Pro Big Red

[Xmas32]

Dane Brugler's "The Beast" NFL Draft guide just dropped. As I've done in previous years, here is selected info about the Nebraska guys he's evaluated. Dane does an excellent job and if you're an NFL draft nerd like I am, Dane's stuff is great. You can find his guide if you subscribe to The Athletic.

 

Trey Palmer:

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Nebraska, Palmer was primarily a slot receiver in former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s shotgun, pro-style scheme, also seeing time on the outside. After three years at LSU, he had a record-breaking senior season at Nebraska and set school records for receiving yards in both a season and game (accounted for 40 more catches and 572 yards more than the second-leading receiver on the Huskers in 2022). One of the fastest players in the draft class, Palmer has Ted Ginn-like vertical burst (led the FBS with three catches of 70-plus yards in 2022) and catches defenders napping with the acceleration out of his breaks. Though a confident competitor, his concentration can be disrupted by physical defenders in press or on his hip. Overall, Palmer needs more route polish and consistency through contact to be useful on a down-to-down basis, but he is an inside/outside field stretcher with speed that defenses must respect. He projects as an NFL rookie return man and WR 4/5 who can move up the depth chart over time. GRADE: 3rd-4th Round (No. 95 overall)

 

Travis Vokolek

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Nebraska, Vokolek primarily played as a Y tight end in former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s shotgun, pro-style scheme. The son of a longtime college coach, his effectiveness as both a blocker and pass catcher improved each season in college, initially at Rutgers and then in Lincoln. Vokolek is a coordinated big man with crafty adjustment skills at the catch point, but creating his own space will be a challenge with his average athletic profile. He needs to tighten up some fundamental aspects of his blocking, but he has workable size and strength to give defenders a battle at the point of attack. Overall, Vokolek is a big target with inline skills, although he doesn’t have a technically sound approach and might struggle with the speed of the NFL level. He has a chance to make a roster or practice squad as a steady No. 3 tight end as an NFL rookie. GRADE: Priority Free Agent

 

Ochaun Mathis:

SUMMARY: A role player in his one season at Nebraska, Mathis played on the edge in the Cornhuskers’ four-man base front. After starting 34 straight games at TCU (32.0 tackles for loss in those starts), he was a heralded (and expensive) transfer in Lincoln, but he started only two games in 2022, and his impact failed to match the hype. Mathis checks a lot of boxes on paper with his long, flexible frame and athletic movement skills to penetrate the pocket from different angles. However, he isn’t yet the sum of his parts, and his lack of refinement stalls his attack as both a pass rusher and run defender. Overall, Mathis has impressive physical traits with his size measurables and athletic tools, but his play strength and pass-rush instincts are underdeveloped. His raw talent is better than his tape, making him a potential draft-and-develop rusher for an NFL team. GRADE: Priority Free Agent

 

In case anyone was wondering:

Tannor, Kolarveic and Muaga-Clements are all listed under 'Best of the Rest". I did not see Nelson listed anywhere under DE and LB but concede I may have simply missed it.

 

And lastly because why not haha:

 

Adrian Martinez:

SUMMARY: Adrian Martinez was born in Hanford, Calif, and his mother (Deanna) passed away from cancer when he was age 10. After compiling more than 4,000 yards of offense as a junior, he missed his senior year at Clovis West (torn labrum). A four-star recruit, he flipped from Cal to Tennessee, then Nebraska late in the process. He started four seasons in Lincoln and set the school record for total offense (10,792 yards). He transferred to Kansas State for his final season but was hampered by a leg injury in the second half of 2022. Martinez is a decent-sized athlete to move the pocket or use his legs to pick up chunk yardage (45 rushing touchdowns). He is a creative passer with an adequate arm, but his ball placement and timing lack precision, often because of spotty vision and a failure to make onschedule decisions. Overall, Martinez has the physical tools and toughness to earn looks from NFL teams, but he must develop more consistency as a passer. GRADE: Priority Free Agent

 

[Husker in WI]

I missed Nelson initially too, but he's listed as a priority free agent a couple slots after Mathis:

Quote

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Nebraska, Nelson played on the edge in the Cornhuskers’ four-man base front, lining up in either a two- or three-point stance. He was one of the few dependable players on the Huskers’ “Blackshirts” defense the last few seasons, leading the team in both tackles for loss and sacks his junior and senior seasons. Nelson is an average-twitch player who struggles to gain enough ground with his first step or react to elusive runners in space. Although his shortcomings are apparent, he maximizes his talent with his movement efficiency and GPS for the football. Overall, Nelson’s limitations regrettably come in critical areas (speed and length) for playing the position, but he is a locked-in competitor with short-area quickness and football character that will endear himself to NFL coaches. He draws similarities to Kenny Willekes as a potential rotational end or SAM linebacker.

 

[Xmas32]

Thanks @Husker in WI I appreciate it! I looked 3 or 4 times and just plum missed him.