> HE REMINDS ME OF
Laviska Shenault One of the more intriguing wide receiver prospects this year is Laviska Shenault of Colorado. Unfortunately for him, he was bothered much of the 2019 season with upper body injuries, though he actually only missed two games. His numbers fell off to 56 catches and only four touchdowns as he struggled with discomfort from a core muscle injury much of the season, if not in actual pain most weeks. Shenault is a fascinating weapon to contemplate because of his running back build, at 6’⅝”, and 227 pounds. He only managed a 4.58 40 at the combine but was clearly not totally healthy. He was scheduled to have surgery after the combine. His route running skill is deficient at this time, but once he makes the catch and gets rolling he is tough to get on the ground or out of bounds. He is a very productive player running sweeps and reverses as well. Once Shenault lulls a defense to sleep with “dump” throws, which he turns into first downs, the defender is often set up for a fake with Shenault eating upfield for bigger gains. He can set wide, in the slot or even in the backfield for the snap of the ball. Scouts will tell you that he has reliable hands and flourishes catching in traffic. If he can polish up some of his weak areas of the game, he has WR1 potential. Packers fans, dredge up your memories of the Holmgren Era back in the 1990s for this player comp. There was a wideout who helped Don Majkowski and Brett Favre almost perfect that little dump throw to the wideout that Holmgren characterized as a “long hand-off” more than a true pass. A star receiver caught an awful lot of those throws and turned them into big gains with his after the catch ability. His name was Sterling Sharpe. Laviska can be that kind of player as a pro.
Isaiah Simmons It was another stellar year for Clemson fans, if just one game short of overall perfection. Much of the credit was heaped upon the deserving shoulder of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the offense. But truth be told, the Tigers' defense was just as impactful, especially early in the season. And the leader of that D was clearly Isaiah Simmons, an athletic freak who served roles as a safety, linebacker and edge rusher over the course of the season. When Simmons declared for the 2020 draft he immediately provided the draft class with a top-10 talent. And he did not fail to cause a stir with his athleticism at the combine. At a strapping 6’4” and 238 lbs. Simmons posted jaw-dropping numbers in every workout category, but his biggest attention-getter was a 4.39 40 time. He seems destined to be a versatile, dominant defensive force seemingly cut from the same mold as Derwin James, the 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year. James is primarily a safety who dabbles as a linebacker when the Chargers' defensive scheme calls for his talents there. There is little doubt Simmons will provide that quality and versatility in reverse as called upon to do so as a pro.
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