2015 NFL Draft: Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook for Week 7

It may not be draft season yet for all NFL and college football fans—unless you live in Oakland, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Tennessee or root for the New York Jets. Then it's probably safe to start spending your Saturdays checking out the top talent available in the 2015 draft.

Or you can just read this article every Friday morning.

This week's Scouting Notebook will look at my updated top 10 players and check in on five players moving up in the rankings and five players moving down my board. We'll also discuss rumors, news and notes from around the draft landscape. 

The Scout's Report

— In talking with area scouts this week, guys assigned to the West are torn on Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong. One scout has him ranked as a top-15 player, while another has Strong among his most overrated players by the media and more of a second-rounder.

— Michigan's Devin Funchess may have been a tight end prior to the 2014 season, but I polled eight NFL scouts and general managers this week on his NFL position and they each replied that he's viewed as a wide receiver prospect. Each also noted he's likely a first-round talent.

— Who is to credit for the Dallas Cowboys' turnaround? I'm told it's not Jerry Jones but his son, Stephen. As the source told me, Stephen has had a major say in draft day decisions since 2011 (when the team selected offensive tackle Tyron Smith in the first round) and has been the influential factor in the team drafting three offensive linemen in the first round over the last four years.

— Oregon State's Sean Mannion has exciting statistics, but he's not seen as a starting-caliber NFL quarterback prospect. As one area scout assigned to Oregon State texted me this week, "He's Mike Glennon without the arm...and that's not very good."

— There are plenty of marquee offensive tackles likely to be available in the 2015 draft, but one I'm hearing great things about is Oklahoma's Tyrus Thompson. He's not being mentioned alongside Cedric Ogbuehi (Texas A&M) or Brandon Scherff (Iowa) yet, but could be by draft season.

— Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace has the Rebels playing exceptional football, but he's not viewed as a priority NFL prospect. Wallace has been called "a less athletic Jake Locker" by one area scout and in my film review I haven't seen a consistently accurate passer. 

 — What's the latest from NFL scouts on Jameis Winston? "Character and trust concerns dominate our talks," one NFL general manager said. Teams are also concerned on the field. One scouting director for an NFC team told me, "I'd question his elongated delivery and the fact that he's not a very quick athlete." That said, one high-level personnel source admitted, "It's easy to talk tough about not liking Jameis until you realize the other quarterback options aren't very good." 

Five Up, Five Down

Each week, "Five Up, Five Down" will monitor the movements of players on my draft board.

5. S Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

More on the hard-hitting Ole Miss safety later, but for now he has to be mentioned as a big mover in the rankings.

Prewitt came into the year as more of a middle-round talent, but he's displayed improved quickness, agility and instincts (especially in coverage) this year. During the 2013 season, he looked like a linebacker playing safety. But he is now becoming more of an Eric Reid type who can do it all.

And just in case you need more Prewitt, here he is hitting then-Vanderbilt wide receiver Jordan Matthews so hard that he caused Matthews to throw up.

4. QB Shane Carden, East Carolina

ECU quarterback Shane Carden doesn't have the world's prettiest mechanics, but he is a smooth-moving athlete and throws with the accuracy and velocity needed to survive in the NFL.

In a year lacking senior quarterback talent, Carden's skills stand out. He works well moving out of the pocket and has the eyes to get the ball down the field or threaded into traffic. Yes, the ball does get held too far away from his body and he has a slower delivery, but so does Philip Rivers.

Carden is definitely worth watching moving forward.

3. RB Tevin Coleman, Indiana

Another week, another Tevin Coleman move up the board.

The Indiana running back was absolutely brilliant against Iowa, showing the speed, vision and balance to make plays all over the field. Coleman is a versatile runner with a burst to make plays between the tackles, as well as the breakaway speed to get outside the tackles and run away from defenders.

Watch Coleman move in the open field and you're likely to see a LeSean McCoy-like back—but one who succeeds running inside, too.

2. S Gerod Holliman, Louisville

For the second straight year, Louisville boasts one of the best safeties in college football.

Last season it was Calvin Pryor, and he became the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 draft. Now it's redshirt sophomore Gerod Holliman, and he looks like a future first-rounder, too. 

Holliman is more fluid in coverage than Pryor was while not being quite as disruptive as a pure tackler and hitter in space. But that bodes well for his NFL projection, as the league is looking for safeties with the athleticism to play in space as cover men and tacklers. 

1. QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

Dak Prescott is a Heisman contender and the quarterback for the No. 1 team in the nation. Will that be enough to push him into the 2015 NFL draft?

Prescott said this week that he would enter the draft if he's projected as a first-round-pick, but also hinted at leaving early if he's projected as a second- or third-rounder, according to a Sports Illustrated report. Prescott may not be in the first-round discussion just yet, but he's showing improved play as a passer as he gains experience as a starter.

Prescott has impressive natural athleticism that translates well to his passing ability down the field, but he needs work on progressing through reads and making touch throws over the middle. If he can show that improvement, the first round isn't out of the question.

1. QB Brett Hundley, UCLA

When the 2014 college season began, Brett Hundley ranked neck and neck with top quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. Now, halfway through the season, Hundley has fallen behind Michigan State's Connor Cook in my rankings.

Hundley isn't surrounded by much talent, but I don't hold that against him in my evaluations. Instead, what I see in Hundley are deficiencies when pressured (he gets flustered in the pocket and locks his eyes on pass-rushers instead of receivers) and struggles to connect on accurate passes when the pocket gets muddy.

Hundley has the athletic tools to be an NFL quarterback, but he's not the Day 1 starter he looked to be before the season began.

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

2. RB Mike Davis, South Carolina

South Carolina's Mike Davis hasn't quite looked like he did in 2013, and that's a concern since this is likely his last year in college football.

Davis' stats look similar to what he accomplished through six games last year, but it's how he's looked on the field that's concerning. I don't see as much burst or the same power when meeting a defender. Davis is a bigger back over 220 pounds, but needs to learn to run more behind those pads and get back to mauling people like he did in the past.

Davis could be saving himself for the NFL, but he needs to kick it into gear soon to keep his draft stock high. 

3. DE Mario Edwards, Florida State

The Florida State defense is loaded with future NFL talent, and defensive end Mario Edwards might be the best of the bunch one day. But right now his stock is dipping down after struggling to make an impact consistently as a pass-rusher. 

Edwards was always a prospect graded on potential—and that potential is top 15 overall good—but his on-field production has to rise. Right now he's been overshadowed by tackle Eddie Goldman and the talented defensive backs behind him.

4. WR Kasen Williams, Washington

At midseason last year, I had Kasen Williams as a top-64 player with a future track at the first round. Then the junior receiver went down with a season-ending lower-leg injury. 

Back on the field in 2014, Williams hasn't been his old self. Some of that is likely due to his recovery from injury—other parts based on poor quarterback play—but Williams has not been very fluid on the field and has struggled to separate from coverage. 

He's the type of player who could rebound once healthy, but for now his stock is in decline.

5. RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Ameer Abdullah was an early-season favorite of fans and folks in the media thanks to huge rushing numbers against Florida Atlantic, Miami (Florida) and Illinois. But his NFL draft stock took a big hit when he struggled against a higher-level defense at Michigan State.

The Spartan defense bottled him up to the tune of 45 yards on 24 carries. Some of that will go on his offensive line, but Abdullah himself struggled to pick up yards after contact and showed that he's a back who can be contained if forced to run between the tackles.

Abdullah is still a starting-caliber running back prospect on my board, but he's fallen behind Melvin Gordon and Tevin Coleman with a disappointing performance against a defense good enough to test him.

Scouting Report: Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

Throughout the 2014 college football season, one senior draft prospect will be highlighted each week with a first-look scouting report.

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Free Safety, Ole Miss (6'2", 212 lbs)

Strengths

• Hard-hitting safety with the size and strength to put ball-carriers on their backs.
• Shows good down-hill instincts and puts himself in a position to attack the ball.
• Plays well in zone coverage and can attack the ball at a high point and/or in traffic.
• Can cover up tight ends and has experience in man coverage calls.
• Athletic profile of a single-high or in-the-box safety.
• Incredibly versatile defender, will fit in any NFL system.
• Similar hitter to Deone Bucannon, but much more fluid in space.
• Good ball skills to play passes in the air. Good hands for interceptions.

Weaknesses

• Change of direction skills will be questioned if he's to stay at free safety.
• Doesn't show coverage potential against wide receivers (especially slot players).
• Surrounded by elite talent—does that make him look better than he really is?
• May not be the best open-field runner and could struggle vs. NFL speed.
• Not a wrap-up tackler and goes for the highlight shot too often.

Pro Player Comparison: Eric Reid, San Francisco 49ers

Scouting Dictionary

"Traveling"

The term "traveling" might sound like a basketball term, but it also applies in football. 

When a cornerback is assigned to track and cover one specific wide receiver, this is called "traveling" because the cornerback will "travel" to whichever side of the field that receiver is on. Some cornerbacks—like Richard Sherman—tend to only play one side of the field. It's worth noting that while together in Indianapolis, wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne also only played one side of the field. Other cornerbacks—Joe Haden, Patrick Peterson, Darrelle Revis—tend to travel to take on a designated wide receiver in coverage.

How does this apply to scouting? If I'm looking at a cornerback, I want to know if he's comfortable working on both sides of the field. There is no guarantee a left cornerback in college will be asked to play left cornerback in the NFL, so the evaluator must be aware of the coverage responsibilities of the defender.

The Big Board

With October at the halfway point, here's an updated look at my top 10 players for the 2015 NFL draft.

Rank	Player	Pos.	College
1	Marcus Mariota	QB	Oregon
2	Leonard Williams	DE	USC
3	Cedric Ogbuehi	OT	Texas A&M
4	Amari Coooper	WR	Alabama
5	Vic Beasley	DE	Clemson
6	Todd Gurley	RB	Georgia
7	Brandon Scherff	OT	Iowa
8	Randy Gregory	DE	Nebraska
9	Landon Collins	SS	Alabama
10	Shaq Thompson	OLB	Washington

Parting Shots

10. Dak Prescott (QB—Miss. State) and Everett Golson (QB—Notre Dame) are two of the biggest names in college football right now...and they should be in 2015, too. Both quarterbacks have natural tools and talents, and should have a shot at a starting job in the NFL, but the 2015 draft is too soon for them. Both players can improve their skills before heading to the pros—Prescott's touch and accuracy need work, Golson must learn to get through progressions and play from the pocket. If they return to college football for the 2015 season, it wouldn't be a surprise to have either one rated as the top quarterback in the 2016 draft class.

9. I'm asked several times a week where suspended Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham will be drafted. My brutally honest take? DGB is overrated. I've been watching Green-Beckham since high school and he can run two routes—a wide receiver screen and a go route. He's not fluid in the hips, doesn't have great top-end speed and has an off-field file thicker than my phone book. No thanks.

8. The New York Daily News posted a story on Thursday about a senior Jets scout who wanted to draft Tom Brady. Two thoughts: 1. Where was this story 10 years ago? 2. Tom Brady drafted at pick No. 179 (the Jets' pick) isn't guaranteed to be the same Brady drafted at pick No. 199 to the Patriots. No two situations are the same, and there is no way to say for sure that Brady would have found success (or saw the field) in New York behind Chad Pennington and with the instability of the franchise before and after the 2000 draft. Great story, but there are a lot of holes in it.

7. Many tweets are sent to my account and across my timeline talking about the struggles of young quarterbacks. Here's a secret for you—it's too soon to put any kind of grade on the 2014 rookie quarterbacks and in many cases it's too early to even grade the 2013 draft quarterbacks. Remember, Peyton Manning lost 13 games and threw 28 interceptions in his rookie season. That first year is all about learning how to play in the NFL.

6. On that note, Derek Carr has impressed as the quarterback of the Oakland Raiders. Carr has top-level arm strength, and that's showing up on film, but he's also improved in the pocket. During his Fresno State days he would too often panic under pressure, but we're seeing him evolve as a passer and start to use his athleticism to make plays outside the pocket when the pass rush gets home. Carr fell to the second round of the 2014 draft, and if this trend holds, he could end up being the steal of the draft.

5. The MVP award has evolved into an award for the quarterback or running back of the team with the best record in the NFL lately, but here's to hoping we'll see a change in 2014. J.J. Watt is, in my humble opinion, both the best player in the NFL and the most valuable player to his team. For the first time since 1986, let's give the award to a defensive player.

4. Troy Vincent, former NFL player and current NFL executive vice president for football operations, had some very good tweets on Thursday regarding underclassmen entering the NFL draft. One tweet noted that while 107 underclassmen entered the 2014 draft, only 30 drafted after the first two rounds are on active NFL rosters. Vincent's tweets are priority reading for any college underclassman before they make a draft decision.

3. Andrew Greif had a good article in The Oregonian discussing Marcus Mariota's upcoming NFL draft decision, and how my No. 1 overall player wants to wait as long as possible to make that call. It's smart for Mariota to say this now, while his team is still in playoff contention, but Mariota seems like an absolute lock to leave for the pros this year after bypassing the 2014 draft. It's worth remembering that Mariota has already graduated from Oregon, too. He has very little left to prove or accomplish at Oregon.

2. What does the Jameis Winston autograph scandal tell us about his draft stock? More than you might think. Winston signing a thousand-or-so autographs (whether free or paid) means nothing to the NFL, but what does matter is that the Florida State quarterback cannot keep his name out of the headlines...and those headlines are all negative. The #BlameJameis tweets drew attention this week after FSU fans blamed the media for looking for negative stories, but no one in the media has forced Winston into these situations. Writers weren't there the night he was alleged of raping a student. Radio-show hosts didn't steal crab legs from Publix. SportsCenter anchors didn't force him into a BB gun battle on campus. And no one signed the autographs in question but Winston. It's time for him to take responsibility, and keep his name out of the papers for anything not related to football.

1. As a 31-year resident of Missouri, allow me to end this football article with a note about baseball.

In the pre-Internet teenage days in rural Missouri, all I wanted for my birthday each year was a set of tickets to see the Kansas City Royals. My parents—a construction supervisor and a preschool teacher—did the best they could to provide for four sons, and by the time I was in my early teens they made it possible for our family of six plus a few friends to attend one game each summer. There weren't many wins, but those are some of the best memories I have of growing up. And now the Royals are heading to the World Series for the first time since 1985 and riding an amazing eight-game winning streak. It's perfect, beautiful, surreal and it's been well worth the wait.

Go Royals.