[2022] MAC Pro Day Roundup

[PoopyRhinoPickle]

 

With the NFL Draft coming up, let's look at how some of the top MAC prospects fared at their respective Pro Days, and how they compared to others within their position group.

 

Danny Kipnis - FB

Miami (OH)

Overall: A-

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.54 (2 of 22 FBs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 3.99 (1 of 22)

3 Cone Drill: 6.65 (2 of 22)

Bench Press: 36 (1 of 22)

Vertical Jump: 40.51 (2 of 22)

Broad Jump: 133 (1 of 22)

Catching Drill: 7.82 (2 of 22)

Route Running Drill: 4.21 (3 of 22)

Inside Run Drill: 8.50 (1 of 22)

Outside Run Drill: 7.25 (2 of 22)

Run Block Drill: 6.04 (4 of 22)

Pass Block Drill: 5.78 (6 of 22)

 

2021 Season: 14 carries, 74 yards, 1 rush TD; 5 recs, 47 rec yards, 1 rec TD

 

A couple things are pretty obvious when looking at Kipnis. First, he was underutilized while at Miami, second, he's a physical phenom who, outside of blocking drills, ranks in the top 3 of every drill amongst the 22 FBs who have competed in the Pro Days so far. Will the blocking drills hurt his draft stock? I doubt it considering how well he did in every other drill. His inside running score (8.50) is better than every running back who's competed as well, including Heisman winner Bruce Dawson (8.11) (!). Fullback is a tough position to predict but given how well he catches out of the backfield and runs between the tackles, I'm projecting he'll go in the 4th round.

 

Projection: 4th round

 

Matt Perez - FS

Akron

Overall: B

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.46 (6 of 34 FSs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 3.88 (1 of 34)

3 Cone Drill: 6.57 (3 of 34)

Bench Press: 22 (11 of 34)

Vertical Jump: 37.88 (10 of 34)

Broad Jump: 132 (T1 of 34)

Man Coverage Drill: 6.40 (12 of 34)

Zone Coverage Drill: 9.12 (2 of 34)

 

2021 Season: 50 total tackles, 3 TFLs

 

Elite agility and Zone Coverage ability will help Perez find a home in the right scheme. There will certainly be concern about his lack of production at the college level, but Perez is one of the highest rated overall free safeties, not one of the deepest positions, and has a Potential rating of A, meaning he will find a home.

 

Projection: 3rd-4th round

 

Michael Dyson - DE

Northern Illinois

Overall: B

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.46 (1 of 65 DEs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 3.91 (3 of 65)

3 Cone Drill: 6.55 (2 of 65)

Bench Press: 33 (18 of 65)

Vertical Jump: 39.35 (1 of 65)

Broad Jump: 128 (4 of 65)

Run Stop Drill: 6.30 (31 of 65)

Pass Rush Drill: 7.88 (4 of 65)

 

2021 Season: 52 total Tackles, 18 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 FF

 

Athleticism off the edge. That's what Michael Dyson brings to NFL teams. Average against the run but being very good in Pass Rush will make him appealing at the next level. He didn't produce a lot of sacks but was clearly able to be disruptive in the backfield, with 18 TFLs. Defensive end is a deep position, but Dyson's A Potential presents a lot of upside that will be tough to resist.

 

Projection: 4th-5th round

 

Yusei Asencio - QB

Ohio

Overall: B

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.72 (19 of 48 QBs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.43 (32 of 48)

3 Cone Drill: 7.12 (22 of 48)

Bench Press: 26 (16 of 48)

Vertical Jump: 31.91 (36 of 48)

Broad Jump: 120 (32 of 48)

Accuracy Drill: 8.91 (1 of 48)

Distance Drill: 8.34 (3 of 48)

 

2021 Season: 7044 passing yards (470 ypg), 55 pass TDs, 7 Ints

 

The biggest name of MAC players who participated in the Pro Days, Asencio proved his passing abilities are up there with the best, with the highest score in the Accuracy Drill. The Heisman finalist didn't have the best showing physically, particularly his lack of explosiveness in the drills, but he ran the quickest 40 time of all Pocket QBs and showed above average strength. There is always a demand for franchise quarterbacks and Asencio's production at the college level will make him a highly desire QB.

 

Projection: late 1st round

 

Matt Brown - WR

Bowling Green

Overall: B-

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.45 (26 of 72 WRs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 3.96 (4 of 72)

3 Cone Drill: 6.73 (15 of 72)

Bench Press: 23 (38 of 72)

Vertical Jump: 38.14 (29 of 72)

Broad Jump: 129 (25 of 72)

Catching Drill: 8.36 (4 of 72)

Route Running Drill: 8.76 (6 of 72)

 

2021 Season: 73 recs, 1004 rec yards, 5 rec TDs

 

Matt Brown flew a bit under the radar this year with some other wide receivers in the MAC putting up more ridiculous stat lines. Physically, he tests out only slightly above average, but he performed very well in the wide receiver drills, catching everything thrown his way. He has B Potential, which isn't bad, and should allow him to make a roster, but he won't be lighting up the league any time soon.

 

Projection: 6th round

 

Marcus Ekstrom - WR

Western Michigan

Overall: B-

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.53 (41 of 72 WRs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 3.97 (6 of 72)

3 Cone Drill: 6.72 (13 of 72)

Bench Press: 23 (37 of 72)

Vertical Jump: 41.45 (1 of 72)

Broad Jump: 133 (2 of 72)

Catching Drill: 7.07 (31 of 72)

Route Running Drill: 9.59 (1 of 72)

 

2021 Season: 115 recs, 1468 rec yards, 11 rec TDs

 

2 things are for certain: Ekstrom can jump out the gym, and he's going to be sticking his routes. The only problem is his speed, strength, and catching are pretty average. Not really what you want to see from a wide receiver. There is something to be said though for the ability to create separation from a defensive back, and that trait will find Ekstrom a home at the next level.

 

Projection: 5th-6th round

 

De'Vondre Grilli - CB

Ball State

Overall: C+

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.59 (45 of 69 CBs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 3.97 (18 of 69)

3 Cone Drill: 6.59 (6 of 69)

Bench Press: 21 (11 of 69)

Vertical Jump: 39.67 (5 of 69)

Broad Jump: 130 (6 of 69)

Man Coverage Drill: 5.57 (50 of 69)

Zone Coverage Drill: 8.07 (20 of 69)

 

2021 Season: 42 total tackles, 4 ints, 1 FR

 

Grilli had a pretty good senior season, picking off 4 passes, and tested out really well in most of the drills ran at the Pro Day. His lack of top-end speed and poor Man Coverage will likely ultimately cost him when it comes to the draft. He will be looking to get an invite to the Combine to have a chance to rectify his performance in those drills.

 

Projection: UDFA

 

Damontae Teheran - C

Central Michigan

Overall: C+

 

40 Yard Dash: 5.74 (12 of 17 Cs)

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.27 (6 of 17)

3 Cone Drill: 6.90 (1 of 17)

Bench Press: 39 (4 of 17)

Vertical Jump: 36.45 (1 of 17)

Broad Jump: 123 (5 of 17)

Run Block Drill: 6.92 (6 of 17)

Pass Block Drill: 6.06 (12 of 17)

 

Teheran possesses above average athletic ability and has proven to be a pretty good run blocker. He can be a bit of a liability in the pass game which will hurt his draft stock but in a year where center is not a very deep position, it wouldn't surprise me to him taken late in the draft.

 

Projection: 7th round

Edited February 27, 2022 by PoopyRhinoPickle