What you need to know about all 14 small schoolers at the Combine

We at NFL Draft Diamonds love to break down small schoolers, and I thought it was only appropriate to talk about the small school players who will be on the NFL Network over the next few days trying to earn some money at the NFL Scouting Combine. As you know we love our small schoolers and I think it is only right to talk about our small schoolers to give them a boost before the event in Indy. Even though we are super disappointed that only 14 of the 337 prospects are from small schools. They could have added another 10 plus players that were worthy.

Kevin Davidson, QB, Princeton – Davidson is a solid passer who had a decent year in 2020. He threw for 20 touchdowns and put up 2,569 yards in the Ivy League. He led Princeton to an 8-2 record and had several huge games, but he was not named All-Ivy League first team, he was just an honorable mention. He was invited to the East/West Shrine Game and his stock has been on the rise. He may not be the most athletic quarterback, but he can make every NFL throw. If I was a betting man, I would say Davidson is a priority free agent, but with a great Combine he could be able to get into the later rounds of the draft. He stands at 6040 and weighs 224 pounds, and the kid is super smart. The NFL loves smart quarterbacks, especially smart QB’s with great intangibles.

James Robinson, RB, Illinois State – Robinson is one of the best running backs ever to come out of the state of Illinois. He has been a workhorse from high school breaking the record by gaining 9,045 yards in four seasons of high school football. He then went to Illinois State and continued the trend. He does have a lot of mileage on his body because he is used so much, but he continues to over perform. He finished 2019 with 1,917 yards on 364 carries, and led his team to the National Championship game. Robinson will likely be a late round pick at best. I love the kid and he is so hungry, any NFL team would love to have him because he is a leader on and off the field.

Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island – Coulter is the only player at the scouting combine from a small school who is a junior. He decided to leave college early and is a solid player. He is a 6020 wide out that teams have a lot of interest in. Coulter and Aaron Parker are cousins and they led the Rhodys in receiving. Coulter was a second team All-Conference player who caught 72 receptions for 1,039 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is super raw, but he has talent. His game against Virginia Tech was insane, he caught 9 receptions for 152 yards and showed his ability. I think he will be a late round pick, but this class is super deep at wide receiver.

Aaron Parker, WR, Rhode Island – Parker was one of the most productive wide outs since he arrived at Rhode Island. Parker is the nephew of former NFL fullback Walter Easley, and has played at an NFL caliber his entire career. He finished last year with 81 receptions for 1,224 averaging 15.1 yards per reception. He scored 9 times last season and was named second team All-American and first team All-conference. I could see Parker going late in the draft, but would not be shocked to see him go undrafted. He has talent but needs to show he can run at the Combine. He will dominate the NFL when it comes to blocking which could help boost his stock.

Charlie Taumoepeau, TE, Portland State – Charlie T is an athletic kid who had a solid senior year. His biggest knock is going to be his size. He is a prototypical H-Back which is very rarely used anymore in the NFL. When Charlie played a big school he showed out. He tore up Oregon and Nevada, and while he had an injury that slowed him down his senior year he still finished with 36 receptions for 474 yards and scored just 2 touchdowns. Taumoepeau’s statistics declined in 2019 after a solid season in 2018 were he was fighting through an ankle injury. I think Taumoepeau will be a late round pick as well. I am guess the 5th through 7th.

Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton – Trautman maybe the best small school prospect. I think he will be a starter in the NFL in the first couple years and will shine. Trautman is 6050, and weighs 255 pounds. he was Offensive Player of the Year in the Pioneer league this year putting up wide receiver stats. Trautman caught 70 passes for 916 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in just 11 starts. He was a former quarterback converted to tight end. He is a pure pass catcher, and he is not fancy after the catch, but he can get the job done in the redzone. I think this kid will end up being a mid round pick from rounds 3-5.

Ben Bartch, OL, St. Johns (MN) – Lunch Pal Player, Yep Ben is old school. The kid still drives and old school truck and uses a flip phone. He is a freak with power and athleticism. Yes, he was a Division three player but don’t let that fool you, he will put your ass on the ground. He was a former tight end and played one year at the position in Minnesota. He started all 14 games last year and was Offensive Lineman of the Year and a first team all MIAC. Bartch helped himself at the Senior Bowl and trust me NFL teams love his athleticism. He is 6060 and he will be starting soon in the NFL. I think he is drafted higher than others. I think he will be taken from the 3-5 round.

Kyle Murphy, OL, Rhode Island – The kid is a beast on the offensive line and he is one of the most versatile players in college football. He has played all over the offensive line and NFL teams love versatility and smarts. If you add in the fact that he is 6030 and 300 plus pounds and strong as an ox, NFL teams are drooling over him as a prospect. Murphy was a team captain in high school on his basketball and football team. He is athletic and versatile. NFL teams love that and I could see him going in the 4th round.

Alex Taylor, OL, South Carolina State – He was a two star player out of high school and he turned into a stud. Boy, those scouts did not do a good job. The 6090 offensive tackle is super athletic and has a good bloodline. His uncle is Pierson Prioleau who played 13 years in the NFL, and his little cousin is former NFL QB Joe Hamilton. Taylor was a star basketball player that averaged 28 points per game in high school and only played 17 games of high school football before getting a scholarship to play football. I think Taylor will be drafted in the 4-6 rounds because finding offensive tackles is hard. The kid is a little raw, but he is so athletic.

Derrek Tuszka, DL, North Dakota State – When you watch the film on Tuszka you find a player who never quits. The kid is relentless. he is a physical player who lacks explosiveness, but had 29.5 career sacks in college. He was a star on the basketball court though and did well in track. He led his defense to their third straight National Championship and finished with a first team All-American. The kid can bull rush well, but his other moves are not that great. I think he will be a priority free agent, but could see him helping himself at the Combine.

Dante Olson, LB, Montana – Olson is a student of the game. His father is former Southern Oregon head coach Jeff Olson, so he has been learning the game since a young age. You can see it in his play as well. Dante is a blue collar player, he will do what is asked and I can see him making an NFL roster off the jump. Dante was a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist who finished with 151 tackles, 11 for loss and 2 interceptions. He may not be the fastest linebacker but he takes great angles and is not afraid of contact. I think he will be on a roster for sure, but I see him falling to the late rounds of the NFL Draft.

Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois – This kid is the most slept on prospect in the draft. He has an NFL frame, he takes amazing angles and he has footwork of an NFL corner. He was a first team All-MVFC as a junior and was a second team All-American his senior year. He finished the 2019 season with 71 tackles, with a team high four picks. Chinn will test well and I think a team will draft him before the 5th round.

Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne – Dugger will likely be the first small schooler drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. He should be as well, the Division 2 safety has everything you want. He has speed, he can shut down a wide receiver and the kid is a stupid athletic player. Lenoir Rhyne has not had a player drafted since 2000 but that will change in 2020. I could see Dugger being a starter right away and I would not be shocked if he is drafted higher than expected. If he goes in the first round I would not be shocked. I think he will in fact go in rounds 2 or 3, but I expect him to blow up at the Combine.

Alex Pechin, P, Bucknell – Alex Pechin is one of the best punters in the entire nation. Pechin has a monster leg and can become a huge weapon for an NFL team. Add in the fact that he was a quarterback in high school and you have a dangerous weapon. Pechin boomed a 71 yard punt in college and is smart. Alex has interned for the past two summers at Orbit Biomedical, a company whose stated mission is to revolutionize gene and cell therapy treatment. Punters are not drafted very often but I would not be shocked if Alex hears his name.