Mel Kiper weighs in on Tech's combine participants
Louisiana Tech is sending three players to the NFL Scouting Combine, Vernon Butler, Kenneth Dixon and Jeff Driskel. ESPN Draft expert Mel Kiper recently held a conference call where BleedTechBlue.com joined in order to get his thoughts on Tech's three participants.
Immediately following the 2015 football season defensive tackle Vernon Butler began to pop up in the first round of an occasional NFL mock draft. In late January, Butler really began to shoot up draft charts after his outstanding performance at the Senior Bowl. The Louisiana Tech product racked up two tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble in his limited action.
In the month following the Senior Bowl, Butler has become a mainstay in first round of virtually every mock draft available but Kiper does not think it's a given he goes in the first round but still expects him to go very high.
“He could [slip from first round],” Kiper told BleedTechBlue. “There are so many defensive linemen. Despite the good Senior Bowl and the performance at Louisiana Tech. 300+ pounder who can dunk a basketball. Gifted athlete. He could be a late 1. He could be an early 2. I don't think he gets past pick number 40-45—In that area. I think he goes between 25 and 35. Mid to late first at best. Early to mid second at worst.”
The recent buzz around running back Kenneth Dixon has been that he could be selected in the second or third round of the draft. We've seen a couple of recent four round mock drafts that have Dixon going in the third round.
“I've liked [Dixon] all year,” Kiper said. “If you've been following ESPN.com, he's been in the top 10 group all year. He runs hard inside. Gives you a little bounce outside. He'll catch the ball. He'll block. I think Kenneth Dixon is an underrated back who will play in the league probably as a fourth to sixth round draft pick.”
Quarterback Jeff Driskel, who revived his career at Louisiana Tech this past season after transferring from Florida, also had a nice performance at the Senior Bowl -- despite only playing in the final two possessions of the fourth quarter. Driskel led all Senior Bowl participants in completions, completion percentage, and passing yards. He and Dak Prescott were the only two quarterbacks to throw a touchdown pass in the game.
A recent mock draft had Driskel going to the Arizona Cardinals late in the third round. There have been rumors of some NFL teams valuing him as high as the second round.
“Driskel has got to be more consistent,” Kiper said. “He's a little all over the place with some throws. He needs some work. Has some talent to work with. I project Driskel in the fifth to seventh round area.”
It seems Jeff Driskel may still have something left to prove. He'll get his chance on Saturday when he throws in front of scouts at the combine.
It's not unusual for top quarterbacks to skip passing drills at the combine. Instead choosing to wait for their pro day workout where they can perform on their own field with their own receivers. Andrew Luck, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, and Derek Carr are among the recent quarterbacks who have opted not to throw at the combine.
This year all of the quarterbacks invited to the combine are scheduled to throw and Jeff Driskel will have one more opportunity to show NFL scouts how he measures up to the other top quarterbacks in the draft at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday.