Found an article highlighting some overlooked NFL prospects with several of them being White athletes. A few have been mentioned already but I'll post the info on them in this article.
Griffin Hebert, FB/TE, Louisiana Tech
Speaking of big backs, Griffin Hebert from Louisiana Tech could be the next impactful NFL fullback. Originally committed as a receiver, Hebert played that position before playing tight end in his final year under a new coaching staff.
He was on pace to lead college tight ends in receiving numbers before an ankle injury ended his season, but that may not be his NFL position. At 6’1”, Hebert might be better fit to play an H-back role, following in the path of players like Trevon Wesco and Andrew Beck.
Hebert’s 4.58-second 40 time at 239 pounds is pretty impressive, but what really stands out is his 39.5-inch vertical and 10’2” broad jump — both workouts that correlate strongly to FB success. Add in Hebert’s outstanding agility scores, including a 6.95-second three-cone, and you have the makings of a potentially complete football player.
Dylan Deatherage, G, Western Michigan
Western Michigan’s left tackle, Dylan Deatherage, switched to right guard halfway through the year. He played guard throughout most of his career at Western Michigan, and that might be his best natural fit in the NFL.
Though he’s struggled against high-level competition, Deatherage’s athleticism means there’s a lot to tap into. With a 4.75-second short shuttle and 9’8” broad jump, we know he has the requisite agility and explosiveness to do everything he needs to do.
Vincent Picozzi, G, Northwestern
A double-transfer — first from Temple, then Colorado State — Vincent Picozzi won a spring battle for a starting guard spot for Northwestern after injuries cut short some of his seasons at Temple and Colorado State. Picozzi’s solid year for Northwestern might mean he still needs development to be an effective guard in the NFL, but the potential is there.
At 312 pounds, his 33.5-inch vertical — higher than any guard prospect at the NFL Combine — and 4.70-second short shuttle translate extremely well for the position.
Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan
Named Upper Peninsula’s Mr. Basketball, Jake Witt didn’t have much football in his high school background, playing receiver on an eight-man football team. Nevertheless, Witt was recruited to play by local schools like Northern Michigan and Central Michigan. He chose basketball at Michigan Tech but transferred to Northern Michigan and picked up football late, primarily at tight end.
Injuries forced Witt into playing tackle, where he struggled, but coaches pushed him to stay at the position, where he had a successful 2022 before declaring for the draft. Witt ran an excellent 40-yard dash, finishing in 4.89 seconds at 302 pounds, but what really stands out are his explosion numbers.
Few players across any position beat Witt’s 37-inch vertical, much less one at tackle. Tied for first among Combine tackles in the vertical, Witt also beat out every Combine OT in the broad jump at 10’3”. Throw in excellent agility scores, like a 4.62-second short shuttle and 7.44-second three-cone, and Witt has showcased some excellent tools to work with.
Henry Byrd, OT, Princeton
A multi-sport athlete — including tap dance and lacrosse — Henry Byrd demonstrates rare body awareness for an OT prospect who wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine. After starting early in his career at tackle, Byrd continued to play high-level football for the Ivy program before finishing in 2022 with unanimous all-conference recognition for his play.
With that comes an athletic frame, including a 4.67-second short shuttle and 32 bench reps. Byrd is a high-ceiling player that could hear his name on Day 3.
David Durden, WR, West Florida
David Durden is a two-sport athlete in the truest sense of the word. In 2017, Durden was drafted by the Boston Red Sox out of high school and played in their rookie-league affiliate, the GCL (now FCL) Red Sox. After retiring from baseball, Durden attended Mercer before transferring to the University of West Florida.
After sitting out the COVID-struck 2020 season, Durden played the 2021 and 2022 seasons with some excellent all-around statistics, ending the latter as the Associated Press’ first-team “All-Purpose” player and d2football.com’s second-team all-division receiver. He was a deep threat for West Florida, finishing every game but one with at least one touchdown.
At 6’1” and 204 pounds, Durden’s 4.46-second 40 time stands out, but he’s the complete athletic package, with well-above-average scores in the vertical (37 inches), broad jump (10’7”), short shuttle (4.21 seconds) and three-cone (7.00 seconds). That should translate well into any area of play, though as an older prospect, he’s a bit behind technically from where his peers are.
Garett Maag, WR, North Dakota
Receivers 6’3” and above tend to project better into the NFL with better explosion scores than speed or agility, and Garett Maag at 6’3 5/8” seems to have all three — but has a particular proclivity for explosion.
With a 40.5-inch vertical leap and 10’5” broad jump, Maag’s 206-pound frame has the ability to go up and get contested catches, something he did regularly at North Dakota. He’s a bit raw despite being a fifth-year player and finishing second on his own team in receptions and receiving yards, but was a mismatch threat for the Fighting Hawks, with at least two receptions in every game.
Maag has more than adequate speed with a 4.50-second 40 time and surprising agility scores for his size with 4.34 seconds in the short shuttle and a 6.90-second three-cone.
Derek Parish, EDGE, Houston
It took some time for Derek Parish to earn a full-time job with the Houston Cougars, becoming an every-game starter in 2021 and earning a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. His 2022 was off to an incredible start, but a torn bicep cut Parish’s season short.
It’s a bit surprising he wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, but Parish proved he might have deserved that invite after his pro day performance. When weighing workouts for their correlation to NFL production, Parish out-performed every edge rusher invited to the Combine, primarily through his blazing 6.76-second three-cone, one of the fastest times regardless of position in NFL history at the drill.
Doing it at 241 pounds is astounding and is reminiscent of Aidan Hutchinson’s mind-bending 6.73-second three-cone drill. Parish also ran a blistering 4.07-second short shuttle and a very fast 4.62-second 40-yard dash. Parish, along with the next player on the list, has a good shot at being the first non-invitee selected in this year’s draft.
Trevor Nowaske, LB, Saginaw Valley State
Despite playing for a Division II team that missed the playoffs, Saginaw Valley State had a well-attended pro day, with about half the NFL teams there to primarily watch one player: Trevor Nowaske.
Nowaske didn’t make All-American teams, but he has the potential to thrive in the NFL. At 237 pounds, his 4.5-second 40 time is blazing, and adding in agility scores like a 6.75-second three-cone and 4.2-second short shuttle demonstrate his movement. Importantly, a 34.5-inch vertical and 10’2” broad jump also speaks to Nowaske’s ability to break down blockers and get to the backfield.
