The University of Buffalo had one of, if not their best season in program history. With that comes a group of solid players that you may find them playing on Sundays in the NFL. Here are some of the players you may hear on draft weekend some undrafted free agents candidates out of Buffalo.
QB Tyree Jackson
Jackson was a three-year starter for the Bulls where he consistently improved. After a hot start in 2018 where the Bulls where 4-0 and Jackson had 15 TD passes, he was an early consideration in the Heisman race. Jackson did cool off a little bit and finished the season with 28 passing and 7 rushing TDs. There was plenty of speculating that Jackson would go back to school for his senior season but ultimately decided to enter the NFL draft.
Jackson is going to be an intriguing QB prospect as there has never been a QB his size make an impact. He stands at 6-foot-7, 245 lbs and stands out in a crowd in a good way. He has the arm strength to throw the football anywhere on the field and the mobility to move the pocket and take off and run. What Jackson needs to work on will be his decision making; he likes to play hero ball and always looking to make the big play instead of the easy one.
When Jackson first announced he was going to forgo his senior season and enter the draft most people had him as a mid-round pick. But after a week of practice at the Senior Bowl scouts and coaches were buzzing. Now Jackson projects to be a second or third round pick and I feel that after the combine he will secure a second round pick as early as the Raiders or the Giants.
WR Anthony Johnson
Johnson had a unique way to get the spot he is in with an invite to the combine. He started at a junior college and worked his way to Buffalo and then was a force on the outside for the Bulls for the past two seasons. Johnson has accumulated 133 receptions, 2367 receiving yards, and 25 touchdowns. Johnson was also invited to show off his skills at the Senior Bowl.
Johnson has the prototypical frame for an NFL wide receiver standing at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. His best assets are his hands, as he hauls in everything he gets his hands on, yards after contact ability and that fact that he’s not afraid to fight for yards, and his route running. Johnson’s weakness is his ability to separate from the defender, not ideal for a receiver who relies on his body position and hands to make contested catches.
Johnson is considered a mid-round pick to fall somewhere between the third and fifth round. With a solid 40-time at the combine, he can secure a second or third-round pick. I really think he is going to be a solid player for the next 7-10 years and a steal for whatever team drafts him.
LB Khalil Hodge
Hodge was a three-year starter and tackling machine for the Bulls. In those three years, he finished with a whopping 419 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Hodge finished his junior year with 153 tackles which that was second in the nation, followed by 144 his senior year. Hodge was invited to play in the East-West Shrine game and had a solid week of practice in front of coaches and scouts.
Hodge is a little undersized and 6-foot-1 235 pounds. With that said he has a nose for the football and is always around as shown by the number of tackles. Hodge has the speed and athleticism to play sideline to sideline and drop into zone coverage.
Hodge is considered a mid to late-round pick by most draft analysts. I believe if he is taken after the fourth round he will be a steal for that team. The team will be drafting a football player who has the versatility to play weakside or middle linebacker and can contribute to special teams right away.
3 Responses