Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb have been very impressive so far in their pre draft evaluations. Todd McShay of ESPN.com had been watching tape and is very impressed.
[QUOTE]
Locke is undersized (5-foot-8, 181 pounds) and often gets lumped in with a handful of smaller backs in the mid-round area because he didn’t get much national exposure with the Wildcats. However, he does just about everything well and gets the most out of his physical tools, and in our rankings he is ahead of backs such as Jacquizz Rodgers, Noel Devine, Dion Lewis and Shane Vereen.
Locke can get lost at times in the passing game because of his size, but he is a savvy route-runner and one of the smoothest, most natural pass-catchers in the running back class. He will be overpowered at times as a pass-blocker but gives every ounce of effort in that area.
Most impressive, though, is Locke’s efficiency as a runner. He runs low, shows great change-of-direction skills and does not waste many steps. He is patient attacking the line of scrimmage, sets up blocks well and has a keen eye for backside cutback lanes. Throw in his ability to quickly slip in and out of small creases and his willingness to lower his shoulder into defenders, and we put a third-round grade on Locke.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]
As for Cobb, the biggest question is where he will fit in the NFL. Much like 2010 second-round pick Dexter McCluster, Cobb is an undersized player who simply makes plays wherever he lines up and is the kind of guy a coaching staff will find a way to utilize.
Cobb has the quickness and silky-smooth athleticism to be a big-play threat after the catch as a receiver or as a ball carrier out of the backfield and in the return game. What stands out most, though, is his NFL-level route-running skills. Cobb uses subtle head bobs and shoulder moves, and his crisp cuts tell us he is ready to immediately compete with NFL defensive backs as a slot receiver. All of that makes him an early-second-round prospect.
[/QUOTE]
[URL=”http://campussportsconnection.com/ncaa/wisconsin-badgers/story/73531″]Source[/URL]
