The coaches made it extremely difficult to evaluate individual players, as players didn't wear numbers. So please forgive me if I miss a few standout performers, especially on defense, as it was almost impossible to tell the defenders apart. Nevertheless, I was able to pinpoint a few players who performed extremely well in drills and during the scrimmage.
The Defense: They have a chance to be really good. There's size and speed all over the place. The CBs played the WRs tight during one-on-one drills. Add the two picks during the scrimmage and consistent pass rush, and I'm more optimistic than ever. Of course, losing Captain America gives me indigestion, but sounds like the LB group as a whole is better than last year.
Konner Fox. He is a natural pass catcher with great hands and route-running ability. His size and blocking ability make him a true dual threat, as he strengthens our already formidable running game while being a threat in the passing game. He dominated one-on-one receiving drills. He easily created space to make effortless catches. I'm giddy about his potential, especially with a distributor like Jordan McCloud.
Jaylen Jenkins' football talent was on full display. He has really good vision, footwork, and explosiveness. He was impressive. His athletic ability has never been in question. Will he continue to make the right decisions off the field and in the locker room? If so, he is going to be an important piece to our success.
Darius Jackson looked bigger than I imagined and had a nice interception. He's healthy, and we're going to need the depth at safety.
Chayse Todd: Last spring, our centers couldn't even snap the ball. This spring, you hardly notice the center, which is a good thing. The kid is athletic and has a mean streak. He has a chance of being a great center.
Joey Hobert: He's still awesome. He's faster, bigger, and more confident than ever. He's going to have a huge year.
Brad Jackson: He surprised me with his ability to run the offense and make good RPO decisions. He's a really intelligent player with sneaky athleticism. I've questioned his arm strength in the past, but it appears he's worked on that a bit, as some of his throws had some zip. However, in my opinion, his throwing mechanics need work. His elbow and release are way too low, causing his intermediate and deep balls to flutter at times. He should watch a good dose of GJ Kinne playing quarterback at Tulsa. GJ had great mechanics.
Jaden Williams: What an over-the-shoulder catch at the corner of the end zone. It was a high-quality route that created enough space to make an excellent catch.
Jordan McCloud: What may get overlooked is the competitiveness he showed. I was very disappointed after his first three possessions, as he was playing awfully. Brad Jackson came in and gave the offense a bit of a spark, and PJ used his legs to score. Jordan looked like he took it to heart and came back in and made three of the most beautiful balls I've seen - one a deep pass to Hobert in stride and another down the middle of the field that was placed perfectly in the smallest of windows while under pressure. The third was a corner fade to Jaden and it was a thing of beauty, and what I consider an NFL-caliber pass.
PJ Hatter: This man needs 5-8 touches a game with those legs. He's electrifying! Like Brad Jackson, he really needs to work on his throwing motion. Want to see a much higher release point, like Steve Young.