Potential Franchise Player - Possible Perennial All-Pro, and a guaranteed high First Round Pick.
Impact Player - Player who can change the course of a game and a consistent performer. Multiple Pro-Bowl possibilities and top ten selection
Quality Player - Someone who consistently gives good performances. Occasional Pro-Bowl appearances.
First Team Prospect - Player who has ability to make plays from the get go and start early into his rookie season.
Potential Starter - Usually a good athlete who must learn to be a football player or someone who is an “overachiever”. Quality early-to- mid round prospect with good long term potential
"Fence Prospect"- Player on the fence that has the skills and abilities but may need some time and patience.
Practice Squad - Late round or UDFA player who will develop and have his talents on the practice squad. Can find his way onto a roster as a special teamer.
Free Agent - Player who will make a 60 or 80 man roster.
Reading the stats
While it's difficult not to be redundant with scouting reports, we tried to cut down the wordiness when giving statistics. Here is how to read the stats line for the different positions.
Rushing Attempts/Rushing Yards/Yards per Carry/Touchdowns
Receiving:
Passes Caught/Receiving Yards/Touchdowns
Defensive Stats:
Tackles/Tackles for Loss/Sacks
Defensive Backs:
Tackles/TFL/Sacks/Interception/Passes Broken up (unless otherwise stated)
HEIGHT, WEIGHT & FORTY TIMES
Over the course of the past several months much is said and written about the computer numbers of prospects in the draft. You'll see several differences in these numbers from different sources. We try and be as accurate as possible and give these numbers based on the playing height, weight and speed during each players last collegiate season, not some pumped up artificial number.
There is forty speed and playing speed, playing weight and workout weight. The weeks and months leading to the draft is filled with prospects working hard to specifically add bulk, become stronger or get their forty time down. In reality many of these prospects cannot maintain this weight during the grind of a long season or do not play to the listed stopwatch speed; running backs don't run in a straight-line (which is how the forty yard dash is recorded), the bodies of both offensive and defensive linemen break down and cannot maintain the added bulk or, if they do, they will lose a good amount of quickness and speed.
Where pertinent in the players bio we spoke of either how they performed in recent individual or combine workouts to give you an idea of what direction they are headed.
One-year starter who rushed 157 times for 669 yards and six touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 91 yards in 2017 to earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Started six games as a junior and led Arizona State with 14 rushing touchdowns, carrying 126 times for 536 yards and making 44 receptions for 469 yards and one score. Rushed for 653 yards and four TDs on 125 carries in 2015. Tallied 42 carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman.
Pos:
Physically gifted running back prospect who only occasionally flashes big-time ability. Fluid, strong and runs with an aggressive style. Patiently waits for blocks to develop, cuts back against the grain and possesses good short-area quickness. Bounces around piles, easily turns the corner and effectively uses blocks everywhere on the field. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield who is effective after the catch. Helps the quarterback sell ball fakes. Produces as a kick returner.
Neg:
Loses focus and concentration. Takes a while to get going. Inconsistent in all his production.
Analysis:
Ballage can take over games and be a dominant force when he’s running on all cylinders, but unfortunately it doesn’t happen often enough. He has the skills and ability to be a feature runner at the next level but must use them on an every-down basis. Ballage could have a long starting career at the next level should he achieve the potential scouts believe he has, or he could be a journeyman running back who barely makes a ripple.