2020 NFL Draft: Southeastern Conference (SEC) Scouting Reports

South Carolina Gamecocks
2020 NFL Draft Prospects

TJ Brunson, LB

Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who made 77 tackles (six for loss) with one interception and five pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Made 106 tackles (10.5 for loss) with four sacks as a junior. Posted 88 tackles (4.5 for loss) and two sacks as a sophomore.

Positives: Underrated linebacker who displays a three-down game. Instinctive, disciplined and aggressive. Plays with a physical nature, gives outstanding effort and quickly reads and diagnoses the action. Breaks down well, holds his ground against blocks and effectively uses his hands to protect himself.

Displays the ability to shed blockers, wraps up ball carriers and brings them down at the point of attack. Forceful up the field and on the blitz and drives his shoulders through ball carriers. Easily changes direction and covers a lot of area on the field. Gets depth on pass drops.

Negatives: Possesses poor size and speed. Possesses average ball skills and struggles in coverage.

Analysis: Despite his lack of great measurables, Brunson is a terrific linebacker who’s forceful on the blitz and stout against the run and can cover the pass in zone. He does not get the respect he deserves, but he should be a very good sixth or seventh linebacker and special-teams player at the next level.

Joseph Charlton, P

Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned Second Team All-SEC honors and punted 48 times for 2,152 yards as a junior in 2018. Punted 68 times for 3,244 yards as a senior. Posted 55 punts for 2,390 yards as a sophomore.

Positives: Strong-legged punter with the ability to flip the field. Gets tremendous hang time on punts and allows coverage teams to get down the field and make plays. Has a smooth kicking stroke. Forces returners into retreat. Kicks effectively in bad weather.

Negatives: Takes a bit of time to get the ball off his foot. Has a tall, thin build and will struggle to make tackles at the next level.

Analysis: Charlton had a productive career at South Carolina before he went to Senior Bowl practices and kicked moonshots all week. He needs to hasten the delivery of his punts, but he has enough leg strength to develop into a starter at the next level.

Mon Denson, RB

Career Snapshot: Rotational back who carried 39 times for 232 yards and three touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Started two games, set career highs with 86 carries and 432 rushing yards and added two TDs as a junior. Missed three games in 2019 due to a neck injury. Missed four games in 2018 with a hamstring injury.

Positives: Nice-sized ball carrier who shows some pop and power. Runs with proper lean, keeps his feet moving and displays strength as a ball carrier. Possesses a burst, fights for as much yardage as possible and falls forward when tackled. Effectively follows blocks and picks up yardage off initial contact. Does not go down without a fight.

Negatives: Rarely touched the ball last season due to South Carolina’s depth at running back. Possesses more of a short burst of speed and cannot beat defenders into the open field or run to daylight.

Analysis: Denson was the odd man out at South Carolina last season, but he showed flashes of ability when he got the chance to play. He’s more of a downhill, between-the-tackles runner who could be a solid short-yardage option in the NFL.

Rico Dowdle, RB

Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who rushed 106 times for 498 yards and four touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Carried 123 times for 654 yards and four TDs as a junior. Rushed 66 times for 251 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore and missed the final five games with a broken leg. Missed two games in 2019 due to a knee injury. Missed one game in 2018 due to an ankle injury. Missed the first four games of his freshman season after he underwent offseason surgery for a sports hernia.

Positives: Tough, downhill ball carrier who is rarely tackled by the first defender. Patient, effectively follows blocks everywhere on the field and displays a burst of speed. Displays terrific vision, quickly locates the open lanes and runs hard. Possesses solid short-area quickness, can cut back in a small area and keeps his feet moving. Runs with power, carries defenders and falls forward when tackled.

Negatives: Struggles when he tries to run east and west. One-speed ball carrier who cannot beat defenders into the open field.

Analysis: Dowdle possesses solid size, instincts and short-area quickness for the next level. He’d be effective as a rotational back who could be the third man on the depth chart.

Bryan Edwards, WR

Career Snapshot: Four-year starter who earned Second Team All-SEC honors and caught 71 passes for 816 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Made 55 catches for 846 yards and seven TDs as a junior. Broke his foot during combine prep in February. Missed two games in 2019 due to a knee injury. Missed one game in 2016 due to a hamstring injury.

Positives: Nice-sized receiver with natural pass-catching skills. Displays outstanding focus and concentration, gets position on cornerbacks and tracks the pass in the air. Consistently gets vertical and comes away with the difficult catch. Comes back to the ball, settles into the open spot of the defense and works to make himself an available target.

Extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame and adjusts to the errant throw. Battles opponents to come away with the difficult catch, displays terrific hand-eye coordination and makes a lot of difficult receptions. Gives effort after the catch and tries to pick up as much yardage as possible.

Negatives: Lacks a quick release off the line of scrimmage. More of a one-speed receiver.

Analysis: Edwards is a natural pass catcher with outstanding size and a refined game. He got the best of CJ Henderson when South Carolina defeated Florida last season, and Edwards has the ability to develop into a No. 2 wideout at the next level.

Tavien Feaster, RB

Career Snapshot: Graduate transfer from Clemson who rushed 124 times for 672 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2019. One-year starter for the Tigers who carried 107 times for 669 yards and a career-high seven TDs as a sophomore in 2017. Missed two games in 2019 due to a groin injury. Had surgery to repair a torn labrum before he enrolled at Clemson.

Positives: Powerful downhill ball carrier who picks up a lot of yardage off initial contact. Displays outstanding vision, instincts and power. Quickly gets back to balance off the initial hit, keeps his feet moving and falls forward when tackled.

Turns it upfield, runs hard and rarely gets brought down by a single defender. Flashes short-area quickness, effectively follows blocks and runs with an aggressive style. Outstanding blocker who quickly picks up assignments, squares into defenders and takes them from the action.

Negatives: One-speed back who cannot beat defenders into the open field or turn the perimeter. Lacks creativity and can’t bounce around piles or avoid defenders.

Analysis: Feaster is a hard-charging downhill ball carrier who possesses a limited game, but he does the little things well. He’d be very effective as a short-yardage ball carrier and can also be kept in the backfield to block.

Javon Kinlaw, DT

Career Snapshot: Junior-college transfer who started all three of his seasons at South Carolina. Earned First Team All-SEC honors and made 35 tackles (six for loss) with six sacks and two pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Made 38 tackles (10 for loss) with 4.5 sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a junior. Missed one game in 2018 after he underwent a hip procedure.

Positives: Large, athletic defensive tackle who is developing a three-down game. Possesses tremendous first-step quickness and plays with outstanding pad level and balance. Explosive and draws double teams from opponents. Gets leverage on blockers and keeps his feet moving. Fluid, easily changes direction and quickly alters his angle of attack to pursue the action. Moves incredibly well for big man, flashes power and knocks double-team blocks off the line.

Negatives: Must develop more moves and techniques with his hands. Does not always play under control. Stands to improve his balance.

Analysis: Kinlaw displayed terrific development in both his game and his conditioning the past two seasons. He comes with upside, possesses scheme versatility and, if coached properly, offers big time potential the next level.

Kyle Markway, TE

Career Snapshot: First-year starter who caught 31 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Missed most of the 2017 season due to a rib injury. Battled a foot injury and redshirted in 2016.

Positives: Relatively athletic tight end prospect who is developing a complete game. Fluidly releases off the line of scrimmage, nicely adjusts to the errant throw and exposes himself to the big hit in order to come away with the reception. Reaches back to grab the ball from the air and looks the pass into his hands. Explodes off the snap into blocks and gives effort.

Negatives: Must improve his strength and gets limited movement as a blocker. Has a bit of a thin build and must fill out his frame.

Analysis: Markway is rarely talked about in scouting circles, but he has enough pass-catching ability and upside as a blocker to make an NFL roster as a third tight end.

Kobe Smith, DT

Career Snapshot: First-year starter who made 28 tackles (2.5 for loss) as a senior in 2019. Started six games and made 39 tackles (three for loss) with 1.5 sacks as a junior.

Positives: Explosive interior defensive tackle who gets the most from his ability. Plays with terrific pad level, slices between the gaps and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. Rarely off his feet, works his hands throughout the action and nicely redirects to the ball carrier. Quick, fights hard and plays through the whistle.

Negatives: Possesses average first-step quickness. Marginally productive at South Carolina. Average athlete.

Analysis: Though he was out of position in South Carolina’s three-man line, Smith made his presence felt with his nonstop motor. He offers possibilities as a backup tackle in a four-man line, and his intensity and intangibles are infectious.

Donell Stanley, OG

Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who played all three interior line positions. Started the 2019 season at left guard before he moved to center after one game. Started 12 games at center and one at right guard as a junior in 2018. Made nine starts at left guard and three at right guard in 2017. Suffered a season-ending high-ankle sprain in the first game of the 2016 season.

Positives: Wide-bodied blocker who can line up at guard or center. Displays outstanding vision, gives great effort and works well with linemates. Fires off the snap into blocks, shows strength at the point and gets movement as a run blocker. Stays square and seals defenders from the action.

Negatives: Lacks balance and misses blocks. Marginally effective in motion.

Analysis: Stanley offers size and the versatility to play multiple positions on the interior of the offensive line, which gives him an upper hand to make a roster this fall.

D.J. Wonnum, EDGE

Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who made 37 tackles (9.5 for loss) with 4.5 sacks as a senior in 2019. Made 57 tackles (13 for loss) with six sacks and five pass breakups as a sophomore in 2017. Suffered a season-ending ligament injury in his foot after five games in 2018.

Positives: Tall, athletic pass rusher with nice upside. Quick, fast up the field and plays with proper pad level. Rarely off his feet, immediately gets back to balance off the initial hit and plays to his 40 time both in a straight line and laterally. Easily changes direction, chases the action hard and displays solid movement skills. Effectively rushes the passer out of a three-point stance and standing over tackle.

Negatives: Struggles to get off blocks and consistently gets controlled at the point by a single opponent. Displays minimal strength.

Analysis: Wonnum comes with big upside, but he needs work on his game and must improve his strength. He could start his NFL career as a situational pass rusher and has enough natural ability to eventually develop into a three-down player.

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