From now till the 2024 NFL Draft takes place, we are going to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as attainable, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and what they’ll convey to an NFL franchise. These gamers might be potential top-10 picks, all the best way to Day 3 picks and precedence undrafted free brokers. As we speak, a scouting report on Memphis RB Blake Watson.
#4 Blake Watson/RB Memphis – 5094, 200 kilos (Fifth Yr Senior)
MEASUREMENTS
Participant
Ht/Wt
Hand Dimension
Arm Size
Wingspan
Blake Watson
5094/200
8 3/4″
29 7/8″
71 1/8″
40-Yard Sprint
10-Yard Sprint
Quick Shuttle
3-Cone
4.40
1.55
4.32
7.13
Broad Soar
Vertical
Bench Press
11’3″
41.5″
N/A
*Professional Day Numbers
The Good
– Stuffed-out body, quick however not small– Robust and bodily runner, fights for first down marker and churns legs ahead, dragging defenders with him– Routinely breaks arm tackles with ease, exhibits plus steadiness by means of contact– Exhibits fast lateral cuts to subsequent hole over, delicate shiftiness to vary instructions– Affected person with plus imaginative and prescient, follows his blocks on zone schemes, and does good job urgent the opening to arrange and idiot linebackers– Clean and pure catcher out of the backfield with plus receiving manufacturing– Keen to assault in cross safety, shows efficient lower blocks to cut down blitzers– Wonderful pre-draft testing– Productive and put up good numbers at larger faculty in 2023– Background and had success as kick returner earlier in faculty profession
The Unhealthy
– Quick with small palms– Lacks second gear or burst, doesn’t play to 40 time– Struggles to create within the open area to scoot away from third-level defenders, stopping good runs from turning into nice runs– Must maintain eyes up in cross safety and gained’t be capable of lower as often as he did in faculty– Greatest downhill and struggles when he has to run an excessive amount of laterally on perimeter schemes– Tends to run a bit of tall and upright in open area– Older prospect, particularly problematic for the place– Six profession fumbles
Bio
– 35 profession begins all through faculty profession– 24.53 years previous– Performed for Outdated Dominion from 2018 by means of 2022 earlier than transferring to Memphis– 2023 with Memphis: 192 carries, 1,152 yards (6.0 YPC), 53 receptions, 480 yards 3 TDs– Rushed for 1,112 yards in 2021 with Outdated Dominion, 918 yards with ODU in 2022– Two-star recruit from Cary, North Carolina, listed as a WR, Outdated Dominion was solely provide– Started profession as a WR earlier than switching to RB throughout sophomore season– Averaged 26.4 yards per kick return in 2019 (24 returns, lengthy of 75)– Brother performed CB at Wake Forest and briefly with the Chargers– Had 106 receptions for almost 2,900 yards and 25 TDs in highschool profession– Ran monitor and area in highschool– Old flame was baseball
Tape Breakdown
Blake Watson was a really gentle recruit out of Queens, initially a large receiver earlier than turning into a working again in faculty. After incomes his maintain within the return sport, he labored his method up the depth chart to search out success at Outdated Dominion earlier than transferring to Memphis in 2023.
Whereas 5-9, 200 kilos gained’t bounce out at you, Watson carries his body properly with loads of muscle. He runs exhausting and performs larger, churning his legs and combating ahead for additional yardage. He’s not simple to convey down and brushes off arm tackles by defensive backs.
However my favourite trait is his imaginative and prescient and endurance. He’s sensible, shifty, and he units up linebackers properly by urgent the opening earlier than rapidly slicing and altering route.
A highschool and faculty receiver, Watson’s productive within the passing sport. He’s caught 90 passes the final two mixed years and is pure out of the backfield, fast to the tuck and jetting upfield.
His tape total is constructive, and he examined properly. However I don’t see him as dynamic an athlete on tape. In area, he struggles to run away from defenders or make them miss in open grass. He’s shifty however extra fast than quick and can undergo and never round in open grass. There are probabilities he may’ve gotten greater than what was blocked as soon as he broke into daylight, although he’s artistic on the line of scrimmage.
Conclusion
General, Blake Watson is a well-rounded participant with good quicks and energy. He catches the ball properly and will work on the kick return staff on the subsequent stage. However the lack of of a second gear doesn’t make him a gamebreaker. I like him in a zone scheme the place he can assist on all three – and doubtlessly four-downs. My NFL comp is former Cleveland Browns RB Duke Johnson.
Projection: Late Day ThreeDepot Draft Grade: 6.8 – Backup/Particular Teamer (Fifth Spherical)Video games Watched: at Virginia (2022 – Outdated Dominion), at UAB (2023), at Temple (2023)
