Six former LSU Tigers received invites to the 2019 NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis, and will do their best to increase their draft stock through interviews and physical testing including 40-yard dashes, bench presses and vertical jumps.
Those six players are projected across the board by NFL draft scouting experts.
John Battle
Battle, a two-year starter starting at safety his junior and senior years, was one of the Tigers’ defensive leaders last season, but had his season cut short due to an ankle injury. Battle amassed 71 solo tackles, 11 pass deflections, five interceptions and two forced fumbles in his career as a Tiger. A former three-star prospect out of Florida, Battle wasn’t a standout recruit coming out of high school, but certainly played above his ratings becoming the starting safety halfway through his sophomore season.
Battle’s prospect grade rated by NFL.com is 4.93, which means at the very least he should be invited to an NFL training camp.
“Battle’s speed shows up on tape when he turns on the jets, but too often his play lacks urgency and tends to be much more reactive than proactive. While he has decent ball skills, his lack of coverage instincts could make that skill irrelevant on the next level,” said NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein.
Cole Tracy
Tracy will likely never be forgotten by Tiger fans even though he only played one season for the Tigers, as he kicked the game-winning field goal against Auburn and continually rescued LSU’s offense after they stalled out in the red zone. Tracy may have even been a detriment to the Tigers offense as LSU coach Ed Orgeron said many times he knew as long as he got the ball to the 33-yard line, he would get points.
Nonetheless, Tracy was a Groza Award finalist, awarded to the FBS’ best kicker, holds the record for most field goals made in any division and holds the LSU record for most field goals made in a season. Tracy’s only hindrance could be his lack of leg strength, and his ability to handle kickoff duties.
Tracy’s prospect grade rated by NFL.com is 4.99, which means he should be in an NFL training camp.
“His leg talent is just average and he might not be able to handle NFL kickoff duties, but his consistency and accuracy should give him an outside shot,” Zierlein said.
Nick Brossette
Brossette waited patiently for three years to become LSU’s lead back, having the unfortunate luck of joining the Tigers the same year as future first round draft selection Derrius Guice and a year after future first round draft selection Leonard Fournette. Brossette only saw 46 carries through his first three years, but became the Tigers’ lead rusher his senior season and didn’t disappoint. Brossette rushed for 1,039 yards and 14 touchdowns on 240 carries, an average of 4.3 yards per carry.
A highly-rated recruit out of high school, Brossette was a consensus four-star prospect, and the 16th-rated running back by the 247Composite. He received offers from Alabama, Auburn, Texas and Notre Dame.
Brossette’s prospect grade rated by NFL.com is 5.17, which means he has a better than average chance of making an NFL roster.
“Brossette is a volume-carry grinder who deflates defenses over time with his physical style. However, his tight hips limit lateral movement and hinder his ability to slide away from tackler. He lacks the burst to create explosive runs for himself along the interior or around the corner,” Zierlein said.
Foster Moreau
Moreau was one of the team leaders for his senior season, and was prevented from having a bigger pass-catching role having to help out as a blocker. Along with that, LSU’s offenses haven’t featured a pass-catching tight end. He ended his career with 52 catches for 629 yards and six touchdowns.
Moreau wasn’t highly rated out of high school. He was a three-star recruit and the 74th-rated tight end in the 247Composite. But LSU used their last scholarship of the 2015 class on him, a trend that has featured players like Justin Jefferson, Deion Jones and Duke Riley.
Moreau’s prospect grade rated by NFL.com is 5.39, which means he has the potential to be a backup or special teams player.
“Moreau is a feisty, committed run-blocking tackle with solid technique and footwork to find proper angles in-line or on the move. He’s tough enough to battle at the point of attack, but at his best when he’s a lead blocker on iso, wham blocks and outside zone with his ability to locate and land on second-level targets,” Zierlein said.
Devin White
White could go down as the greatest linebacker in school history, and that’s saying something considering he was recruited as a running back out of high school. After a long wait, White decided to forego his senior season, most likely because he is predicted to be a top-20 draft pick and ink a seven-figure signing bonus.
In three seasons, White had 286 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, nine pass deflections and four forced fumbles. White led the team in tackles his sophomore and junior seasons and led the SEC in total tackles his junior year. White became the first LSU player to win the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s best linebacker. He also was a First Team All-American his junior year and First Team All-SEC his sophomore and junior year.
White was a four-star prospect out of high school, the fifth ranked running back and eighth overall prospect in Louisiana by the 247Composite. He received offers from Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Florida State and Michigan.
White’s prospect grade rated by NFL.com is 6.20, which means he should become an instant NFL starter.
“White is still learning to take on blocks and play with better control/efficiency, but he’s a willing pupil and coaching should improve both areas. White’s work ethic, competitiveness and rare play speed are elements that can’t be taught and should push him into an early starter’s role and a successful NFL career,” Zierlein said.
Greedy Williams
Williams, who’s nickname truly fits his playing style, seems to be next in the line of press coverage cornerbacks to come out of LSU. His reputation as a lockdown corner started in his redshirt freshman season, snagging six interceptions. Leading up to his sophomore season, Williams’ reputation grew, and not many teams dared to target who he was covering.
Williams was a four-star prospect out of Calvary Baptist in Shreveport, the 20th-rated cornerback and 14th overall prospect in Louisiana by the 247Composite. He received offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Mississippi State.
Williams’ prospect grade rated by NFL.com is 6.21, which means he should become an instant NFL starter.
“Williams has the instincts and tools to play a variety of coverages, but his length and pattern-matching talent will likely get him drafted to handle press-man duties. His ball production dropped a little from 2017 and he continued to struggle with finding the ball downfield, but he is rarely ever out of position,” Zierlein said.