UCLA Bruins
The top pro-prospects on offense are actually underclassmen,
though the seniors offer a few late rounders. Cory Paus, a fundamentally
sound passer, makes good decisions for the most part, displaying toughness in
the pocket, not doing a bad job reading the defense but overall lacks pocket
passer size, arm strength and has only average accuracy. It adds up to Paus
being a late frame selection. Tackle Bryce Bohlander is another hard
worker with good technique and a
blind-side protector that displays adequate strength. A big lineman, he is not
light on his feet, lacks blocking range and may be best suited for the right
side. Likewise right tackle Mike Saffer has even less agility or
abilities to play in space but is a powerful lineman that reminds us of former
Bruin Chad Overhaus. Saffer has size, size potential and a move to guard is not
out of the question. The real talent on this side of the ball lay in the ranks
of the underclassmen. On paper UCLA will miss DeShaun Foster but a pair of
juniors could easily pick up the slack and replace the production Foster now
takes with him to the Carolina Panthers. Akil Harris has a style quite
similar to that of Foster; smart, elusive with a little bit of power. Harris
displays great vision and runs with terrific balance between tackle, following
blocks and consistently picking up positive yardage. Harris did an admirable job
filling in for injured/suspended DeShaun Foster last season and now has the
opportunity to take the ball for himself and prove he’s capable of being the
feature runner. If successful it will translate into a very early selection for
Harris in a year or two. Manual White Jr., a big, power-back, can be his
own blocker barreling through opponents to pick up a lot of yardage off initial
contact. The best talent, if he ever hits on all cylinders, could well be
receiver Tab Perry, a big target with the ability to out-run defenders or
out-muscle them physically. Perry displayed flashes of ability as a sophomore
and must now turn up the consistency, become a big part of the offense and show
his talents on an every snap basis.
Defensively we’ve been high on corner Ricky Manning Jr.
for sometime now but its’ becoming harder to scout Manning as he’s less
involved in the defense since opposing quarterbacks rarely throw to his
direction anymore. That’s because Manning is a shutdown corner and
impenetrable in man-to-man situations. Tough, fast and explosive, Manning
displays both corner skills, instincts as well as speed. He’ll throw his body
around to defend the run just as quickly as he runs step-for-step with opponents
down the field to break up the long pass. Problem for Manning; barely 5-8 a lot
of teams will not expend an early choice on him nor consider him anything other
than a nickel back. Wiping that all away Manning is a terrific cover-man and
justifiably worth a first day pick. Rodney Leslie, only a junior, is a
tough, run stuffing interior lineman with good upside to his game and a prospect
that should make a move up draft boards as he matures physically, adding bulk to
his frame.