2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Cincinnati

These are the school’s prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft by status * – denotes 2014 prospect ** – denotes 2015 prospect.

This page was last updated April 24, 2013. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

Garrett Gilkey, G, Chadron State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 314. Arm: 31 3/4. Hand: 10 3/8.
40 Time: 5.33.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
4/24/13: Gilkey already has an NFL body, and he held his own at the Senior Bowl against the better competition. Gilkey played left tackle in college, but will have to move inside in the NFL. He was a 3-year starter at left tackle for Chadron State and collected a lot of conference awards.

Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati
Height: 6-5. Weight: 255. Arm: 33.68. Hand: 9.58.
Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2013): 2-4.
4/24/13: Some feel that Kelce could be the most well-rounded tight end in the 2013 NFL Draft. He looks likely to be a second-day selection. An injury kept Kelce from participating in the Combine.

Kelce had a productive career at Cincinnati. The senior caught 45 passes for 722 yards with eight touchdowns in 2012. It was his best season as he had 13 receptions for 150 yards the year before.
Kelce is a strong blocker who can make an impact at the point of attack. He had some off-the-field immaturity issues early on in college but appears to have straightened out.

Walter Stewart, OLB, Cincinnati
Height: 6-5. Weight: 249.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
4/24/13: Stewart’s 2012 season was off to a great start as one of the top pass-rushers in college football with five sacks through the first five games. He also had 22 tackles with two forced fumbles and seven tackles for a loss. The 6-foot-5, 249-pounder was a terror off the edge. However, a newly discovered spinal defect cost him the rest of the year and many thought his career was over.

Doctors have since cleared Stewart to return to football. The speedy edge-rusher could looks worthy of a late-round pick. He had 44 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, six sacks, eight passes broken up and four forced fumbles in 2011.

Dominique Battle, CB, Cincinnati
Height: 5-11. Weight: 192.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2013): FA.
4/24/13: Battle totaled 21 tackles with four passes broken up and an interception in 2012.

9/1/12: Battle has flashed at times throughout his collegiate career, but injuries have held him back. He has had knee injuries end two of his seasons.

Battle had 23 tackles and two interceptions through five games in 2011 before getting hurt. Over the past three seasons, the only one he was really healthy for was the 2009 campaign when he totaled 60 tackles and two interceptions. Battle has to work his way back into the lineup in 2012.

Dan Giordano, DE, Cincinnati
Height: 6-4. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.89.
Projected Round (2013): FA.
4/24/13: Giordano flashed at times during his senior year. He had 56 tackles, six tackles for a loss, five sacks and a number of pressures on the quarterback.

8/27/12: Giordano had five sacks with nine tackles for a loss and 34 tackles as a junior. He cleaned up off of the disruption from tackle Derek Wolfe. As a sophomore he had 36 tackles with eight tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. He is short on speed and athleticism but he has a great motor.