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D.J Humphries, Offensive Tackle, Florida
HEIGHT: 6'5"
ARM LENGTH: 33 5/8"
WEIGHT: 307 lbs.
HANDS: 10"
DRAFT PROJECTION: Late First Round
SCOUTING COMBINE RESULTS:
- 40-yard dash - 5.12 seconds
- Bench press - 26 reps
- Vertical jump - 31.0 inch
- Broad jump - 104.0 inch
- 3-cone drill - 7.87 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle - 4.64 seconds
Since winning the Anthony Munoz Award, given to the nation's top high school lineman in 2011, D.J. Humphries has been one of the most watched college lineman, despite not always living up to his hype.
Humphries started 19 games at Florida from 2012-2014, but missed significant time due to various injuries. None of them were serious or should linger into the NFL, but he may need a year or two in an NFL weight room before he's ready to be a full-time contributor. He never became the dominating force at Florida everyone expected him to become, but he showed enough flashes of being a quality NFL lineman that he'll likely be a late-first rounder.
Since the offseason began, Humphries' draft stock has risen steadily since he declared for the draft as a junior, despite a recommendation to return to college from the NFL Draft Advisory Board. He's looked impressive in workouts and put on a good showing at the scouting combine.
Right now, Humphries is more of an athletic lineman who needs to refine his technique and increase his strength before he's ready to take on a starting role in the NFL. He's one of the bigger boom-or-bust prospects in this year's draft.
Humphries does have NFL blood in his veins, His father played wide receiver with the Baltimore Ravens and in the Arena Football League in the early 2000s.
Here's an excerpt of Humphries' NFL.com scouting report:
STRENGTHS Flexible hips and knees offer up leverage wins as run blocker. Gets down blocks secured and transitions quickly into second-level stalker with ability to mirror moving linebackers in space. As base-blocker, hustles feet into position and works to wall defender off. Has desired foot quickness combined with proper angles to be effective blocker on play side and back side on stretch plays. Gains good ground with kick slide and takes smart angles to cut off the edge. Rarely narrows base in run or pass game. Uses length to help cut off inside rush moves.
WEAKNESSES Too often a leaner and lunger. Can fall off balance in run game against moving targets when his feet get complacent at contact. Needs to drive feet through contact as run blocker rather than engaging in upper-body sumo wrestling. Hand placement is a mess, with hands sliding high off of targets. Uses hands to slap, push and spar rather than to snatch and sustain. Tends to lean into pass rusher at point of contact rather than shoot his punch. Leaning "punch" opens him to spin move counters back inside. Eyes trained too high on target and hands follow suit in pass protection.
SOURCES TELL US "He can probably come in and play right away, but I'm not quite as high on him as everyone else seems to be. I think he can be good but I don't see a Pro Bowl player." - NFL Director of Personnel
NFL COMPARISON D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Mel Kiper Jr. didn't have Humphries going in the first round during his first two mock drafts, but now, has him going to Carolina at No. 25.
The Panthers have made a couple of moves to improve what was a terrible offensive line in 2014, but in terms of overall talent they really aren't significantly improved. They have other needs, but nothing that surpasses the goal of making Cam Newton more comfortable. Humphries has handled some of the top pass-rushers in the SEC, and has a chance to provide immediate help where the Panthers need it most. He lacks polish, but he plays with relentlessness, and he also profiles as a player with the upside to stick at left tackle in the NFL, which isn't something you can say about even some of the top tackles in this draft.
All four of CBS Sports' draft experts have Humphries going in the first round. Three have him going 25th to Carolina, while one has Humphries going 23rd to Detroit. It's safe to think the talented lineman will go somewhere late in the first round.