SB Nation - Vance Walker

Florida State Seminoles Left Tackle Andrew Datko to face an NFL schedule

FSUncensored — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:58:40 -0000

As a member of the youngest offensive line in the country (3 freshmen, 2 sophomores), Andrew Datko wildly exceeded expectations and earned Freshman All-America honors. Competing at a slight 267lbs, with a dislocated elbow and various shoulder ailments, Datko surprised everyone playing 852 snaps over 13 games, more than any freshman on the line. He also had a top-two overall grade three times received either the top grade or the second-best grade in run or pass blocking seven times. Datko also recorded 20 knockdowns. Was named the top offensive newcomer and won the freshman academic award. And he did so while playing in the best defensive conference in the country (no conference sends more top defensive players than the NFL than the ACC) and against UF. With Datko's help, the 'Noles led the ACC in scoring and Florida State head coach in waiting/ offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher won ACC offensive coordinator of the year.

This year Datko will face an even tougher challenge- the most difficult gauntlet of pass rushers in recent college football memory.

Miami

The Hurricanes were one of the youngest teams in college football last year, and they got even younger when their senior defensive end Eric Moncur went down with an injury in the 3rd game of the season. Moncur was a 4* recruit, the #10 overall defensive end in the country. He's projected to be a 1st day NFL draft choice (2nd or 3rd round) This year, he's back at 6'2" 260lbs and with 16 starts and 105 total tackles in his three years, should continue to be a quality player for the canes.

On the other side, Marcus Robinson started 5 games after making the switch from OLB to DE and had 9 tackles for loss and 4 sacks while earning 3rd team Frosh All-America honors. No matter which lines up over Datko, Florida State's left tackle will sure have a challenge on his hands.

BYU

While the BYU Cougars aren't known for their defensive talent, they do have an excellent defensive end in Jan Jorgenson. At 6-3 262lbs, Jorgensen plays the "5" technique end in BYU's 3-4 defensive scheme.

Jorgensen projects as a late 1st or early 2nd round draft choice. The senior has had quite the career. Jorgensen has been named 1st team All-Mountain West Defense for two years in a row. He is the conference's career leader in sacks already. He's a Lombardi and Hendricks award finalist. Oh, and he is 26 years old after serving a three year Mormon mission and redshirting his freshman year. The recent word is that he dropped 15lbs down to 245 in order to be quicker.

USF

If you were alive in 2007, you probably heard of USF's sackmaster George Selvie.

Selvie burst onto the scene in 2007 in a huge way, registering an incredible 31.5 tackles for loss and earning not only all-conference offers, but 1st team All-America status!

Selvie continued to play well in 2008, though not quite as well as he did in 2007. Why? It was a combination of nagging lower leg injuries and playing from behind (hard to get sacks when the other team is running out the clock). Despite the injuries, the 6'4" 255lb Selvie still made 1st Team Big East. He is back for his senior season and has said that he expects to be the top defensive end selected in the upcoming NFL draft. He's also been named to the 1st Team Pre-season All-America Squad. Florida State must stay out of 3rd and long in this game and give Datko help in the form of a tight end or a back. Asking Andrew to single Selvie all game could be disastrous and unfair to the true sophomore.

Boston College

While the Eagles are one of the teams on the schedule without a likely 1st day NFL pick at defensive end, they do boast three seniors with a combined 58 starts in Jim Ramella, Alex Albright, and Austin Giles. These guys have been there forever and really know how to play the game (that's a cop-out, I know, but they aren't great athletes or pro prospects).

Georgia Tech

If you don't already know Derrick Morgan, you should. I knew Georgia Tech had a good defensive line last year (one of the best in the country) featuring Michael Johnson Vance Walker, and Darryl Richard (all All-American or All-Conference). What really surprised me, however, was FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett calling sophomore Derrick Morgan the best player on Tech's defense. You can bet I watched # 91 then and he did not disappoint. At 6'4" and 270lbs, Morgan started all 13 games as a sophomore, registering 51 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (7.5 sacks) and even three pass breakups. Only a Junior, Morgan looks to be a surefire 1st rounder after his senior year, and with his size, athleticism, and production, is a virtual lock to be a 1st day selection if he elects to leave school early.

North Carolina

While not draft eligible, Sophomore Robert Quinn has shown a lot of promise after coming back from brain cancer.

Quinn started 12 games for the Tarheels and should have a monster season for the baby blue, particularly since he'll be able to workout fully for the first time in a while.

NC State

The Wolfpack feature another edge rushing terror on this list in Willie Young Jr. Last year, Young destroyed the 'Noles, with 2 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, and drawing at least one holding penalty.

At 6'4 and 251lbs, Young is extra quick and as a senior will have a variety of pass moves. Last year he started 11 games (injured other 2), registering 55 tackles (13 for loss), with 6 1/2 sacks. Young was named to Phil Steele's 2nd Team Pre-Season ACC defense. Like many of these edge rushers, the key will be to run right at Young as he was especially good on 3rd and long last year (as most defensive ends should be).

Clemson

The Tigers boast two of the best defensive ends in the conference in Ricky Sapp and Da'Quan Bowers. Both were elite Five-star recruits coming out of high school and both have continued to perform at the next level.

Last year, Sapp and Bowers had their collective way with the young 'Nole offensive tackles, registering two sacks and numerous pressures. It got to a point where FSU completely abandoned the dropback passing game, throwing only screen or play action passes.

This year both Bowers and Sapp are back. Bowers has reportedly put in a nice offseason of work and is probably the top true sophomore defensive end in the nation. Last year as a true freshman, Bowers started 6 games, played in all 13, and registered 50 tackles (8 for loss). He really came on in the later games. Sapp actually had some knee issues and missed the spring, though he'll be fully healthy for the 'Noles. Last year, he started 9 games (knee injury) and had 10 tackles for loss. He was also excellent in 2007, with 22 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Whoever Datko faces here will be a challenge for the young tackle.

Wake Forest

The Deac's don't have an elite player at defensive end.

Maryland

The Terps don't have an elite player at defensive end.

Florida

The Gators have a bevy of elite edge players and it's safe to say that three of their defensive ends would compete for starting jobs on any team in the country. For purposes of this piece, however, let's leave Justin Trattou aside for a minute and focus on Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham.

Dunlap (pictured) is on everyone's pre-season All-America team. He was the top defensive end prospect in his class coming out of high school. As a sophomore, he started only two games, but registered 39 tackles and 9.5 sacks, leading the SEC and making 2nd Team SEC. He's 6'6" 290lbs, and universally seen as the best defensive end prospect in college.

They also have Jermaine Cunningham who also made 2nd team SEC last season. Cunningham, at 6-3, 252lbs has started 25 games over the past two seasons registering over 100 tackles (20 for loss).

This schedule presents an enormous challenge for Florida State left tackle Andrew Datko. No offensive lineman in the country has a more difficult challenge than FSU's Datko. At a ripped 292 lbs, with a year of starting experience under his belt, Datko has a fighting chance to make it through the schedule, now that he has some bulk and experience to go with his always solid technique.

Scouting report: Vance Walker

Mocking Dan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:53:37 -0000

Vance Walker

6'2, 296 pounds | Georgia Tech | Defensive tackle

Strengths: What will get Walker a spot in the NFL is his quickness off the snap. Shows good speed as a tackle that allows him to penetrate. Had a down year as a senior largely due to an ankle sprain. Hard-hitting tackler who routinely runs through the ball carrier.

Weaknesses: Walker doesn't have the best size to play tackle in the NFL. When Walker doesn't fire off the ball quickly, he can easily be overpowered. Needs to learn better pass rush moves. Can't handle double teams very well.

Final word: A two-year starter on one of the nation's best defensive line's. Walker had an excellent junior year where he finished with 14 tackles for a loss and eight and a half sacks. A sprained ankle slowed him in 2008, but was still first-team All ACC. Won't wow a lot of people with his play.

Round projection: 4

Chiefs Likely Present at Georgia Tech Pro Day

Joel Thorman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:31:35 -0000

Tech DE Michael Johnson

As we've noticed with the Kansas City Chiefs offseason coaching search, sometimes knowing the right person is just as important as your, you know, actual job qualifications. Keeping this in mind, I wanted to highlight Georgia Tech's Pro Day which took place yesterday.

Chan Gailey is the former head coach of the Yellow Jackets and the Chiefs spoke with draft prospect Andrew Gardner at the NFL Combine so we have plenty of reason to think that the Chiefs are interested in taking a closer look at one, or a few, of the prospects that worked out.

With 26 teams (and two head coaches) attending yesterday's workout, we can make a safe assumption that the Chiefs were one of them.

A few of the participants we should keep an eye on are listed after the jump.

Michael Johnson was the star of the Georgia Tech Pro Day. He's being viewed as a late 1st/early 2nd round draft choice. At 6-foot-6 7/8 and 266 pounds and 40 times in the 4.61 range, consider him in as a rushing linebacker in a 3-4. Of course, the Chiefs don't have a 2nd round pick so he is likely out of the picture.

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via media.scout.com

Remember Georgia Tech OT Andrew Gardner? He interviewed with the Chiefs at the NFL Combine. He seems to have the size (6-foot-6 305 pounds) for tackle in the NFL. Anyway, he participated in all drills at today's Pro Day except for the bench press. He tore his labrum towards the end of last season but he still ran the forty in a shade under 5.0 (4.99).

According to his agent, he'll be ready to participate in all mini-camp drills once he's drafted.

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via img232.imageshack.us

Jahi-Word Daniels is a 6-foot 1/8th 191 pound corner coming out as well. He placed second among all defensive backs at the NFL Combine with 24 reps on the bench press. He's certainly got the big and strong part down.

According to Gil Brandt of NFL.com, he ran the forty in a high of 4.59 seconds but didn't participate in all drills because of a left groin injury

***

Vance Walker is a defensive tackled that measured in at a shade under 6-foot-2 and weighed in at 304 pounds. They say he's better suited for a one-gap defensive system.

The concerning part is a drop in production from his junior to senior year.

***

Darryl Richard is a defensive tackle that measured 6-foot-2 1/2 and 297 pounds. He put up 19 reps on the bench press (the highest was 37).

He's projected to be anywhere from a 7th round pick to an undrafted free agent.

DT, Vance Walker, Georgia Tech

Jeremy Bolander — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:41:13 -0000

DT, Vance Walker, Georgia Tech

At A Glance
Position 1: Defensive Tackle	Height: 6-2
Position 2:	Weight: 295
Class: Senior	Age: 21
Projected Round: 4th	40time: 5.02

Combine/Proday Results
Bench reps: 29	Vertical: 33
20yd Split: 2.94	Broad Jump: X
10yd Split: 1.75	20yd Shuttle: X
3 Cone Drill: X

Pros: Quick, powerful player, with good lateral burst and a nose for the ball. Relentless when he stays in his gap, and able to make plays.

Cons: Poor instincts, can take himself out of plays with poor judgment. Plays smaller than he is.

Styg's Broncos "fit": With luck, Walker will draw teams fire if they are looking DT in the fourth, which would allow prospects like Scott and Taylor to slip to later. Walker would suit the DT depth considerations of a 4-3, and he could possibly move to DE in the 3-4, but overall he is a poor fit for the Broncos going forward. Two stars virtually guarantee that the Broncos will look elsewhere.

Around MHR:

SBNation Says:

From "DL Draft Analysis" at Behind the Steel Curtain

He may need to bulk a little more, but he has the natural upper and lower body strength you're looking for in a NT. He doesn't always show the quickest burst off the ball - which means he may not draw double teams - but he's not going to move easily against the run.

Highlights

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

Is an intuitive run stopper, but he does so much more than that. His ability to get into the backfield gives opposing quarterbacks nightmares....[see more]
Nice balance...Understands leverage...Shows the ability to penetrate and make plays behind the line...Does a good job of shedding blocks...Tough...Plays with a nasty demeanor...Productive...[see more]
Coming off a huge junior year Vance Walker looked like potentially the top defensive tackle in the class, but he struggled a bit as a senior. He projects as a solid NFL player, but lacks the frame or athleticism to develop into a star. He was a two time First Team All ACC player, but may be the type that was a better college player than an NFL player. He projects as a 4-3 defensive tackle at the NFL level and is a low risk, low reward type pick. [see more...]
Was a two-year starter...Named 1st Team All-ACC in 2007 and 2008...Was a finalist for the Bednarik Award in 2008...Was bothered by an ankle injury as a senior...Played on a very talented defensive line with fellow 2009 NFL Draft prospects Michael Johnson and Darryl Richard as well as a rising star in Derrick Morgan...A very solid, workmanlike player who does everything well but nothing really great. [see more...]