2016 NFL Draft Scouting Notebook for Week 13

The Scout's Report

— In speaking to a source close to former UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, I learned he's well ahead of his rehab schedule and is already doing weighted squats and field work as he recovers from a torn meniscus. Jack, who played running back and linebacker for the Bruins, projects as a top-15 pick at linebacker.

— Keep an eye on Auburn left tackle Shon Coleman. The junior is a cancer survivor (leukemia) and a top-tier athlete with a big mean streak. Former NFL lineman and current offensive lineman trainer LeCharles Bentley compared him to Willie Roaf this week.

Patrick Record/Associated Press

— Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp has dominated the record books in his last two seasons, and the junior announced on his Instagram account that he'll return for one more season at EWU and not enter the 2016 NFL draft.

— Former Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence dominated at Eastern Kentucky this fall, and in a conversation this week he told me he's been invited to the 2016 Senior Bowl and plans to accept the invite. Although he's a junior, Spence graduates from EKU on December 11 and is therefore eligible for the Senior Bowl. A first-round talent on the field, but he must answer questions about failed drug tests that led to his dismissal from Ohio State.

— This from an area scout via text this week: "You guys [the media] are too low on Leonard Floyd. He's going to be top-10 for us." The Georgia linebacker has been linked to the NFL draft and recently tweeted about leaving Georgia for the NFL.

— The 2016 quarterback class is underwhelming, according to multiple NFL scouts I've spoken to, but one name they all like as a potential starter is Carson Wentz from North Dakota State. One team I spoke to this week said Wentz could go as early as the late first round.

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

— South Carolina linebacker Skai Moore is leaning toward entering the draft as an underclassman. That's from both team sources at USC and a family member I spoke to this week. Moore is undersized (6'2", currently 225 pounds) but should test very well.

— Sources at Nebraska told me this week that defensive tackle Maliek Collins is expected to declare for the draft. Collins is expected to receive a first-round grade from the NFL draft advisory board.

— Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright has missed much of the 2015 season due to injuries, but I was told by a source close to his family that the junior has taken meetings with agents and is at this time expected to enter the draft a year early.

Five Names to Know

5. No. 92 EDGE DeVonte Fields, Louisville

As the regular season comes to a close, one name to file away to remember once the predraft events warm up is DeVonte Fields (6'4", 250 lbs) at Louisville. The former TCU defensive end was a star in the Big 12 before being dismissed from school. He's landed on his feet at Louisville and has stayed out of trouble while producing for the Cardinals.

4. No. 24 LB Terrance Smith, Florida State

Athletic outside linebackers are all the rage in a 4-3 defense as teams try to adjust and adapt to speedier, pass-heavy offenses. To combat that, we're seeing guys like Terrance Smith (6'3", 222 lbs) play a ton of downs in the NFL. He's equipped to hold up in pass coverage, but like a traditional linebacker, he's able to stop the run and get after the quarterback some. He projects well as a 4-3 weak-side linebacker.

3. No. 3 QB Vernon Adams, Oregon

Two months ago, I was ready to write off Vernon Adams, but then he came back from an early-season thumb injury, and ever since he's been fantastic. The film review on Adams is fascinating because he's been a polar opposite player since coming back healthy. He's undersized (5'11", 200 lbs) but has a quick whip on his delivery and a knack for making plays.

2. No. 78 G Landon Turner, North Carolina

The offensive guard class isn't particularly strong, especially the seniors, but Landon Turner (6'3", 315 lbs) is the kind of mauler NFL scouts will fall in love with. How well he handles a fantastic Clemson defense in the ACC Championship Game will say a lot about his NFL draft stock.

1. No. 28 RB Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech

The running back class looks good again in 2015, and one of my favorites is a small-school stud. Kenneth Dixon (5'9", 212 lbs) reminds me of how Thomas Rawls looked last year in college, but this time around NFL scouts won't sleep on the bone-jarring running ability.

Scouting Report: Reggie Ragland, Alabama

Throughout the 2016 draft season, I'll highlight one draft prospect each week with a first-look scouting report.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

No. 19 Linebacker Reggie Ragland, Alabama (6'2", 254 lbs, est. 4.80 speed)

Strengths: A two-year starter, senior Reggie Ragland has the measurables you want in a middle linebacker. He's a sturdy 6'2", and at 250-plus pounds he can bang with guards and fullbacks in the middle of the defense. Ragland isn't a speedster, but he has adequate speed for his size and has shown better field speed than track speed.

In coverage, Ragland does a better job than I expected. Watching him against Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry, the No. 1 tight end in the country, Ragland showed he could flip his hips and run in-phase with the smooth-moving target. He uses his length and size well to redirect tight ends and will jam and get physical at the line of scrimmage. Ragland won't have to be removed on passing downs.

Against the run, you see the toughness to handle blockers and the length to stack them up and then shed to attack the ball. Ragland is a hard hitter, and he closes on the ball in a hurry. Watching him run alleys and attack the ball, you see a first-round talent.

Positionally, Ragland can play "Mike" (middle) or "Sam" (strong-side) linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. Teams running a 3-4 defense will like him as an inside linebacker, but he does have experience playing off the edge and has been productive there.

Weaknesses: The biggest knock I heard from scouts all fall was that Ragland didn't have great football instincts, and that does show up some on film. He can be a late reactor to the ball, and in college that can be hidden by a great defensive line in front of him and good athleticism. In the NFL, you can't be a second or two late to the ball. This is something scouts must focus on when viewing Ragland against premier competition, and it is something teams can evaluate on the whiteboard at the NFL combine and in private meetings.

Pro Comparison: Dont'a Hightower

Generally speaking, school-to-school comparisons are something I don't like, but this one fits. Hightower was a three-down nightmare for offenses at Alabama and showed he could impact the game from all over the field. Ragland does that too, and while he's a bit leaner and more athletic than Hightower, I see them having very similar pro careers.

Currently, Ragland projects as a top-25 player and the best true inside linebacker in this class.

The Big Board

Next week, I'll be publishing a new Top 100 big board with the top 10 players at each position, but it's been a long time since the last update, so I'm posting a Top 25 sneak peek here. Expect the full big board Thursday.

Rank	Player	Pos.	School
1	Jared Goff	QB	California
2	Jaylon Smith	LB	Notre Dame
3	Joey Bosa	EDGE	Ohio State
4	Robert Nkemdiche	DL	Ole Miss
5	Ronnie Stanley	T	Notre Dame
6	Laremy Tunsil	T	Ole Miss
7	Vernon Hargreaves	CB	Florida
8	Jalen Ramsey	FS	FSU
9	Laquon Treadwell	WR	Ole Miss
10	Myles Jack	LB	UCLA
11	Mackensie Alexander	CB	Clemson
12	DeForest Buckner	DL	Oregon
13	Ezekiel Elliott	RB	Ohio State
14	Josh Doctson	WR	TCU
15	Leonard Floyd	EDGE	Georgia
16	Shaq Lawson	EDGE	Clemson
17	Paxton Lynch	QB	Memphis
18	Su'a Cravens	LB	USC
19	Andrew Billings	DL	Baylor
20	Maliek Collins	DL	Nebraska
21	Kenny Clark	DL	UCLA
22	Michael Thomas	WR	Ohio State
23	Reggie Ragland	LB	Alabama
24	Shon Coleman	T	Auburn
25	Jayron Kearse	FS	Clemson

Parting Shots  

10. The 2016 Senior Bowl roster is starting to take shape with another announcement of accepted invitations coming out each Tuesday. Here's the roster as it stands now, but remember, players can (and will) drop out between now and late January.

QB Jeff Driskel, Louisiana Tech	DE Jason Fanaika, Utah
QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State	DE Dadi Nicolas, Virginia Tech
RB Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech	DE Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
RB Jonathan Williams, Arkansas	DE Charles Tapper, Oklahoma
FB Dan Vitale, Northwestern	DE Jihad Ward, Illinois
WR Jay Lee, Baylor	DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech
WR Kolby Listenbee, TCU	DT Matt Ioannidis, Temple
WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia	LB Kentrell Brothers, Missouri
WR Chris Moore, Cincinnati	LB Jordan Jenkins, Georgia
WR Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma	LB Blake Martinez, Stanford
TE Jake McGee, Florida	LB Tyler Matakevich, Temple
TE Bryce Williams, East Carolina	LB Jared Norris, Utah
T Willie Beavers, Western Michigan	LB Josh Perry, Ohio State
T Joe Dahl, Washington State	LB Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
T Kyle Murphy, Stanford	LB Eric Striker, Oklahoma
T Jason Spriggs, Indiana	CB James Bradberry, Samford
T John Theus, Georgia	CB Maurice Canady, Virginia
T Cole Toner, Harvard	CB Sean Davis, Maryland
G Josh Garnett, Stanford	CB Deiondre' Hall, Northern Iowa
G Connor McGovern, Missouri	CB William Jackson, Houston
G Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas	CB Jordan Lucas, Penn State
G Christian Westerman, Arizona State	CB Harlan Miller, SE Louisiana
C Evan Boehm, Missouri	CB Eric Murray, Minnesota
	S Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee State
	S Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah
	S Darian Thompson, Boise State

9. Underclassman declarations are starting to be announced as players make plans before the January 18 deadline to enter the 2016 NFL draft. Here's a look at the notable announcements thus far.

Expected to Declare	Returning to School
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State (declared)	WR Will Fuller, Notre Dame
RB Jonathan Williams, Arkansas (declared)	G Pat Elflein, Ohio State
WR Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina (declared)	DL Darius Hamilton, Rutgers
WR Corey Coleman, Baylor	DL Drew Ott, Iowa (injured)
T Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame	CB Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
T Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
DL Kenny Clark, UCLA
DL Maliek Collins, Nebraska
DL Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland (declared)
DL Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
LB Leonard Floyd, Georgia (declared)
LB Myles Jack, UCLA (declared)
LB Skai Moore, South Carolina
CB Mackensie Alexander, Clemson

8. Every now and then I'm going to recycle some old content because it's topical, and this week I wanted to reshare my 10 scouting rules from last year. Here they are:

• A lot of great football players are crappy people. A lot of crappy football players are good people.
• What a college coach or scheme asked the player to do isn't always all that he can do.
• Production must be the result of traits—not a result of scheme or competition.
• Russell Wilson was an exception, not the rule.
• Three games are a minimum before any report can be filed. Don't cheat it.
• Fall reports are meant to be updated. Don't hold yourself to early-season grades. Change is OK.
• Football character and personal character are different, but both can't be bad.
• Look for what a player can do, not what a player can't do.
• The Teddy Bridgewater Rule: Trust the film, not the workouts.
• When you're wrong, and you will be, admit it and learn from it. Self-study is crucial.

7. College coaching moves have a major impact on NFL draft declarations, and two moves this week point to significant decisions among the quarterbacks in this draft class.

Memphis head coach Justin Fuente accepted the head coaching job at Virginia Tech, which points to junior quarterback Paxton Lynch's leaving school for the NFL after this season. Likewise, I'm hearing Cal head coach Sonny Dykes has been rumored for many openings, and if he leaves it would indicate quarterback Jared Goff will exit school early for the NFL.

6. What the heck is going on in Cleveland? Johnny Manziel is being punished for breaking his promise to the team about drinking and for lying about what he did during the bye week, per Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, and that's good. Manziel needs accountability, something he didn't have at Texas A&M. He has to learn discipline, something that's apparently missing from his life. But why are the Browns continuing down this road with him?

The best move, for all involved, would be to simply cut Manziel and let him learn his lesson somewhere else. It doesn't benefit the Browns to have this negative attention hanging around the club, and it doesn't help Manziel to have the clear disapproval of the head coach and team following him around.

5. The NFL announced this week that for the first time, compensatory draft picks are to be traded starting with the 2017 draft class. That's great news for teams that lose free agents and are awarded compensatory picks.

The way the system works now, if a team loses a free agent to another team, it can be awarded a draft pick as compensation for losing the player. The best pick a team can receive is a third-rounder (which doesn't happen often), and there is a maximum number of 32 compensatory picks awarded each year. The value is based on the money the departed free agent signs for versus any additional signings the team made before Week 1 of the NFL season.

For example, the Detroit Lions lost Ndamukong Suh to the Miami Dolphins and didn't make a signing of their own to offset that move. It would be fair to expect the Lions to receive a compensatory pick at the end of the third round in the 2016 draft as a sort of payment for losing a star player.

4. The Denver Broncos are coming up on a very tough decision this offseason—play tag with Von Miller or Brock Osweiler?

The Broncos will likely need to use their franchise tag designation on one of the players, with both coming up on free agency, and the smart money would be on Miller if the team can't come to a long-term agreement before the February 16 date when teams can start applying the franchise tag.

Depending on how Osweiler plays, the transition tag could be an option, but the expected $17 million price tag may scare off the Broncos.

3. Speaking of franchise tags, free agency and the NFL draft, here's a quick look at the key dates for this coming offseason.

• January 10, 2016: Assistant coaches on playoff teams with a bye can interview for open head coaching jobs.
• January 17: Assistant coaches on playoff teams that won their wild-card games can interview for head coaching jobs.
• January 18: Deadline for underclassmen to enter the 2016 NFL draft.
• January 22: Deadline for underclassmen to remove names from the 2016 NFL draft.
• January 23: East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Florida.
• January 30: Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
• February 22: First day franchise or transition tags can be applied.
• March 7: Deadline to apply franchise or transition tags.
• March 12-15: NFL teams can begin contacting free agents.
• March 15: 2016 league year and free agency begin at 4 p.m. ET.
• April 28-30: NFL draft in Chicago.
  
  

2. Prepare to hear from anonymous scouts who don't like the 2016 quarterback class. I've already started hearing the rumblings that scouts don't like Paxton Lynch (Memphis) or Jared Goff (California) as sure-thing top-five picks. Add to that the big question marks about Connor Cook (on and off the field, given talk within the scouting community of attitude issues and being a prima donna), and you really don't have much to like in this class early on.

That's not to say Goff and Lynch won't go early—they will if they enter this draft—but when NFL teams start talking about how their big boards are stacked, it's likely no quarterback will be in the top 10 when discussing a consensus ranking.

1. A prediction to end the week: Though this isn't based on any inside information, there have been a lot of rumblings about a disconnect at Ohio State between the players and head coach Urban Meyer. The smart money is on those issues, and the talent level there, leading to a lot of Buckeyes underclassmen heading to the NFL after this season ends for them.

Already we've seen running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Cardale Jones indicate they've played their last game in Columbus, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Joey Bosa (DE), Michael Thomas (WR), Darron Lee (LB), Eli Apple (CB) and Vonn Bell (SS) join the ranks as underclassmen heading to the pros instead of going back for a shot at another national title in 2016.

Matt Miller covers the NFL and NFL draft for Bleacher Report.