Army Bowl: Next level comparisons
SAN ANTONIO – Two days of practices are in the books at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl so it’s a good time to start making some prospect comparisons to current college or NFL players:
DE Brian Burns, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage
Comparison: Georgia sophomore linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who was rated as the third-best weak-side defensive end and No. 36 in the 2014 class out of Norcross, Ga.
Overview: Carter now plays outside linebacker for the Bulldogs and it looks like Burns will definitely stay at defensive end, especially if he can add more weight, but the two are strikingly similar from a physical standpoint at the same stage. Burns is an aggressive rusher off the edge with long arms who is super quick and someone who has beaten numerous offensive tackles during Army practice. Carter was a little more quick-twitch but the two play a similar style.
LB Carter Coughlin, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Comparison: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee, a three-star prospect out of Pittsburgh (Pa.) Upper St. Clair, who chose Penn State over Pittsburgh, Iowa, West Virginia and others.
Overview: Coughlin and Lee are similar from a physical standpoint, they’re both super smart and know the position well. At the same stage, Coughlin might be even a little more athletic and both can definitely track players sideline-to-sideline to make tackles.
WR Austin Mack, Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers
Comparison: UCLA receiver Jordan Payton, who was rated as the No. 15 wide receiver and No. 93 in the 2012 class out of Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian.
Overview: Like Payton, Mack doesn’t have elite speed but he does possess sneaky ability to create separation and then really reliable hands to haul everything in. Both can be counted on at all times and both can get open on short routes, make people miss and move the ball down the field. Mack is probably a little more athletic and speedy but the two are very similar receivers.
DE Jeffery Simmons, Macon (Miss.) Noxubee County
Comparison: New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams, who starred at USC and was rated as the fifth-best strong-side defensive end in the 2012 class out of Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland.
Overview: Williams is over 300 pounds in the NFL but at the same stage, Simmons and Williams have almost identical physical stats and they both have thick lower bodies. Simmons, rated fourth at strong-side defensive end in the 2016 class, is a tough, physical, hard-nosed defensive end who lives in the backfield. He overpowers offensive linemen and also has the athleticism to get to the edge. Wherever Simmons ends up for college he has the skills to dominate.
WR Tyler Vaughns, La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat
Comparison: Philadelphia Eagles’ Nelson Agholor, who also played at USC and was the third-best wide receiver and No. 18 prospect in the 2012 class.
Overview: Agholor was a great outside receiver at USC who had excellent hands, was super reliable in the passing game and then had the speed and athleticism to break off big plays if cornerbacks didn’t wrap him up. Vaughns, the top-rated receiver in California, has many of the same abilities. He has excellent hands and can either catch short passes and make people miss or turn on the jets to beat defensive backs deep.