*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Sources Say Beware the Hype Train with Ben Boulware
Updated Aug. 8, 2016By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
During the 2015 season, there was a lot of hype about Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche being a high first-round pick. While Nkemdiche had a great skill set, he didn’t produce up to it in his three years at Ole Miss while also having significant off-the-field issues. That prompted league sources to tell us that Nkemdiche was overhyped, and that was proven true as he became a late first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. In many ways, he was fortunate to be selected on Thursday night.
As training camps get going this year, sources say another player who could be overhyped this fall is Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware. In the scouting community, they’ve already heard hype about Boulware, but in studying preseason tape, he hasn’t impressed enough to validate it.
Boulware had 82 tackles with 3.5 sacks, seven passes broken up, and two interceptions as a junior. The 6-foot, 240-pounder is expected to be the leader of the Clemson defense this season. Sources say that in preseason study, Boulware has not impressed them in terms of his athleticism and speed. They feel he is similar to Max Bullough, a linebacker from Michigan State who went undrafted in 2014.
Perhaps Boulware will take his game to another level as a senior. Clemson will need him to provide a big year as they lost three quarters of their starting defensive line and secondary to the 2016 NFL Draft. The early impression though of Boulware is that to beware of the hype train exaggerating Boulware’s talents for the NFL.
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