Temarrick Hemingway NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Rams Rookie

POSITIVES

An easy-moving athlete who dominated the competition at South Carolina State, Temarrick Hemingway has the size, length (34-inch arms) and hand size (10 inches) that every scout looks for. As a pass-catcher, he presents a big opportunity in the red zone and up the seam.

Hemingway plays to his strengths and uses his tools well. He has excellent initial quickness and explodes off the line like he's chasing someone. As a route-runner, Hemingway has quick feet and loose hips. He can use a head or shoulder fake to shake defensive backs and sets up his stem well.

Hemingway won the 2015 Walter Payton Achievement Award—an award given to a player who shows character and team spirit. He's not NFL-ready right away but has the triangle numbers (height, weight, speed) and length to excite coaches in the later rounds.

NEGATIVES

Hemingway looks like a wide receiver and plays like one too. He's not built to block on the line and is best suited to a "move" tight end role.

Despite excellent first-step speed, Hemingway doesn't sustain that quickness as well down the field. He loses his leverage with speed by struggling to have any pull-away juice. With the ball in his hands, Hemingway carries it like a loaf of bread. He'll be an easy strip target in the NFL.

To play as a true tight end, Hemingway will have to put on bulk. He's super thin and lanky and doesn't get low in the power game, which kills his chance at holding up as a blocker on the edge. With below-average read-and-react skills as both a route-runner and blocker, Hemingway doesn't project as a first-year impact player.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'4 ⅞"

Weight: 244 lbs.

40 Time: 4.71s

3-Cone: 6.88s

Short Shuttle: 4.31s

PRO COMPARISON: Tyler Kroft, Cincinnati Bengals
FINAL GRADE: 5.40/9.00 (Round 7—Backup Caliber)