Steelers NFL Draft Prospects: College Game Day and Open Thread

Welcome to week 12 of the college football season. This weeks top 25 match ups.

No. 12 Syracuse vs. No. 3 Notre Dame 2:30 NBC, played in Yankee Stadium

No. 19 Cincinnati at No. 11 UCF 8:00pm ABC

No. 18 Iowa State at No. 13 Texas 8:00pm Longhorn Network

This weeks highlight game:

No. 12 Syracuse vs. No. 3 Notre Dame 2:30 NBC, played in Yankee Stadium

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Jerry Tillery #99 6’7” 305lbs

Te’Von Coney #4 LB 6’1” 240lbs

Julian Love #27 BC 5’11” 193lbs

Sam Mustipher #53 OL 6’3” 306lbs

Alex Bars #71 OL 6’6” 315lbs

Alize Mack #86 6’5” 247lbs

Syracuse Orange

Koda Martin #78 OT 6’6” 304

Chris Slayton #95 DT 6’4” 306

Eric Dungey #2 QB 6’4” 226

Cody Conway #60 OL 6’6” 296

Ravien Pierce #6 TE 6’3” 244

Fighting Irish Breakdown

CB Julian Love

Love is a fantastic man coverage, who, while he lacks the jams that you would like in a great press-man CB, makes up for it with fluid hips and great mirroring skills. Love’s change of direction is fantastic and he knows how to ball spectacularly well. I think he does need to up his aggressiveness, but his eyes and processing are golden. He is fluid and can make up ground easier than many will give him credit for. Love also comes up and is extremely active in run support.

Round Grade: Mid 2nd

NFL Comparison: Ahkello Witherspoon

IDL Jerry Tillery

Tillery is extremely explosive to the point where he could be considered an elite level of DL in this draft. His first step is fantastic and he uses his strength to just maul guys that he is up against. His athletic ability allows him to use his strength to get penetration and make tackles for loss. His run defense is great, too, as he has fantastic gap discipline.

I really want him to get lower. His pad level is far too high and it really stops him from being a great prospect. He is good but he is simply not great because he can get blown off the ball, and due to that, opens up lanes.

Round Grade: Mid 2nd

NFL Comparison: Daequan Jones

ILB Te’Von Coney

Coney is a guy who is always around the ball despite not being a great athlete for ILB position. That is all because this guy is an elite processor who can read the play straight from the snap. He fights through the blocks and fights downhill as much as he needs to. He knows his role and sticks to it. His tackling is great and he barely misses any.

However, he is a nuisance in coverage. He just is not athletic enough to go and cover guys that are way faster than him at RB. His zone coverage is slightly better but he is a player that can be exploited. He is the classic thumper at LB.

Round Grade: Mid 3rd

NFL Comparison: Vince Williams

Orange Breakdown

TE Ravian Pierce

Pierce is a decent Tight End but will do nothing to wow you. Yes, he moves incredibly well in space and makes the catches he should. Yes, he has good ball skills and can make some jump catches, but that is not him or his calling. His athletic ability is a huge plus and he can be a great second tight end, as he is a decent blocker.

He just doesn’t go up and grab things at the point of attack and will never be a great blocker. His strength just doesn’t lend itself to that and neither does his frame. I question if his frame is fully bulked out, though, so there is room to grow.

Round Grade: Late 4th

NFL Comparison: Xavier Grimble

QB Eric Dungey

Dungey at best will be a backup. But he could be good enough to be a game managing backup that hits quick throws. His arm strength is not and his accuracy is spotty outside of timing routes, but in the quick passing game he can really thrive. He knows how to process well enough so that he is careful with the football and not a turnover machine. I like the way that anticipates throws, but there will never be much diversity in a system with Dungey in it. However, I would let him come in and start a game further down the line.

Round Grade: Mid 5th

NFL Comparison: Nick Mullens

Sleeper

#4 WR Connor Niles Morningside

Niles is the ultimate sleeper but has ideal slot receiver traits. He is quick in and out of his breaks and is just an uber flash for corners to stop. He is really hard to stop as a whole and is the record holder for most receiving yards ever in the NAIA. His route running is crisp and he is a red zone extraordinaire. He is also a YAC monster.

Yes, he cannot go outside or really catch much of a jump ball, but he really doesn’t need to. He will be playing slot and only slot and kick returner at the next level.

Round Grade: Early 4th

NFL Comparison: Ryan Switzer

Let us know who you are watching and what games your watching.