[2023] Tennessee Titans Draft Player Prospectus

[kwheele]

Robert Canady

CB, University of Wisconsin

6’0” 189 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

Canady was a four-star recruit when he signed with Wisconsin out of Jersey Village High School in Houston, where he starred on offense, defense and special teams. He was a first-team All-Big-Tenn pick after leading Wisconsin, posting 24 tackles and blocking a kick in 13 starts.

 

Overview

 

Explosive outside cornerback possessing a rare blend of physical and athletic traits. Canady plays with fluid hips and blazing top-end speed, which should help him match against top-end targets in the future. He can rough up the release or use mirror-and-match footwork from press-man coverage and he has all the tools to become a highly capable route shadow. His technique will get away from him at times and he doesn't play with the level of instincts or ball skills that should make heavy ball production automatic. His testing numbers could send his draft stock skyrocketing, but the ingredients are already present to become a feared CB1 if he plays to his gifts.

 

Strengths

• He’s as fluid and loose in his movements as you’ll find.

• Length and strength allow him to bully releases from press.

• Feet and hips create easy skip and flip to match the release.

• Quick to crowd and push vertical targets toward the boundary.

• Able to shuffle and swerve in space like he’s gliding on air.

 

Weaknesses

• Instincts to create more catch challenges are spotty.

• Below average anticipation to jump route breaks.

• Inconsistent finding optimal positioning to constrict catch area.

• Average feel for angles attacking the throw.

• Slow to get his head around and find the football downfield.

 

Sergio Collins

FS, University of Houston

6’0” 195 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

Collins has a versatile game with the instincts, ball skills and awareness to shine. He has a dawg mentality, and his competitiveness will fit right in in Tennessee. 

 

Overview

Collins is a fun watch but requires evaluators to carefully consider his strengths and weaknesses relative to scheme. He plays with anticipation, route feel and a consistent sense of urgency to prevent catches, as displayed by his high number of pass breakups. He plays with ballhawking eyes and good balance from zone coverage and is very aggressive tackling both after the catch and in run support. There are snaps where he gets behind and stays behind due to a lack of premium speed and closing burst. The playmaking mentality and traits give him a solid chance to become a perennial All-Star in the league.

 

Strengths

• Impressive route recognition and trigger on the throw.

• Eyes are probing from off coverages.

• Well-balanced defending high/low route concepts.

• Takes ball-side angles to disrupt the catch point.

• Zeroes in on receiver’s hands on deep throws.

• Physical with a striker’s mentality in run support and as tackler versus the pass.

 

Weaknesses

• Coverage is very handsy after the first five yards.

• Sluggish to transition hips and match route breaks from his backpedal.

• Top-end speed could be an issue at the next level.

• Lacks juice to make up the distance when he gets behind.

 

Scott Hall

DT, Ball State University

6’2” 284 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

Hall played just two years of football at Orem High School in Utah, though he had 18 sacks as a senior. Also, he started for four years on the basketball team and qualified for the state track meet in the discus throw. He started twice for the Cardinals his true freshman season and showed promise as a playmaker in 2021. Hall started all 13 games during his junior season in 2022, posting 54 stops, eleven for loss.

 

Overview

 

Hall is a powerful interior defensive lineman with size and persistence. However, he needs to play with consistent explosiveness early in the rep for decisive wins at the point of attack at the pro level. Block engagements become drawn-out brawls at times, but he does a nice job of defeating block sustains and often finds himself near the play. He lacks a wide base and sturdy anchor, so he’ll need to improve his pad level to prevent double teams from moving him around too easily. He’s solid and has flashed starting potential, but he needs to become a more consistently impactful force in the middle to make noise as an NFL starter.

 

Strengths

• Has two-gapping qualities to build on.

• Able to stay square to the line and mind his gap.

• Upper-body twitch for sudden block sheds.

• Slides through gaps with upper-body turn.

• Size and length help open protection edges.

• Easy transition from bull rush to swim as rusher.

 

Weaknesses

• Lacks explosive first contact as bull rusher.

• Will need to develop a solid go-to move for better pocket threat.

• Allows run blockers to take the action to him.

• Struggles getting to his punch separation in timely manner.

• Double teams take him for a ride.

• Content to play under stretch blocks rather than fighting for positioning.

 

Fabian Powell

ILB, Appalachian State University

6’1” 221 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

Powell is a tough, experienced, passionate and undersized player. 

 

Overview

 

Unique linebacker prospect with the physical traits, athleticism and skill set to be deployed as an inside linebacker or a stand-up edge rusher. The former four-star Murrieta Vista  High School All-Conference player posted eye-catching production with the Mountainers. He plays with good technique in take-ons and has plenty of pursuit range, but he’s still finding his footing with his run fits and tackle consistency. He’s a tough out for interior protection as a blitzing linebacker and has natural rush talent to hunt quarterbacks off the edge. Powell’s athletic gifts, versatility and toughness could help him become a highly impactful playmaker with Pro Bowl upside.

 

Strengths

• Fluid inside move fueled by long, easy strides.

• Excellent lower body flexion to dip and flatten into the pocket.

• Plays with good pre-snap recognition of hazards.

• Uses hands effectively to stay clean and pursue the football.

• Cross-faces guards and disrupts run plays into the B-gap.

• Good agility and change of direction in coverage space.

 

Weaknesses

• Angular frame will require additional muscle mass.

• Below average play strength and ruggedness at the point of attack.

• Unable to sink and set a firm edge.

• Lacks lower body strength to push through redirection.

• Speed-to-power rush fizzles out.

• Would benefit from varied entry angles and tempos as a rusher.

 

Deontez Thomas

DT, University of Oklahoma

6’5” 290 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

Thomas signed at LSU as a four-star recruit in 2019, playing in 13 games as a reserve. He played in four games in 2020 (five tackles, one sack). He transferred to Oklahoma for the 2021 season, garnering second-team All-Big 12 Conference accolades with 24 tackles, six for loss with four sacks, in 13 games (12 starts). Thomas was a second-team selection in 2022 (57 tackles, 17 for loss, 4.5 sacks), starting all 13 games in 2022.

 

Overview

 

Girthy interior force with heavy hands and a combative nature at the point of attack. Thomas is made for gap control with his wide frame and ready anchor. While he has the potential to become a highly effective block-eater as an odd or even front nose tackle, he’s quick enough off the snap to penetrate and disrupt play design if teams try to block him one-on-one. While he’s unlikely to see passing downs, Thomas does have enough athleticism and hand work to challenge the pocket from time to time. If he’s able to manage his weight, Thomas could become an early starter and help improve a very average run defense.

 

Strengths

• Slams into first contact with excellent hip explosion and leverage.

• Initial punch drives through opponent’s pads.

• Good recognition against down blocks.

• Will require help to dig him out of gaps.

• Power and snap quickness to penetrate and ruin play design.

• Adequate initial slide quickness to create viable rush angles.

• Shoves and clubs blocker’s wrists and hands to eliminate the punch.

• Above-average athleticism for a player his size.

 

Weaknesses

• Needs to improve technique taking on double teams.

• Drops head taking on block and loses sight of the ball.

• Gets too far out over feet, causing some imbalance.

• Lacks change-of-direction quickness to tackle cutting runners.

• Noticeable dip in pocket pressure in 2022 as a pass rusher.

 

DEREK ALTUVE

RB, Marshall University

6’0” 231 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

Altuve took his game to another level in 2022, earning the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award by rushing for 1,714 yards and 13 scores (286 carries, 5.99 per) and catching 13 passes for 147 yards (11.3) in 13 starts.

 

Overview

 

Altuve has the size of a power back, but he needs to play with more consistent explosiveness, as he’s unlikely to offer the versatility typically expected from a player in that role. He’s coming off an extremely productive and consistent season as Marshall’s RB1, though. He runs with good bend, average vision and the patience to use lead blockers to his advantage. Altuve possessess great power through the line of scrimmage, but lacks another gear to break long runs.

 

Strengths

• Averaged six yards per carr13 total touchdowns.

• Runs with good bend and smooth change of direction.

• Adequate field vision through the line of scrimmage.

• Can make sharp cuts on the second level.

• Runs defenders into his blockers.

• Makes cuts off the hip of blockers with good timing.

Weaknesses

• Average recognition and imagination as a runner.

• Tends to lack early pace and decisiveness.

• Doesn’t have top end speed for long runs.

 

C.J. White

WR, University of Hawaii

5’9” 181 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

White signed with Alabama A&M out of Marksville High School in Louisiana. An injury in the opener limited him to four games in his 2018 redshirt season (12-364-30.3, three TDs). White moved on to Independence Community College in 2019 and he played well enough (52-766, eight TDs receiving; 12-394-32.8, TD kick returns) to gain interest from Hawaii. White caught 55 passes for 1,074 yards (19.53 per) and 8 TDs in 13 starts.

 

Overview

 

Every second of the route is a separation opportunity for White with his electrifying top-end speed with twitchy short-area quickness. His routes are fast and effective on all three levels with keen ball-tracking talent deep and sideline-dotting footwork. Focus drops and contested catches are ongoing issues that are likely to continue at the next level. White is dangerous with the ball in his hands after the catch and as a game-changing punt returner. His slender frame is a concern, but the explosive talent could be difficult to pass up for teams needing a big-play weapon to stretch the field and mismatch coverages.

 

Strengths

• Scored 8 touchdowns in his final season with Hawaii.

• Keeps distance from coverage to stay unencumbered in the route.

• Uses jab and crossover to defeat coverage leverage.

• Gives few clues when snapping off the route.

• Very sudden and explosive out of his breaks.

• Able to separate on all three levels.

 

Weaknesses

• Slender frame falls below simNFL standards.

• Wasted motion getting into press release.

• Drifts into in-breaking routes.

• Has struggled to secure throws through contact.

• Below average catch radius.

 

Zac Hill

SS, University of Tennessee

5’11” 193 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

The former four-star recruit from Omak, Washington started all 13 games at that strong safety spot in 2021, receiving the team's Defensive Playmaker Award (89.5 tackles, 3 for loss, and one interception). Hill was named first-team All-SEC. 

 

Overview

 

Big, athletic safety with versatility to line up over the slot or inside the box for additional run support. Hill has a strong passion for sticking his nose into whatever is going on near the line of scrimmage. He’s constantly flowing downhill to meet the play as close to the line of scrimmage as possible, but he needs to regulate his pace and angles to prevent overflowing and poor tackle balance. Hill can be overmatched at the top of the route by top-end receivers, but he's capable of staying with pass-catching tight ends or a receiver with average speed. Hill is positioned to become a good starter whose best ball will be played near the line of scrimmage.

 

Strengths

• Combines size with physicality.

• Level of urgency should bolster any run defense.

• Attacks blockers and dislodges quickly.

• Puts every bit of his frame into ball-carrier when tackling.

• Can play box safety or big nickel.

• Able to line up over bigger targets in the slot.

 

Weaknesses

• Not as consistent a tackler when playing deep.

• Comes in hot and will overflow the target point.

• Inconsistent coming to balance as an open-field tackler.

• Backpedal is upright and lacking bend.

• Allows too much cushion from off-man looks.

 

Zac Collins

OLB, Ball State University

6’2” 236 pounds

 

Player Bio

 

This two-way star played on the defensive side and on special teams as a true freshman for Carnidals. The Denton native started three times in 12 appearances the following year (24 tackles, 2.5 for loss with one sack, two pass breakups) but was limited by an injury suffered at Ole Miss midway through the season. He garnered second-team All-MAC honors with 39.5 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and twoforced fumbles. 

 

Overview

 

Unique linebacker prospect with the physical traits, athleticism and skill set to be deployed as an inside linebacker or a stand-up edge rusher. He plays with good technique in take-ons and has plenty of pursuit range, but he’s still finding his footing with his run fits and tackle consistency. He’s a tough out for interior protection as a blitzing linebacker and has natural rush talent to hunt quarterbacks off the edge. Collins’ athletic gifts, versatility and toughness could help him become a highly impactful playmaker.

 

Strengths

• Demeanor and traits of a playmaker.

• Long, explosive, rangy and versatile.

• Can line up at inside linebacker or as an outside rusher.

• Wickedly fluid slide-and-swim move as an A-, B- or C-gap rusher.

• Possesses athletic ability to beat tackles around the edge.

• Willing to dart into gaps when he recognizes disruption potential.

• Lateral scrape quickness to beat blocker to the spot.

• Contact balance keeps him upright and in the play.

 

Weaknesses

• Just one season as a full-time starter.

• Will need to add more mass and base strength.

• Inconsistent in reading his keys for misdirection.

• Some change-of-direction delay in coverage.

• Pursuit leverage and tackle balance need improvement.

• Allows runners to slip away from his grasp.

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by kwheele