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PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:50 am 
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Thought I might share a couple of my scouting reports for players that I was looking at in the 4th... more rounds to come.

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TE Glen Rude - Louisiana - Lafayette - 6'1" 248lbs
Selected by Cleveland, pick 4 - 15 (111)


The Ragin' Cajuns don't often send representatives to the CFL but TE Glen Rude's college career had scouts calling. After having only 17 catches for 182 yards as a sophomore, Rude had a huge jump in production as a junior, catching 53 passes for 568 yards and six touchdowns. He went on to improve his senior year with 62 catches for 615 yards in eight touchdowns, albeit against subpar competition.

When watching the tape, the two things that pop out are his speed in open space and his excellent soft hands. The Combine confirmed his blazing speed and he performed well in field drills. Rude has a nicely polished route tree with fluid hips that allow him to shake linebackers between the hashes. He's more than willing to stay home and block but shines as a receiving threat due to his lack of size and strength.

In the CFL, he will need to work on his blocking techniques to compensate for his smaller stature. He was regularly double teamed in college and this was a problem on third downs, leading to decreased efficiency when attempting to move the chains. This could be a problem at the next level if he is an offense's number one target. Still, he looks to be a solid contributor after season or two.

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DE Richie Zukauskas - Rutgers - 6'3" 269lbs
Selected by Boston, pick 4 - 11 (107)


Richie Zukauskas was the centerpiece of a Rutgers pass rush that simply dominated opponents. Over four years he racked up 55 sacks, 85 tackles, and 10 forced fumbles. He looked every bit the special player when hunting quarterbacks but there are holes in his game that could see his draft position fall.

First the good: In the pass rush, Zukauskas is truly dominant. He has quickness around the edge, power to knock tackles off balance, and the vision to keep eyes on the quarterback. Technique is on full display as he employs a wide variety of tools to get off blocks and fight through double teams.

However, Zukauskas is not a star as a run defender... and could even be a liability. His singular focus on rushing the passer could be addressed through experience and coaching but he seems to fade away once the ball is handed off. He regularly loses gap coverage by biting on fakes and sometimes stays in containment too long without the explosiveness or quick feet to catch runners moving sideways.

Zukauskas looks like a potential franchise defensive player as an edge rusher capable of producing double-digit sack seasons on an annual basis. Unfortunately, the team that selects him must have a solid group of linebackers to compensate for his poor run defense until it improves.

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FB Harris Markowitz - North Carolina State - 5'9" 232lbs
Selected by Denver, pick 4 - 9 (105)


No offense to QB Rodney Ingram, but the Wolfpack's tough rushing offense was the star of that program over the last two seasons. Markowitz flashed real ability as part of the rotation alongside RB Kirk Hughes and Richard Bruce. In 2061, he picked up 515 yards with six touchdowns over only 67 carries. He was an effective pass catcher too, adding 34 receptions for 272 yards and one touchdown through the air.

In the CFL, Markowitz is a powerful downhill runner who will break tackles and is really tough for defenders to bring down. His lower body strength is key to collecting yards after contact. In the passing game, Markowitz is dangerous on swings to the flat and screens. He has the hands to make the catch and blows through smaller DBs like a bowling ball. He has some athletic limitations as a route-runner and probably won't be a candidate to run routes out of the slot. However, success there would not be a surprise.

NC State often deployed him as a fullback and it looks to be his niche as he enjoys taking on defenders and shows a willing attitude in pass protection. As a backup or rotational player, Markowitz could also be a core special teams contributor because he has the key traits of speed, toughness and instincts to play on those units. At the very minimum, he will be an asset in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

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GL Division Champions: 2057, 2059, 2065
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