NFL DRAFT NEWS

Auburn WR Coates stands tall at Senior Bowl

The Sports Xchange

January 20, 2015 at 12:01 pm.

 

Sammie Coates is a big, physical wideout who could go high in April's NFL Draft. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

MOBILE, Ala. — Of the three redshirt juniors eligible to play in the Senior Bowl this week, Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates was the most impressive specimen at the weigh-in on Tuesday morning.

Listed at 6-2, 201 pounds at Auburn, he measured 6-1 3/8 and 213 pounds on the Senior Bowl stage, showing off his cut, muscular physique. Coates was 12 pounds heavier than his listed weight at Auburn, but it appeared to be all muscle on his lean, defined frame.

Coates also impressed with his arm length of 33 1/2 inches, which was better than several of the offensive tackles on the South roster, including LSU’s La’el Collins (33 1/4), Colorado State’s Ty Sambrailo (33 1/8) and Alabama’s Austin Shepherd (32 3/4).

Coates is expected to run well, too.

He has the size-speed combination to create buzz. That alone will not be enough for Coates to lock into first-round pick status.

In on-field workout, he needs to show more consistency as a route runner and catching the ball with his hands in order to be drafted as high as his measureables suggest.

Other weigh-in notes from the South team:

–Arkansas DE Trey Flowers was only 6-2 1/4, but his wingspan was gigantic at 84 1/4 inches, easily the best out of the defensive prospects on the roster. Although he isn’t an elite speed rusher off the edge, Flowers’ ability to cast a wide net with his length is a big reason he’s so effective as a run defender.

–Missouri DE Markus Golden measured well at 6-2 1/4 and 255 pounds, but his 31-inch arms are shorter than expected. The ideal length that scouts look for in defensive linemen is 33 inches or longer, so Golden is likely to be asked to stand up and practice at linebacker this week. Regardless of the measureables, he is a well-rounded player who loves to compete.

–Northern Iowa RB David Johnson looked like a linebacker during his weigh-ins with a tall, (6-0 3/4) tapered frame with good length (31 3/8-inch arms) and hand size (9 5/8 inches). As a productive pass catcher, Johnson is a candidate to play a hybrid H-back role at the next level.

–UCLA DE Owa Odighizuwa appeared better suited for a bodybuilder competition with his shredded body type and head-to-toe muscle definition.

He measured 6-3 1/2 and 266 pounds with huge hands (11 1/8 inches) and ideal length (33 1/8-inch arms). Odighizuwa was definitely one of the “winners” of the South squad during weigh-ins.

–Colorado State OT Ty Sambrailo has good numbers on paper — 6-5 3/4, 309 pounds — with adequate arm length (33 1/8 inches), but his body type wasn’t impressive with most of his weight in his stomach and chest. This reflects his tape, which suggests he might need a full year in a NFL strength and conditioning program until he has the requisite functional strength needed to hold up on the edges.

Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) is a senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, owned by The Sports Xchange and distributed in partnership with CBSSports.com.