George Schroeder ✔ @GeorgeSchroeder
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Chip Kelly on Colt Lyerla: "Arguably the best athlete in the country."
2:19 PM - 2 Feb 2011
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Good athlete. Fluid route runner. Very good body control. Adjusts easily to the ball. Can create in the open field with very good run skills. Natural hands. Good catching radius. Functional blocker with enough playing strength to sustain. Highly competitive and determined to prove critics wrong. Is smart and hardworking. Recorded a 39-inch vertical jump to pace all tight ends at the combine.
WEAKNESSES Lacks ideal bulk strength to block in-line. Overly emotional and prone to outbursts following a dysfunctional childhood that offered little direction and much confusion related to a divorce. Not a disciplined team player. Off-the-field issues linger. Drops were too consistent (see West Virginia). Bench pressed 225 pounds only 15 times at combine.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 3-4
BOTTOM LINE An extremely athletic receiving tight end, Lyerla was overshadowed by the play of emerging freshman Johnny Mundt and a litany of issues (suspensions, drugs, academics). Has overcome a lot of adversity stemming back to his youth and defied the odds to become an impactful performer. Possesses elite physical talent, but his history could easily knock him down several rounds and off many NFL draft boards. Would benefit tremendously from a coach willing to serve as a strong father figure and an established, veteran locker room with a positional leader able to take him under his wing the way Kyle Long did at Oregon.
-Nolan Nawrocki
6'4 242 lbs. Guy runs a 4.56 40 with a 39 inch vert. Loves him some cocaine. I don't know, but if he is going to get a chance anywhere, Chicago would be the place with Kyle. Read all about him. Chip Kelly hasn't even shown interest in him. He is a mess. And he is a beast. Waiting for a call.