Everyone realizes that NFL general managers earn their paychecks with their level of success in the later rounds of the draft and uncovering those hidden gems that can push a team over the top. With the NFL’s scouting process in full swing and many names being brought to the forefront who weren’t exactly on the tip of anyone’s tongues when the collegiate season started, this segment called Under the Radar will continue to explore just what scouts find attractive about certain prospects who may be available beyond the glamour rounds of the draft.

The Youngstown State Penguins have not produced many NFL level talents, but this year may be an exception in wide receiver Donald Jones. At 6’0” 214lbs., Jones isn’t a physically imposing player, but it is his football IQ that really establishes him as a solid NFL prospect. In Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine, Jones showed off his route running skills which are incredibly polished for a collegiate player and his game tape shows just how willing he is to go over the middle of the field and make the tough catches to move the chains. The combine saw some unexpectedly impressive numbers from Jones as well with a 4.47 40 yard dash time which was definitely faster than scouts anticipated. He also tied for the top bench press performance among wideouts with 20 reps at 225lbs. and was just a half an inch shy of the best vertical leap at 41 inches.

Senior Bowl struggles may impact his stock negatively after several scouts thought he looked slow at times with labored movement in and out of his breaks. The fact that he used his size more than his athleticism to get open in college is also a concern since he worked against inferior competition at a lower level and size alone won’t get the job done in the NFL. More complex playbooks at the next level may pose a difficult adjustment for Jones as he is more used to simple route combinations. Although he will be a bit of a project slot receiver in the NFL, Jones would be a great fit with a team looking to develop an heir apparent receiver in two to three years time as a 6th round selection. His upside would present a ton of value if he were still available at that point in the draft.

A number of names will be called during April’s NFL Draft that seem to be from out of left field, but don’t let Donald Jones’ be one of them. Keep looking out for more Under the Radar players shooting up draft boards or quietly lurking in the depth of this class that could make a huge impact over the coming years on Sundays.

Picture Source



0 Comments

Dear Guest, please login to comment

Login with BlitzNation account

Create New Account | Forgot password?

OR login with Facebook


Please keep the comments clean by not posting advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks. Terms of Use.

Popular Blog Posts

Most Commented Posts

Newsletter

Categories


Archives



Follow Us


Tips

We love to hear from our users! Let us know what you'd like us to write about at tips@blitznation.com.

Contests

Current: Coming Soon!

Past: Madden 2010 Video Game or Game Controllers

About BlitzNation

BlitzNation is a community for passionate NFL fans from all across the nation, sharing their love of football with other die hard football fans. We'll cover every angle of the game, from the start of kickoff till the final whistle, all from a fan's perspective.