24year old Lions rookie as the most under-rated receiver rookie
“Well mine is USC standout to the Detroit Lions, and that is Amon-Ra St. Brown. Listen, this dude is going to the Detroit Lions with Jared Goff. No. 1 they are going to be playing (from) behind in a lot of games,” Jones said. “So that means you’re going to have to throw the ball to make some plays. This guy is an excellent route runner to go up and make plays, and make some tough catches. He will get a lot of targets and a lot of opportunities to be able to show what he can do. I think he’s going to have a big year.”
St. Brown was taken with the No. 112 overall pick in the fourth round.
The Lions were an ideal landing spot for St. Brown with an experienced QB in Jared Goff, a new premier left tackle (Penei Sewell) and a franchise lacking high-end skill players at receiver. Marvin Jones Jr., who signed with Jacksonville in the offseason, led the franchise in 2020 with 76 receptions for 980 yards and nine scores. He will wear No. 14 in his first season. St. Brown reportedly played both inside and outside during Lions minicamp
The 2021 NFL Draft was incredibly deep at wide receiver, pushing St. Brown down the draft order NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah pegged the former five-star prospect as a future impact player in the NFL going into the draft.
“I think (he’s) going to be a day-two receiver,” Jeremiah said, “(He) was a hyped up kid coming out of high school. Played at Mater Dei in Orange County that powerhouse program, and he’s been a stud since he got to USC. All the big plays that need to be made, he can go up the ladder climb up and get it. He’s tough after the catch, and I like how competitive he was as a blocker. Pop on the Arizona State tape if you want to see that.”
In just six games last season, due to the shortened COVID-19 football season, St. Brown finished with 41 catches, 478 yards, seven touchdowns and 11.7 yards per catch. In three seasons with USC (30 games), St. Brown finished his collegiate career with 178 catches, 2,270 yards, 16 touchdowns, 12.8 yards per catch and one rushing touch
NC State football tied for second-most defensive tackles in NFL
NC State’s devoloped a reputation for producing NFL talent at several positions in the last few years. In addition to QB, LB and punter, it’s time to add defensive tackle to that list.
The Wolfpack boasts seven defensive tackles on current NFL rosters following the 2024 NFL Draft. Though Alabama leads the nation with 14 pro DTs — I mean, seriously?! — NC State is currently tied with Auburn, Clemson, Iowa, LSU and Texas with seven defensive tackle alumni making their living in the pros. That mark surpasses a number of college football powerhouses like Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State and Texas A&M, who each have six.
Pack Pro defensive tackles emphasize quality as well as quantity with three of those seven in starting roles. B.J. Hill led all Pack Pro DTs with 51 total tackles in 2023 as a key cog in the Cincinnati Bengals defense. Hill registered 4.5 sacks to go with his first two interceptions in the NFL, both made in acrobatic fashion in back-to-back weeks. Alim McNeill also enjoyed a highlight-heavy 2023 campaign, logging a career high 5.5 sacks in his breakout third season for Detroit. McNeill played a huge role in the Lions’ stellar season by clogging up run lanes in the middle and joining the pass rush alongside Aidan Hutchinson and company.
Justin Jones also set a career high in sacks last year, taking the quarterback down 4.5 times and at least hitting him 17 times for the Bears. Jones spent four seasons as a role player for the Chargers before really hitting his stride in Chicago, racking up 101 of his 218 career tackles and 22 of his 34 career tackles for loss in the last two seasons. He hopes to build on that success in Arizona after signing as a free agent with the Cardinals back in March.
Kentavius Street put on a resurgent performance of his own in 2023. After middling in the Eagles’ large rotation on defensive lineman, Street immediately made an impact for the Falcons at the trade deadline. After logging only four tackles in eight games for Philly, Street piled up 14 in five games in Atlanta. Street hopes to replicate that success in the NFC South going forward, having set career highs in tackles, sacks and run stuffs for the Saints in 2022.
The Rams seem to really enjoy that Pack Pro flavor on its interior defensive line, employing both Larrell Murchison and Cory Durden as role players. Murchison found his rhythm with the Rams last season, setting career highs in tackles and run stuffs. Durden spent much of his rookie season on the practice squad but worked his way up to appear in four games in 2023.
Last but certainly not least, T.Y. McGill boasts 10 seasons of NFL experience having spent his last two years with the 49ers. After going undrafted in 2015, McGill carved out a career with the Colts in his first two seasons before sticking around as a journeyman. The veteran big man only appeared in two games for San Francisco last year but made the most of those snaps with his second career forced fumble. McGill’s posted 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 11.5 run stuffs in his 57 career regular season games.
But that run of nose tackles to the NFL might not end anytime soon for the Wolfpack. With two extremely talented linemen in Davin Vann and Brandon Cleveland, State could be sending more to the league over the next couple years — or even months.
While Vann plays defensive end in the Pack’s 3-3-5, he likely projects as a strong pass-rushing defensive tackle in a 4-3 system at the NFL level. And if Cleveland plays as well this fall as he did during the final half of the 2023 season, he has Alim-McNeill-like trajectory written all over him.
