This page was last updated April 24, 2013. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
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Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Height: 6-1. Weight: 215.
40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2013): Top-20 Pick.
4/24/13: There were a ton of teams that have shown interest in Vaccaro. He could go just outside the top 10 as there are a lot of teams that need safety help picking in the teens.
Vaccaro was very good in 2012. He was a tough run-defender who covered a lot of ground in pass defense. The senior recorded 92 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, five passes defensed, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Vaccaro stepped up with a good game against West Virginia’s high-powered offense. He had 11 tackles with a tackle for a loss and wasn’t overmatched with the Mountaineers’ speed receivers. Vaccaro helped himself with a good tape from that outing. He also had impressive games against Kansas State and TCU.
Scouts were disappointed Vaccaro passed on the Senior Bowl, but it wasn’t surprising since his stock has been rising. Vaccaro did not put up a fast 40 time at the Combine but did well in the field drills. He was unable to run at his pro day because of a pulled muscle.
9/2/12: Vaccaro is another underrated player who doesn’t receive the hype of some other safety prospects. He had 67 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, seven passes broken up and two interceptions as a junior in 2011. Vaccaro has good instincts and range. He was an All-Big XII First-Team pick.
It was Vaccaro’s first full season as a starter, and he could be even better in 2012 after gaining a year of experience. He started six games in 2010 recording 56 tackles with one interception, eight passes broken up and one forced fumble.
Vaccaro is also a good special teams player. He will see a lot of pass-happy offenses in the Big XII. -
Alex Okafor, DE, Texas
Height: 6-4. Weight: 261. Arm: 33 1/8. Hand: 9.
Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2013): 2-3.
4/24/13: Okafor had a good senior season and was a consistent pass-rusher. His job got harder after Jackson Jeffcoat went out for the season with a torn pectoral, but Okafor remained productive. The senior totaled 54 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles, a blocked kick and a pass batted in 2012.
Okafor performed well at the Senior Bowl. He started out the week on fire before cooling down some. Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson told WalterFootball.com that Okafor was the best pass-rusher he went against in college; NFL teams value that kind of feedback.
Okafor went out with a bang this season as he dominated Oregon State with 4.5 sacks, eight tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. Okafor came close to a few other sacks and set up his teammates to sack the quarterback. He was dominating the right tackle with speed rushes and bull rushes.
Johnson and Oklahoma held Okafor in check, and it was his worst game of the season. However, he was Texas’ best defensive lineman and a more consistent producer of splash plays than teammate Jackson Jeffcoat was. Okafor beats offensive tackles with speed, strength and a repertoire of pass-rushing moves.
Okafor made two massive plays to help his team almost pull out a win against West Virginia. He beat the right tackle with a speed rush just before halftime, dropped his shoulder to get leverage and planted Geno Smith on his back. The hit forced the ball out and Jackson Jeffcoat recovered it just over the goal line for a Longhorns’ touchdown.
In the fourth quarter with Texas down by three, Okafor made a game-changing play. He bull-rushed the right tackle straight into Smith. Okafor reached out while falling to the ground and slapped the ball out of Smith’s hand. The Longhorns recovered the ball at West Virginia’s 12-yard line, but they missed their field goal attempt. Okafor also registered a blocked kick in the game and a number of other pressures on Smith.
8/27/12: Okafor was one of the top defensive ends in the Big XII in 2011. He was a First-Team All-Big XII selection. Okafor totaled 58 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. He had 2.5 sacks as a sophomore in 2010.
Like Jeffcoat, Okafor has a nice skill set with speed and physicality. Plus, he is adept at getting upfield and is a disruptive rusher. Okafor is very solid as a run defender. He holds his ground at the point of attack and does not get pushed around.
The Longhorns have lined Okafor up in a variety of places. He has done a lot of stand-up edge rushing over the tackle as well as blitzing over interior linemen as a linebacker. Okafor definitely has the length and athleticism to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Okafor should be primed for a big season and could be an early-round pick. He will get plenty of opportunities to rush the passer given the passing-driven nature of the Big XII. With teammate Jackson Jeffcoat on the other side of the line, Okafor should still see plenty of one-on-one pass-rushing opportunities. -
Marqise Goodwin, WR, Texas
Height: 5-9. Weight: 183. Arm: 31.48. Hand: 8.58.
40 Time: 4.27.
Projected Round (2013): 4-6.
4/24/13: Goodwin didn’t have a lot of production in college, but he has had an excellent postseason to help his draft stock. Goodwin blazed an amazing Combine 40 time with a tremendous 10-yard split of 1.43 seconds. Those were the fastest times of any receiver. It wasn’t that surprising considering he was a track athlete.
Goodwin didn’t perform as well in the field drills, which illustrated he is still a work in progress as a wide out. Goodwin needs to work on his hands and route-running.
Goodwin did well at the Senior Bowl and gave cornerbacks problems with his speed all week. He had 26 receptions for 340 yards and three touchdowns in 2012, including a 64-yard touchdown run against Oregon State. On the ground, Goodwin ran for 140 yards on 13 carries with three scores. He had more receiving production as a junior with 33 catches for 421 yards and two touchdowns. His sophomore (31-324-1) and freshman (30-279-1) years featured some production.
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Brandon Moore, DT, Texas
Height: 6-5. Weight: 320.
Projected 40 Time: 5.37.
Projected Round (2012): 7-FA.
4/24/13: Moore was only at Texas for one season, but he totaled two sacks, 14 tackles and 5.5 tackles for a loss. Moore had previously played in the JUCO ranks. He should not have entered the 2013 NFL Draft. Moore didn’t work out at the Combine.
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