ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay solid on RB David Wilson, low on CB Jayron Hosley, very high on WR Danny Coale
Todd McShay, the director of college football scouting for ESPN Scouts Inc., was kind enough to do a teleconference today to discuss the upcoming NFL Combine, which takes place Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
I had a chance to ask him about former Hokies running back David Wilson, cornerback Jayron Hosley and receiver Danny Coale. Here’s his brief scouting report on each:
On Wilson:
“I like him. I don’t he has great vision and patience as a back. He flashes it but sometime he gets a little greedy and tries to bounce too many inside runs to the outside. I think that’s one thing you’ve got to work on. I think he’s good just about everywhere else. His adequate hands can be a weapon in the passing game. Good agility, good power, very good balance I think as a runner, but he’s just not a huge guy, not great in terms of his initial explosiveness. And I think that [and] his patience, those two things, keep him out of the first round. I think he’ll wind up being the second or third back taken, but probably somewhere in the second round.”
On Hosley:
“Actually, I was a little disappointed in him this year. I thought he’d play better. He’s obviously a ball hawk. He does a great job on the ball in the air. He has very good instincts and does a lot of little things well. But when you start to look at the complete package of what you need at the cornerback position, he doesn’t have great size. He’s only around 175 pounds. And he’s not overly physical against the run. I just thought that he wasn’t as quick or explosive out of his peddle. I don’t know. I think that he’s just a few notches away from being where he needs to be from going in and compete to even be a No. 3 or No. 4 and I thought he could easily use another year at Virginia Tech and just didn’t come out. But he did and will probably wind up in the third- or fourth-round range.”
On Coale, who McShay said in this video could be a third- or fourth-round pick (fast-forward to the 1:55 mark):
“I like him. I just think, he’s a little dinged up now, but you’re talking about a guy who produced at a high level in college, he has the size, around 6 feet, he’s in the 195-pound range. I think he runs well. I think that’s the misconception is that he doesn’t run well. I’m not sure if he’s going to be healthy enough to run at the combine [edit: Coale pulled a muscle near his rib prior to the Shrine Bowl], if he doesn’t he’ll be at the pro day, but at some point it won’t surprise me if he runs in the 4.4 range. I just love his toughness, the way he plays, his ability to catch the ball in traffic. I’m not saying he’s going to be a No. 2 [receiver], but I am saying that he can be a very productive No. 3 in the NFL and be in the league for a long time, the type of guy who can bring versatility.”
February 16, 2012 - 1:49 PM
What about Boykin?
Limited time to ask questions. Only got to those three.
Andy, if you ever have a chance, I’d love for you get ahold of that oaf, Myock (or whatever his name is), and get his assessment as well.
Ike Whitaker is right here:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ike-Whitaker/6222954
“Works at Northwest High School”
You’re going to love his timeline photo…
Danny Coale is my favorite VT player of all time. He deserves the next level and will turn out to be a dependable receiver wherever he goes. Similar to brandon stokley or nelson in green bay.
You would think someone as knowledgeable as Todd would mention that Danny Coale is Wide Open.
Andy, I know you are the Tech beat guy but what do you think of Mike London? Do you think he can repair all the damage Al Groh made with high school coaches? It would be good for the state if UVA and Tech were both top 25 programs.
He is probably correct on these three players, especially Hosley who should have stayed in college another year. Hosley was looking at the money end of it and that will probably work out for him, but he will NEVER be star player in the NFL, then again he probably does not care about that part of it, only the money part of it.
James Gayle and J R Collins are the two true future NFL players on the Virginia Tech team, both will have careers in the NFL.
@ Frank,
I would like to hear your assessment on why Hosley will never be a “star player”. I would also like to hear you opinion as to whether or not a guy like Brandon Flowers is a “star”. I agree that Hosley had a down year this year and that he would have benefited from coming back. I also remember that he was hampered by injury for most of last year and what he had showed us in prior years. I think that Hosley will be a late 3rd early 4th round pick due to the fact(s) of having a down year last year and i believe his 40 may hurt him a little. I also think that Hosley will have a decent NFL career not only as a CB but possibly as a return man also.
Not Andy, but I’ll answer about London. I think he has already erased the stink that Groh had among Va HS coaches. Maybe not every single case, but in large, that is already accomplished. London has strong connections in the 757 and Richmond area, obviously, and those will serve him well. He seems innovative in his approach to recruiting, so he’ll continue to do well there.
As a Hokie fan, I wish that were not the case, but I have to give the guy his due.
Ike is doing amazing, from where he was to where he is now, he has really done a great job turning everything around. Kudos to him!!! And Good Luck to all our Hokies in the draft.
What? All VT players that go into the NFL aren’t stars? For every one that makes there are 5 that don’t…Danny Coale shouldn’t get a chance just because he’s a good guy and you like him, if that was the case, the NFL would be giving millions of people chances. I know guys that will have better numbers than Coale will put up, and still haven’t gotten a chance. You vt fans like to think of vt as a DB factory, but in truth, their numbers are small compared to schools like FSU and Miami in that category, just an example…
Are the pro scouts overlooking those booming punts by Danny Coale?
I think they might be checking out the rugby style punts, like the one used against Michigan…
What you guys have to understand is that Todd McShay and Mel Kiper are just speculating. Yes, they have a lot of video and will see they measureables, but in the end, they are guessing just like everyone else. Kiper thought JaMarcus Russell would be an NFL star.
I bet Coale does not run in the 4.4 range…I don’t care what VT watches say, it’s the combine watches that matter.
I agree about Coale’s 40 time; I think he’s more of a 4.5 guy. Obviously, no one knows if he’s going to be a star or not, but I feel very confident he will make it to the NFL, whether it’s by getting drafted or through free agency. His measurables may be a little lacking (although he is faster than most think) but what makes him special is his ability to excel despite his lack of optimal size or speed. Frankly, the kid is just a damn good football player, and I think his knowledge of the position, dependable hands, and knack for getting wide open will make him a good pro receiver (a Wes Welker type). There are kids with better size and speed, but Danny Coale is the whole package and that’s pretty rare.
I look for Tech to re-employ Ike Whitaker.
Can anyone remember a pass that Danny Coale dropped? I can’t.
Danny Coale is not just deserving because of his record and versatility. He has an intangible. He always steps up his game in critical situations-proven over and over, despite the faked soccer punt (Coaches bad call.)
As for Coale’s 40 time, just take whatever VT says for any of their players in the 40 and add .15 to it. They haven’t had realistic 40 times in the last twenty years.
Regardless, Coale will absolutely make it in the NFL, and he’ll have a ten year career or longer. He may not be Pro Bowl caliber (who knows?), but he will certainly turn into a very worthy receiver for some team. The guy can just play. Like Charles said above, he is the whole package, and he is indeed rare.
VT didn’t say anything about Coale’s 40 time, that was Todd McShay.
Uh, Stack just shut up before you put your foot in your mouth any further.
Better for Stack having put his foot in his mouth than what you have up your &*! Marine Mike. He’s entitled to his opinion just as you so you Marine Mike…..STUFF IT DEEP!
You guys are more entertaining than they ESPN message boards!
the*
Anyone name ANY stars in the modern era besides Bruce Smith (of course long retired) playing in the NFL now? I mean stars, not starters, if any of those even. No Deion Saunders wannabes? Hmmmmm, let’s see…..nope, none that I can recall.