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With an impressive pro day at Florida on Tuesday, offensive tackle prospect D.J. Humphries could solidify a spot in the early rounds of this month’s NFL Draft.
The massive, 6-foot-6, 307-pound early entry, who has been projected anywhere from the first 32 picks to a mid-round grade, ignored the advisory board after being told he would benefit from playing another season in Gainesville.
“I took it as a challenge almost,” Humphries told the Tribune-Review earlier this year. “They were telling me I should come back, so I’m going to show them.”
Fast and fluid out of his stance at the NFL Combine, Humphries made scouts aware of his athleticism at the line of scrimmage. As a player with just 19 career starts, some talent evaluators were skeptical thanks to Humphries’ limited film and overall playing time before his appearance in Indianapolis altered opinions.
“Everyone expected me to be light and weak (at the combine),” Humphries told ESPN.com. “I turned a lot of heads.”
NFL Network analyst Charles Davis is one of Humphries’ biggest supporters. He compared his body size to New Yorks Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and says he notices several subtle similarities in Humphries’ game.
“When he gets into the weight room and fills out, he’s going to be a heck of a football player,” Davis said last week on NFL Network’s “Path to the Draft” program. “I’d be afraid to pass on him.”
WalterFootball.com’s latest tackle grades reveal Humphries as 2015’s fourth-best at his position, coming in just behind LSU’s La’el Collins. Elsewhere at NFLDraftScout.com, the Union, N.C. native has a second-round grade as the projected seventh tackle to be selected.
Injuries shortened two of Humphries’ seasons at Florida, but as a former five-star prospect who didn’t allow a single sack over his final three years at the prep level, it’s obvious Humphries has the potential to become a cornerstone blocker in the NFL if he stays on the field.
NFL Network Draft analyst Mike Mayock.said former #Gators D.J. Humphries will be one of the surprise offensive tackles in the NFL Draft.
— Antonya English (@TBTimes_Gators) February 16, 2015
