The scouting process for the draft runs mainly from September to mid-April. The athletic testing portion of the judging process takes center stage beginning in February. What matters most, though, is how NFL draft prospects perform in actual football games. Here’s a closer look at some of the notable prospects in the Georgia-Tennessee race and their impact on the outcome:
QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee, Junior: Statistics can be misleading in sports. This is especially true when evaluating the quarterback’s play. Bray had a decent game against Georgia (24 of 45 completions (53%), 281 yards (6.2 yds per attempt), 2 TDs (would have had a 3rd, but his receiver dropped a well-thrown deep ball), 3 interceptions (last was a desperate pass on the final play of the game), and 1 fumble), but fumbled repeatedly when Tennessee needed him to make plays in the second half. The Tennessee quarterback has the arm strength and fast pitch to throw every NFL pitch. Bray also throws a fairly deep ball with an excellent combination of power and touch. However, his footwork and launch point from him can be erratic and result in inconsistent accuracy. He missed Justin Hunter by crossing paths a couple of times on passes that he just has to complete. Protection was fine and Hunter was open. He should have been throwing and catching, but he wasn’t.
Bray’s second interception of the game was deadly for the Vols. Tennessee was down by just 7 points early in the fourth quarter. The Vols drive and can run the ball over Georgia. Bray attempts a back shoulder throw from midfield. It would have been a nice middle finisher and would have kept the potential momentum going to tie the game. The problem was that Bray’s pass was thrown poorly and allowed the Georgia cornerback to have a better shot on the ball than his receiver. The back shoulder pass was thrown too far inside and the Georgia defensive back was able to make the interception.
Bray had a chance to redeem himself when Tennessee got the ball back with just under 2 minutes to go and still down by 7. The Vols got to the Bulldogs 28-yard line before Bray went into the pocket and was stripped for a big turnover. How a quarterback plays at the critical moment is what separates them. Bray had his chances and either threw them or lost them. His protection was good throughout the game and Tennessee was successful running the ball. Hopefully, Georgia’s game will push him to improve. His accuracy, timing, decision-making and mental toughness are all areas that need improvement. Bray has the arm, release and height that NFL teams look for in a quarterback. Still, he seemed like a prospect who could use another year of experience to become a stronger and more polished quarterback before entering the NFL.
WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee, Junior: The talented wide receiver outplayed his pedestrian stats (3 catches for 46 yards (15.3 per)). Hunter was open twice down the middle for possible good gains, but his quarterback was wide. Hunter is still recovering from ACL surgery performed last season, but is coming off his layoffs well. He did a good job of avoiding an interception when Tyler Bray forced a pass on him in the second quarter. Hunter handles the lean well and at six foot four is a great target. Georgia didn’t push him or get too physical with him. Hunter needs to gain some size and strength to better handle NFL cornerbacks.
G Dallas Thomas, Tennessee, Senior: Tennessee rushed for 197 yards on 40 carries (4.9 per) and scored three times. Thomas was solid at left guard and helped open holes for the running game. He seemed to gain strength as the game progressed. Thomas has a solid shot and played with leverage. He didn’t look stiff and showed some movement in his hips. The former left tackle can move his feet and slide into pass protection.
QB Aaron Murray, Georgia, Junior: The Bulldogs’ quarterback was in complete control and split Tennessee’s defense. Murray completed 20 of 26 passes (77%) for 286 yards (11 yards per attempt) with 2 TD passes and 1 interception. Murray’s interception was the result of a pass deflection at line of scrimmage and some good defensive play. Murray threw the back shoulder fade on time and in the right place. He also read the blitz well and got rid of the ball quickly. Murray distributed the ball and used his tight end well. The two-year starter’s biggest mistake in this game was when he let Tennessee strip him of the ball after a sack deep in their own territory. Murray consistently hit receivers in stride and was on top of his passing game from short to intermediate. He lacks impressive physical tools, but his shooting mechanics and footwork are consistent and fundamentally sound. Murray will face stronger defenses down the road and it will be interesting to see how well he plays.
OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia, Junior: Jones unusually had 8 quiet tackles and a half tackle for loss. Tennessee’s offensive tackles did a good job containing their outside rush. Jones was unable to counter to break free. He’ll need to add variety to his arsenal to give the more athletic offensive tackles he faces something more to defend against. His hustle resulted in a few run stoppages, but he didn’t make his defensive presence felt in this game.
DT John Jenkins, Georgia, senior: Tennessee gained a ton of rushing yards between tackles. Jenkins looked slow and got off the ball without much of a bang. His main contribution was Tyler Bray’s fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. Jenkins finished the game with one tackle. He displayed limited range and marginal instincts to anticipate plays. Tennessee was able to move it in the direction they wanted and it opened up holes, particularly in the red zone.
FS Bacarri Rambo, Georgia, Senior: Rambo saw his first action of the season after serving a suspension. Rambo misplayed a pass early in the game and was lucky the receiver fell off or it would have been a great play. Rambo missed at the time of his jump and was unable to bring down the ball. Rambo finished the game with 9 tackles and was solid against the run. He raised quickly in reverse to help limit the gain. Rambo got his feet wet in this game and should make more plays as the season progresses.
SS Shawn Williams, Georgia, senior: Williams was steady with 6 tackles and helped limit the damage of some Tennessee runs. Williams is a good tackler, but he didn’t provide much help in pass coverage. The anticipation for him was average against Tennessee. Williams took some good angles in the chase.
