|
Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - A strong legged kicker, Sturgis has excellent as both a field goal kicker and kickoff specialist. Has been an accurate field goal kicker during career, but seems to be most accurate in key situations. Smooth and fundamentally sound in his approach and kicking motion, the ball explodes off his foot. He gets good rise on kicks and can drive the ball through wind to hit long field goals. Not only is Sturgis a good field goal kicker, but he is adept on kickoffs. He has the leg strength to really drive the ball average 66 yards and just over 4 seconds in hang time on kickoffs. As opposed to many strong legged kickoff guys, Sturgis has the touch and accuracy to place the ball excellently, which makes him a versatile kickoff man.
WEAKNESSES - Sturgis has a strong leg, but lacks the elite leg strength of the premier kickers in the NFL. It is definitely disturbing that Sturgis' accuracy fell off in his final season and this is the primary reason that he will not be selected until the third day of the draft. In addition, Sturgis is not a big kicker and looks small "on the hoof."
SUMMARY - After an excellent college career kicking for Florida, Sturgis followed that up with a great kicking performance at the Combine. Although he lacks great size, he no doubt has a strong enough leg to hit long field goals and to drive the ball into the endzone consistently on kickoffs. Overall, I expect Strugies to be a fourth or fifth round pick. He should win the battle for whatever team selects him and can handle being their field goal kicker and kickoff man.
|
|
Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - A very accurate field goal kicker during most of his career, he hit numerous clutch kicks early in his career. He has a strong enough leg to hit field goals from all distances and showed that in 2012 by hitting all five kicks of over 50 yards. He has good snap through motion and gets good rise on his kicks, which help him avoid getting kicks blocked. He has experience kicking off and flashes the leg strength to drive the ball into the endzone at times.
WEAKNESSES - Hopkins has good, but not elite leg strength. Although he occasionally drove the ball very well on kickoffs, his kickoffs in general lacked the combination of distance and hang time that NFL teams demand on kickoffs. In addition, on the kickoff placement drills he was just adequate and did not show great touch. Most concerning is that his field goal percentage fell off in 2012 and he missed some clutch kicks that he hit in previous seasons.
SUMMARY - A very good college place kicker, Hopkins is a solid NFL prospect, but he will likely be a field goal only kicker because he lacks the leg strength and touch to handle kickoffs in the NFL. Overall, because he will only be a field goal kicker and saw his production fall off in his final season he is not going to be a high draft pick. However, in the sixth or seventh round I expect a team with a punter who handles the kickoff duties to select him.
|
