By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
The Topper
Midland Lee 2020 wide receiver Loic Fouonji and the Baylor coaches continue to build some momentum with each other.
Baylor Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon was by on Thursday to see Fouonji. This marks the second time in less than two weeks that Baylor Fouonji have see each other. Fouonji attended the spring game on April 13.
“It was good to get out there and everything I saw was pretty interesting,’’ Fouonji said. “I’ve started to get to know them a little bit more as things have gone on. I’m pretty interested in them.’’
Fouonji was the primary target during Lee’s 9-3 season that ended in a Class 6A Division I area playoff loss to Haltom. He led all Rebel receivers with 903 yards and averaged nearly 18 yards per reception. Fouonji also hauled in 13 touchdown grabs. Basically, he averaged one per game.
Maybe the good thing that has drawn Baylor to him is his silence on social media. He hasn’t tweeted anything personally since Feb. 5 when he announced Baylor’s offer. Fouonji is a big target at 6-4, 189 pounds.
Baylor is going to need some help at wide receiver with key departures after the 2019 season in Chris Platt and Denzel Mims.
Baylor's NFL Draft Hopefuls
Since sending six players to the 2016 NFL Draft, Baylor has had only one player selected in the previous two spring parties. Center Kyle Fuller went in the 7th round to Houston in 2017.
The Bears should break this mini drought on Day 2 or Day 3 of the selection process, Friday or Saturday. The draft started Thursday in Nashville.
Biggest hopes are pinned to wide receiver Jalen Hurd. Depending on what you read, Hurd could go as high as the third round or not be selected at all.
For instance, there are 254 total selections. Pro Football Focus listed its top 250 players. Hurd didn’t make the list.
Here’s a scouting breakdown on each of the Baylor hopefuls. All scouting report information is provided by NFL.com.
Jalen Hurd, WR, 6-4, 225
Strengths
· Driven to prove people wrong after move from running back to receiver
· Elite size and length with plus athleticism
· Has physical attributes to drastically improve as a route-runner
· Sways defenders with aggressive head and shoulder fakes at route turn
· Understands route leverage
· Future jump-ball winner in red zone
· Uses size to squeeze out additional yards after contact as receiver
· Has length and frame to bully-finesse cornerbacks
· Long arms stab throws both high and wide of his frame
· Courageous to catch and secure in traffic in the face of inevitable punishment
· Used as running back at times and could offer unique roster flexibility
· Can batter defenses on short yardage once he gets momentum downhill.
Weaknesses
· Will need to expand route tree and learn to play outside the numbers
· Leggy with below-average short-area quickness
· Could struggle to defeat press coverage early in career
· Hasn't learned to vary route speeds just yet
· Hits his turns at high speed and drifts up the embankment
· Not a natural pass-catcher
· Needs to be catch-ready sooner to prevent throws from eating him up
· Lacks experience tracking and stacking down the field
· Disappointing effort as a blocker
NFL.com projects Hurd to be a 3rd-round pick. He did make the interview circuit visiting with such teams as Houston and Minnesota. The projection is an improvement. Before the NFL Combine, Hurd was then thought to be a fifth round choice.
Derrek Thomas, DB, 6-3, 189
Strengths
· Rare height and length for a cornerback
· Considered an outstanding tester inside the program
· Long arms are menacing from press
· Able to stab and derail release of Hakeem Butler of Iowa State
· Forces receivers to alter release strategy
· Decent downhill drive on the throw from catch-man
· Decent long speed for his size
· Skyscraper in trail coverage
· Footwork is fairly natural for him despite high center of gravity
· High-point battles are tilted in his favor
Weaknesses
· Just three years at cornerback with 14 career starts
· Lanky and lacks strength
· As leggy as they come at the position
· Short-area movements take a tick longer for him
· Pronounced stall to drive from the top of his backpedal
· Poor brake pads to mirror comeback routes
· Sluggish in lateral change of direction
· Project-level instincts at this point
· Is not here for necessary run-support duties
· Sits back and lays on blocks without enough fight
NFL.com’s projection of Thomas is potentially going in the 6th or 7th rounds. But that opinion is not universally shared. Scouts believe because his game is so undefined at corner, he’s more of a risk to burn a pick and probably is going to become a free agent.
Greg Roberts, DE, 6-5, 258
Baylor’s pro day back on April 3 at least gave some NFL scouts – all but four of the organizations had someone attend the event – an idea that there could be someone else to evaluate. He worked out at both defensive end and outside linebacker.
Roberts has a chance to go in 7th round. However, most believe he will sign as a free agent.
Strengths
· Well-defined with NFL-caliber size and frame
· Size and strength to potentially play 3-4 and 4-3 end spots
· Good knee bend for leveraged, powerful strikes
· Meets pulling guards and tight ends with force
· Locates ball quickly and plays with good shed-to-tackle twitch
· Energetic and challenging to block in penetrations and twists
· Loose and fluid in space
· Bull-rusher with potential to do more damage with consistently timed attacks
· Father was 1978 Outland Trophy winner at Oklahoma and five-year pro
Weaknesses
· Lacks upfield gain over first three steps as rusher
· Rush plan that doesn't poke enough holes in opponent's flaws
· Allows tackles to run him past pocket rather than countering underneath
· Hands haven't been properly honed against run or pass yet
· Inconsistent point of attack separation
· Has to prove he can two-gap against tackles
· Top-heavy power with below-average base strength
Note: Defensive back Verkedric Vaughns, defensive tackle Ira Lewis, punter Drew Galitz, who didn’t go through Baylor’s Pro Day because of his injury and offensive linemen Blake Blackmar and Patrick Lawrence, who also didn’t go through the pro day after having back surgery, do not have any scouting information on them and are considered long shot free agents. Several could get a camp invite.
Emptying the Notebook
>Baylor MBB will not be entertaining any visitors this weekend as the coaches are out traveling around to AAU tournaments. This is the period where coaches are going to continue to evaluate 2020, 2021 and 2022 potentials. There are events scattered throughout the country between Kansas City, Atlanta and Dallas (Mansfield). Again, Baylor may not be in a rush to fill that final spot for the 2019-20 roster.
>Nothing’s going to happen for quite some time. However, Baylor’s coaches continue to build equity with Katy Morton Ranch 2020 PG and Rivals No. 82 L.J. Cryer.
>Baylor has offered San Antonio Cole 2022 6-10 big Vince Iwuchukwu. He’s called “Baby Shaq” because Shaquille O’Neal also played at Cole.
Publisher
The Topper
Midland Lee 2020 wide receiver Loic Fouonji and the Baylor coaches continue to build some momentum with each other.
Baylor Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon was by on Thursday to see Fouonji. This marks the second time in less than two weeks that Baylor Fouonji have see each other. Fouonji attended the spring game on April 13.
“It was good to get out there and everything I saw was pretty interesting,’’ Fouonji said. “I’ve started to get to know them a little bit more as things have gone on. I’m pretty interested in them.’’
Fouonji was the primary target during Lee’s 9-3 season that ended in a Class 6A Division I area playoff loss to Haltom. He led all Rebel receivers with 903 yards and averaged nearly 18 yards per reception. Fouonji also hauled in 13 touchdown grabs. Basically, he averaged one per game.
Maybe the good thing that has drawn Baylor to him is his silence on social media. He hasn’t tweeted anything personally since Feb. 5 when he announced Baylor’s offer. Fouonji is a big target at 6-4, 189 pounds.
Baylor is going to need some help at wide receiver with key departures after the 2019 season in Chris Platt and Denzel Mims.
Baylor's NFL Draft Hopefuls
Since sending six players to the 2016 NFL Draft, Baylor has had only one player selected in the previous two spring parties. Center Kyle Fuller went in the 7th round to Houston in 2017.
The Bears should break this mini drought on Day 2 or Day 3 of the selection process, Friday or Saturday. The draft started Thursday in Nashville.
Biggest hopes are pinned to wide receiver Jalen Hurd. Depending on what you read, Hurd could go as high as the third round or not be selected at all.
For instance, there are 254 total selections. Pro Football Focus listed its top 250 players. Hurd didn’t make the list.
Here’s a scouting breakdown on each of the Baylor hopefuls. All scouting report information is provided by NFL.com.
Jalen Hurd, WR, 6-4, 225
Strengths
· Driven to prove people wrong after move from running back to receiver
· Elite size and length with plus athleticism
· Has physical attributes to drastically improve as a route-runner
· Sways defenders with aggressive head and shoulder fakes at route turn
· Understands route leverage
· Future jump-ball winner in red zone
· Uses size to squeeze out additional yards after contact as receiver
· Has length and frame to bully-finesse cornerbacks
· Long arms stab throws both high and wide of his frame
· Courageous to catch and secure in traffic in the face of inevitable punishment
· Used as running back at times and could offer unique roster flexibility
· Can batter defenses on short yardage once he gets momentum downhill.
Weaknesses
· Will need to expand route tree and learn to play outside the numbers
· Leggy with below-average short-area quickness
· Could struggle to defeat press coverage early in career
· Hasn't learned to vary route speeds just yet
· Hits his turns at high speed and drifts up the embankment
· Not a natural pass-catcher
· Needs to be catch-ready sooner to prevent throws from eating him up
· Lacks experience tracking and stacking down the field
· Disappointing effort as a blocker
NFL.com projects Hurd to be a 3rd-round pick. He did make the interview circuit visiting with such teams as Houston and Minnesota. The projection is an improvement. Before the NFL Combine, Hurd was then thought to be a fifth round choice.
Derrek Thomas, DB, 6-3, 189
Strengths
· Rare height and length for a cornerback
· Considered an outstanding tester inside the program
· Long arms are menacing from press
· Able to stab and derail release of Hakeem Butler of Iowa State
· Forces receivers to alter release strategy
· Decent downhill drive on the throw from catch-man
· Decent long speed for his size
· Skyscraper in trail coverage
· Footwork is fairly natural for him despite high center of gravity
· High-point battles are tilted in his favor
Weaknesses
· Just three years at cornerback with 14 career starts
· Lanky and lacks strength
· As leggy as they come at the position
· Short-area movements take a tick longer for him
· Pronounced stall to drive from the top of his backpedal
· Poor brake pads to mirror comeback routes
· Sluggish in lateral change of direction
· Project-level instincts at this point
· Is not here for necessary run-support duties
· Sits back and lays on blocks without enough fight
NFL.com’s projection of Thomas is potentially going in the 6th or 7th rounds. But that opinion is not universally shared. Scouts believe because his game is so undefined at corner, he’s more of a risk to burn a pick and probably is going to become a free agent.
Greg Roberts, DE, 6-5, 258
Baylor’s pro day back on April 3 at least gave some NFL scouts – all but four of the organizations had someone attend the event – an idea that there could be someone else to evaluate. He worked out at both defensive end and outside linebacker.
Roberts has a chance to go in 7th round. However, most believe he will sign as a free agent.
Strengths
· Well-defined with NFL-caliber size and frame
· Size and strength to potentially play 3-4 and 4-3 end spots
· Good knee bend for leveraged, powerful strikes
· Meets pulling guards and tight ends with force
· Locates ball quickly and plays with good shed-to-tackle twitch
· Energetic and challenging to block in penetrations and twists
· Loose and fluid in space
· Bull-rusher with potential to do more damage with consistently timed attacks
· Father was 1978 Outland Trophy winner at Oklahoma and five-year pro
Weaknesses
· Lacks upfield gain over first three steps as rusher
· Rush plan that doesn't poke enough holes in opponent's flaws
· Allows tackles to run him past pocket rather than countering underneath
· Hands haven't been properly honed against run or pass yet
· Inconsistent point of attack separation
· Has to prove he can two-gap against tackles
· Top-heavy power with below-average base strength
Note: Defensive back Verkedric Vaughns, defensive tackle Ira Lewis, punter Drew Galitz, who didn’t go through Baylor’s Pro Day because of his injury and offensive linemen Blake Blackmar and Patrick Lawrence, who also didn’t go through the pro day after having back surgery, do not have any scouting information on them and are considered long shot free agents. Several could get a camp invite.
Emptying the Notebook
>Baylor MBB will not be entertaining any visitors this weekend as the coaches are out traveling around to AAU tournaments. This is the period where coaches are going to continue to evaluate 2020, 2021 and 2022 potentials. There are events scattered throughout the country between Kansas City, Atlanta and Dallas (Mansfield). Again, Baylor may not be in a rush to fill that final spot for the 2019-20 roster.
>Nothing’s going to happen for quite some time. However, Baylor’s coaches continue to build equity with Katy Morton Ranch 2020 PG and Rivals No. 82 L.J. Cryer.
>Baylor has offered San Antonio Cole 2022 6-10 big Vince Iwuchukwu. He’s called “Baby Shaq” because Shaquille O’Neal also played at Cole.
