This article will be way more fun next year.
Sorry about that in advance.
Thing is, plenty of Pitt Panthers emerged as NFL Draft prospects during the 2019 season ... then they all returned for another year in the blue and gold. Defensive linemen Patrick Jones II and Jaylen Twyman both made a splash, earning All-ACC honors in the process. Twyman started all 13 games as a defensive tackle, ringing up 12 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks. With that, Twyman became the first Pitt player since Aaron Donald (you might've heard of him) to lead the team in sacks as an interior lineman. Donald, for reference, had 11 in 2013.
Jones' season was no less impressive. The 6-foot-5 defensive end Jones racked up 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss, forcing a team-high four fumbles in the process. While many felt both Twyman and Jones could make the leap to the next level, they're back in town, Jones as a redshirt senior and Twyman as a redshirt junior.
Safety Paris Ford was right with them, establishing himself as a fearsome hitter who led Pitt in tackles (97) and interceptions (three) while also ranking second in passes defended (11) in his redshirt sophomore 2019 season. There were rumors aplenty that Ford would bolt for the NFL, but 2020 practices rolled around, and there he was, No. 12, tackling tires and bringing the energy to the field once again:
Some sights and sounds from Day 1 of practice in pads for @Pitt_FB here at the Rooney Complex. Check out that Davis Beville DIME to kick off the clip. 👀 pic.twitter.com/3kvWspDzEF
— Hunter Alek Homistek (@HunterAHomistek) March 6, 2020
This gives Pitt an experienced, talented defense heading into the 2020 season, but it also leaves their immediate NFL prospects thin. Ultra-thin. Like, there's-only-one-guy-getting-drafted levels of thin.
That 2020 NFL Draft prospect is Dane Jackson, a former dual-threat quarterback at Quaker Valley who converted to cornerback at Pitt. After redshirting in 2015, Jackson put together a solid four-year career at Pitt, steadily showing growth year over year as he adapted to his new position.
WHAT'S TO LIKE
At 6-foot even and 190 pounds, Jackson fits the mold of today's outside cornerback, and at 23 years old with three full years of starting in the ACC, he'll bring plenty of experience with him. For reference, Justin Layne, the Steelers' second of two third-round draft picks in 2019, just turned 22 years old in January, and he started only 24 games as a cornerback at Michigan State.
Jackson won't overwhelm opposition with speed and athleticism, but he's intensely competitive and can out-muscle receivers and win with his physicality. He scraps, and it shows across his Pitt career that saw him record four forced fumbles in 2018 and add seven tackles for a loss, one-half sack, one interception and 26 passes defended in his final two seasons.
Rolling the tape, though, one thing stands out above everything else: Jackson's tackling. He's unafraid to make a break on the ball-carrier and lower the boom. Watch as he recognizes the play, cuts inside and provides support from his outside position as the ball-carrier breaks into the third level of Pitt's defense here:
Cameron Scarlett might still be running to this day if Jackson isn't there.
This one might be more impressive yet. UCF's Otis Anderson bounces a run outside and has room to work. Jackson fights the hands of Tre Nixon, sheds the block and gets low to stop Anderson in his tracks. Sure, that's a big play for Anderson nonetheless, but Jackson did exactly what you hope a corner can do in that situation to stop the bleeding:
In coverage, Jackson's tape is encouraging even when he loses the rep. This was on full display in Pitt's Dec. 1, 2018 loss to No. 2-ranked Clemson. First, Trevor Lawrence connects with Justyn Ross on a perfectly placed deep fade, then Tee Higgins, a first-round prospect in this year's draft, gets just enough of a step on Jackson to win on a slant:
Jackson's there. He was slow to get his head around and find the ball against Ross, but sticking Higgins and wrapping him up as soon as he makes the catch is pretty much the best-case scenario there. Nothing is overly alarming when evaluating Jackson's coverage skills, even against top-level competition such as Lawrence and Higgins.
As a former standout quarterback in high school, Jackson also brings excellent football IQ with him. He flat-out understands the game, a point evidenced by his smooth transition to corner at the Divison-1 level. That matters.
WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE
Jackson's 4.57-second 40-yard dash doesn't pop off the page, nor does his 10-foot-2-inch broad jump or his 35-inch vertical. While the 6-foot, 190-pound measurements look on par with other outside corners, his sub-31-inch arms may be a concern for some scouts.
At the NFL level, there's a chance all this could be exposed by faster, shiftier, more precise receivers. Jackson's style of play won't help him as a pro, either, as he will be susceptible to pass interference and holding penalties, as he can get a little aggressive with his hands in making up for his lack of pure, straight-line speed and twitchiness.
That limited athleticism can show up when a play breaks down, too, as was the case here in that game against Clemson in 2018. Lawrence escapes the pocket and scrambles, toasting Jackson in the process:
In all, Jackson's four forced fumbles and four interceptions during his Pitt career don't look bad on paper, but all four of the forced fumbles came in 2018 and three of the four picks came in 2016/17, his freshman/sophomore seasons. While his coverage skills look OK/good, Jackson hasn't shown a consistent ability to generate turnovers and to make splash plays, and that's something that'll need to improve as he transitions to the NFL. Unfortunately for him, it won't get any easier at the next level in that department.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Jackson will be drafted. He impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl, and his experience level and understanding of the game will be too much for a team to ignore. Much like the Steelers' pick of Layne last year, Jackson may need time to develop and to fully acclimate as an NFL corner, but there's more than enough here for a team to take a chance with him. Having a guy who cares and who brings a passionate brand of football to the field is never a bad thing. Jackson can compete immediately on special teams and potentially develop into a starter with the right coaching staff and system.
I'd look for Jackson to go on Day 3, in the fourth/fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
WHO ELSE WILL EMERGE FROM THE REGION?
Like last year, when running back Qadree Ollison represented the Panthers' lone selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, going in the fifth round to the Falcons, Jackson will be the only selection from Pitt in the 2020 NFL Draft.
But there's still some talent with ties to the Steel City lingering, including a couple prospects from Duquesne and Robert Morris who could be signed as undrafted free agents after the draft or even potentially surprise on Day 3.
First up, though, is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft to me:
KENNY ROBINSON – S – WVU / XFL
OK, OK, the West Virginia University graduate saying a former Mountaineer piques his interest ... what a surprise! But see this one through and you'll agree with me. The best prospect among this crop of talent after Jackson is former WVU safety Kenny Robinson, who most recently played for the XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks.
Yes, you read that correctly.
In one of the wildest pre-draft storylines, Robinson, who is from Wilkinsburg, Pa., and graduated from Imani Christian Academy, is actually eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft after playing for two years at WVU before being booted from the program for academic fraud. From there, Robinson elected to play in the XFL instead of entering the NCAA's transfer portal. Despite this, Robinson is eligible to be drafted in 2020 since his college class had not yet graduated when the XFL folded.
Extremely Blessed and Excited to announce that I have been Accepted into the 2020 NFL Draft Pool 🙏🏼 One step closer to fulfilling my dreams ✊🏽‼️
— Kenny Robinson (@krob2__) January 21, 2020
Somebody will take him, too. While getting kicked out of WVU after two years is a major red flag, Robinson's talent is undeniable. He had three picks as a freshman with the Mountaineers and four as a sophomore, adding a forced fumble in Year 2 for good measure.
Robinson didn't cool off in the XFL, either, registering two interceptions on eight targets while adding 21 tackles and a sack with the BattleHawks. Just 21 years old as of Jan. 8, Robinson has plenty to show, and I fully expect him to be a Day 3 selection, as early as Round 4. He could very well wind up as one of the finest steals of this entire draft class.
MAURICE FFRENCH – WR – PITT
If Maurice Ffrench was 6-foot-2 or taller, we'd be having a different conversation. As it stands though, Ffrench, generously listed at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, is undersized and doesn't yet possess the sharp route-running skills necessary to make up for it.
That said, Ffrench's production as a senior at Pitt is undeniable, and his shifty, twitchy style has proven to translate well in the NFL, particularly as of late, when receivers such as Antonio Brown, Stefon Diggs and, more recently for the Steelers, Diontae Johnson, have proven that receivers need to be neither giants nor athletic freaks to win.
In 2019, Ffrench caught a Pitt-record 96 passes for 850 yards and four scores despite missing two games due to injury. Put the ball in his hands and watch him go:
Ffrench can catch, even in traffic or while being hit. He's quick and shifty. He was productive — especially as a senior — at Pitt, including work as both a punt and kick returner. But can he do it all, consistently, at the NFL level? Is he fast enough? Are his routes refined enough to gain separation against NFL-level corners? Those questions, with no Combine invite and no Pro Day due to the coronavirus, loom large for Ffrench, and they'll likely cause him to go as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
That said, I personally like Ffrench's game and I think his skill set translates perfectly for the gradual evolution of an NFL-caliber wide receiver we've seen over the past few years. I would not be shocked if he surprised through camp (if that opportunity exists this year) and wound up on somebody's 53-man roster by the start of the 2020 NFL season.
REID HARRISON-DUCROS – CB – DUQUESNE
Duquesne doesn't produce an abundance of NFL-ready players, but Reid Harrison-Ducros looks every bit the part of a pro-level nickel cornerback. Harrison-Ducros began his college career at Boise State, where he played in 2016 and 2017 before transferring to Duquesne. In the smaller pond, Harrison-Ducros flourished, earning All-NEC first-team honors as a senior in 2019.
The knocks against Harrison-Ducros will center around his level of competition or his shaky tackling and physicality, but stuff like this catches your eye on tape:
In addition, Harrison-Ducros ran a 4.39-second 40 during a workout at Duquesne, and that speed shows up in games. At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds though, he's not a big-and-strong, physical corner, and that, combined with his level of competition in the NEC, is undoubtedly what will scare most teams away. He, like Ffrench, projects as an undrafted free agent with real upside.
MASON GRAY – S – ROBERT MORRIS
Joining Harrison-Ducros on the All-NEC first-team defense in 2019 was Robert Morris' Mason Gray, who most notably returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Duquesne during his team's Nov. 9, 41-21 victory in Moon Township.
Gray played just one year at Robert Morris after transferring from Albany, but he clearly made an impact, registering 100 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 12 passes defended and two forced fumbles in 12 games. Like Harrison-Ducros before him, Gray will fight an uphill battle due to being buried in the more obscure NEC, but that doesn't mean he won't get an opportunity as an undrafted free agent. As such, consider Gray a flyer with intrigue.
KHALEKE HUDSON – LB/S – UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN VIA MCKEESPORT
Not long ago, in January of 2016, Khaleke Hudson committed to the University of Michigan as the No. 1-ranked football prospect in the state of Pennsylvania. As a standout running back and safety at McKeesport Area Senior High School, Hudson received offers from Pitt, UCLA and Penn State but favored Michigan, where he filled the team's need for a linebacker/safety hybrid.
His athleticism is obvious. At the 2020 NFL Combine, Hudson bench-pressed 30 reps, the most by any linebacker at the annual showcase. His 4.56-second 40-yard dash also ranked eighth among linebackers, giving him a standout blend of strength and speed that will intrigue scouts. As a sophomore, Hudson posted 7.5 sacks along with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a ridiculous 16 tackles for a loss — eight of which came in one game, a 33-10 Michigan win over Minnesota in early November of 2017.
Hudson never replicated those gaudy figures in his final two seasons at Michigan, but he was solid in 13 starts as a senior, leading the team with 101 tackles (45 solo) while adding three passes defended, three tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. In addition to all this, Hudson was an impact player on special teams for Michigan, something that should perk up the ears of pro scouts.
Despite great instincts and athleticism, Hudson's tackling technique is suspect, and he has repeatedly struggled against the run throughout his time at Michigan. Watching the tape, Hudson also shows an inability to shed offensive lineman and tight ends if they get a chance to square him up and properly engage him. He can fill that hybrid role in the NFL and can contribute on special teams, but he'll be a step too slow as a pure safety and too inconsistent with his tackling and run-stopping to be a pure linebacker.
For this, I see Hudson as a seventh-round pick at best. He likely won't hear his name called in the draft and will sign as an undrafted free agent.
GENO STONE – S – UNIVERSITY OF IOWA VIA NEW CASTLE
After graduating from New Castle Junior/Senior High School Geno Stone took no time adapting to life at the next level.
With Iowa, Stone played in all 13 games as a true freshman, largely making an impact on special teams. In all, he registered 17 tackles (five solo) and one interception during that 2017 campaign before breaking out and earning a role as a full-time starter in Year 2.
As a sophomore, Stone's game came to life, as he recorded 39 tackles, a forced fumble, one tackle for a loss and a career-best four interceptions. The splash plays kept rolling as a senior, as Stone recorded one interception, a sack, three tackles for a loss, four passes defended and a career-best three forced fumbles during his final year with the Hawkeyes. That performance earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors.
At 5-foot-10, 207 pounds, Stone ran a 4.62-second 40 at the NFL Combine and added 12 bench-press reps, a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8-inch broad jump. None of this will wow scouts, and Stone's limited athleticism plus his stubby, compact build is the only thing keeping him from being a surefire Day 3-or-better prospect. His football IQ, his ball skills and his instincts are all there. Better yet, he showed resiliency and an ability to adapt and grow, steadily getting better at Iowa after a relatively quiet career at New Castle. He'll fight his way onto a practice squad or better at the NFL level, but, in my eyes, it'll only be after he goes undrafted and proves himself — again.
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