I talked to him for the first time in a long time tonight, got to know him back when I was covering sports for the Arkansas Gazette. He's got several NFL contacts (scouts, assistants, and a few current and former HCs) and coordinated the NFL coverage for his paper not so long ago ... he still stays in touch with his contacts and gave me some very interesting insight ...
* Over the past calendar year (end of 2014 season through today/last day of Senior Bowl practices), he's gotten word that BOTH JWill and AC have been among several team's evolving 2nd-round draft grades at different times, including the Cowboys, Patriots, and Texans. He said another 3-4 teams like both a lot, but his contact did not name those teams (???). A couple of teams have flip-flopped on AC and JWill as potential fits/targets.
* Both are viewed as eventual lead backs and not specialists or change-of-pace backups.
* He said JWill is viewed as an every-down back, and AC needs to get better as a pass-catcher to stay on the field on 3rd down.
* Said if the draft was next week, AC likely 2nd rounder, lock for early 3rd ("top 75 pick"), and JWill no later than 5th, but at one point both the Cowboys and Patriots liked him as a 2nd-rounder, and he said a coach he knows told him "a handful of scouts" believe JWill is still a 2nd-round value when healthy and thus a draft steal because he will probably still be available in the 4th or 5th round.
* He said he's talked to a couple of NFL scouts attending the Senior Bowl this week who said Kenneth Dixon has shot up the charts and some think he's THE best all-around back in the 2016 draft, but that both AC and JWill are at the head of the next group according to several teams once you get past Elliott, Henry, and Dixon. He also said Henry is behind AC according to "a (scout) who loves the Arkansas kid who blew up this year."
* Said to not be surprised if Kenyan Drake jumps up because of his "versatility, speed, explosive play-making" that some teams simply lack in the backfield, even teams with reliable starters.
* Said combine and pro days will see some shifts at all position rankings, and times and measurables for backs often move the needle more dramatically in draft stock relative to other positions -- duh -- but he felt that 40 times would help or hurt JWill more than AC, and that the 3-cone and off-tackle-react drill could elevate AC even higher if he excels in those as long as he does not lay an egg in the 40.
A lot of this may seem like stuff we've already heard or speculated to some degree, but knowing that he got it directly from coaches, scouts, etc., was very interesting, and learning some of the thinking of 2-3 specific teams over the past year regarding our 2 RBs was even more interesting.
* Over the past calendar year (end of 2014 season through today/last day of Senior Bowl practices), he's gotten word that BOTH JWill and AC have been among several team's evolving 2nd-round draft grades at different times, including the Cowboys, Patriots, and Texans. He said another 3-4 teams like both a lot, but his contact did not name those teams (???). A couple of teams have flip-flopped on AC and JWill as potential fits/targets.
* Both are viewed as eventual lead backs and not specialists or change-of-pace backups.
* He said JWill is viewed as an every-down back, and AC needs to get better as a pass-catcher to stay on the field on 3rd down.
* Said if the draft was next week, AC likely 2nd rounder, lock for early 3rd ("top 75 pick"), and JWill no later than 5th, but at one point both the Cowboys and Patriots liked him as a 2nd-rounder, and he said a coach he knows told him "a handful of scouts" believe JWill is still a 2nd-round value when healthy and thus a draft steal because he will probably still be available in the 4th or 5th round.
* He said he's talked to a couple of NFL scouts attending the Senior Bowl this week who said Kenneth Dixon has shot up the charts and some think he's THE best all-around back in the 2016 draft, but that both AC and JWill are at the head of the next group according to several teams once you get past Elliott, Henry, and Dixon. He also said Henry is behind AC according to "a (scout) who loves the Arkansas kid who blew up this year."
* Said to not be surprised if Kenyan Drake jumps up because of his "versatility, speed, explosive play-making" that some teams simply lack in the backfield, even teams with reliable starters.
* Said combine and pro days will see some shifts at all position rankings, and times and measurables for backs often move the needle more dramatically in draft stock relative to other positions -- duh -- but he felt that 40 times would help or hurt JWill more than AC, and that the 3-cone and off-tackle-react drill could elevate AC even higher if he excels in those as long as he does not lay an egg in the 40.
A lot of this may seem like stuff we've already heard or speculated to some degree, but knowing that he got it directly from coaches, scouts, etc., was very interesting, and learning some of the thinking of 2-3 specific teams over the past year regarding our 2 RBs was even more interesting.
Last edited:
