Hey everyone Im new actually chiming in on the forums here, but Ive been following for sometime. only difference now is, Ive actually taken the time to create a account. Since the draft and the team building portion of Football/Patriots is my favorite subject and time of the year (basically I like to play fantasy GM), you guys will be seeing a lot of me around here.
With that being said, Im going to bring up a player that I've absolutely fell in love with the thought of the pats drafting this coming year. We all know the short coming the team has faced with developing high draft pick WR's over the years. With that being said, I really deter away from the thought of us drafting a WR anything before the 3rd and start to look for later round studs who may be a steal. As of right Im currently in love with Georgia Tech’s Deandre Smelter.
He a 5th senior who recently tore his ACL. Prior to the injury he had a 3rd-5th round grade on him by a few draft sites, other sites didn't even have him listed. However I feel this is greatly in part to him only playing 2 season of College football (one season in HS). His primary sport was baseball, as he was drafted into the MLB right out of high school, only to then choose to attend Georgia Tech to pursue an education before trying to enter the MLB draft. His whole MLB career plan came to a end due to lingering shoulder injuries (he was a pitcher)
He then choose to walk on to the GT football team, where he has done fairly well for the past two years. GT plays in the mediocre ACC, but so did Calvin Johnson and D.Thomas, and after a good look at him, 6-3 225lbs, 4.4- 4.5 40 yard dash, he will quickly draw a comparison to those to players as well. His highlight real, although short in nature due to his limited playing time, and also in part to the team he plays for(run option team), is filled with plays that show a high level of natural talent. Seeing his just tore his ACL, Id be all for drafting him on day 3 of the draft. He looks to have the natural talent to succeed with time. The only thing that concerns me is our ability, or lack of it, to develop WR talent. However Im sold on him. Go give it a look, I think you’ll be intrigued.
Hightlights 1 :
Highlights :
ACC feature on him :
When ever I watch a video of him, I feel like Im basically watching a touched up HD version Of D.Thomas at G.Tech. The scary part is they’re almost identical in height, weight, strength and speed. Then they both grew up and attended high school within 30 mins of each other. Both were 3 sport athlete in HS with D.Thomas running track instead of Baseball, which probably accounts for the slightly faster speed. Last they also happen to look like twins in the face lol. It’s funny/scary
To walk on a team, and do what he did in his first two years, is nothing short of amazing. I really truly hope his ACL surgery goes well, and he does fall to the 5th-67h rounds. Id be so happy to see the Pats draft him with one of our many mid round picks in this years draft. What Im am defly afraid of is having Denver draft him…. Imagine that?! D.Thomas would probably be able to relate and teach him so well, and that would be extremely bad news for every other team, especially the patriots.
Again watch a D.Thomas Georgia Tech Highlights, Then watch DeAndre Smelters GT highlights. Tell me it doesn’t feel like the same guy?
D.Thomas :
D.Smelter :