FL Darius Hanks of Alabama ~ 6.0/184
"Hanks often played second fiddle to late-round prospect Marquis Maze throughout his time at Alabama, but there were many characteristics displayed by Hanks that could make him the better all-around pro.
First off, he has the size. He has the hands to compete and start at the next level, and he runs good routes to get himself open and create plays for himself. He is a smooth mover who looks like a natural receiver. He came into his own as a redshirt sophomore, where he started half of the games and went on to start 95 percent of the rest of his career.
He suffered a shoulder injury as a freshman and had some durability concerns throughout his career, but the natural feel of his game and his experience playing at a high level make him a late-round value to a team hoping he can learn to play special teams as well.
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Strengths: Hanks is a smooth mover who looks natural when working off the line of scrimmage and into his route. He isn't physical to get off the line and can get jammed at times, but he has shown the ability to stem his routes, get defenders off balance, and then work back in-phase.
Hanks has outstanding hands and catches nearly ever ball thrown his way. He can separate from defenders at the top of his routes and is a speed-cut guy who likes to get corners off balance before quickly breaking away from them.
He is good to get to full speed and catch a ball in front of him, or throttle down enough to torque his body and make the difficult catch.
Weaknesses: Hanks is not an explosive or physical receiver. He has good speed but doesn't move quickly in short areas, as he often isn't quick enough at the line when trying to break down and block a defender.
He isn't a very strong player and doesn't break many tackles after the catch. He doesn't create much for himself in the short passing game and wouldn't be a great option out of the slot, as he doesn't create his own plays and wouldn't be a threat during screen plays. He is effective as a deep threat but doesn't bring much else to the table."
First off, he has the size. He has the hands to compete and start at the next level, and he runs good routes to get himself open and create plays for himself. He is a smooth mover who looks like a natural receiver. He came into his own as a redshirt sophomore, where he started half of the games and went on to start 95 percent of the rest of his career.
He suffered a shoulder injury as a freshman and had some durability concerns throughout his career, but the natural feel of his game and his experience playing at a high level make him a late-round value to a team hoping he can learn to play special teams as well.
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Hanks has outstanding hands and catches nearly ever ball thrown his way. He can separate from defenders at the top of his routes and is a speed-cut guy who likes to get corners off balance before quickly breaking away from them.
He is good to get to full speed and catch a ball in front of him, or throttle down enough to torque his body and make the difficult catch.
He isn't a very strong player and doesn't break many tackles after the catch. He doesn't create much for himself in the short passing game and wouldn't be a great option out of the slot, as he doesn't create his own plays and wouldn't be a threat during screen plays. He is effective as a deep threat but doesn't bring much else to the table."
"Looks a bit longer/leaner on tape than his height/weight numbers would indicate. Possesses some savvy to his game off the line when setting up routes. Does a nice job changing speeds, but doesn’t generate much burst initially on sharply breaking routes.
Tends to round off his breaks in the three-step game and isn’t physical enough to fight off a defender and box out in order to make a play. Is much more effective when asked to run vertically down the field. Looks more explosive when asked to plant his foot and get up field and tracks the throw in the process.
Displays the ability to sells his fake well by sinking his hips and looking off the defender before accelerating quickly toward space and separating. Lets the ball get into his body too often and needs to do a better job extending his hands and plucking the football more consistently.
Isn’t a dominant run blocker through contact, but is willing to stick his head in and cut down defenders at the second level. Possesses questionable natural instincts/intelligence as he often lines up wrong and looks confused. Might be only capable of learning one wideout spot in the NFL.
On-the-field character is questionable, as well, doesn’t seem to be real interested when he knows the ball isn’t coming to him. Isn’t real comfortable vs. press coverage at this stage. Wastes a lot of time chopping his feet and isn’t real physical shedding off the line.
Also, isn’t the sharpest of route runners even vertically down the field. He’s a gifted/explosive enough athlete to get away with it in college, but tends to waste a lot of steps rounding off his vertical routes.
Impression: Possesses good size and above average athleticism for the position. Limited route runner at this stage, but can separate down the field and track the football. Physically he has the tools to make a roster, but his on-the-field character might limit him."
Tends to round off his breaks in the three-step game and isn’t physical enough to fight off a defender and box out in order to make a play. Is much more effective when asked to run vertically down the field. Looks more explosive when asked to plant his foot and get up field and tracks the throw in the process.
Displays the ability to sells his fake well by sinking his hips and looking off the defender before accelerating quickly toward space and separating. Lets the ball get into his body too often and needs to do a better job extending his hands and plucking the football more consistently.
Isn’t a dominant run blocker through contact, but is willing to stick his head in and cut down defenders at the second level. Possesses questionable natural instincts/intelligence as he often lines up wrong and looks confused. Might be only capable of learning one wideout spot in the NFL.
On-the-field character is questionable, as well, doesn’t seem to be real interested when he knows the ball isn’t coming to him. Isn’t real comfortable vs. press coverage at this stage. Wastes a lot of time chopping his feet and isn’t real physical shedding off the line.
Also, isn’t the sharpest of route runners even vertically down the field. He’s a gifted/explosive enough athlete to get away with it in college, but tends to waste a lot of steps rounding off his vertical routes.
Impression: Possesses good size and above average athleticism for the position. Limited route runner at this stage, but can separate down the field and track the football. Physically he has the tools to make a roster, but his on-the-field character might limit him."
"Thin-framed, agile slot receiver who goes down easily on contact and looks for a soft place to land.
Lacks the toughness and physicality to work across the middle but can be effective outside in the short-to-intermediate receiving game, possessing the short-area burst to uncover."
Lacks the toughness and physicality to work across the middle but can be effective outside in the short-to-intermediate receiving game, possessing the short-area burst to uncover."
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