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Christian Haynes NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for UConn IOL

Jan 23, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 04: Connecticut Huskies offensive lineman Christian Haynes (64) blocks during the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Connecticut Huskies on November 4, 2023, at Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 04: Connecticut Huskies offensive lineman Christian Haynes (64) blocks during the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Connecticut Huskies on November 4, 2023, at Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 317

HAND: 9"

ARM: 33½"

WINGSPAN: 79¾"


40-YARD DASH: 5.03

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL: 33"

BROAD: 8'6"


POSITIVES

— Advanced timing, feel and processing skills show up in all facets of his game.

— Explodes into contact on drive, double-team and base blocks with strong inside hand presence and torquing ability to uproot and secure the first-level defender.

— Expertly navigates his way off combo blocks to the second level, securing the down man before timely releasing to the 'backer.

— Takes good angles on his climbs and pulls to compensate for a lack of burst, resulting in impressive ability to intersect his target on the move.

— A+ finisher who ties up, strains and gets last meaningful contact through the echo of the whistle.

— Assertive, sharp and physical presence against basic line games/stunts and when uncovered to clear the pocket on adjacent rushers.


NEGATIVES

— Mediocre twitch, quickness and agility shrinks margin for error with aiming points, hand placement and recovery ability.

— Limited range on an island against wide rush alignments can create short corners, especially against spinners and sub-package rushers.


2023 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at right guard

— AP third team All-American


NOTES

— 2-star recruit in the 2018 class, per 247Sports

— 49 consecutive career starts at right guard

— First Husky in the program's FBS era to be named an All-American in two separate seasons (both third-team selections)

— Accepted his invite to the Senior Bowl


OVERALL

Christian Haynes is a four-year starter with 49 consecutive starts at right guard inside Connecticut's balanced run-pass split, zone-based run scheme with duo and power concepts sprinkled in. Haynes is on the shorter side with a high-cut, long-limbed frame, adequate athletic ability and good play strength.

Haynes is an adept run-blocker who wins with technique, processing skills and a relentless demeanor that he uses to finish at a high level. He understands how to create lift on contact to get first-level defenders uprooted and set up for the overtake, with excellent timing and feel on his releases to know when to stay attached and secure or release and climb.

Haynes doesn't offer much burst or agility on the mover, but he counterbalances it with proper angles to intersect his target on climbs and as a puller. He arrives on contact centered, and he ties up defenders once latched with the grip strength and strain to maintain control through the echo of the whistle.

As a pass protector, Haynes wins in isolated matchups against tightly aligned rushers using his length and strong hands to tie them up quickly. He is excellent sorting and picking up line games and stunts while providing pocket-clearing physicality and thump when uncovered.

However, he will get manipulated out of position by wide rush alignments, spinners and sub-package rushers who know how to set up their moves and get his feet stopped. That exposes his middling foot quickness and change-of-direction skills, creating short corners and soft edges.

Overall, Haynes is a hard-nosed, mentally sharp and experienced player with good play strength to bolster an O-line room as a quality interior depth piece. He can work his way into a solid starter in a downhill, play-action-based system as he adapts to NFL speed.


GRADE: 7.3 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 56

POSITION RANK: IOL9

PRO COMPARISON: Kevin Dotson


Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

Nelson Ceaser NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Houston EDGE

Jan 2, 2024
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 02: Nelson Ceaser #9 of the Houston Cougars reacts to a stop against the UTSA Roadrunners during the first half at TDECU Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 02: Nelson Ceaser #9 of the Houston Cougars reacts to a stop against the UTSA Roadrunners during the first half at TDECU Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'2.5"

WEIGHT: 260

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 33 1/4"

WINGSPAN: 79 7/8"


40-YARD DASH: N/A

3-CONE: 7.3

SHUTTLE: 4.57

VERTICAL: 31"

BROAD: N/A


POSITIVES

— Good get-off on passing downs. Times up the snap and accelerates off the line of scrimmage well.

— Works the offensive lineman's hands when rushing the passer. Has an impressive hand-swipe move and can "defeat the hands to defeat the man."

— Impressive at turning speed to power as a pass-rusher, as he keeps his feet moving through contact and occasionally puts offensive tackles on the ground.

— Has a solid spin move as a counter, both inside and outside.

— Quick to get his hands up and take on blocks versus the run.


NEGATIVES

— Poor pad level out of a three-point stance. Stands up out of his stance.

— Not strong and physical at the point of attack. Will struggle to set the edge against NFL offensive tackles and good/bigger blocking tight ends. Could afford to add some strength, too.

— Reliant on working around offensive linemen to defeat or escape blocks as a run defender.

— Bend is just adequate. Hips and ankles are a little stiff to turn a tight corner at the top of the rush.


2023 STATISTICS

— 11 G, 43 TOT, 13.5 TFL, 9.5 SK, 1 PD


NOTES

— Born June 6, 2001

— 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2023 (Undisclosed, missed 1 game)


OVERALL

Nelson Ceaser has a future as a pass-rush specialist in the NFL. He has several moves he can win with, and he has shown some nuance as a pass-rusher.

Ceaser sets up his moves well during the stem phase of the rush and has used a Eurostep to help win around the edge. He also has the agility and movement skills to hit home as the looper in line games, and he has a good motor to get coverage sacks. However, his bend is slightly below-average, which he'll need to improve to thrive in this role.

Against the run, the Houston product has a lot of work to do. That will be the biggest reason why he slides in the draft. Adding some size and strength will help, but he also needs to be more physical at the point of attack, as he isn't someone who can be trusted to set the edge right now.

Schematically, Ceaser would be best as a standup outside linebacker in odd fronts.


GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 128

POSITION RANK: EDGE13

PRO COMPARISON: Kingsley Enagbare


Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

Report: Dana Holgorsen Fired as Houston Football HC; Contract Buyout 'About $15M'

Nov 26, 2023
WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Dana Holgorsen of the Houston Cougars is seen on the field during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Dana Holgorsen of the Houston Cougars is seen on the field during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

The University of Houston reportedly fired head football coach Dana Holgorsen after five seasons Sunday.

Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle reported the news, while Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports noted Holgorsen's buyout is around $15 million.

Holgorsen went 31-28 in five seasons at Houston. The Cougars were 4-8 in 2023, their first year in the Big 12.

Holgorsen left West Virginia for Houston ahead of the 2019 season and landed a contract extension in 2022 after he led the Cougars to a 12-2 record. However, Houston's 2021 season turned out to be the anomaly in Holgorsen's tenure. The Cougars had a losing record in three of his five seasons and finished ranked only once.

The decision likely came as a surprise to Holgorsen, who was defiant during the offseason when asked about potentially being on the hot seat.

"We won 20 games in two years," Holgorsen told reporters. "We won bowl games in back-to-back years. I have five years on my contract with a f--king-impossible buyout. … So there ain't no f--king hot seat in my mind. There just ain't."

Pete Thamel of ESPN reported Tulane's Willie Fritz and UTSA's Jeff Traylor are among Houston's top targets for the vacancy.

Houston had only two losing seasons in the previous 13 years before Holgorsen's arrival.

NFL Sends Houston Cougars Cease-and-Desist Letter Over Oilers-Themed CFB Uniforms

Oct 30, 2023
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02:  Houston Cougars linebacker Trimarcus Cheeks (30) celebrates a failed field goal attempt by UTSA in the second quarter during the college football game between the UTSA Roadrunners and Houston Cougars on September 2, 2023 at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas.  (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Houston Cougars linebacker Trimarcus Cheeks (30) celebrates a failed field goal attempt by UTSA in the second quarter during the college football game between the UTSA Roadrunners and Houston Cougars on September 2, 2023 at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The NFL issued a cease-and-desist letter to the University of Houston regarding the powder blue alternate uniforms for the Cougars football team, according to the Houston Chronicle's Joseph Duarte.

On Aug. 31, the program unveiled a jersey design that closely resembled the Houston Oilers' uniform.

Per Duarte, the NFL described the look as "blatant copying" and advised the school months ago it didn't provide its consent for the alternate threads.

"The Houston Cougars' attempt to free ride on the popularity of the NFL and the club violates the intellectual property rights of the NFL and the (Tennessee) Titans," wrote attorney Bonnie L. Jarrett in the cease-and-desist letter sent Oct. 13.

Houston donned the special uniforms and had an accompanying design for the field at TDECU Stadium for its season-opening victory over UTSA on Sept. 2.

Duarte reported the NFL and Titans said in the letter the Cougars wore the jerseys "in a manner that is likely to cause consumers to believe that the Houston Cougars are associated with, or are an authorized licensee of, the NFL and the Titans."

Houston has yet to sell any merchandise related to design because the school's licensing division declined to give its approval, per Duarte.

This is a case where the NFL and the Titans might have solid footing legally if their copyright to the Oilers' branding extends to every aspect of the uniform. But many fans will consider this to be another example of the "No Fun League" coming out in full force.

Spiritually, it feels more appropriate for a football team that's still in Houston to evoke memories of the Oilers.

The Titans retained all of the Oilers' history when they relocated to Tennessee in 1997, and they maintained the Oilers moniker for their first two years there. And yet, the Titans donning Oilers-themed throwbacks, as they did in Sunday's win over the Atlanta Falcons, is a bit jarring.

There aren't many fans in Tennessee who fondly recall the exploits of Oilers legends such as Earl Campbell, Warren Moon, Elvin Bethea and Ray Childress. J.J. Watt, who's familiar with the history of Houston football thanks to his 10 years with the Houston Texans, basically made this point last week on The Pat McAfee Show:

Even if the NFL and the Titans had their copyright infringed upon by the letter of the law, it's difficult what they stand to gain from antagonizing fans who haven't forgiven them for moving the Oilers or indirectly calling attention back to the relocation.

Photo: UConn Football Debuts Cancer Awareness Helmets for Game vs. South Florida

Oct 21, 2023
EAST HARTFORD, CT - NOVEMBER 12: UConn Huskies helmet during the game as the Liberty Flames take on the UConn Huskies on November 12, 2022, at the Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST HARTFORD, CT - NOVEMBER 12: UConn Huskies helmet during the game as the Liberty Flames take on the UConn Huskies on November 12, 2022, at the Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Connecticut Huskies are using Saturday's game against South Florida to raise awareness for cancer.

Huskies players will be wearing all-white uniforms and custom helmets featuring special colored-ribbon decals that depict a type of cancer that has impacted their family in some way.

In addition to the all-white jerseys being worn by the players, the school is encouraging fans attending the game at Rentschler Field to wear white as they look to White Out Cancer.

"We are going to be honoring those in our organization who have fought the battle against cancer," Huskies head coach Jim Mora Jr. said of the special game. "It's modeled after the NFL's Crucial Catch. It's important to recognize those who have fought the battle. Our players will wear a decal on their helmet, symbolizing the type of cancer that their family has been affected by. Some will have multiple stickers on their helmet."

Mora also explained his grandmother and mother dealt with breast cancer, while his father-in-law and sister-in-law were afflicted with pancreatic cancer.

"It used to be just breast cancer awareness month, now it is Crucial Catch and has expanded out," Mora said. "Particularly for me, it's breast cancer, which my grandma perished from and my mom has beaten three times and pancreatic cancer, which my wife's father died from and her sister-in-law is battling right now."

UConn will be the second FBS team to utilize personalized cancer-ribbon decals on its helmets during a game. Miami (Ohio) began the practice in 2018.

According to the American Cancer Society, the disease remains the second-most common cause of death in the United States.

The South Florida-Connecticut game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET.

USF RB Michel Dukes Suspended Indefinitely After Arrest on Domestic Battery Charge

May 1, 2023
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Michel Dukes #2 of the South Florida Bulls reacts to a play during a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Raymond James Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Michel Dukes #2 of the South Florida Bulls reacts to a play during a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Raymond James Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

University of South Florida running back Michel Dukes was arrested on allegations of domestic battery over the weekend.

The Hillsborough (Florida) County Sherriff's office said Dukes was accused of strangling another person during a verbal argument. USF indefinitely suspended Dukes in the aftermath of his arrest.

"We have taken the immediate step of suspending him indefinitely from the team as we continue to gather more information and the proper authorities investigate the matter," the university said in a statement. "We will have no further statement at this time."

Dukes, who began his college career at Clemson, rushed for 188 yards and five touchdowns last season in his first year with South Florida. The senior was slated to compete for the Bulls' starting running back position in 2023.

"I applaud this victim for coming forward," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release. "We do not tolerate domestic violence. There is never a reason or excuse for this type of behavior. Our Victim Advocates will ensure this individual gets connected with any and all resources."

Arquon Bush NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Cincinnati CB

Apr 25, 2023
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 24: Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Arquon Bush (9) lines up on defense during a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on September 24, 2022 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 24: Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Arquon Bush (9) lines up on defense during a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on September 24, 2022 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 187

HAND: 9 1/4"

ARM: 29 7/8"

WINGSPAN: 73"


40-YARD DASH: 4.54

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: 33.5"

BROAD: 9'7"


POSITIVES

—Experience at multiple spots in the secondary

—Good at tracking the ball


NEGATIVES

—Lack of overall athletic gifts and fluidity

—Struggles mightily with mirroring receivers in man coverage

—Not an overly physical player


2022 STATISTICS

—34 TKL, 2 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FF


NOTES

DOB: 05/10/2000

36 Starts

2022 All-AAC Honorable Mention


OVERALL

Arquan Bush was an important piece of the Cincinnati Bearcats defense over the past four seasons during their emergence onto the national stage. After starting at nickel in 2020 and 2021, Bush primarily played outside in 2022, providing him with valuable experience at multiple spots. However, his limited athletic ability clouds his future and projection at the next level.

Against the run, Bush is always willing to get in the action and is a quality tackler at contact. He tends to struggle with shedding blocks and lacks physicality to his game. Overall, Bush is an average run defender at best.

Bush's lack of athletic gifts is most apparent in coverage. An overall lack of fluidity and ability to change direction forced Cincinnati to keep him well off the line of scrimmage in an effort to keep receivers in front of him. While he does a good job of tracking the football and making plays on the ball, Bush has a difficult time mirroring receivers and gets separated from them consistently, creating a mismatch in coverage that teams will attack. Simply put, Bush is a liability in man coverage that teams look to attack for explosive plays.

Overall, Bush's path to the next level is through his versatility, as he has showcased the ability to fill multiple spots on the defense. While his athletic traits will keep him from truly blossoming into an impact player, Bush can certainly provide valuable depth to an NFL defense.


GRADE: 5.6 (Backup or Draftable/Rounds 6-7)

OVERALL RANK: 246

POSITION RANK: CB29

PRO COMPARISON: Kary Vincent Jr.


Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Ivan Pace Jr. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Cincinnati LB

Mar 24, 2023
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 11: Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) in action during the game against the East Carolina Pirates and the Cincinnati Bearcats on November 11, 2022, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.  (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 11: Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) in action during the game against the East Carolina Pirates and the Cincinnati Bearcats on November 11, 2022, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

HEIGHT: 5'10 1/2"

WEIGHT: 231

HAND: 9 1/2"

ARM: 30 1/4"

WINGSPAN: 72 1/4"


40-YARD DASH: 4.62

3-CONE: 7.18

SHUTTLE: 4.4

VERTICAL: 35"

BROAD: 9'8"


POSITIVES

– Comes downhill like a heat-seeking missile and is physical at the point of attack to stun guards when blitzing. Clearly craves contact.

– Good at using his quickness and a shoulder dip to avoid contact/make offensive linemen miss.

– Better at taking on blocks with his hands when working laterally versus outside runs. Has the speed to play with good range as a run defender if he gets his angles down.

– Uses his hands well when rushing the passer and has a wide pass-rushing arsenal for an off-ball linebacker that includes a cross chop, rip, spin move and bull rush. Running backs will struggle to keep him away from the quarterback in pass protection.

– Agile to be an effective looper in line games and can take an efficient path to the quarterback when rushing the passer.

– Plenty of speed to close on the quarterback.

– Good at reading the quarterback's eyes to bat passes at the line of scrimmage.

– Has no issues getting to his depth when spot-dropping with his speed and athletic ability.

– High-motor, high-energy type of player.


NEGATIVES

– Significantly undersized for an NFL linebacker; height, weight and arm length are an issue.

– Shaky instincts overall. Takes too long to key and diagnose run plays and has subpar eye discipline in zone coverage. Also has instances where he fits into the wrong gap against the run.

– When taking on blocks heads up, doesn't use his hands and ends up going chest-to-chest with offensive linemen. Getting extension and getting off blocks might always be an issue with him given his short arms.

– Will struggle to hold his ground against NFL offensive linemen, especially if they have a strong base and can survive initial contact. Lacks some lower-body strength to dig his heels in the ground.

– Angles are too shallow versus outside runs.

– Somewhat untested in coverage. Cincinnati rarely had him play in man and would blitz him frequently on passing downs.


2022 STATS

– 13 G, 136 TOT (55 SOLO), 20.5 TFL, 9 SK, 4 PD, 2 FF


NOTES

– Born December 16, 2000

– Miami (OH) transfer

– A 2-Star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 3,045 overall, No. 142 ILB, per 247Sports' composite rankings

– 29 career starts

– 2022 Honors: Unanimous First-Team All-American, AAC Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-AAC, Butkus Award Finalist, Chuck Bednarik Award Finalist

– Brother, Deshawn, also plays linebacker at Cincinnati


OVERALL

Ivan Pace Jr.'s skill set is similar to that of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.

Like Parsons, Pace is a good athlete for the position. He can be a force when coming downhill and has an impressive pass-rushing arsenal for an off-ball linebacker, which can be a huge asset in the right system. However, he doesn't have Parsons' size. Parsons was 6'3" and 245 pounds coming out of Penn State, while Pace is 5'10 1/2" and 231 pounds.

The Cincinnati product is best when blitzing, but his lack of strength and length shows up against the run when he doesn't have a head of steam and has to take on blocks heads up. He doesn't appear to have a ton of room for growth on his frame, either, so this might be as big as he gets, and he certainly isn't getting any longer.

Pace also struggles in coverage. His eye discipline when playing zone is subpar, and the Bearcats typically had him blitz when they played man coverage. He has a unique skill set as a pass-rusher. but needs to be paired with a creative defensive coordinator who dials up exotic blitzes and isn't reliant on linebackers in coverage.

That makes Pace's scheme fit a challenging one, which, coupled with his lack of size, could cause him to fall on draft day. With that being said, he'd be a great addition for a team that's looking for someone to get after the quarterback and play special teams. It will help that he has experience in the latter at both schools he attended.


GRADE: 6.4 (High-Level Developmental Prospect/5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 149

POSITION RANK: LB9

PRO COMPARISON: Denzel Perryman


Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

Dorian Williams NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Tulane LB

Feb 28, 2023
Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Memphis in New Orleans, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Tulane won 38-28. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Memphis in New Orleans, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Tulane won 38-28. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 228

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 33 3/4"

WINGSPAN: 80 1/2"


40-YARD DASH: 4.49

3-CONE: TBD

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 33.5"

BROAD: 10"


POSITIVES

– Pretty quick to read gap runs. Has the agility and acceleration to beat the puller to the spot.

– Has the patience to let zone runs develop and knows when to pick his spots to attack the gap, giving him opportunities to make unblocked tackles. Navigates and avoids the trash well, too.

– Takes on blocks with his hands as a run defender and has enough upper-body strength to get some extension against offensive linemen.

– Decent range versus outside runs with his speed and angles.

– Has good speed when coming downhill and wraps up with good pad level as a tackler to limit yards after contact. Has some pop behind his pads.

– Uses his hands and creates reroutes against wide receivers in zone coverage.

– Good acceleration to click and close or take away short routes in man coverage.

– Carries tight ends and running backs with solid speed down the field.

– Impressive sense of when to attack the quarterback on scramble drills, which can limit yards and even lead to sacks.


NEGATIVES

– Stops his feet when taking on blocks and lacks the strength to hold his ground versus stronger offensive linemen. Will struggle in the NFL.

– Doesn't get offensive linemen off-balance when using a flipper at the point of contact and ends up getting swallowed up.

– Isn't violent. Lacks the strength to stack and shed.

– Struggles to throttle and bring his feet with him when tackling in space, which leads to occasional misses.

– Needs to work for more depth as the middle hole defender in zone coverage, especially against play action. Tries to backpedal against run fakes instead of turning and running/ROBOT-ing, but lacks the speed moving backward to get to the depth in time.

– Gets caught staring in the backfield and struggles to locate threats coming into his area when playing zone. Passes whiz by his ears and he takes the cheese against levels concepts when the back runs the short route.

– Subpar change-of-direction skills in man coverage.

– Doesn't have any pass-rushing moves as a blitzer.


NOTES

– DOB: June 28, 2001

– A 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 2,394 overall, 176 OLB, per 247Sports' composite rankings

– No major injuries

– 28 career starts

– 2022 Honors: First-Team All-AAC (coaches)

– 2021 Honors: Third-Team All-AAC (Phil Steele)

– 2020 Honors: Led AAC with 98 total tackles, Second-Team All-AAC (coaches)


OVERALL

In general, Dorian Williams could be a solid backup linebacker and special teamer in the NFL. He doesn't have a specialty as far as being a coverage 'backer or run defender, as he has significant strengths and weaknesses in both areas.

Williams' tackling is his most impressive trait against the run. He has great technique and can stop running backs in their tracks, especially in short-yardage situations. However, he's going to struggle to hold his ground and get off blocks from NFL offensive linemen.

In coverage, the Tulane product has the speed and acceleration to carry his man or click and close, and he has impressive ball production with 15 career interceptions and pass breakups combined, nine of which came this past season. But his eye discipline in zone coverage is a major concern.

Schematically, Williams would be best as a "Will" linebacker for an even-front team that runs a lot of man coverage. He'll also be able to contribute on special teams, having played there his entire college career, which will help his draft stock.


GRADE: 6.1 (High-Level Developmental Prospect/Round 5)

OVERALL RANK: 177

POSITION RANK: LB11

PRO COMPARISON: Robert Spillane


Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

CFB Twitter Rejoices After Army vs. Navy Betting Over Hits for 1st Time in 17 Years

Dec 11, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 10: A general view before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 10, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 10: A general view before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Lincoln Financial Field on December 10, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

There was more to celebrate on Saturday than just Army's 20-17 double-overtime victory over Navy.

Quinn Maretzki's 39-yard field goal in the second overtime after Army recovered a fumble by Navy running back Anton Hall Jr. at the goal line provided the difference. This was the first overtime game in the 123-year history of the matchup between the United States military academies.

Thanks to two quick touchdowns in the first overtime period, this game hit the over for the first time since 2005.

Things got very interesting in overtime. Markel Johnson ran through the Navy defense for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play for either team.

Army responded on Xavier Arline's 25-yard touchdown pass to Maquel Haywood on its first play in overtime. Haywood's score also pushed the game to the over, causing Twitter to rejoice at the milestone moment.

Gambling analyst Brad Powers noted coming into this game how much a bettor would have won if they started with a $100 bet on the under and rolled over their winnings for 16 straight years:

It looked for a long time like we were destined for another low-scoring affair where the offenses had to grind out every single yard.

Army's only touchdown in regulation came on a blocked punt that Jabril Williams recovered in the end zone.

There were only 10 combined points scored in the first half and it looked like Navy was going to hang on for a 10-7 win until Maretzki's 37-yard field goal tied the score in the final two minutes of regulation.

Thanks to Maretzki's leg, not only was Army able to force overtime and get the win to finish the season .500 (6-6), but members of the Sickos Committee who had a financial stake in the over got to celebrate for the first time in 17 years.