2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Florida State

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.

Xavier Rhodes*, CB, Florida State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.44.
Projected Round (2013): 1.
4/24/13: It is possible that Rhodes will fall to the back half of the first round.

Rhodes needed a good performance at the NFL Scouting Combine to be a first-round pick and came through with one. He ran better than expected in the 40-yard dash and did well in the field drills. Rhodes followed it up with a quality performance at his pro day. Many believe that he will be the second cornerback selected.

2012 was a good, but not great, season for Rhodes. He didn’t play well against Florida and had a mixed game against Georgia Tech prior to a quality bowl performance against Northern Illinois.

Rhodes passed his biggest test of the season against Clemson. The redshirt junior didn’t play a lights-out game in coverage against the Tigers’ dynamic duo, Watkins and Hopkins, but he was solid and kept either of them from big plays when he went against them in man coverage.

Florida State mixed in zone and man assignments, so Rhodes did not have to go against Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins exclusively in man coverage. Hopkins had 88 yards on five receptions, but 60 came on one touchdown reception against zone coverage where the safety failed to pick him up running down the field. Watkins had 24 yards on six receptions. Rhodes finished with three tackles and a pass breakup against Clemson.

The redshirt junior totaled 39 tackles, seven passes broken up and three interceptions in 2012, but teams mostly avoided him.

9/1/12: Rhodes was consistent as a cover corner last year, so teams threw away from him. The sophomore had 43 tackles with an interception and four passes broken up.

Rhodes had an interesting conclusion to 2011. He was matched up against Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd and put together a phenomenal tape for NFL evaluators.

While providing blanket coverage against Floyd, one of the best receivers in the nation, Rhodes went down in a multi-player collision in the second half. He sustained a knee strain and was held out of the end of the game. Prior to Rhodes’ injury, Floyd had only three catches for 22 yards.

Rhodes made an immediate impact for Florida State breaking into the lineup as a redshirt freshman. He recorded 58 tackles, four interceptions and 12 passes broken up, along with being named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Rhodes is a big cornerback who is very physical with receivers. He does a good job in press man coverage. Off the snap, Rhodes limits the release with a strong jam and rerouting skills. He has the speed and athletic ability to run with receivers after the jam.

Against Floyd, Rhodes showed the ability to match up with an elite receiver. Floyd couldn’t beat Rhodes with speed or size. He is a good run defender who is capable of putting on some nice hits on ball-carriers.

Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 276. Arm: 34.68.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
4/24/13: Carradine was finally able to workout for scouts in just the last week that was said to be very impressive. He ran well and showed that he is ahead of schedule in his rehab. That workout helped improve his chances of being a first-round pick.

Carradine totaled 38 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks as a backup to Brandon Jenkins and Bjoern Werner in 2011. Carradine made the most of his opportunity to start as a senior. He took over as the starter after Jenkins was lost for the season in Week 1.

Carradine had 80 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks and a forced fumble in 2012. He regularly beat one-on-one blocks as teams sent double-teams against Werner.

The season ended terribly for Carradine. He was destroyed by Florida as the Gators had a ton of success running straight at him. Then, late in the game, Carradine blew out an ACL, so he wasn’t able to participate in the Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine. Some still project him as a first-rounder.

Menelik Watson*, OT, Florida State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 310. Arm: 34.08.
40 Time: 5.29.
Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
4/24/13: The Manchester, England product is a freak athlete. A former basketball player, Watson is very fast and agile. He played right tackle for Florida State, and he’ll probably start out there in the NFL. Watson’s quick feet and athleticism provide the potential for him to move to left tackle in the future.

Watson was a key cog in the Seminoles featuring a quality rushing offense in 2012. He already looks ready to compete in the NFL as a run-blocker. Watson’s pass protection will need some work as he is very inexperienced. He may require more development than most early-round picks, but is an interesting prospect with a ton of upside. Many feel that in time Wataon could be a starting left tackle.

Scouts told WalterFootball.com that Watson really impressed teams with his knowledge of the game during Combine interviews. They believe that his immense upside will likely see him taken in the top 32.

Bjoern Werner*, DE, Florida State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 266. Arm: 33.28.
40 Time: 4.83.
Projected Round (2013): 1-2.
4/24/13: Werner seems to have slid down draftboards in this last few weeks. Some think that he could even fall out of the first round and go on the second day of the 2013 NFL Draft.

The junior received extra blocking attention in 2012 following Brandon Jenkins exiting the lineup due to injury, and that helped teammate Tank Carradine have a breakout season. Werner started 2012 with four sacks in a dominating performance against Murray State.

Werner saw extra blocking attention from Clemson. He was active and had some pressures on quarterback Tajh Boyd. Werner totaled four tackles and one pass breakup. When Florida State needed a pass rush badly late in the game against N.C. State, he was a non-factor in the upset loss.

Werner recorded six tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery and 3.5 sacks in this year’s rivalry battle with the Gators. Prior to that, he had cooled down some in the second half of the year after a hot start to his final season.

Werner amassed 42 tackles, 13 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss, seven passes batted and a forced fumble in 2012. He had an underwhelming Combine performance with a slow 40 time, but that is not an event that suits what he does well on the football field.

8/27/12: Werner is strong, physical beast at the line of scrimmage. He pushes offensive line around and plays with violence. The Berlin, Germany product combines a good motor with a mean streak. Werner is a tough run defender at the point of attack.

The sophomore occasionally outplayed teammate Brandon Jenkins last season. Werner (6-4, 273) broke out with some dominating games and seven sacks in 2011. He also had 37 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, one interception, one forced fumble and eight pass breakups.

Werner had 3.5 sacks as a true freshman in 2010. Don’t be surprised if Werner has a massive 2012 season.

E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 237. Arm: 35. Arm: 10 1/8.
Projected 40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2013): 1-3.
4/24/13: Manuel’s draft stock continues to rise. The chances of him being a first-round pick seem realisitic since he received an invitation to attend the 2013 NFL Draft in New York City from the NFL. The league wants to avoid players falling low and being forced into a painful wait on live TV.

Manuel impressed teams at the Combine and at his pro day. Both events showed off his impressive skill set. He threw the ball well while using his superb mobility and athleticism. Another way that Manuel has helped himself was in the team interviews. His good character and work ethic have really impressed teams.

Manuel improved his accuracy and field vision from 2011, but played an easy schedule this season. He completed 68 percent of his passes in 2012 for 3,397 yards, 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Manuel ran the ball well for the Seminoles also with four rushing touchdowns.

The redshirt senior had an ugly game against Florida and its tough defense. He had three interceptions, fumbled the ball away and took a horrible sack. It was a meltdown performance that puts doubts into his play from earlier in the season.

Manuel improved over the course of the week at the Senior Bowl and helped his draft stock.

8/16/12: Manuel didn’t take the big leap forward as junior in 2011 that many thought he would. Manuel went down with an injury against Oklahoma and missed the next game against Clemson. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,817 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Manuel also ran for 411 yards and four touchdowns. He has tons of physical tools with huge upside, but is not a natural pocket passer.

Manuel still has a lot to improve on before he justifies a high draft pick. He needs to become a more accurate passer. Manuel’s field vision is seriously lacking. He does not read defenses well and regularly doesn’t see open receivers. Too often, Manuel tucks the ball to run when his primary option is covered, even when he has time to work through his progressions.

In speaking with NFL sources who watch Florida State closely, they say that Manuel is not a natural pocket-passer. They don’t feel he is as accurate as his completion percentage indicates. They say that Manuel is frustrating to watch because he has all the makings to be a special quarterback, but is not utilizing his full potential.

The scheme that the Seminoles run also came under criticism. Sources deem it extremely basic and insist that Manuel is not well prepared to run an NFL offense.

Manuel first saw some game action when Christian Ponder suffered a season-ending injury in the 2009 season. Manuel looked better in limited duty in 2010 as Ponder’s backup. Over those two seasons with limited playing time, Manuel completed 67 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 366 yards and three scores.

Manuel has a good skill set for Jimbo Fisher to work with, and a breakout 2012 is possible.

Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 251.
Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
4/24/13: Jenkins went out for the year with a broken foot in the first week of the season. He would have been better off taking a medical redshirt and returning for his senior season, but he has decided to enter the 2013 NFL Draft instead. Jenkins is more likely to have a big freefall than crack the first round. He had one sack and three tackles against Murray State before the injury.

Jenkins checked in shorter and lighter at the Combine than he was listed at Florida State. Jenkins isn’t big enough to be a defensive end in the NFL and will have to play outside linebacker.

8/27/12: Jenkins had a breakout season in 2010. A first-year starter at right end, he led Florida State in sacks while the Seminoles led the nation in sacks. Jenkins notched 13.5 sacks with 21.5 tackles for a loss. He had five multi-sack games and was voted the team’s MVP.

Jenkins started his junior season slowly. He drew extra blocking coming off his stellar 2010 season, but that helped defensive end Bjoern Werner have a breakout year. Jenkins didn’t play well against Oklahoma, but he bounced back against Clemson with a sack and a number of pressures on quarterback Tajh Boyd.

Jenkins finished last year with 41 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and eight sacks. He played better down the stretch as he adjusted to the double-teams and also drew more one-on-one blocking. Jenkins’s strength is his pass rushing. He hasn’t been a real standout as a run defender.

Jenkins is a speed edge-rusher coming around the corner. He has a nice repertoire of moves to throw at offensive tackles. Jenkins is an excellent athlete who could fit well in a NFL 3-4 defense as an edge rusher. The biggest negative about the senior is that he could be more physical at times.

Jenkins’ athletic ability is enough of a mismatch for him to record at least seven sacks this year, and he probably will approach double-digit sacks if not record 10+. That would give him a total of 30 sacks over three seasons, and that kind of production usually spells first-round pick.

Dustin Hopkins, K, Florida State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 190.
Projected Round (2013): 5-7.
4/24/13: It wouldn’t be surprising if Hopkins was the first kicker taken instead of Sturgis. Hopkins kicked well for the Seminoles and was 25-of-30 in 2012. He had two misses against Clemson early in the contest when Florida State was trailing. Hopkins made four-of-five field goals against Miami in the Seminoles’ 33-20 win. He finished the regular season well and is in a tough fight to be the first kicker selected. Hopkins kicked well at the Senior Bowl to keep it close with Sturgis.

9/3/12: Dustin Hopkins has a strong leg. He has made field goals from 52 and 55 yards over the past few seasons. The junior was good on 22-of-27 (81 percent) field goal attempts last season. He made a 53-yarder against Clemson and drilled a 60-yarder in the spring game.

Hopkins made 75 percent of his kicks in his first two years of college. He missed four extra points in 2010, so he’ll needs to work on his accuracy there. However, Hopkins’ big leg should constantly drill touchbacks in the NFL.

Vince Williams, ILB, Florida State
Height: 6-0. Weight: 247. Arm: 31 1/2. Hand: 9 1/8.
Projected 40 Time: 4.83.
Projected Round (2013): 5-7.
4/24/13: The thickly built Williams didn’t produce much in college, but he helped himself with a strong performance at the Senior Bowl. Williams had 59 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and two passes broken up this season. He collected 54 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 2011.

Williams could play on the inside of a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. He looks more like a two-down defender if he develops well.

Everett Dawkins, DT, Florida State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 292. Arm: 32.68.
40 Time: 5.06.
Projected Round (2012): 6-7.
4/24/13: Dawkins had 26 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, .5 sacks and one pass broken up in 2012. He ran well at the Combine.

8/25/12: Dawkins became a full-time starter as a junior. He was an All-ACC honorable mention. He had 25 tackles with three tackles for a loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. As a sophomore he had 39 tackles with six tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Dawkins has some quickness as a gap penetrator and looks like a potential backup in a 4-3 defense in the NFL.

Lonnie Pryor, FB, Florida State
Height: 6-0. Weight: 229. Hand: 8.38.
40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2013): 6-FA.
4/24/13: Pryor had a strong senior season and did a good job as a lead blocker for the Seminoles’ stable of running backs. He ran for 376 yards on 47 carries with eight touchdowns and had 13 receptions for 117 yards. Pryor averaged 5.8 yards per carry during his career, totaling 718 yards with 18 touchdowns. He showed his receiving skills with 41 catches for 379 yards and five touchdowns.

Pryor was perhaps the Combine’s most impressive fullback. He ran well in the 40 and looked good in the field work. Pryor could be a starting fullback in the NFL.

Chris Thompson, RB, Florida State
Height: 5-7. Weight: 192. Hand: 9.28.
Projected 40 Time: 4.40.
Projected Round (2013): FA.
4/24/13: The speedster Thompson was having an impressive senior year for the Seminoles before another season-ending injury. He tore the ACL in his left knee. Thompson averaged 7.5 yards per carry in 2012 for 687 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 21 receptions for 248 yards through the air. Thompson said at the ACC Championship Game that he is ahead of schedule in his rehab.

8/16/12: Thompson broke his back against Wake Forest in the fifth game of the season and missed the rest of the year. He never really got going. As a sophomore in 2010, Thompson ran for 845 yards with an average of 6.3 yards per carry and six touchdowns.