Small School Hidden Gems

SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS DRAFT SLEEPERS

By: ROB REGER

In today’s NFL, it is important for teams to look at many different avenues and in many different places to achieve ultimate success. Long gone are the days when teams can simply rely on top draft choices or overspend for free agents. All of the successful franchises look to the later rounds of the draft and take a shot on smaller school players to help fill in the gaps. This year, that is especially true thanks to fallout from the pandemic and the significant lowering of the salary cap. This breakdown highlights several potential targets for the Packers at positions of need. The focus will be on non-Power 5 conferences with players expected to be available in later rounds. Last year’s profile featured strong first-year contributors, including Gabriel Davis, Antonio Gibson, Alex Highsmith, Jeremy Chinn, and Kyle Dugger. Also included is each player’s fit within Matt LaFleur’s or Joe Barry’s scheme.

MEASURABLES: Height: 5’9” | Weight: 195 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 191 lbs.

Jaret Patterson is a record-setting running back who not only rushed for 1,000 yards three years in a row but also scored 52 touchdowns for the Buffalo Bulls. What really stands out about Patterson are his low center of gravity and quick feet. On film, there is little wasted motion with him, and he is very decisive at the point of attack. Patterson also is exceedingly difficult to get on the ground and frequently runs through arm tackles due to his sturdy build.

The Packers will be looking to replace Jamal Williams, and Patterson could be a perfect complement to Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Although not as big as Dillon, Patterson could be a solid change-of-pace back who also has a nose for the end zone. The biggest flaw to his game is probably the fact that he is not much of a breakaway threat. Finally, although he was not used much in the passing game, Patterson looks like a natural catcher and could further develop that part of his game. “Versatile” is probably the best word to describe Kenneth Gainwell. Although he was only the featured back for Memphis for one season, during that season Gainwell exploded with more than 2,000 total yards and 16 touchdowns. Gainwell thrives by working out of multiple spots in the offense, including spending significant time in the slot. In 2019, Gainwell not only rushed for 1,459 yards, he also caught 51 passes for more than 600 yards as a receiver. It is this type of versatility that has NFL teams taking a close look at adding this dynamic weapon in the mid-rounds. He played quarterback in high school, so there might even be an opportunity for Gainwell to pull off a trick play. In the past two years, the Packers used Tyler Ervin and Tavon Austin in the “gadget” role; Gainwell could be an upgrade for this role. He could be a great weapon in Matt LaFleur’s offense, both as an outside runner on jet sweeps and a receiver motioning out of the backfield, creating nightmares for opposing defensive coordinators.

MEASURABLES: Height: 5’9” | Weight: 189 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 182 lbs.

D’Wayne Eskridge is a home run waiting to happen. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his eight touchdowns in only six games during the 2020 season. He also averaged an incredible 23.3 yards per reception. Eskridge has a unique ability to accelerate through the catch, often allowing him to beat defensive backs after the catch. His skills would work equally well in the slot or as an outside receiver, and he is especially explosive on slant passes. Eskridge could also thrive as a kickoff or punt returner.

On the Packers, Eskridge would fill a huge hole as a slot receiver with explosive running ability on both deep passes and receiver screens. He is a natural catcher, with soft hands. He could finally serve as a replacement for Randall Cobb and have the same impact Cobb did while roaming the slot for the Packers. He would also be a favorite for a special teams spot as a kick returner. There are times on film it looks like Marquez Stevenson is on fast-forward and the rest of the players are on regular speed; he is that fast. Covering from the slot was a futile exercise for defensive backs in the AAC. When healthy, Stevenson proved to be a productive, dominant receiver. His best year was his sophomore year, with 75 catches for 1,019 yards and 11 total touchdowns. However, stats do not always tell the whole story, as Stevenson was subjected to inconsistent quarterback play over the last two years. Oftentimes, he would be wide open, and the quarterback just couldn’t get him the ball.

As mentioned earlier, one knock on Stevenson has been his health. He broke his collarbone freshman year, tore his ACL his redshirt year, and had ankle issues this past year. If the Packers were to take a chance on him, the sky’s the limit. Stevenson would be a low-risk, high-reward pick in the mid to late rounds. If he stays healthy, Stevenson has explosive quickness and long speed to really stretch the defense. His productivity and talent could make him a solid contributor in three or four receiver sets as a player who could get off the line quickly and wreak havoc on the opposing team’s cornerbacks.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 320 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 304 lbs.

The legend of Quinn Meinerz is alive. Before his senior season was cancelled due to Covid-19, Meinerz produced a workout video and posted it online. The video shows Meinerz working out to “One Thing Leads to Another” by The Fixx and shows, among other things, Meinerz running stairs while carrying full propane tanks, ripping trees out of the ground, splitting logs with one mighty swing of an axe, and doing various agility drills in the woods of Canada. However, it was Meinerz’s dominating performance against the top defensive line talent at the Senior Bowl that really made scouts stand up and take notice.

Nicknamed “The Gut” due to his unique figure and uniformwearing style, Meinerz is the definition of country strong. Although he will not wow anyone with his athletic skill, he appears to be more than adequate as an interior lineman. With the Packers moving on from Corey Linsley, Meinerz could be a viable candidate to, at the very least, provide depth on the interior with the ability to eventually move into a starting role once he gains more polish. Although his level of competition could be considered questionable, with his size and ability Dillon Radunz is as NFL-ready as any other prospect in the draft. As a pass blocker, Radunz is quick out of his stance with fluid movements. He rarely gets caught off balance. Many times, tackles struggle at left tackle coming out of college, however, Radunz could be a rare example of a player built primarily for protecting the quarterback’s blind side from day one.

One of Radunz’s most impressive traits is that he improved dramatically year after year and was able to put on solid weight every year he played for the Bisons. He is looked at as a player with his best days in front of him and has a frame to put on even more weight while maintaining quickness. For the Packers, there is some uncertainty at tackle with David Bakhtiari recovering from a late-season ACL tear and Ricky Wagner not returning. Depth at tackle through the draft will be crucial. Landing a versatile, athletic offensive tackle with skills that match up perfectly for the Packers blocking scheme would be ideal.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 255 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 260 lbs.

Jordan Smith is a player who seems like he has his best days of football ahead of him. Smith started his career as a decorated player at Florida; however, he got himself involved in a fraud case and was soon dismissed. After spending time in junior college, Smith resurfaced at UAB and started creating carnage right away. As a redshirt sophomore, Smith had 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He followed that up with nine more tackles for loss and 4.5 more sacks in an eight game abbreviated year.

Smith is long and lean but does show power at the point of attack. At 6’6”, he can disrupt passing lanes, but he also has enough bend to get around the corner on his edge rush. Smith really seems like a player who was given a second chance and is taking advantage of it. For the Packers, Smith could be an ideal situational pass-rusher as a rookie and develop into a strong starter in a couple years. Tarron Jackson is a thick edge rusher who was extraordinarily effective as a pass-rusher for Coastal Carolina. He is a little undersized for a traditional 3-4 defensive end, but he could easily carry an extra 20 to 30 pounds and be effective as a run stopper and a pass-rusher. The area that really stood out on film for Jackson was the fact that he seemed to always push the offensive lineman into the backfield; he was basically immoveable at the line of scrimmage. His power and hand strength are extremely evident on almost every play.

The Packers are going to need to bulk up their defensive line in the draft, and Jackson could be that perfect developmental mid-round player who blossoms in year two or three with the proper coaching and training. His motor is strong, and he never gives up on plays. Jackson was ultra-productive at Coastal, with 18 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss. A lot of teams are going to look at some of Jackson’s measurables and balk, but that would be a big mistake—he is the real deal.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 260 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 190 lbs.

To say that a player is the “total package” as a non-Power 5 defensive player is extremely rare. However, Zaven Collins deserves that moniker. Blessed with outstanding size and speed, Collins is a wrecking ball of a linebacker who can disrupt from the inside and as an edge rusher. He also thrives in coverage while dropping back into zone defenses. As far as productivity is concerned, Collins played three years at Tulsa and accumulated 236 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and five interceptions, including four in 2020 with two returned for touchdowns.

Collins is what the Packers need to take the final step on defense and would thrive as an instant starter in Joe Barry’s defense. He has NFL size at 6’4” and 260 pounds and has plenty of speed and athleticism as well. That said, his best characteristic might be his instincts. Collins usually finds himself in the right place at the right time and rarely makes the wrong read on a play. The Packers primarily played with two rookies at linebacker down the stretch last year with mixed results. Adding a player of Collins’ caliber would make a big difference, especially since Collins projects as a threedown linebacker. Aaron Robinson had to wait awhile to make his UCF debut, but once he did, he took full advantage. Originally an Alabama recruit, Robinson played in 13 games as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide. After the season, Robinson decided to transfer. After sitting out a year, Robinson got hurt on the opening kickoff of his first game with the Knights and missed most of the season. Finally, in 2019, Robinson was healthy and made a big impact for UCF as a slot corner. Robinson is known for his size and quick feet, and he tackles extremely well for a defensive back. He was named All-AAC the last two years.

Robinson profiles as a slot corner in the NFL due to his elite foot quickness, above average coverage skills, and size. Robinson was considered a late round pick entering the season but boosted his stock significantly with a strong week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. With the Packers looking to upgrade the cornerback position, Robinson could be a steal in the third or fourth round and could potentially unseat Chandon Sullivan as the slot corner in the Packers subpackages. Robinson has experience playing both zone and man-to-man, so he would be able to adapt to Joe Berry’s defensive scheme with success.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 180 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 200 lbs.

If the Packers are looking for a diamond in the rough late in the draft, Mills could be that under-the-radar player who could develop into a strong contributor in a couple of years. Mills is not only coming from an FCS school, but he only played one year at North Carolina Central after starting his career in the JUCO ranks. However, the talent and size Mills possesses are rare. He did have five interceptions and eight pass breakups in his lone season at NCC. Those traits and performance led to an invitation to compete at the Senior Bowl, where Mills held his own against the top receivers in the country.

While Mills is certainly a work in progress, the talent he has cannot be taught. When put on an island in man-to-man coverage, Mills can mirror the receiver and prevent separation with ease. Even with the Packers resigning Kevin King, Mills may be the perfect player to sit for a year or two and then step into a starter role in year three. However, there is risk involved with Mills due to his small sample size and lower-level competition. Swiss Army knife is the best way to describe Tariq Thompson as a player. Thompson thrived as a four-year starter for San Diego State and is one of those players who excels in every aspect of the game. Thompson projects as a dime safety in the NFL and could certainly make an early impact. Typically, Thompson lines up in the slot over the tight end and is solid in coverage with excellent natural instincts for the game. Thompson finished his career with 11 interceptions and five fumble recoveries and has a real nose for the football. He is also rarely out of position and reads plays quickly.

For the Packers, the third safety position behind Savage and Amos has been a hole in the defense. Thompson could easily slide into that role and thrive from day one. He is a smart, instinctual player with talent as well. In Joe Barry’s defensive scheme, versatility is a key element. Thompson can cover slot receivers and tight ends, but he can also be effective in the run game as a solid tackler. Thompson has played a lot of football, so the transition should not be too difficult for him to handle.