Detroit Lions 2014 Draft Watch List: Week 6

Sep 21, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (88) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Idaho State Bengals during the second quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions 2014 NFL Draft Watch List gives you some college football players to watch each Saturday who could be on the Lions’ radar next spring.

Washington vs. Stanford
10:30 p.m. – ESPN

Austin Seferian-Jenkins (#88), TE – Washington

The Lions may be in the market for a tight end next spring and legal issues aside, Seferian-Jenkins is one of the best in the nation. Suspended for the first game of the season following a DUI conviction in March, Seferian-Jenkins is a junior, but already holds the school records for career catches (110), receiving yards (1,390) and touchdowns (13) by a tight end after just two collegiate seasons. At 6-6, 276 pounds, he has outstanding measureables and continues the trend of athletic basketball/football tight ends who present match-up nightmares for defensive coordinators by being too fast for linebackers and too big for safeties to cover. Seferian-Jenkins has outstanding hands and the speed to get deep down the seam.

Shayne Skov (#11), ILB – Stanford

Senior Shayne Skov is the heart, soul and passion of the Cardinal’s defense and plays the game like it should be played. An excellent student with a high football IQ, Skov reads his keys quickly to consistently get a good jump on the play. At 6-3, 244, he has the size to hold up vs. downhill run blocks at the POA and is a ferocious hitter. In the passing game, Skov is quick enough to be efficient in Zone coverage, but may lack the fluidity to play effective man-to-man at the next level. He also showcases nice timing on blitzes, though he lacks any variety of pass rush moves when working off the edge. His skill set is best suited to play inside in a 3-4 scheme similar to that as deployed by the Cards and where he gets drafted will depend on whether or not he can regain some of the explosiveness he had before suffering a major knee injury in 2011.

Trent Murphy (#93), DE/OLB – Stanford

At 6-6, 261, Murphy’s size and speed gives him the versatility to play with his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 DE or standing up at OLB in a 34 front.  A physical push-pull defender off the edge, Murphy routinely beat OL last season to lead the Cardinal defense with 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. In the game against Washington, Murphy was able to showcase rare movement skills for a player of his size when he recorded his first career interception of a pass from QB Price, resulting in a 40 yard return for a touchdown. He also put on a clinic vs. then 1st ranked Notre Dame with 10 tackles 1.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL. Though he lacks the explosiveness off the edge of the top pass rushers in the game, Murphy has the lower body strength to hold his ground at the POA and uses his length well to keep OL from getting inside his frame. His best fit at the next level would be as a base end in a 4-3 front.