Packers bring in Draft prospects: Who are they?
Michigan State Spartans linebacker Max Bullough (40) makes a tackle against Minnesota. Bullough was one of three draft prospects brought in by the Green Bay Packers this week. Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports photograph
The Green Bay Packers have been bringing players in for look-sees prior to next month’s NFL Draft … three were announced as being targeted by the Packers this week: Middle Tennessee State defensive end Jimmy Staten; Michigan State linebacker Max Bullough; and Washington State offensive lineman John Fullington.
All of these players are projected as mid- to late-round selections in this year’s draft. But fear not, these are the rounds that Ted Thompson has had success in the past in finding diamonds in the rough. Will that be the case again this year?
So, just who are these players who might be targeted by the Packers? It’s not always easy finding up-to-date information on players who might not get the press of a Jadaveon Clowney, but the following is information that I was able to gather to help shed light on these prospects.
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders defensive end Jimmy Staten (90) makes a hit at Legion Field.
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Jimmy Staten
Statistics from nfldraftscout.com:
College: Middle Tennessee St Number: 90
Height: 6-3 Weight: 311
Position: DT Pos2: DE
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2014
40 Low: 4.93 40 Time: 5.06 40 High: 5.19
Projected Round: Stock:
Rated number 57 out of 194 DT’s
The 6-foot-3, 311-pounder was an All-Conference USA honorable-mention selection.
The Georgia native recorded 30 tackles, two hurries and a pass deflection last season.
He bench pressed 225 pounds 30 times at his campus Pro Day workout.
Here is a description of Staten from mocknfldraft.com:
"Jimmy Staten wears number 90 for Middle Tennessee. He comes from Waycross, Ga., where he was a star at Ware County. Currently Jimmy Staten is a junior at Middle Tennessee. We think Jimmy Staten is going to be a star on the next level.Jimmy Staten’s best game in 2013 was when he recorded 7 tackles when Middle Tennessee visited Georgia Tech on Sept. 29, 2012. Jimmy Staten recorded 4 solo tackles. He was great at getting into the backfield that game where he had 1 sack. But came very close to having another couple. Which isn’t an easy task at Bobby Dodd Stadium, with 55,000 people in the stands watching him. But Jimmy Staten has always been great on all fields surfaced in grass. Jimmy Staten only added to the history of this stadium stadium since it opened in 1913.Jimmy Staten is strong and surprisingly quick.Jimmy Staten’s worst game in 2013 came in Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 15, 2012. Staten didn’t record a tackle, and didn’t have a sack. I bet all of Liberty Bowl was shocked to have witnessed this great defensive player to have such a lackluster performance. The opponent was glad to match up with him on his worst performance of the season."
Michigan State Spartans linebacker Max Bullough
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Max Bullough
The Packers are high on Max Bullough, despite some indiscretions off the field at the end of this past season. He was suspended from the team, including a suspension from participating in the Rose Bowl.
This was published in the March 12 online edition of the Detroit Free Press: Bullough talks about his suspension … “It’s something that I brought upon myself,” said Bullough, who has publicly declined to disclose the reason for his suspension. “It’s a mistake that I made and I apologized to my team, I talked to my team, but we’re past that. Myself, my team, the (NFL) teams, coach (Mark Dantonio), we’re all past that. We’re moving forward. They’re not worried about the Rose Bowl last year either, they’re worried about next year.
Bullough Statistics
• 2013 THIRD-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN (ASSOCIATED PRESS, LINDY’S)
• 2013 FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG TEN (COACHES AND MEDIA)
• 2013 FIRST-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
From the Michigan State Football website: CAREER NOTES: Four-year letter winner was a three-year starter at middle linebacker . . . two-time team captain . . . two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection (2012, 2013) . . . collected 299 career tackles in 53 games, including 40 starts . . . finished his career ranked 11th in MSU history in tackles for loss (30.5 for 103 yards) and 18th in tackles (299) . . . also had eight career sacks (51 yards), 11 passes defended (three interceptions, eight pass break-ups) and four forced fumbles . . . two-time Academic All-American (first team in 2013, second team in 2012) . . . was a third-generation Spartan, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Hank (guard, 1952-54) and father Shane (linebacker, 1983-86) who played football at Michigan State . . . Hank was a member of the 2013 MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class . . . his grandfather Jim Morse (halfback, 1954-56) played for Coach Terry Brennan at Notre Dame . . . his uncles Chuck Bullough (Michigan State, linebacker, 1988-91), Bobby Morse (Michigan State, running back, 1983-86) and Jim Morse (Notre Dame, cornerback, 1976-77) played college football . . . . his father Shane was also named a team captain in 1986.
Washington State Cougars offensive linesman John Fullington (77) after a game against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports photograph
John Fullington
Started 43 consecutive games, tied for longest streak in program history by an offensive lineman and tied for second-longest by any Cougar… Earned a varsity letter after starting all 13 games…started first five games at right guard… started final eight games at right tackle…named to Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team…presented WSU’s Mike Utley Award for offensive lineman of the year.JUNIOR (2012):Earned a varsity letter after starting all 12 games…started first two games at left tackle…started final 10 games at left guard…named Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention…SOPHOMORE (2011):Earned a varsity letter after starting all 12 games at left guard…named All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention…FRESHMAN (2010): Earned a varsity letter after playing in all 12 games, starting the final six games……earned All-Pacific-10 fourth-team honors by Phil Steele…named to Rivals.com Pacific-10 All-Freshman team…earned first career start at right tackle against Arizona…started remaining five games of the season at left tackle…one of nine true freshman nationally to start a game at left tackle in 2010.
From The Seattle Times: Washington State offensive tackle John Fullington will make his 43rd straight start for the Cougars on Saturday when they play Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl. His senior year has been his best, by far.
Statistics from nfldraftscout.com
John Fullington
College: Washington State Number: 77
Height: 6-5 Weight: 300
Position: OG Pos2: OT
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2014
40 Low: 5.30 40 Time: 5.44 40 High: 5.56
Projected Round: Stock:
Rated number 55 out of 245 OG’s