<
>

Ex-college stars pick their own replacements

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NFL scouting combine fittingly coincides with the start of spring practice for many college football teams.

While draft prospects are moving on to the pros, their former squads are moving on without them. So, who fills the voids?

It's a question Insider presented to offensive players participating in the combine last week. Players identified their own replacements, and provided scouting reports on the next men up.

USC running back Justin Davis

College statistics: 2,465 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns; 46 receptions, 400 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns

Replacement pick: Ronald Jones II

Davis' scouting report on Jones: "He's definitely somebody that's already on a lot of NFL teams' radars. Definitely special. I can't wait to watch him next year. He has the things you can't teach, and that's acceleration, the speed to take it the distance. Not many running backs have that, and that's something very special."


West Virginia running back Rushel Shell

College statistics: 2,651 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns; 58 receptions, 444 receiving yards

Replacement pick: Justin Crawford

Shell's scouting report on Crawford: "He replaced me when I got hurt this year. It's a loaded backfield once again. Twitchy. He's like a Jamaal Charles type. He's a speed back, but he's not afraid to hit you. He's going to have to compete because he's going to have two guys behind him who can replace him."


North Carolina running back T.J. Logan

College statistics: 2,165 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns; 663 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns; 2,098 kick return yards, four kick return touchdowns

Replacement pick: Jordon Brown

Logan's scouting report on Brown: "He's not a spitting image of me. He's his own person, but I feel like he's going to be a great back. He has speed, he can make guys miss, and he also can take it the distance. So I feel like he'll be pretty good. He doesn't do a lot of talking. He likes to get out there and play. Also he's like me, he has to improve in his pass-blocking. But other than that, he's going to be fine."


Washington State wide receiver Gabe Marks

College statistics: 316 receptions for 3,453 receiving yards, 37 touchdowns, 106 punt return yards

Replacement picks: Tavares Martin, Isaiah Johnson-Mack

Marks' scouting report on Martin and Johnson-Mack: "Tavares Martin had a really good year last year for a sophomore. He had like 800 yards, eight touchdowns. I think that he's going to have a breakout year this year. And Isaiah Johnson-Mack, he was my backup last year. He learned a lot of good things. He got a lot better."


Temple running back Jahad Thomas

College statistics: 2,599 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns; 69 receptions; 998 receiving yards, eight touchdowns; 1,032 kick return yards, one kick return touchdown

Replacement picks: Ryquell Armstead, Isaiah Wright, Jager Gardner

Thomas' scouting report on Armstead, Wright and Gardner: "They all are versatile, can do many different things for that team. With me being gone, they aren't going to miss a beat. Ryquell Armstead is a little heavier, so he's more of a power back. He's also elusive and very quick, too. People may sleep on his home-run ability. Isaiah Wright, he's powerful, more of a shifty guy that can make you miss, and then Jager Gardner is taller and heavier who will wear you out for four quarters."


UCLA offensive tackle Conor McDermott

College statistics: 32 starts

Replacement pick: Kolton Miller

McDermott's scouting report on Miller: "I always joke and call him my mini me. Everyone's like, 'He's not smaller than you.' He's like my twin. He's been right tackle the last two years, but he likes the left the most. He's one of the most athletic guys I've seen. He's a freak in the weight room. He's young, hard worker, quiet, modest, shy sometimes. He's a great player. I'm excited to see what he produces next season."


Louisville wide receiver James Quick

College statistics: 126 receptions for 2,032 receiving yards, 14 receiving touchdowns, 148 punt return yards, 156 kick return yards

Replacement pick: Seth Dawkins

Quick's scouting report on Dawkins: "He was a freshman this year and backed me up. He did a really good job when he came. He'll be a big asset to the team. He kind of reminded me of myself: big guy, big frame, good hands, can catch, jump high. He's an all-around player."


Ole Miss wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo

College statistics: 106 receptions for 1,454 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns

Replacement picks: DaMarkus Lodge, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf

Adeboyejo's scouting report on Lodge, Brown and Metcalf: "D.K., he's 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5 maybe, big body, can go up, make big plays in the air. DaMarkus Lodge, he's faster than people give him credit for. He runs really good routes. A.J., he's a big body, he's not really tall, he's a real physical guy, has great hands. He runs pretty good routes. He's a big-time competitor."


USC wide receiver Darreus Rogers

College statistics: 127 receptions for 1,487 receiving yards, 11 receiving touchdowns

Replacement pick: Tyler Vaughns

Rogers' scouting report on Vaughns: "Great hands, great route runner, smooth, just a natural football player. I feel like he has the tools to do what it takes to play my position. Just the natural ball instincts he has, I can see myself, when I was a freshman, in him. If he can keep his head right, stay on the right track, he'll be a great player up there."


Oregon State offensive tackle Sean Harlow

College statistics: 37 starts (23 at left tackle, 14 at right tackle)

Replacement pick: Blake Brandel

Harlow's scouting report on Brandel: "He was playing left [tackle] while I was hurt this year, and he's done a great job. He's 6-7, about 300 pounds, can move really well, he's a young kid, about to be a redshirt sophomore. He's really athletic, a smart kid, plays the game the right way. He's going to do a great job."


Syracuse wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo

College statistics: 155 receptions for 2,420 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns

Replacement picks: Jamal Custis, Steve Ishmael

Etta-Tawo's scouting report on Custis and Ishmael: "Custis is 6-6, runs a 4.3. He's going to surprise a lot of people. Just his willingness to play the game, his attitude. I'm excited to see the production Steve will put up."


USC offensive tackle Chad Wheeler

College statistics: 47 starts

Replacement: Chuma Edoga

Wheeler's scouting report on Edoga: "He's a great player. He's been taking reps while me and Zach [Banner] are starting. He's a great player. He's a freak of nature for how big he is. He can run. He's physical. He has a lot of strength to him."