Tag Archives: Marshall

C-USA tandem continuing to leave mark

For years, the safety tandem of Jovante Moffatt (6’0, 210, Sr.) and Reed Blankenship (6’1, 196, Jr.) has reigned terror on Conference USA football. Last Saturday’s contest against Marshall only served to further the pair’s growing reputation nationally. Blankenship registered six tackles in a solid performance while Moffatt tallied 14 tackles, a pass break-up and two timely athletic interceptions. We go inside the strengths of each player.

C-USA Defensive Players of the Week (9-9-19, 10-7-19)

2018 Season Preview: Old Dominion Monarchs

Season outlook 

The Monarchs are looking for a bounce-back season after finishing 2017 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the C-USA.  Old Dominion will lean on their running game in 2018.  Senior center Nick Clarke (6’4, 315) has started 34 games in the past three seasons and is on the Rimington Trophy watch list to begin the season.  Clarke will spearhead the rushing attack for senior Jeremy Cox (6’0, 235). Cox ran for 621 yards last season and caught 20 passes for 176 yards. On the outside, senior wide receiver Jonathan Duhart (6’3, 209) missed all but two games last season with a broken foot but in 2016 had 735 receiving yards. The defensive is also senior-laden and has steadily improved each year under defensive coordinator Rich Nagy, who enters his fifth season at the helm. On special teams, return man Isaiah Harper (5’9, 170) is a guy to keep your eye on. Harper was last year’s C-USA Player of the Year and finished 10th in FBS in kickoff return average at 29.1 yards per return. Old Dominion was marred by injuries and youth in 2017,  but if they can get lucky injury-wise, look for the Monarchs to become bowl eligible.

Troy’s player to watch

7 Oshane Ximines 6’3 247 OLB-STUD-Senior
Ximines, a senior defensive end, has improved his sack totals every season.  Last season, he set a Monarch school record with 8.5 sacks and will enter this season as one of the best pass rushers in Conference USA.  Ximines is second among active FBS players with 21 sacks.  If he can continue to produce at his gaudy pace, he could very well get an opportunity to play on Sundays in 2019.

Game of the season

October 6th at Florida Atlantic
Despite a home tilt against Virginia Tech on the schedule, a road game against Florida Atlantic will have stronger conference implications.  FAU is the coaches pick to win the conference.  Old Dominion enjoyed one of its best seasons in team history in 2016, behind a sensational record in the conference (10-3 overall, 7-1 C-USA).  If Old Dominion wants to establish itself as a conference power, a win against FAU in Boca Raton would go a long way.  The Owls defeated ODU 58-28 in Norfolk.

DraftNasty’s Prospect Watch

9 Jonathan Duhart 6’3 221 WR-Senior

For Duhart, it all comes down to his health.  Much of his productivity throughout his career (19 career TD receptions) has been aided by his physicality.  On top of that, he’s a big-time leaper capable of timing jump balls consistently in either the open field or Red Zone.  Despite the fact that he’s not a speed-burner, Duhart has been effective boxing out defenders in short areas with quickness and bulk.  In addition, he’s also been satisfactory working in the slot.  In 2017, he appeared in just two games after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left foot.  If he can regain his pre-injury form, look for Duhart to use his strength to ward off a number of the cornerbacks Conference USA has to offer week-to-week.  If so, NFL scouts will take notice.

Prediction: 8-4

According to Draftnasty’s Troy Jefferson, Old Dominion will become bowl-eligible in 2018.  The Monarchs will lose home contests versus Virginia Tech, Marshall and North Texas.  They also will get upended on the road at Western Kentucky

DraftNasty’s Under the Radar, Vol. II: Kalib Woods 6’1 188 WR FAU

Strengths: Four-year contributor. Long, silky-smooth receiver. Plays a little stronger than his size would suggest. As a freshman, he showed enough COD vs. rolled-up coverage. Back then, he was used on possession hitches on the perimeter (Middle Tennessee ’14). As a backside X-WR, he’s made some spectacular high-point TD grabs (Middle Tenn ’14). Body control. Flips his hips well to cross the face of CBs on inside routes (Tulsa ’15). Contorts his body to catch in-breaking routes behind him. Consistently adjusts to ball off-target. He can sink to catch passes low to the turf. Allows his body to die along the sidelines and toe-taps to get his feet in-bounds (Tulsa ’15). Long strider. Covers six-to-six and a half yards on his first four steps. Able to contort his body to maneuver vs. aggressive CBs to draw contact. Uses arms to get a nudge of room on long patterns down the field.

Weaknesses: Off the field concerns. Suspended for the first six games of the 2017 season due to an incident that occurred in early June (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/fl-sp-fau-owls-news-mon-20170904-story.html).   One of his biggest weaknesses has always come around not truly sinking his hips. Has a tendency to run to the spot and fail to accelerate upon arrival (allows CBs to beat him to the reception point). Raises his frame when chopping into his square-in/dig patterns (Tulsa ’15, Marshall ’17). Does a little too much chopping-and-shaking vs. press on some of his outside releases. Questionable strength holding stalk blocks on the perimeter.

Other Notes:

  • Attended Duncan Fletcher HS (Fla.) and was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track & field
  • 2014: 16 receptions for 223 yards (13.9 YPR) and 2 TDs
  • 2015: 27 receptions for 330 yards (12.2 YPR) and 3 TDs
  • Six 100-yard receiving games
  • 2016: 68 receptions for 934 yards
  • 6 receptions for 208 yards and one TD vs. North Texas on 12/2/17
  • 2017 (8 gms): 24 catches for 619 yards (25.8 YPR) and 4 TDs
  • Career Stats: 135 catches for 2,106 yards (15.6 YPR) and 10 TDs
  • 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl measurements: 6023 188 9” hands, 32 3/4” arms, 79 1/4” wingspan
  • 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl In-game report: Kept working vs. stacked double team on the perimeter as a gunner and got in on tackle in the 3rd QTR (4:04). Caught a comeback outside the numbers from Woodside for dying ball.

Summary:  His former offensive coordinator Brian Wright said way back in 2014, “He has the ability to be a great player.” That statement may very well have been true but, much to Woods’ own doing, that statement never truly came to fruition. Where he goes is not as important as to what role he could play for an NFL team. We think he’s capable of contributing on special teams because he showed some upside in kick coverage during the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.  However, there are issues about his foot speed. Will he run in the 4.6-range?  Woods has some similarities to former Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton (49ers, Jets).

DraftNasty’s Grade: 5.361 (4th Round)

Editor’s Note: DraftNasty’s grades on players are compiled from our eight identifying characteristics and do not constitute a draft projection.

DraftNasty’s Under the Radar, Vol. I: Thomas Owens 6’1 198 (E) WR FIU

Strengths: Body control. Long strider who builds to speed. Adjusts over the wrong shoulder to make tough catches (UCF ’16). He finds a way to win on jump balls through positioning and upper body strength (Tulane ’17-Nickerson; Minter-MTSU ’17). The team moves him both inside and outside in their schemes. No false steps off the ball in his two-point stance if uncovered. Accelerates into slant routes with a controlled straight-stem.  Exhibits nice patience on deep stops outside the numbers. Makes the low-ball scoop snags near the ground. Extends his inside arm to overpower CBs in press coverage (P.I. vs. Jackson, Marshall ’17).  Has won on slant-and-go routes in the RZ (TD, Marshall ’17).

Weaknesses: Does not impress going in to crack block on safeties (Marshall ’17). Allowed a skinny post to slip through his hands vs. Old Dominion in 2014. Covers just five yards in his first four steps. Displays limited energy setting up post-corners as an X-WR. Questionable long gear on nine routes. Sinking at the top of his routes has been an issue dating back to 2014.  Fails to consistently come back downhill for the ball (UCF ’16-PBU, Killings). Knee injury cut short his 2017 campaign.He’s made questionable decisions blocking back towards his GL (clip, UCF ’16). Will run the stutter-and-go outside the numbers (as an X-WR) but does not re-accelerate into the second portion of the pattern.

Other Notes:

  • Attended Atlantic Community HS (Fla.) and played football/basketball
  • Averaged 12.6 PPG in basketball at the prep level
  • 9 receptions for 166 yards vs. Indiana on 9/12/15
  • 2015 (12 sts): 51 catches for 638 yards (12.5 YPR) and 8 TDs
  • 11 catches for 148 yards and 2 TDs vs. Charlotte on 10/15/16
  • 2016 (12 sts, Honorable mention All-C-USA): 47 catches for 652 yards (13.9 YPR) and 7 TDs
  • 11 catches for 162 yards and one TD vs. MTSU on 10/7/17
  • 2017 (9 gms, 1st Team All-C-USA): 59 catches for 887 yards (15 YPR) and 6 TDs
  • Career Stats: 40 games, 157 receptions for 2,177 yards (13.9 YPR) and 21 TDs; One TD pass; 11.4 yds/PR

 

Summary: Owens did not receive a combine invite and he will have to make up for it on his Pro Day. His speed is a question mark entering the postseason. We were impressed with the physicality he showed as a runner after the catch. Look no further than the Middle Tennessee State game as a senior to observe how relentlessly he attacks the football down the field. His tenacity as a blocker was up-and-down for the most part in the film viewed, but it is an area that has improved over the course of his career. The Panthers ranked No. 1 at the FBS level in Red Zone efficiency in 2017. A big part of the reason was Owens’ ability to draw coverage in their balanced attack. He finished his career with 21 touchdown grabs. He has late-round value if he can clear the medical checks on his knee by NFL teams.

DraftNasty’s Grade: 5.082 (5th Round)

Editor’s Note: DraftNasty’s grades on players are compiled from our eight identifying characteristics and do not constitute a draft projection.