Central Georgians Bryant, Cephus, and Fromm get picked, Callaway to go free-agent route; Falcons, and more (1 p.m. Sunday update)
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
They all waited longer than they expected, and certainly longer than they’d hoped for.
And the wait for one never ended.
Central Georgians Harrison Bryant, Quintez Cephus, and Jake Fromm got the calls Saturday on the final day of the NFL Draft, while Marquez Callaway stayed on the board.
John Milledge’s Bryant was the first to go, ninth in the fourth round and 115th overall, picked by Cleveland.
Stratford’s Cephus jumped ahead of a number of higher-rated receivers, going to Detroit with the 21st pick of the fifth round, 166th overall.
Minutes later, Buffalo picked Houston County alum Fromm.
Callaway was projected as a late-draft prospect, and the Warner Robins grad will likely be signed as a free agent pretty quickly. Callaway, who stayed all four years at Tennessee, was rated by ESPN as the No. 34 receiver.
What NFL.com said about the Central Georgians (full report is linked):
Sunday signing updates, 1 p.m.
Georgia State OT Hunter Atkinson signed with Atlanta.
Georgia Southern S Donald Rutledge Jr. signed with Indianapolis.
Georgia Tech RB Nathan Cottrell signed with Jacksonville.
West Georgia WR West Georgia signed with Tampa Bay.
Valdosta State OL Brandon Kemp signed with Tennessee.
Saturday night signings
Warner Robins’ Marquez Callaway has signed a free-agent contract with New Orleans.
Peach County grad and former Georgia safety Tyrique McGhee has signed the same thing with the Los Angeles Rams.
Saturday’s first look at free-agent signings from UGA: Tyler Simmons by Houston, Rodrigo Blankenship by Indianapolis, Eli Wolf by Baltimore, Brian Herrien by Cleveland, Lawrence Cager by the NY Jets, J.R. Reed by Jacksonville, and Brian Herrien by Cleveland.
Mason Kinsey of Berry, a Division III program, signed with Tennessee, and West Georgia’s Auzoyah Alufohai with Houston.
Bryant: “Bryant's plus athletic traits, high football IQ and toughness as a blocker make him one of the most talented, well-rounded tight ends in this draft. He's a little light to be considered for full-time work as a "Y" tight end, but his technique and tenacity should not be discounted in his ability to help the running game. He's instinctive in space with speed and separation talent to work all three levels and gives offensive coordinators the freedom to line him up all over the field. Bryant could become an early starter and has the talent to be a high volume pass-catching target as a move tight end.”
Cephus: “After missing all of 2018, Cephus got right back into the swing of things culminating with memorable games against Ohio State and Oregon. Size and body positioning create workable windows in tight quarters and his ball skills build trust with the quarterback. He's a build-up runner who lacks suddenness to uncover and may need to be motioned, bunched, and lined in the slot to help with early separation. Teams know he can catch it but will need to see him get open. Cephus is a possession receiver with the profile of a capable WR3/4.”
Fromm: “Heady quarterback who is light on physical traits but sees the game like a pro signal-caller most of the time. Fromm has big-game experience and proved to be a worthy challenger against Alabama as a freshman and sophomore. He's a full-field reader who has shown a consistent ability to change plays and make smart pre- and post-snap decisions. Arm strength is a concern, and that concern may be exacerbated if his ball placement and timing aren't more consistent. He's an intelligent game-manager whose range is good backup to middling starter, but he will be scheme- and skill-position-needy at the next level.”
Callaway: “One-trick prospect with field-stretching ability to work the third level, but lacking the route savvy and consistent competitiveness to get open underneath. Tape can be frustrating as Callaway simply doesn't play to his speed often enough and operates with a sense of lethargy at times. He's a natural pass-catcher with plus ball skills and offers punt return value, but he must improve his routes and prove he can be more than an occasional deep ball threat if he wants to hold an NFL job.”
What ESPN.com said about three of them:
Bryant: “Bryant is a light receiving tight end with below-average length and good top-end speed. He's an instinctive and slippery open-field runner with the strength to pick up yards after initial contact. He's fast enough to make plays down the seam. Bryant made some tough catches, but we also counted three drops against Ohio State in 2019.”
Cephus: “Cephus has average height and good bulk with a chiseled frame. He's a strong runner after the catch. He shows good body control and is competitive in traffic, but he has small hands and drops passes too often. Cephus has marginal initial quickness and top-end speed.”
Fromm: Fromm is a smaller quarterback with average mobility, and his lack of arm strength is his biggest weakness. That said, he's a proven winner with exceptional football intelligence and work ethic. He has a quick release in addition to solid accuracy and touch.”
Among the media offerings :
A steal for Cleveland?
Cephus staying in the Snow Belt
Bills GM couldn’t let Fromm go
Bryant repping FAU well
Cephus = Michael Irvin?
Fromm’s call with Buffalo media
Breaking down Bryant’s game
Cephus’ place on the roster
Six things about Fromm
Another Kittle comparison for Bryant
Cephus and a former very-impressed opponent now teammates
An interesting pick for the Bills
A longer breakdown of Bryant (video)
Ball skills big for Cephus
The wait for Fromm
Among the social media offerings:
More Peach Staters go
Georgia had four players go on the final day, and Georgia Southern two, and Georgia Tech one.
In addition to Fromm, former Bulldogs Solomon Kindley, Charlie Woener, and Tae Crowder – the final pick, thus “Mr. Irrelevant - were picked.
Offensive lineman Kindley went fifth in the fourth round to Miami, and tight end Woerner went 11th in the sixth round to San Francisco. Linebacker Crowder went to the Giants.
Georgia Southern cornerback Kindle Vildor was the pick of the Bears at 18th in the fifth round, and kicker Tyler Bass went ninth in the sixth round, 188th overall, to Buffalo.
Tech tight end Tyler Davis was picked by Jacksonville with the 27th pick of the sixth round
Falcons have a routine final day
Atlanta took Fresno State linebacker Mykal Walker and California safety Jaylinn Hawkins in the fourth round, and then Syracuse punter Sterling Hofrichter with the 14th pick of the seventh round.