Sleeper watch
CB Nevelle Clarke – UCF
There’s something about UCF and producing cornerbacks that make me flutter. Nevelle Clarke is another one of those corners and is campaigning to sneak onto the back-end of draft boards.
At 6’1, 187 lbs, he’s rangy, has fluid hips, and has plenty of prowess when pressing at the line of scrimmage. He never backs down from a fight and shows impressive instincts around the ball.
24 passes defensed in 2 years to go with 4 picks? Yes please. Clarke has a raw skillset, but I love sleepers, and I love cornerbacks who feast at the catch-point. Clarke’s ability to break on the ball and feel his way down the route are beyond impressive.
WR Malcolm Perry – Navy
A quarterback transitioning to wide receiver. Sound familiar, Eagles fans?
Navy’s unique offense allowed the signal-caller to amass a stunning 2,017 rushing yards and score 21 rushing touchdowns. He has 24 career receptions and standing at 5’9, 190 lbs, is taking his talents outside.
It will be interesting to watch his development, but the Eagles once took a shot on Greg Ward…and that panned out beautifully after three years of work. Perry could well be the next on that conveyor belt.
DT Khalil Davis – Nebraska
He’s not the biggest (6’2, 315 lbs) and lacks length, but he may be the meanest. Davis has an explosive first step and uses his hands sledgehammers to get to where he wants to be. For a DT, Davis has some really nice bend to his game and paired with his violent mentality, makes for some fun tape. 11 TFL and 8 sacks in 2019 do all the talking.
However, as a run defender, he has a tendency to be washed away and fighting double teams is near-impossible. He’s definitely a developmental prospect, but one the Eagles could use this offseason as a UDFA/day-3 pick.
LB Dante Olson – Montana
When you talk about Small School sleepers, there may be none more intriguing than the man who has led the FCS in tackles for three-straight years.
As a run-defender, his pursuit and tackling angles leap off the screen and hit you, almost as hard as he hits ballcarriers. Olson is also really strong at reading the play and moving with the quarterback’s eyes.
Obviously, there is always that worry about the jump from FCS to FBS to the NFL, but I think Olson’s got all the makings of a strong special teams ace (CC Kamu Grugier-Hill/Alex Singleton) with a defensive upside.
QB James Morgan – FIU
If the Eagles really do want to get back to drafting a QB every year, James Morgan is an early candidate. At 6’4, 213 lbs, he has the ideal frame that Pederson covets, and completed 61.5% of his passes with 40 touchdowns and 12 picks during his two-year stint with FIU.
Morgan can make all the throws and has a cannon for an arm and has really impressive pocket navigation. He really is the perfect prototype for a budget developmental arm and should shine down in Florida this weekend.
