With college football right around the corner, the beginning of the 2014 NFL Draft is tagging right along. Through this mini-series, we’ll review junior tape of potential prospects from Pitt and Penn St. To kick things off, a look at Pitt’s Jason Hendricks and Penn St’s Glenn Carson.
*Obvious Disclaimer: With a full season to go, scouting reports of players can dramatically change. What is seen on a prospect’s junior tape can be much different than what happens his senior year, for better or worse. Needless to say, these reports are not set in stone.
NAME/MEASUREABLES: Jason Hendricks/6’0 190
POSITION: Strong Safety
2012 STATS: 90 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 6 INTs
GAMES WATCHED: at USF, vs Ole Miss
Hendricks certainly isn’t tiny but does sport a fairly lean body frame. Willing to get his nose dirty and strong against the run. A reliable tackler with good closing speed who brings his whole body into the tackle, not just his arms. At the same time, he’s a relatively hard hitter. Takes good angles to the ball.
He’s just as apt in coverage as he is against the run. Seems to flip his hips and turn with ease. Excellent ball skills as the six interceptions allude to. Had an interception in both games. One came after under-cutting a dig route, capitalizing on a forced throw by the quarterback. Other came on a quick reaction when a pass tipped off the receiver’s hands. Capable of chopping the receivers hands and shows the ability to high-point the football with an impressive vertical.
NAME/MEASURABLES: Glenn Carson/ 6’3 240
POSITION: Middle Linebacker
2012 STATS: 85 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack
GAMES WATCHED: at Iowa, vs Wisconsin
Carson has the prototypical look of Penn State linebackers before him (i.e. Connor, Posluszny, Mauti). Decent run stuffer who quickly fills gaps and has shown himself to be a reliable tackler, capable of sinking his hips and taking the ball-carrier down in the open field. Tries to stick his nose in every play he can. Was able to get off cut blocks in the open field.
On the downside, he’s a limited athlete. Tight hips and when he dropped into coverage, it was always zone. Not able to turn and run with receivers. Against Iowa, he was routinely taken off the field on 3rd and long. Lacks range. Strength is just average and Carson gets locked up and washed out when working in tight spaces against base blocks. Bit uncoordinated and tripped over himself multiple times against the Badgers. Doesn’t appear to have a dominant trait in his game and the relatively mundane statline from last season supports that idea.
