2013 NFL Draft players to watch: Arkansas

Published July 7, 2012 | By Justin Higdon

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The Arkansas Razorbacks have received plenty of negative attention this offseason, thanks to disgraced former Head Coach Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle mistress scandal. Luckily for Razorbacks fans, holdover Head Coach John L. Smith still has many talented players leftover from last year’s 11-2 team. While three of their best receivers are gone, Smith gets running back Knile Davis back from injury to help soften the blow. Here’s a look at some of the other Razorbacks who will be getting attention from NFL teams this fall…

Tyler Wilson QB 6’3 220 – A fifth year senior, Wilson sat behind Ryan Mallett for a couple of seasons before finally getting his shot as a starter last year. Wilson didn’t disappoint, throwing for 3638 yards, completing 63.2% of his throws, and averaging 8.3 yards per pass attempt. He led the team to 11 wins and threw for 24 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Perhaps Wilson’s most impressive trait is his ability to hang in the pocket under pressure and deliver a pass while taking a shot. He generally does a good job feeling defenders closing in and is able to get the ball out to his receivers. Every once in a while he hangs in a bit too long and winds up taking a sack, but he usually makes the right decision. He has a strong arm but he will float a deep pass on occasions. This allows the defensive backs to make a play on the ball or recover if they had lost ground on the receiver. Wilson is listed at 6’3 but his height came into question last week. If he really is only 6’1, then some teams may have second thoughts about where they project him. But his instincts and arm make him a solid bet to be picked in the first round next April.

Cobi Hamilton WR 6’3 209 – With Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs all moving on to the NFL, the door is wide open for Hamilton to make a leap to the top of the 2013 receiving class. He’s caught 85 passes for nearly 18 yards per and 13 touchdowns 39 career games. Hamilton is a tall vertical threat with a long stride. He’s not a particularly graceful runner – sometimes he looks like all arms and legs – but he has a knack for getting open down the field. Hamilton’s height makes him an effective red zone target as well, so with the team’s other top receivers gone, he’s likely to at least double his TD total (four) from last season.

Chris Gragg TE 6’3 236 – Gragg’s emergence last year gave Arkansas a new kind of weapon in their offense. A more traditional tight end than former Razorback D.J. Williams, Gragg can line up at the line of scrimmage or as an H-back. He’s a willing and effective blocker who gets out of his stance quickly and sticks to his assignments. While he has a bit of a lumbering stride, Gragg is a strong runner who can break tackles and get yards after the catch. Last season he caught 41 passes for 518 yards, but only found the end zone two times. Gragg isn’t a huge tight end like Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham; but he plays bigger than his listed size, and has the ability to be a more valuable red zone target that his stats suggest. Gragg has solid hands but he does let the ball get into his body sometimes. He needs to get his hands out in front and snag the ball more often. Gragg should get even more opportunities in the passing attack this season, so if he can avoid drops he has a chance to be a riser.

Dennis Johnson RB 5’9 213 – An unheralded player, Johnson’s key trait is his versatility. The running back had a major scare in early 2010, when he tore a hole in his lower intestine while returning a kickoff. Fully recovered for 2011, and with Davis out with an injury, Johnson amassed 670 rushing yards, averaged 6.3 yards per carry, caught 24 passes (for 10.6 yards per catch) and scored six total touchdowns. Johnson is a terrific kick returner and hasn’t let his previous injury deter him. He has averaged almost 26 yards per return since his freshman season, and he’s returned three of those kicks for touchdowns. Johnson is a player to watch, especially considering Davis’s checkered injury history.

Alonzo Highsmith OLB 6’1 233 – The son of former NFL running back Alonzo Highsmith, the younger Highsmith became a starter for the Razorbacks last year after transferring there from the junior college ranks. He tallied 80 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Despite having pretty good numbers, Highsmith is underwhelming on tape. He’s heavy on his feet, he isn’t a playmaker and many of his tackles are assisted and occur several yards downfield. He has a thick build and may be better suited to play inside in a 4-3 defense, and even then he appears to be more of a run stop specialist than a three down ‘backer.

Also keep an eye on: Ronnie Wingo RB 6’3 231, DeQuinta Jones DT 6’5 299, Tenarius Wright OLB 6’2 252, Darius Winston CB 6’0 191

2013 NFL Draft players to watch: Arkansas

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