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    2020 NFL Draft: Mountain West Scouting Reports

    PFN Chief Draft Analyst Tony Pauline's scouting reports for 2020 NFL Draft prospects from the Mountain West, including QB Jordan Love and OT Ezra Cleveland.

    San Jose State Spartans
    2020 NFL Draft Prospects

    Bailey Gaither, WR

    Career Snapshot: First-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West and caught 52 passes for 812 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Started three of the first four games in 2018 and made 16 catches for 327 yards and three TDs before an Achilles injury ended his season.

    Positives: Tall, surehanded receiver who watched his game take off last season. Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target, possesses natural pass-catching skills and extends to grab the throw away from his frame. Makes the difficult catch in a crowd, takes a pounding and holds onto the ball. Uses the sidelines well and shows good awareness.

    Negatives: One-speed receiver who lacks a deep burst. Minimally productive at SJSU until last season.

    Analysis: Gaither possesses next-level size and pass-catching skills and runs relatively well. Though he’s not a sure thing, he could surprise in camp this summer and make a roster as a fifth receiver.

    Troy Kowalski, G

    Career Snapshot: Four-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West as a senior in 2019. Started 21 games at left tackle before he moved to left guard after the first game of the 2018 season.

    Positives: Small-area guard who works through the whistle. Starts with good knee bend, fires into blocks and stays square. Explosive at the point of attack, fights with his hands throughout the action and keeps his head on a swivel. Strong and knocks defenders back off the line with terrific hand punch.

    Negatives: Cannot slide in space. Ineffective in motion and rumbles around the field.

    Analysis: Kowalski was a solid guard at the college level, but he lacks the size and athleticism for the NFL.

    UNLV Rebels
    2020 NFL Draft Prospects

    Gabe McCoy, OLB

    Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who made 32 tackles (eight for loss) with two sacks as a senior in 2019. Made 46 tackles (13.5 for loss) with four sacks as a junior. Posted 81 tackles (three for loss) and one interception as a sophomore. Missed the season opener in 2019 after he was suspended by the NCAA because he played snaps during his redshirt season.

    Positives: Smallish pursuit linebacker who plays faster than his 40 time. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself and moves fluidly in every direction of the field. Easily changes direction, displays speed in backside pursuit and has a closing burst.

    Negatives: Disappears for long stretches. Easily controlled at the point by blocks. Does not play with a sense of urgency.

    Analysis: McCoy was a solid college linebacker who showed flashes with little consistency. He is very much a run-and-chase linebacker, but he must elevate every aspect of his game.

    Justin Polu, G

    Career Snapshot: Four-year starter at right guard. Named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West in each of his final two seasons at UNLV.

    Positives: Massive blocker who is impossible to get around. Gives effort, stays square and works blocks. Sets with a wide base, fights with his hands and easily seals defenders from the play. Keeps his feet moving and slides well in space.

    Negatives: Lacks balance. All over the place and struggles to finish blocks. Does not consistently block with leverage, which negates his size and strength advantage.

    Analysis: Polu possesses next-level size, but he must refine the details of his game and significantly improve his fundamentals.

    Javin White, S

    Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West and made 79 tackles (8.5 for loss) with 1.5 sacks and 11 pass breakups at a senior in 2019. Made 74 tackles (6.5 for loss) with two sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and four PBUs as a junior.

    Positives: Athletic linebacker with safety size. Chases the action hard, covers a large amount of area on the field and shows speed in every direction. Fluidly flips his hips in transition, easily runs downfield with opponents and flows well laterally. Explosive, very effective in pursuit and possesses a closing burst of speed. Plays with a nasty attitude and reads and diagnoses plays well.

    Negatives: Has a thin build. Easily knocked off the ball or taken from the action by a single blocker.

    Analysis: White was considered a potential last-day pick entering the season, but he has no true position at the next level. With safety size and linebacker speed, White may need to add 10 pounds to his frame, but he has upside.

    Darren Woods, WR

    Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who caught 21 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Made 24 receptions for 355 yards and five TDs as a junior. Missed one game in 2018 with a concussion. Suffered a season-ending knee injury after he started the first five games of his redshirt freshman season.

    Positives: Nice-sized receiver who shows the ability to control games. Comes back to the ball, gets vertical and looks the ball into his hands. Competes to come away with the difficult reception, snatches the ball away from his frame and fights to come away with the difficult grab. Plays with excellent balance and body control, stays low out of breaks and consistently comes away with the contested grab. Quickly turns upfield and works to pick up yardage after the catch.

    Negatives: Streaky and disappears for stretches. One-speed receiver who lacks a deep burst. Possesses average quickness.

    Analysis: Woods possesses next-level size and flashes pass-catching skill, but he must elevate his game and consistently play at a high level to make a roster.

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