Shrine Week Updates / Discussion

2016 Shrine Game: Defensive Preview
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
January 18, 2016 9:56 am ET

For most NFL teams, the 2015 season is complete and attention is now turned to the NFL Draft. And the first step of “draft season” is the all-star circuit, including the East-West Shrine Game, which kicks off this week in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The game is scheduled for Saturday, January 23 at Tropicana Field, but most of the work and scouting will be done during the week at daily practices. This year's Shrine Game is the 91st edition, the first and longest running all-star game in football.

Over 100 prospects from last year's Shrine Game were either drafted or signed as free agents, including safety Jordan Richards (64th overall, New England Patriots), offensive guard John Miller (81st overall, Buffalo Bills) and linebacker Jake Ryan (129th overall, Green Bay Packers).

This year's roster has several potential top-100 prospects and other players who will round out a NFL roster. Below is a position-by-position look of the defensive prospects to watch this week (click here for the offense).

DEFENSIVE ENDS/PASS RUSHERS
The top pass rush prospect in St. Pete's (and arguably the top overall player) was Appalachian State's Ronald Blair (6-4, 272), but he isn't expected to suit up due to injury. With Blair sidelined, it will give another “small school” rusher a chance to stand out: Stony Brook's Victor Ochi (6-2, 238).

Ochi lacks ideal height and has some tweener traits, but he's well-built with strong limbs to dip and use his hands to fend off edge blockers. He launches himself off the line of scrimmage with excellent play speed and a motor that is always revving. While he is ideally suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, Ochi will be practicing in a 4-3 base during Shrine Practice so it will be interesting to see how the coaches use him.

Penn State defensive lineman Anthony Zettel (6-4, 282) was often overshadowed this season by his defensive line teammates Austin Johnson and Carl Nassib, who will both participate in the Senior Bowl. But Zettel is still a very appealing prospect in the right scheme. He makes a living by beating blockers to gaps due to his first step quickness and snap anticipation, using a variety of hand moves and an unrelenting motor. Zettel tends to play overaggressive and scouts want to see him better stack-and-shed at the point of attack.

Other defensive ends/pass rushers: Romeo Okwara, Notre Dame (6-4, 270); Dean Lowry, Northwestern (6-6, 290); Mike Rose, NC State (6-3, 270); James Cowser, Southern Utah (6-4, 258); Tyrone Holmes, Montana (6-4, 250); Aziz Shittu, Stanford (6-3, 279); David Onyemata, Manitoba (6-4, 300)

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Another “small school” gem, South Carolina State's Javon Hargrave (6-2, 295) stood out on film and should stand out as one of the better defensive prospects in this game. He is stout at the point of attack with strong hands to lock out and control blocks. Hargrave has a bad habit of stopping his feet and getting caught up in the trash, but when he wins off the snap, he's able to disrupt the pocket's rhythm.

Virginia Tech's Luther Maddy (6-0, 295) has been a forgotten prospect by some after missing most of the 2014 season with a torn meniscus in his right knee. But he started every game this year for the Hokies and was up to his old tricks, using his shorter stature to stay low, win with leverage and penetrate the backfield. Maddy lacks ideal size for the next level, but a productive week in St. Pete's will help repair his draft status.

Other defensive tackles: David Dean, Virginia (6-1, 190); Gerald Dixon, South Carolina (6-2, 269); Alex Balducci, Oregon (6-4, 310); Cory Johnson, Kentucky (6-3, 300); Trevon Coley, Florida Atlantic (6-2, 300); Nile Lawrence-Stample, Florida State (6-1, 302); Connor Wujciak, Boston College (6-3, 301)

LINEBACKERS
One of the deeper positions on the Shrine roster is at linebacker, led by Florida State's Terrance Smith (6-3, 225). Although his senior season didn't go quite as planned, mostly because of a nagging ankle issue, Smith is a rangy athlete with terrific speed and footwork to quickly redirect and burst north, south, east or west. He lacks ideal power and growth potential, but his aggressive mentality will serve him well at the next level, on defense and special teams.

Keeping with the “small school” theme on defense, Georgia Southern's Antwione Williams (6-2, 245) was a do-everything linebacker for the Eagles, leading the team in tackles (107), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (4.0) and forced fumbles (four) in 2015. He lacks sudden burst in his movements, but he's built like a NFL linebacker, hits like a truck and uses the pursuit angles and chase skills to be effective. Williams will be tested in space during Shrine practices, giving evaluators a better idea of his athleticism.

Other linebackers: Gionni Paul, Utah (5-10, 225); Cory James, Colorado State (6-0, 245); Antonio Longino, Arizona State (6-2, 230); Travis Feeney, Washington (6-4, 226); De'Vondre Campbell, Minnesota (6-5, 239); Aaron Wallace, UCLA (6-3, 240); Anthony Sarao, USC (6-0, 235); Joe Bolden, Michigan (6-3, 232); James Burgess, Louisville (6-0, 229); Darien Harris, Michigan State (6-0, 220); Anthony Harrell, Florida (6-2, 237)

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Despite missing a few games in 2015 due to a knee injury, Minnesota's Briean Boddy-Calhoun (5-10, 189) led the Gophers in interceptions (four) and passes defended (10) for the second straight season. He is terrific at tracking the ball and using timing to disrupt the catch point, but his man-cover skills will be challenged in one-on-one drills during practice.

An underrated cover man, Cre'von LeBlanc (5-10, 195) has only average speed and lacks ideal size and length, but he stays patient in his pedal to press, sink and shadow. Although his lack of ideal measureables will be a turn off for some teams, he consistently stays in phase with receivers due to his instincts and highly competitive nature. LeBlanc will have the opportunity to convert doubters during Shrine practices when the emphasis is less about timed speed on a track and more about execution on the field.

At safety, Miami's Deon Bush (6-1, 205) was considered one of the better seniors at his position over the summer, but his 2015 season was disappointing as he battled injuries and inconsistency. He is a good size/speed athlete, who loves to fly around and hit, both on special teams coverages and from different levels of the defense. But his instincts and awareness aren't ready for the NFL, finding himself out of position and playing out of control. Bush desperately needs a positive week during practice to repair his damaged draft stock.

Other cornerbacks: Lloyd Carrington, Arizona State (5-11, 188); Michael Jordan, Missouri Western State (6-0, 201); D.J. White, Georgia Tech (5-11, 190); Brian Poole, Florida (5-10, 205); Juston Burris, NC State (6-1, 203); Ken Crawley, Colorado (6-1, 175); LeShaun Sims, Southern Utah (6-0, 201); Anthony Brown, Purdue (5-11, 194); V'Angelo Bentley, Illinois (5-10, 190); David Mims, Texas State (5-11, 198)

Other safeties: Elijah Shumate, Notre Dame (6-0, 213); Clayton Fejedelem, Illinois (6-0, 191); Jordan Lomax, Iowa (5-10, 200); R.J. Williamson, Michigan State (6-0, 215); Jamal Golden, Georgia Tech (5-11, 193); Michael Caputo, Wisconsin (6-1, 206); Jamie Byrd, South Florida (5-11, 185); Justin Simmons, Boston College (6-3, 194); Andrew Williamson, Vanderbilt (6-1, 212); Tevin Carter, Utah (6-1, 215)