The Russell Athletic Bowl became “The Teddy Bridgewater Show.” The quarterback guided Louisville to a dominating 36-9 victory over Miami. Bridgewater along doubled the yardage Miami had. However, Bridgewater wasn’t the only NFL prospect on display.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Bridgewater had an incredible season for Louisville. He completed 71 percent of his passes for 3,970 yards, 31 touchdowns and just four picks. The 6-foot-3, 196-pound quarterback had a 171.1 quarterback rating this season.
What I liked:
Bridgewater completed 35 of 45 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown. He showed everything NFL teams are looking for in a franchise signal caller. Bridgewater rarely forced passes, making the smart throw. He showed he is able to squeeze passes into tight windows when needed. He has the needed arm strength to make the essential 10-yard out throw.
Bridgewater is mobile, but is not a run first quarterback. Has an incredible ability to throw on the run. He looked like an expert at play-action pass, and showed tremendous poise under pressure.
Bridgewater’s progression looked like he was already in the NFL. He never stared down a receiver, and looked off safeties to get his man open. He slides when running, like he is supposed to.
He has a nice touch pass, especially in the 15-20 yard range. He possesses great accuracy, and seems automatic inside of 20 yards.
Bridgewater looked confident during the game and has the moxie an NFL quarterback needs. He seemed to be the one calling audibles and making adjustments at the line.
What I didn’t like:
Bridgewater wasn’t perfect throwing the deep ball. He left a few big plays on the field because he under threw an open receiver. He showed he can escape in from the pocket, but didn’t secure the ball very well.
He benefited from a Miami defense that did not put up much of a fight.
Stock Report: Up
NFL scouts loved what the saw out of Bridgewater. He showed everything an NFL needs.
Projected Range: Top-3
Bridgewater shouldn’t just be the first quarterback taken, he should be the first player taken if he turns pro. Bridgewater isn’t the perfect quarterback prospect, as he needs to bulk up quickly and improve his deep ball for starters, but he would be a perfect fit for the Houston Texans. Quarterbacks have a high bust rate, but you have to pull the trigger on potential franchise ones. And that is exactly what Bridgewater is; a franchise quarterback. At times, Bridgewater has a little bit of Aaron Rodgers in his game.
Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville
Smith was Louisville’s best pass rusher all season. The 6-foot-3, 252-pound defensive end recorded 18.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles.
What I liked:
Smith had just two tackles during the game, but they were both sacks. He also forced a fumble on a strip sack. He was disruptive and was forcing pressure for much of the game.
What I didn’t like:
Smith wasn’t much of a factor in the running game. Smith didn’t really make sacks happen; instead they were given to him because someone on Miami’s offensive line missed their assignment.
Stock Report: Up
Smith didn’t dominate, but he did enough to force scouts to look at his other tape. He played well enough to merit a more in-depth look.
Projected Range: Early Day 3
Smith has potential as a weak side defensive end in a 4-3 or a weak side outside linebacker in the 3-4. He is a little undersized, but offers potential as a pass rusher. He will need to improve his run support to be an every down player.
Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville
Pryor was the best defensive player on Louisville’s team this year. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound free safety recorded 75 tackles on the season, with 5.5 of those coming as tackles for loss. He had three picks and seven passes defended.
What I liked:
Pryor showed no fear coming into the box to stop the run. He had six tackles; all of them solo. He has good form when tackling and wraps up well.
What I didn’t like:
I never got a real chance to see Pryor in deep coverage, as Miami never had a chance to go deep because of poor offensive line play.
Stock Report: Neutral
Pryor played well, but never got a chance to show off his coverage skills. His coverage abilities are the biggest question mark in his game right now.
Projected Range: Late Day 2/Early Day 3
Pryor has decided to turn pro early, and should be a high draft pick. If he can show playmaking ability in workouts (or on previous tape), he has a chance to go in the second round. As of right now, I’d expect him to be a third round pick.
Hakeem Smith, SS, Louisville
Smith paired with Pryor to form a talented safety tandem. The 6-foot-2, 179-pound Smith had 45 tackles, three interceptions, five pass breakups and eight passes defended.
What I liked:
Smith had just three tackles, but looked solid in run support. Smith had a great, leaping interception near the sideline, but wasn’t able to drag his toe to have it count. He had a key tackle early in the game on a third and short.
What I didn’t like:
Smith whiffed on a tackle late in the game. He didn’t really jump off the screen, but never gave up a big play.
Stock Report: Neutral
Louisville limited Miami from doing much of anything offensively. Smith was a part of that, but never made a big play.
Projected Range: Day 3
Smith is undersized for safety, and will need to add some weight to make it in the NFL. He has a chance to hang around if he can contribute on special teams. He is a solid player, but I’m not sure he is anything special.
Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami
Henderson was a highly touted recruit coming out of a high school. The 6-foot-8, 345-pound offensive tackle won the USA Today High School Player of the Year in 2009, the first lineman to do so.
What I liked:
Henderson looks like man among boys on the football field. He looks like an NFL tackle. He has flashes where he looks like a first round draft pick.
What I didn’t like:
Henderson gave up a sack when he missed his man, as Louisville’s Marcus Smith ran right by him. Henderson wasn’t on the field for the next series. There were a few times after that where he sat out a series. I don’t know why that happened, but it raises questions.
At times, Henderson looked disinterested in what was going on around him. On several run plays away from him, Henderson didn’t block anyone, instead just wandering towards the ball. Miami rarely ran the ball to Henderson’s side, which speaks volumes about what Miami thinks of Henderson’s run blocking.
Stock Report: Neutral
Henderson didn’t really affect his stock one way or the other. He should be a known quantity by now.
Projected Range: Day 3
Henderson might be the biggest boom or bust prospect in the draft. He has had his struggles at Miami, but there is no denying his talent. By this point in his career, he should be a first round prospect. He hasn’t come close to fulfilling his potential. I don’t think he can be a left tackle, but has the potential to be an Andre Smith-type right tackle. If he doesn’t reach his potential, he could be out of the league in two years. It only takes one team to fall in love with him and use a pick on him.
Stephen Morris, QB, Miami
Morris had high expectations after a junior year in which he completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 3,345 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Some thought he could be one of the top QB prospects. However, the 6-foot-2, 218-pound quarterback struggled this year.
What I liked:
Morris showed an NFL-quality arm. He has great arm strength and can make all the throws.
What I didn’t like:
Morris completed just 12 of 27 passes for 160 yards. He forced passes and tried to do too much. He took four sacks and was forced to throw several balls away as Miami’s offensive line struggled to protect Morris.
Morris made several poor decisions, including throwing into double coverage. Morris nearly threw a pick-six in the game. He took a terrible sack on a fourth down play.
His accuracy, especially on deep passes, didn’t look very good.
Stock Report: Down
Morris wasn’t put in a very good spot, but he didn’t play very well either.
Projected Range: Late Day 3
Morris should get drafted, but he is a project. He has the arm, but needs to work on his accuracy and decision-making to make it in the NFL. He is a little on the short-side, but stands tall in the pocket. Morris has potential, but needs a lot of polishing.
Denzel Perryman, MLB, Miami
Perryman led the Hurricanes in tackles with 108. The 6-foot, 240-pound middle linebacker also chipped in five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
What I liked:
Perryman made a couple good tackles during the game. He isn’t afraid to lay the lumber.
Unlike the rest of Miami, I never saw Perryman get burned in coverage.
What I didn’t like:
Perryman seemed to get caught up in Louisville’s offensive line. He was always near the ball, but rarely in on a tackle. He looked a little heavy too.
Stock Report: Neutral
I’m not going to punish Perryman for having an average game when the whole team was terrible. He didn’t look great, but he wasn’t bad either. His other tape is more impressive and will carry more weight.
Projected Range: Late Day 2/Early Day 3
Perryman is only a junior, but I expect him to turn pro early. He is a little undersized at just six feet tall, but he is sure tackler. I don’t think he is the next Ray Lewis, but he can become a solid MLB at the next level.
Brandon Linder, OG, Miami
Linder was so essential to Miami’s success that he was the Team Offensive MVP at the end of the year. The 6-foot-6, 319-pound guard was named All-ACC Second Team this year.
What I liked:
While Miami’s offensive line struggled, Linder played the best. In addition to playing right guard, he also lined up at right tackle when Henderson sat out several series.
For the most part, he looked solid in run support and in pass protection.
What I didn’t like:
Linder got burned by his man on a run play, and Miami’s running back got lit up as a result. Those types of plays can’t happen on the next level.
Stock Report: Neutral
Linder looked solid, but he wasn’t spectacular. He has a chance to really improve his stock at the Senior Bowl.
Projected Range: Day 3
Linder won’t be expected to be a starter right away. His ability to play tackle and guard will be big at the next level. He is still raw, and doesn’t possess elite athleticism. However, there is a spot in the draft, and on a roster in the NFL, for Linder.
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Parker was one of Bridgewater’s favorite targets. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound wide receiver caught 55 passes for 885 yards and 12 touchdowns.
What I liked:
After suffering an ankle injury early, Parker returned to catch nine passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. Parker showed solid hands and route running. He had a great catch on his touchdown.
What I didn’t like:
Parker is the beneficiary of playing with a great quarterback.
Stock Report: Up
Parker looked good against Miami and that will help his stock.
Projected Range: Early Day 3
Parker is only a junior, and might not turn pro. If he does, I expect him to be a fourth round pick. He is a very solid player, but I don’t know if he is No. 1 WR-material. If Parker returns to school without Bridgewater and plays well, then he could increase his stock.
Pat O’Donnell, P, Miami
Yes, punters are prospects too. O’Donnell transferred back home to Miami from the University of Cincinnati, and averaged 47.1 yards per punt. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound punter was named second team All-American by the USA Today.
What I liked:
O’Donnell averaged 45.7 yards per punt on six punts. He had a great 60-yard punt as well. His first punt was perfect, as it hit at the one-yard line and just stopped. Ray Guy himself couldn’t have done it better. He also pinned a second punt inside the twenty.
He didn’t allow a single punt return.
What I didn’t like:
O’Donnell wasn’t consistent. He had a bad touchback during the game. He also shanked a punt that went about 20 yards, although that was caused by pressure. His hang time was good, but it wasn’t great.
Stock Report: Neutral
O'Donnell had some great punts and some bad punts. That will keep his stock the same.
Projected Range: Late Day 3/Undrafted Free Agent
Punters aren’t drafted high in the NFL. Well, they aren’t supposed to be. I’m looking at you Jacksonville. O’Donnell is a good punter, and should get a shot at making a team.
Preston Brown, MLB, Louisville
Brown led Louisville in tackles this year, recording 98. 12.5 of those were for loss and the 6-foot-2, 260-pound linebacker chipped in 4.5 sacks as well.
What I liked:
Brown was great in run support, recording seven tackles. I didn’t seem him miss any either. He had two tackles for loss, including one sack. Louisville liked to bring Brown as a blitzer, something you don’t often see out of a middle linebacker. He played some special teams, which will be key for him in the NFL.
What I didn’t like:
The reason Louisville blitzed Brown was because he is a liability in coverage. He got burned for a big play by Miami tight end Clive Warford. Brown wasn’t fast enough to stay with Warford and his form was terrible. His hip movement was all wrong and he couldn’t run laterally.
Stock Report: Neutral
Brown looked great in run support, which will help his stock. But his inability to cover will hurt it.
Projected Range: Late Day 3
Brown can’t cover NFL tight ends or running backs. That means he will be limited to a two-down middle linebacker who helps on special teams. That’s not appealing to NFL teams, but his ability to stop the run should make him a late round draft pick.
More NFL Draft Coverage:
Back to the NCAA Newsfeed