What I really like the most about the Scouting process is the fact that it is constantly evolving. How your roster starts the season is usually not how it will end. The reason is that there are always guys who tend to appear in movies who might be considered latecomers.
This often happens for various reasons. You may have a senior player who, even though he has been there for four years, may be in his first year of leaving. And because of that, he may or may not have been on your preseason watch list. Another possible reason is that for some guys the light comes on and the game starts slowing down for them, eventually causing them to perform at a ridiculous level. We find that currently with the way Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker plays.
The same rules also apply to the small school perspective.
In this week’s edition of The hunting reportI wanted to focus my attention on some of the guys who flew under the radar during pre-season, but most certainly fit the description of the senior player playing a really good ball going into Week 8.
(For last week’s hunting report, be sure to click here.)
college football
QB Fred Payton
- Year: Senior
- Middle School: Mercier
- Height: 6-1
- Lester: 215
Highly intelligent football player who won’t put the ball in danger. It’s not that he’s super risk averse; he’s just very judicious about when and where he delivers the ball. He really does a masterful job of keeping the offensive pace going. In the passing game exclusively, the ball goes out in time with a leading placement. He always directs the receiver to the open grass, while protecting him from defenders. I’ve been impressed with his play so far this season, and he’s someone you should add to your scouting list as well. Next game: October 22 vs. Chattanooga
OLB Ronnie Thomas
- Year: Senior
- Middle School: Mississippi Valley State
- Height: 6-0
- Lester: 250
Thomas plays with very good functional strength. Sometimes we like to call it “grown man strength.” He just doesn’t let himself be intimidated up front despite being an undersized defensive end. I love how the coaches at Mississippi Valley State give him the ability to get his hands in the dirt or play from a two-point position. He shows his ability to read, diagnose, redirect and attack the ball quickly. Since moving from East Mississippi CC, Thomas has racked up 21.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He’s their best pressure player and someone I consider more of a SAM support on a professional level. Next game: October 22 against Bethune-Cookman
CB Shaun Lewis
- Year: Graduate student
- Middle School: UT-Martin
- Height: 6-0
- Lester: 180
Sticky defender who shows excellent hand use in coverage. He’s able to play both press and off-man coverage pretty well. The ball skills are right where you want them to be, as it doesn’t get too freaky or snappy in phase, or when the ball is in the air. He always has a good idea of where the receiver is, while also being able to keep a watchful eye on the quarterback. I’m a huge fan of how physical he is in running support, both in how he attacks and how quickly he is able to disengage from blocks to make a play. Houston’s former transfer has huge nuances in his game. Big opportunity for him this weekend to become a household name. Next game: October 22 against Tennessee
OL Nicolas Melsop
- Year: Graduate student
- Middle School: Delta State
- Height: 6-6
- Lester: 325
Melsop is very impressive in the cinema. He shows great tactical patience, allowing the defender to show his hand first before he has the perfect counterattack. Big eyes too, because you don’t see him fooled by twists or stunts. When asked to shoot the ball in the running game, he is able to move defenders to different positions depending on how far he takes the ball away from the guys. Melsop has a very good anchor, not letting himself be pushed around. He made a very good impression in the Mississippi Valley State game when he was sometimes asked to block Ronnie Thomas. He could potentially be a goalkeeper as a professional player. Next game: October 20 against Shorter
OL Ben Farrell
- Year: Graduate student
- Middle School: Indiana Wesleyan
- Height: 6-4
- Lester: 299
Farrell is a heavy-handed left tackle for the Wildcats, who uses those strong hands to thwart a defender’s ability to rush. While his pad level can get a bit high at times, he also does a solid job of resetting his hands and is able to maintain block control. IWU finds a lot of success running behind Farrell. With the way he is able to maim defenders on both sides of the attack, I wonder if there is a potential future for him in the middle. In one of those playoff all-star games coming up in December and January, I’d like to see him work on the offensive line. Next game: October 22 against St. Francis (IN)
