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Detroit Lions Draft Profiles: D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida

By Darin Ackerman

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The SideLion Report’s Detroit Lions Draft Profiles series gives an in-depth scouting analysis of college football players who could be on the Detroit Lions’ radar in the 2015 NFL Draft. 

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Inconsistent production from the right tackle position and Coach Caldwell’s openness to Reiff playing on either side have resulted in a particular focus on offensive line leading up to the draft. Four offensive tackles have been brought in to Allen Park, including Florida’s D.J. Humphries, an athletically talented but raw junior who visited the team last Thursday.

After evaluating three games (Missouri, Georgia, Florida State), I gave Humphries a 6.9 D, J grade (early second round/developmental/junior). Here’s an excerpt from his scouting report:

D.J. Humphries, OT – Florida

Height: 6050    Weight: 307    40 Time: 5.12

NFL Comparison:  William Beatty, New York Giants

Strong Points:

Prototypical height and weight. Outstanding athletic traits for the position – exhibits quick feet to mirror and slide effortlessly vs. speed. Natural bender. Can redirect and recover vs. inside counter. Takes good angles when stepping and sealing. Transitions quickly downfield with body control and balance to make initial fit and seal second level defenders. Highly competitive – plays with an edge and will block to the whistle.

 Weak Points:

Average arm length. Needs to continue to add size (played under 300 lbs. at Florida) and get stronger in his lower half. Doesn’t create a lot of movement as an in-line blocker and struggles consistently anchoring vs. power. Hand technique is raw, inconsistent and sloppy – needs to learn how to snatch, sustain and control. Stops moving feet on contact and will fall off blocks when in space. Inconsistent out of stance off the snap. Inexperience – 19 career starts. Durability is question – has missed seven games in the past two seasons due to leg injuries.

 Summary:

A consensus five-star and top-20 recruit, Humphries’ on-field production during his three seasons in Gainesville never quite rose to the level of his pure athletic talent. Certainly Humphries has the foundational attributes needed to start and even excel on the left side: size/length, flexibility, suddenness and movement skills. At this point in his career, however, he’s a better athlete than football player. His poor hand usage and lack of adequate power could result in some team’s quarterback being exposed if he is tasked with starting his rookie year. His tremendous upside will likely result in him being drafted higher than I have him graded, but he will need time to develop if he is to reach his full potential. High ceiling prospect with franchise left tackle qualities, but he is not starter ready and his injury history warrants thorough examination

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