Norfolk State looks like a team that could upset just about any FBS team on a really good night. They have that kind of leadership and explosiveness on offense, and a pretty under-rated defense as well. The lowly Wildcats of B-C (0-3) simply couldn't match that kind of firepower, or slow it down defensively. There are several legit pro prospects in this game, headlined by B-C defensive back Antwane Cox (a former WR--5'11.5", 180, Sr., #4, 4.45) and Norfolk State's Jr. WR Chris Bell (A PSU transfer who put up 9 catches for 213 yards and 2 TDs (matching his output for two years at PSU.) Bell is 6'2", 210 and looks like he can run. Norfolk State thoroughly dominated early on, leading 23-0 before B-C scored, and holding them to -19 yards of offense in the first quarter+. B-C changed QB's midway through the second quarter and dual threat Maurice Francois (#7) sparked them briefly cutting the lead to 23-14, at half. However, the Wildcats could not maintain their momentum coming back out of the locker room and basically folded as the score mounted.

I LOVE Norfolk State--not only because that is the alma mater of our own dearly-beloved Bill Carroll, but because they also wear the exact same uniform of my H.S. team, The Livermore Falls (ME) Andies, who I will actually get to see for the first time in a few years tomorrow night before I head off to FL. (Livermore is 4-0, and looking like a team capable of winning the Maine Class C State Championship this year...)

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Bethune-Cookman Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic Columnist: Bill Carroll

Antwane Cox 4 5' 11.4" 180 4.45 CB 2010: Converted WR who understands what the opponent is trying to do. Shows nice ups and may be closer to 6'0". Really has legit makeup speed and flashes it. Went up against Bell most of the night and actually did pretty well--believe it or not. He had three PDs and a knockdown or two, or Bell would have smashed the MEAC record books. Plays tall, uses the correct arm when batting balls away over the middle. Smart football player. Scrappy and around the ball all the time in run defense. I like what I see from this kid despite being abused (statistically at least) by the best WR in the conference. GRADE: Positive

Brian Sumlar 5 5' 10.2" 182 4.48 WR 2011: Yea, he was out there, but I have no idea why he is in the database. Did nothing all night. Had a nice downfield block once. GRADE: Slightly negative

College: Norfolk State Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic Columnist: Bill Carroll

Terrell Whitehead 9 6' 1.2" 205 4.52 S 2010: Proving CDS right. He is on everyone's lists now, but we were first to really talk about this guy. Legit dual-threat safety with just enough size to warrant a camp look. Looks to knock people out, but shows equal alacrity picking the ball and intimidating receivers over the middle. Judges right on running plays and comes up to lend support quickly. Add an inch and 10 pounds and he'd be drafted. Good hitter who runs good angles. Will run you down. Also appears to have pretty good VJ. I had him in on 7 tackles, plus a pick. May be a tad fragile. Makes his DB mates better than they are. GRADE: Slightly positive

Chris Bell 19 6' 2.0" 210 4.56 WR 2011: Absolutely dominant in this game. Playing all out, and with a chip on his shoulder. Pleasant enough kid. PSU transfer who is big enough, strong enough, and just fast enough to be a holy terror at this level. I have to wonder what he'd be doing at PSU if he hadn't transferred. Looks good enough to contribute to anyone's college program, and may warrant a late pick in 2011 if he continues to develop. Bulls his way into his routes, and comes down with the ball in traffic and in jump ball situations. Will lay out for the tough catch. Possession type at the next level who should be able to beat the jam OK. Not very precise and refined in his routes yet. May need some time, and may have a learning curve with the pro playbook. Catches with his hands. Has some talent here, no doubt. Phenomenal game statistically, 9-213-2. GRADE: Very positive

Dennis Brown 10 6' 2.2" 202 4.65 QB 2010: Dennis actually started a couple games for UConn back in (I think) 2007 before coming down to the FCS. He looked horrible at UConn and it's no wonder he got out of dodge. He also didn't look to good last year at times for NSU, but he really seems to have matured now. Still throws balls at the worms, when throwing over the middle at times, and still struggles with decision making a bit, but really showed me an improved delivery. His overall throwing mechanics are much improved now. He seems far more poised and confident. He's always been pretty athletic. I want to see him on defense! He will never be an NFL QB, but CFL is looking more and more like a legit possibility where it was only a distant dream last year. Has a strong arm, but he can still be fairly erratic. GRADE: Slightly positive

OTHER NOTES:

B-C: LB Ryan Lewis (#15) looks like a player, Bill. Know anything about him? Francois flashed quite a bit for a quarter and a half but then went flat. The starting QB was terrible. #49, Davis flashed on defense.

Norfolk: RB DeAngelo Branche didn't impress me much at first, but the more I watched him the better I liked what I saw. He runs tall, and doesn't really have moves, but he's so darn qucik (not fast necessarily) to his running lanes, and runs with passion. Really scoots through a hole and can slash the edges to shreds. Know anything about his measurables, Bill? How does he stack up against Ford as SCSU? #31 LB Anthony Taylor looks like the 2nd best player on the Spartans defense, agreed? DE #90 Lamont Thorpe showed a little something from time to time.

Both of the Cox Twins have an outside shot at the NFL with Antwane being the better of the 2 in terms of hips and ball skills. He 's nearly 6 even 5'11 ^7/8ish, I saw Bell over the holidays a few years ago at Commodore Maury HS in Norfolk and NSU wanted he BAD then, but had no shot, he's a legit 4.56 but can play faster when he needs to, 34" VL, plus long arms and big hands, if he gets his time into the high 4.4s next year he should go in the mid to late rounds, think Greg Lewis, Branche is sneaky everything, probably 4.69 at best but gets through the hole with good acceleration, less than 205 but twists through tackles, he has CFL All-Star all over him. He's a tad bigger but MUCH slower than Ford. Whitehead has tremendous foot speed laterally, not to mention a 4.56 40 time. He runs quickly downhill in an aggressive sideline-to-sideline style to wrap up his tackles, though not Larry Wilson he's a hitter and has nice ball skills was an an Beach District PG at Kempsville with a 35" VL.
Talylor is a bit of a John Mobley-type 6'0 226 4.68ish and has potential. Thorpe is playing due to Hasan Craig's torn ACL, he's 6'2" 237 about 4.81 about getting better and playing faster with reps.

Ryan Lewis is an undersized 5'11 1^/2" 212 pound WILL who soome might think could be a SS, he reportedly runs in the 4.6s.
Sumlar was a Duke commit and great HS TB, and really is still one and could be a scatback at the next level his fastest 40 was 4.43.

Very informative. Thanks, Bill!

I really was impressed with both Antwane and Bell.

4.69 at best on Branche? Him...that surprises me. He looks sub 4.6 to me.

He was timed at 4.85 at the NIKE combine, but I think he's faster and he has always, think Terrell Davis, played far faster than he timed, I think 1 Cox, Bell and Whitehead should be late round draft picks.