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Vanderbilt Commodores 2015 NFL Draft Scouting Report

James Franklin transformed this team into a legit and relavent team. Moving on to Derek Mason should slow that momentum some but not for very long. They should be bowl eligible by seasons end but nowhere contenders for the SEC East crown.

#52 Andrew Bridges (rSr.) RT 6-6 285. Has appeared in 24 games with 16 starts (1 at LG, 4 at LT and 11 at RT). A really good athlete. Has excellent height and arm length. Really quick feet. Can pull and get to the second level in a flash. Has lined up as an extra TE in some packages as a blocker. Can mirror DE's in the pass game. Has the look of a quality pass protector. He's far from a man mover though. He get next to no push in the running game. He can't seem to gain any weight and he hovers around 280. Too light and not strong enough at this point. Was lost for the season during the 4th game. Is in a battle to reclaim his starting role back. He's an intriguing prospect. UDFA.

#53 Vince Taylor (rSr.) NT/DT 6-1 310. Has appeared in 38 games with 11 starts. Squatty build with long arms. He's stout and has the ability to be a run stuffer and space eater. Isn't at all athletic. Doesn't make any plays really. Try's to shoot gaps and runs himself out of plays. May lose his starting gig to a younger player before long. UDFA.

#92 Kyle Woestmann (rSr.) OLB 6-3 252. Has appeared in 38 games with 13 starts. Quick, smart and relentless. Has a tireless motor. Has an infectious energy level. Diagnoses plays very well. Disruptive even if he's not the one making the play. Solid in the run game. Stout. Has been a DE his whole career but has played some at DT. Is making a seamless transition to a 3-4 OLB because of his instincts and smarts. Saw glimpses of his LB play while moving around in coverage a season ago. Looked smooth and natural. Isn't really fast. Will know where he needs to be to make a play but get beaten to the spot. As a pass rusher he lacks moves. Should be a solid but never spectacular player for years. 4th-6th round.

#53 Jake Bernstein (rJr.) LG 6-4 306. Has appeared in 22 games with 18 starts. May be the team most powerful OL. He's a mauler with a mean streak. Really strong hands. The type who frustrates opponents. More often than not he's getting movement on the DT's. Can pull and get out to the second level. Not the greatest athlete. Doesn't play with the best balance. Ends up on the ground too much. Doesn't always use good technique. Tends to try to use sheer strength instead of using his hands, extending his arms and locking out. A body blocker. With improved technique he could be a player. Doesn't declare.

#44 Barron Dixon (Sr.) DE/NT 6-4 308. Has appeared in 33 games with 1 start. Lined up at both DE and NT this spring and may do the same during the season. Has always been in a rotation at DT. Decent athlete. Good quickness off the snap. Is a good space eater. Occupies multiple blockers. Hasn't had much career production and will never be that type. May end up backing up at both spots. UDFA.

#77 Spencer Pulley (rJr.) C/G 6-4 300. Has appeared in 23 games with 17 starts (13 at RG and 4 at C). Versatile lineman. Has decent athleticism. Is really strong in the hands. Gets out and pulls a lot and does tend to latch onto a man o. The second level. Gets good movement when he uses good technique. Is inconsistent in his technique. Gets in trouble when he allows the defender underneath his pads. Doesn't always stay low and gets push backward after losing leverage. Shouldn't declare because his technique needs work and refinement.

#81 Steven Scheu (rJr.) TE 6-6 250. Has appeared in 24 games with 14 starts. Good blocker. Not a top flight athlete. Has barely been used as a pass catcher in their old offense. 17 career catches. Not an overpowering blocker for a guy with such little production catching the ball. Should see his touches increase but he's unrefined and needs the polish that two years of eligibility will bring. Doesn't declare.

#57 Joe Townsend (Sr.) C 6-4 312. Has appeared in 25 games with 22 starts. Fierce competitor. Plays nasty and with a mean streak. Plays to the whistle. Pulls with a good amount of athleticism. Gets to the second level fast and does a good job of blocking/cut blocking LB's. Isn't overpowering in close quarters. Fits only in zone blocking offenses for this reason. A good competitor who should be in someone's camp. 7th-UDFA.

#55 Caleb Azubike (Jr.) OLB 6-4 268. Has appeared in 23 games with 0 starts. Will be a starter at OLB/DE or "Jack" in the new 3-4 after being a DE his first two years on campus in a 4-3. Known as the Nigerian Nightmare. Not many are blessed with his size, speed and strength. Has 4.5 speed? Runs faster than most RB's. Great size to go with it too. Can play all over the front four and OLB. Makes plays on occasion. Some are handed to him like his two sacks against Florida. Allows himself to get blocked too much and pushed around. Doesn't seem very tough. Should be more productive and creative with his play. Him game just lays there. Very raw in his technique. A disappointment to this point. I don't have the feeling that it'll all come together and click for him. Learning a new position so I don't think an already raw player should declare.

#35 Darreon Herring (Jr.) ILB 6-1 232. Has appeared in 25 games with 12 starts. Started l2 games at OLB last season but is transitioningi to ILB. Very active. Fluid athlete. Natural moving backward in coverage. Good form tackler. Knows how to work around the pile to get to the ball carrier. He's aggressive and strong. Has a nose for the ball. Is on the smallish side for LB's. is more of a coverage guy than a thumper although he is more than capable. Needs to add muscle because he gets manhandled vs OL. Has the ability to turn into a really good player but he will struggle with the new 3-4. He will take a beating. Doesn't declare.

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