Tag: Zach Heins

3 under-the-radar rookies to watch for at Chargers training camp

While Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey headline the numerous amounts of Chargers rookies, there are a few first-year players who deserve to be spotlighted.

Rookies reported to The Bolt, the Chargers’ new training facility, for the start of training camp.

While Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey headline the rookies in attendance, there are a few first-year players who deserve to be spotlighted.

Here are three rookies to watch in Chargers training camp:

DT Justin Eboigbe

Selected in the fourth round, Eboigbe was one of my favorite players the Chargers drafted.

Eboige has the strength to anchor at the point of attack and eat up double teams. While his strong suit is defending the run, he showed the explosiveness and technicality to get after the quarterback last season.

Even after the addition of Poona Ford, the interior part of the defensive line is not a strong position group, which should make it easier for Eboigbe to crack the rotation and contribute this season.

TE Zach Heins

The Chargers signed Will Dissly to serve as an inline blocker, but no one else on the depth chart offers the same skillset. Heins does. The undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State has the frame, grit and play strength to move bodies in the run game. He might not offer much in the passing game, but Heins is NFL-ready as a blocker and it might be enough to warrant a roster spot.

S Akeem Dent

There will be a battle in the back end of the safety room and Dent has a good chance of locking up a spot. Dent is versatile, as he saw playing time at cornerback, safety and nickel during his time at Florida State. The ability to play multiple positions in the secondary should appeal to Jesse Minter. But his athleticism, explosiveness, and physicality would also serve well on special teams.

Where Chargers’ 2024 undrafted free agent class ranks among rest of NFL

Fantasy Pros’ Thor Nystrom isn’t too high on the Chargers’ undrafted free agent class.

The NFL draft is behind us, and most of the talk has been primarily about the nine selections made by general manager Joe Hortiz, while the undrafted free agents that he signed have been swept under the rug a little bit.

The Chargers inked 20 undrafted free agents to a contract after the draft. So how does the haul stack up to the rest of the league?

Fantasy Pros’ Thor Nystrom ranked Los Angeles’ UDFA class, reviewed some of the signees, and then showed how all 32 organizations’ signings compared to one another.

L.A. ranked No. 31, second-worst out of all the teams in the league.

Here is what Nystrom said:

Following a strong draft, the Chargers had a sleepy UDFA process.

HC Jim Harbaugh reunited with Michigan iOL Karsen Barnhart. For the Wolverines, Barnhart got plenty of experience at both guard and tackle. In 2022, he was the starting RT. But for last year’s title team, he was a full-timer with 831, but he ended up making 186 snaps at LT and 194 at RG, with the rest coming at RT. I projected him as an OG, but Barnhart chips in added value as a break-glass-in-case of emergency OT.

FSU S Akeem Dent, at No. 353, was the highest-ranked prospect signed off my pre-draft board. Dent continues the Chargers’ Florida State West bent in the secondary – he’s joining up with former Seminole stars Derwin James and Asante Samuel Jr. If Dent is to make the Week 1 roster, it’s probably through special team work.

TE Zach Heins might be the more intriguing prospect to keep an eye on. Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman load up on tight ends in their 12-personnel, power-run system. Heins is one strong summer away from an NFL job – the opportunity is there.

Despite believing that the Chargers had a solid haul in the draft, Nystrom wasn’t too fond of their undrafted free-agent signings. One of the players he highlighted was safety Akeem Dent, who Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler believes could make the 53-man roster.

Los Angeles has had some success finding diamond-in-the-rough players in the past, so here’s to hoping that trend continues.

Lions full 2024 NFL mock draft: The first set of projections

The first edition of the Lions’ 2024 mock draft projections

With four games in the books and a better idea of both needs and projected draft order, it’s time for the first edition of the Lions Wire’s 2024 mock draft.

Detroit is 3-1 and currently holds the No. 25 overall pick in the first round, based on the NFL standings after Week 4. This projection covers all the rounds. Obviously, it’s still early in the draft process, making this more about ideas and prospects than predictions. The players here are ballparked in terms of where they appear to project (as of October 5th) in the 2024 NFL draft, which will be held in Detroit in April.

The first two rounds are taken directly from my first full NFL mock draft for 2024 over at Draft Wire. This should help sort out some questions about player availability for those picks.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits return talented offensive core that could have scouts flocking to Brookings

South Dakota State won the FCS championship in 2022 and have some viable NFL prospects returning to Brookings for 2023

The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits will begin their title defense on Thursday in Brookings against Western Oregon.

It will also mark the first game for head coach Jimmy Rogers. Last year’s defensive coordinator takes over for John Stiegelmeier and will benefit from a strong core of offensive players returning from last year’s championship team.

This past April, the Jackrabbits had one offensive player selected from the National Championship team. When the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around the Jackrabbits could have up to six offensive players hear their names get called during draft weekend.

Isaiah Davis, RB

During his first season as a full-time starter, Davis rushed for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a well-built running back who refuses to go down on initial contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Davis racked up 938 yards after contact. The former Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year showcases good vision and scoots through the hole with outstanding burst.

Jaxon Janke, WR

The Madison, South Dakota native is a detailed route runner. Janke has vice grips for hands, only dropping one pass last season on 88 targets. The SDSU wide receiver has hauled in 132 receptions for 2,033 yards and 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Along with what he brings to the table on offense, Janke brings special teams value as a return specialist. He enters his final season at Brookings with a 12.2 punt return average and one punt return touchdown.

Jadon Janke, WR

Janke, like his twin brother, is going to be a fan-favorite of special teams coordinators. He brings value as a return specialist and has also played on punt and kickoff coverage units. During his career at Brookings, he’s averaged 11.4 yards per punt return, with one touchdown and 19.3 yards per kick return. He has strong hands, with a little wiggle after the catch. 

Zach Heins, TE

Heins is nowhere near the same level of athlete as his former running mate, Tucker Kraft. What he lacks in pure athleticism, he makes up for with his size (6-7, 260). He’s strong at the point of attack as a blocker and does an adequate job of keeping his legs driving to drive defenders downfield. He finished last season with career highs in receptions (29) and yards (347) to go along with four touchdowns. With Kraft no longer in the picture, SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski could look to target his big-bodied tight end over the middle of the field more frequently this fall.

Garrett Greenfield, OT

Greenfield enters his final season at SDSU with 24 career starts at right tackle and 16 at left tackle, starting 15 games at left tackle last season. The 30-game starter has light feet as a pass blocker and showcases the lateral quickness to mirror edge rushers. He has the easy athleticism to climb to the second level without laboring. After giving up two sacks against Iowa and UC Davis to start last season, Greenfield gave up zero sacks and just eight pressures during the final 13 games. 

Mason McCormick, OL

Maybe one of the most seasoned interior linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCormick has started 42 games at left guard for the Jackrabbits. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native is smooth in pass protection and has strong hands. He showcases good quickness and erases defenders at the second level.