David Levine
Posts: 78556
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Las Vegas
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen quote:
ORIGINAL: lyle chabot quote:
ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson quote:
ORIGINAL: lyle chabot We need to draft a strong and quick RB to pair with Jones. 3rd round Bhayshul Tuten (Va Tech.) 4.32 He covers the fast part Fast is not quick but 4.32 sounds like a great change of pace RB. Sounds like an interesting kid. 5'9, 206. Broad Jump and Vertical in the 98th and 97th% Draft Profile: Bio Bhayshul Tuten's path to the NFL Draft runs through the back roads of New Jersey, where he piled up 3,768 yards and 77 touchdowns at Paulsboro High. Despite putting up video game numbers and running one of the fastest 60-meter times in South Jersey history (7.03), Tuten flew under the recruiting radar and landed at North Carolina A&T. After breaking school records with 1,363 yards as a sophomore, he bet on himself with a transfer to Virginia Tech. That bet paid off in spades. In two seasons with the Hokies, Tuten showed he could hang in the ACC, racking up 1,851 yards while becoming a legitimate three-phase threat. His breakout moment came in October 2024 when he gashed Boston College for a school-record 266 yards. Even when an ankle injury slowed him late in the season, he still finished averaging 6.3 yards per carry and added value as a receiver and returner, earning All-ACC honors for his all-purpose impact. The stats tell one story, but the tape shows a back who got better every year. From his early flashes returning kicks as a freshman at A&T to becoming a complete back who could shoulder a heavy workload in the ACC, Tuten's development curve points straight up. His Senior Bowl invitation gives NFL teams a chance to see if his blistering track speed (4.32 forty) translates to the next level. Scouting Report: Strengths • Explosive accelerator who can hit top gear in a hurry, evidenced by his blistering 4.32 forty time that puts him in elite company for the position • Natural hands catcher who tracks the ball smoothly and shows impressive body control when adjusting to throws outside his frame • Runs with outstanding contact balance and consistent forward lean, regularly falling forward and grinding out extra yards through contact • Displays patience setting up blocks on inside zone runs, showing mature vision to find and exploit cutback lanes • Dangerous weapon in the screen game who knows how to set up blocks and create after the catch in space • Special teams ace with proven production as a kick returner, adding immediate value as a rookie while developing offensive role • Shows excellent burst through the hole and immediate acceleration when he plants his foot and goes north-south • Tough runner between the tackles who isn't afraid to lower his shoulder and fight for tough yards in traffic Scouting Report: Weaknesses • Pass protection technique needs significant refinement, often dropping his head and lunging rather than staying square to defenders • Can get too bouncy in the backfield at times, needs to be more decisive hitting the hole on stretch plays • Despite straight-line speed, doesn't show elite lateral agility to consistently make defenders miss in tight spaces • Had some ball security issues in college that will need to be cleaned up at the next level • Coming off late-season ankle injury that clearly impacted his explosiveness down the stretch Scouting Report: Summary The more you watch Tuten's tape, the more you see a back who could be a steal on Day 3. He's got that rare combo of track speed and between-the-tackles toughness that's hard to find. Watch him return kicks and you see the natural instincts. Watch him catch screens and you see the potential in the passing game. Sure, he needs work in pass protection - show me a rookie back who doesn't - but the raw tools are there to develop into something special. Put him in a zone scheme where he can use that one-cut explosiveness and let him cook. Smart offensive coordinators will get him touches in space early while he develops the finer points of the position. The kick return ability means he'll dress on Sundays from day one. That ankle injury from late 2024 needs a thorough medical check, but assuming he's cleared, some team is going to get themselves a dynamic weapon in the middle rounds. Teams looking at Tuten need to focus on what he could be, not just what he is right now. He's shown consistent growth at every stop - from FCS star to ACC playmaker. Get him in an NFL weight room, clean up his pass protection, and you might just have yourself a complete back who can hurt defenses in multiple ways. The ceiling is there for a quality NFL starter if everything clicks.
|