Keep checking back for more scouting reports as more portal prospects find new homes.
DJ Uiagalelei – QB
2022 Team: Clemson
2023 Team: Undecided
Older brother of St. John Bosco 2023 5-star EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei. Elite overall size: height, weight, length at 6’4 250 lbs. Displays very good arm strength, showing the ability to push the ball downfield and in tight windows. If he can marry his lower and upper halves, he could more consistently make tight window throws. As it is, his poor lower half mechanics act like a governor on a sports car. Good COD in space as a ball carrier for a player his size with solid speed. Shows marginal processing reading through progression. Stares down one receiver from the snap of the ball and will force the throw into tight or double coverage. Adequate footwork in the pocket results in inconsistent accuracy to all areas of the field. Stands flat footed with a narrow base and makes a lot of throws with just his arm. Marginal to adequate timing/rhythm, gets through reads slowly. Because he stares down the initial read, is late to finding open receivers in other areas of the field. Adequate ball placement even to wide open receivers. Open receivers can make the catch but must adjust rather than catching in stride for a bigger gain.
He is a first guy off the bus type of player that displays the physical tools college and pro scouts look for. However, his tape shows a lot of inconsistency that leaves to question what a team will get from play to play. The 2020 version that stepped in for Trevor Lawrence as a true freshman is long gone. Since becoming a full-time starter, his play has been puzzling. His immediate future is in the G5 ranks. He is a player a team can win with as their starting signal caller at that level.
https://twitter.com/PFN365/status/1575221308811403267
Steven’s Projection:
He’s a former five star prospect for a reason and all the physical tools are there. It’s hard to say exactly what went wrong without talking to the coaches and DJU himself but a change of scenery could do wonders for him. Hawaii has been the place he’s rumored to go and I can’t think of a more perfect landing spot- that program has been all about family and fun since Timmy Chang took the reins and that attitude might give DJU the spark he needs to increase his confidence and start trusting his decision-making again. Could easily see him getting back to form and throwing for over 3,000 yards there.
Jack Henderson – LB
2022 Team: Southeastern Louisiana
2023 Team: Minnesota
2022 First Team All-Southland Conference selection. Elite height and length with a lean build. Lines up as an apex defender, a LB/S hybrid type. Displays very good acceleration and burst off the edge as a blitzer and run defender. Good ability to diagnose run plays and meet ball carriers between the tackles. Good pursuit angles allow him to contain on outside runs preventing big plays outside. Very good, physical tackler in space that wraps up to secure ball carriers. Shows good competitive toughness and block shedding ability on the outside, shrugging off receivers on screens. Good in hook to curl zone as well defending the flats. Shows solid ability to flip his hips and close on receivers underneath to prevent yards after the catch. Displays solid COD as well ability to mirror receivers off the line when defending the slot in man versus slants and out breaking routes.
Finding a true position for him is the biggest question. Will struggle with COD in man coverage against very good or better athletes in the slot as well as speed on deeper routes. Despite his physical nature, at 205 lbs he could struggle in the Big 10 as an every down LB. His versatility ultimately is best suited as a boundary S that plays in the box and near the LOS. He displays the athleticism to play a deep half if asked to as well. He is a Power 5 starting caliber player that a team can win with.
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https://twitter.com/jack12henderson/status/1600864892818432002
Steven’s Projection:
Minnesota is a great landing spot for him. He’s the prototypical LB/Safety hybrid you see out of a Big 10 defense who spends every game all over the field. Even if he isn’t the most athletic kid on the field having someone in a key position on the defense who shows his level of physicality and competitive toughness will elevate the entire defense. His impact may be more noticeable on film than in the stat sheet but he’ll take this defense up a notch either way.
Rivaldo Fairweather – TE
2022 Team: FIU
2023 Team: Auburn
Good height with very good length and a strong, muscular frame. Good speed and COD for a player of his size which is on display after the catch. Solid burst off the line as well as solid route running. Very good hands in traffic extending away from his body and snatching the ball, finishing catches through contact. Shows very good contact balance after the catch with the ability to extend a first down to an explosive play. Adequate run blocker at best with technique needing improvement. Willing blocker would be the best way to describe his ability in that area.
Would be best utilized as a receiver split off the line. His combination of size and athleticism can create matchup problems for defenses. A team with a spread out offense that throws the ball often is better suited than a team looking for a TE to help with blocking in the run game. He is a Power 5 player that a team can win with.
https://twitter.com/CamMellor/status/1596685677412102144
Steven’s Projection:
Definition of the modern tight end. It’d be nice if he was blocking at a higher level but finding a TE who takes blocking just as seriously as running routes is rarer than most people think these days. Having a TE with his receiving ability is just as bothersome as having a receiver who can stretch the field with ease- DCs will have to include a way to account for him on every play or risk giving up big gains. Provides a nice safety net on most pass concepts and I’d expect him to catch around 40 passes with around 5 TDs.
Dante Cephas – WR
2022 Team: Kent State
2023 Team: Undecided
Solid height, very good length with lean frame at 6’1 178. Displays very good burst off the LOS at the snap eating us space quickly even with defenders in off coverage. Defenders struggle to press him off the line even if they get a hand on him. Good speed to stretch the field over the top. Elite route runner that shows good weight distribution through his hips, bursting out of cuts with very good COD and twitch. Good, reliable hands. Catches in stride to create big plays after the catch. Very good player after the catch using his COD and very good contact balance to slip through tackles and make players miss in tight areas. Has a feel for defenders as he catches the ball and avoiding big hits.
One of the better receivers to hit the transfer portal. An outside WR that displays the versatility to move around the field and play in the slot to exploit mismatches. This is an elite Power 5 prospect that can start anywhere in the country and will win games for his team. Immediate impact starter with NFL potential.
https://twitter.com/KentStAthletics/status/1451967374916263939
Steven’s Projection:
He’s already got offers from the likes of Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Penn State for a reason- he’s one of the most talented receivers to hit the portal with the production to boot. Wherever he ends up he’ll be an instant starter. It might take some time in the off-season to catch up to the speed of these top programs but I don’t think it’ll be an issue for him long-term. I’d say Penn State is the major player here given the proximity to home and ability to send talent to the NFL with no reason to count out Georgia, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma as potential landing spots if he’s looking to make a business decision for himself. Cephas has been pretty quiet about his recruitment overall and a lot could change in January if he wants to wait to take some OVs before making a decision.
