances

While 2021 is considered a rich draft for potentially elite quarterbacks,  the consensus Top-5 are all underclassmen. Kyle Trask (Florida) did not play but a few of the expected Day 3 senior quarterbacks did.

QB Feleipe Franks (Arkansas, 6-6, 228) –  Completed 9-of-16 for 122 yards and a touchdown but never ran the ball. Franks played three years for Florida before starting his senior year at Arkansas, where he threw for 2,107 yards and 17 touchdowns. He totaled nine rushing touchdowns in college with moderate rushing ability.

QB Kellen Mond (Texas A&M, 6-3, 217) – Completed 13 of 25 for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Ran twice for 11 yards. Mond played all four years for the Aggies and topped out at 3,107 passing yards with 24 touchdowns as a sophomore. He ended with 71 passing scores in his career. He ran for as many as 500 yards in a season and totaled 22 rushing touchdowns there.

QB Jamie Newman (Georgia, 6-3, 235) – Completed 10 of 14 for 118 yards and a touchdown. Only had the one full season as a starter for the Bulldogs when he threw for 2,868 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also added 574 yards and six scores on 180 rushes so he’s one of the dual-threat entrants in the NFL draft.

Almost all of the elite running backs coming from college are juniors since it doesn’t make much financial sense to remain in school where he could be injured and not reach for the big payday in the NFL. Even sitting on the bench in the NFL pays a lot more being on a college team (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more).  There is still talent that remains for that final year, but they mostly end up as depth or the lesser-halves of committee backfields. But you never know.

RB Michael Carter (North Carolina, 5-8, 199) – Ran for 60 yards and a score on his eight rushes and caught two passes for 15 yards. Carter played all four seasons for the Tar Heels but was never more than half of a committee. He led the team with 156 carries for 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns last year but teammate Javonte Williams had about the same stats but with 19 scores as the bigger back (220 lbs.) and the declared junior is expected to be a Top-5 pick. Carter projects to be another  “lesser half” of a committee in the NFL. But Carter was the only running back in the Senior Bowl with more than 18 rushing yards.

Not unlike running backs, elite college receivers leave school after their junior seasons in almost all cases. So the Senior Bowl tries to give some playing time to a large number of receivers that will likely end up as No. 2 NFL receivers at best. There are always the occasional exceptions, but the problem with the Senior Bowl and receivers is volume.

There were 20 players with a reception in this year’s game. A few were stand-outs.

WR Dez Fitzpatrick (Louisville, 6-2, 210) – Easily led all other receivers in the game with six catches for 90 yards. The Cardinal played all four years in a powerful offense but never caught more than 45 passes or gained more than 833 yards in a season. Scored nine times as a senior and while his volume was only moderate at school, he was their leading receiver.

WR Shi Smith (South Carolina 5-10, 190) – Led the American Team in the Senior Bowl with three catches for 57 yards. He’s a smaller player that uses 4.4/40-time speed to his advantage. Four-year starter for the Gamecocks, he topped up with 57 catches for 633 yards and four scores there. He’ll be a Day 3 pick by a team looking to develop a slot receiver.

TE Quintin Morris (Bowling Green, 6-4, 251) – Ended with three catches for 52 yards as the second-best receiver for the American team. Does not appear on many draft boards so far, but a nice showing at the Senior Bowl will help his case. Morris started the final three years at Bowling Green and topped out with 55 catches for 649 yards and four scores as a junior.

TE Kenny Yeboah (Ole Miss, 6-4, 247) – Caught two passes for 27 yards and a 21-yard touchdown as the longest-scoring play in the game. Will be a Top-10 tight end selected this year and can play any receiver position in the NFL including the “Y”. He too light to be an every-down blocker and turned in 27 catches for 524 yards and six touchdowns as a senior last year. Averaged 19.4 yards so he’s not a standard tight end.

The lack of an NFL Combine means the Senior Bowl was the only place to see some draft prospects playing together.  There will be more Pro Days that we’ll cover but the 2021 NFL draft will be even more of a crapshoot than most seasons. Given the opt-outs, missing games, COVID-19 issues, and a potential second year of limited practices in the summer mean even less will be known from this year’s crop.

And within that, even more  lower-drafted or rookie free agents that make NFL teams and contribute in their first year.

 

Tale of the Tape: Leading Receivers – Javon McKinley vs. Tutu Atwell

Although Notre Dame still doesn’t have a breakout receiver, it enters Saturday’s game against Louisville with someone on the radar.

Although Notre Dame still doesn’t have a breakout receiver, it enters Saturday’s game against Louisville with someone on the radar. Javon McKinley played very well against Florida State, and he could be the leader of this receiving corps going forward. While his receiving yards a game remain very modest, he gains plenty of yards with each catch he makes, spanning nearly a fifth of the field. But the way the Irish have started this season, there could be another name in this spot next week.

The Cardinals have a much more productive player as their top receiver: Tutu Atwell. Though his receiving yards a game merely are decent for the college level, he’s averaging a touchdown a game, making him a bright spot on a struggling team. Malik Cunningham will throw to him often, so the Irish’s defense will be watching him like a hawk the entire game. If Atwell is shut down and the Cardinals can’t get anything out of Dez Fitzpatrick, another key receiver, this game should be a breeze.

ACC Preview: Prospects to watch and team predictions

ACC Preview: Prospects to watch and team predictions

The 2020 college football season is just around the corner and with a bit of luck this COVID situation will be under control and we can finally enjoy sports again. The Atlantic Coast Conference is packed with a ton of NFL caliber talent and we will cover each team’s most intriguing prospects, their Vegas total and our prediction on whether or not they can reach that total.

Atlantic Division

Boston College Eagles: Vegas Win Total- 5

This team is not good after winning only six games last season, the program elected to press the restart button and hire first time head coach and former Ohio State assistant, Jeff Hafley to run the show. The offense looses a bit of talent, most notably, AJ Dillon, a three-time All-ACC member to the NFL and starting quarterback Anthony Brown via the transfer portal. Their offensive line is fantastic and the defense returns seven starters, but without talent at the skill positions and a better than average defense, its tough to see this team going over the projected five wins. Prediction: Under 5

Top Prospects:

Ben Petrula, OT, 6-5, 310 pounds, Sr.: Petrula was second-team All-ACC last season and will likely be first-team this year. He is a big reason the Eagles were eighth in the country in rushing yards in 2019.

Alec Lindstrom, C, 6-4, 290 pounds, Jr.: Lindstrom should have been All-ACC last season as he is easily a top-tier center in college football, but entering his junior campaign, I’m sure he will garner more attention.

Tyler Vrabel, OT, 6-5, 310 pounds, So.: Vrabel is a redshirt sophomore and will be eligible to declare after this season, but will likely need another season of seasoning. Vrabel is the son of Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Clemson Tigers: Vegas Win Total- 11.5

There is not a lot of wiggle room with this total. Clemson needs to go undefeated to hit the mark and the ACC is a bit tougher this year and they travel to Notre Dame. The Tigers have gone to the playoffs all five times and taking this bet means you are sure they can reach it for a sixth time. Clemson had a high-powered offense and will likely be lighting up the scoreboard again in 2020, but this line is too close for my liking. Prediction: Under 11.5

Top Prospects:

Travis Etienne, RB, 5-10, 210 pounds, Sr.: Would have been in the running for first running back off the board in 2019. Etienne has elite athleticism and will be looking to improve on his already impressive vision and receiving skills in 2020.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, 6-6, 220 pounds, Jr.: The odds-on favorite to be the number one selection in 2021, Lawrence is on the path to be one of the best NFL prospects in recent history. He will be looking to rebound from his first collegiate loss, which occurred in the CFP championship game.

Justyn Ross, WR, 6-4, 205 pounds, Jr.: Ross is going to miss the entire season due to a serious spinal injury, but he is still an elite prospect with a giant catch radius and lethal athletic profile. His 2019 season was a bit disappointing, but he is still a productive big-play machine.

Florida State Seminoles: Vegas Win Total- 7.5

Mike Norvell is in charge now and if Willie Taggart can win six games than Norvell should be able to tack on at least two more victories with this squad. This isn’t the safest bet considering that the Seminole offensive line is garbage, the quarterback is not a game-breaker and the defense appears lackluster, but it would not be surprising to see a fast turnaround considering that this team didn’t even play hard last year. Norvell will change that issue in a hurry. Prediction: Over 7.5

Top Prospects:

Marvin Wilson, DT, 6-5, 310 pounds, Sr.: The full package interior defensive lineman, Wilson checks every box and although he missed a portion of last season due to a hand injury, he would have likely been a day one or two anyways.

Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, 6-4, 212 pounds, Sr.: All-ACC level performer, Nasirildeen led the Seminoles in tackles the last two seasons. He plays at an elite level and that was most evident in his 22 tackle performance against Boston College last season.

James Blackman, QB, 6-5, 190 pounds, Jr.: By the way people talk about him you would never guess Blackman has 41 career touchdowns and 5,079 career passing yards to his name. He has already started 23 games for Florida State, but with a competent Mike Norvell running the show, expect a big leap from Blackman in 2020.

Louisville Cardinals: Vegas Win Total- 7.5

Louisville had the biggest turnaround of any Power-Five school last season with a six-win improvement from two wins in 2018 to eight in 2019, but this team was very fortunate and will likely come back down to reality in 2020. They lose one of the best offensive lineman in school history with the Mekhi Becton departure and their defense is floating around the below-average tier. Their schedule is also back-loaded with a murderous five-game stretch to end the year. Prediction: Under 7.5

Top Prospects:

Tutu Atwell, WR, 5-10, 153 pounds, Jr.: A dynamic All-ACC level athlete, Atwell has speed for days. He scored 11 receiving touchdowns last season with six of them going for at least 50 yards.

Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, 6-2, 204 pounds, Sr.: Despite only hauling in 35 receptions last season, Fitzpatrick still managed to take six to the house and flirted with declaring for the NFL. He would have been an early-round selection after 2019, and with what we can assume will be more targets in 2020, the sky is the limit in regard to his draft stock.

Javian Hawkins, RB, 5-9, 182 pounds, So.: Another All-ACC performer, Hawkins led all freshmen with an average of 117 rushing yards per game last season. Despite being undersized, Hawkins runs like a big back taking on a full workload and running through oncoming defenders.

NC State Wolfpack: Vegas Win Total- 5

This feels like free money, as the Wolfpack won four games last season and return most of their major contributors. The team is young and if they peak early there is no reason they can’t double those four games in 2020. Dave Doeren is fighting for his job this season and this team has always played with top-notch physicality before. With his feet to the flames, a turnaround should be expected. If you do lose this bet, you can take solace in the fact that Doeren will lose his job. Prediction: Over 5

Ikem Ekwonu, OT, 6-4, 308 pounds, So.: Ekwonu was granted his first start by default after an injury occurred to the regular starting tackle, but Ekwonu was better than expected and earned All-ACC honors.

Trenton Gill, P, 6-4, 217 pounds, Jr.: One of the best punters in the ACC, Gill averaged a healthy 47.6 yards per punt and ended the season with All-ACC honors.

Thayer Thomas, WR, 6-0, 195 pounds, Jr.: Another All-ACC performer, Thomas is an electric return man in addition to being an excellent receiver. the Wolfpack used Thomas all over the field and he even attempted passes before injuries took their toll.

Syracuse Orange: Vegas Win Total- 5.5

Syracuse lost a lot of starters and missing spring ball to COVID-19 is not going to help them. They won five games last season, but I don’t see how they can improve on that mark. The offensive line is just not good enough and the defense as a whole is too disappointing to take the over here. Prediction: Under 5.5

Top Prospects:

Chris Elmore, TE, 6-0, 292 pounds, Sr.: Elmore is a reliable player that can do the dirty work. The NFL will view him as a fullback/H-Back hybrid player and although that is a niche position he could excel at it.

Andre Cisco, S, 6-0, 206 pounds, Jr.: Cisco is an All-ACC performer for good reason as evidenced by his already insane 12 career interceptions, which makes him the active leader in the FBS. Coaches love him and his elite awareness and ball skills make him a perfect safety.

Andre Szmyt, K, 6-1, 191 pounds, Jr.: Another All-ACC player, Szmyt won the Lou Groza award in 2018 and had an equally impressive 2019 season nailing 17 of his 20 field goal attempts.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Vegas Win Total- 6.5

Wake Forest won eight games last season and that number would have been larger if not for a cluster of injuries. The offense only returns three starters and the schedule is a tad tougher, but Dave Clawson appears to have this program moving in the right direction and they should be able to surpass the six game mark. Prediction: Over 6.5

Top Prospects:

Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr., DE, 6-5, 275 pounds, Sr.: Basham is an All-American level performer as evidenced by his dominating 18 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles last season. Extremely underrated due to coming from Wake Forest, but Basham has early-round potential.

Sage Surratt, WR, 6-3, 215 pounds, Jr.: Surratt was named first-team All-ACC last year despite suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Virginia Tech halfway through the season. He has managed to haul in 15 career receiving touchdowns in 19 career games.

Nick Sciba, K, 5-9, 190 pounds, Jr.: Like Basham, Sciba earned All-American honors and rightfully so after setting an NCAA record with 34 straight field goals made.

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