Lance Kendricks 6'3" 243
TE, Wisconsin
Biography/Honors:
2010: First team All-American. First team All-Big Ten or 11 or 12. Team captain. Full-time starter with 11 official starts in 13 games. 43 receptions for 665 yards (15.4 ypc) and 3 TD. Led team in receiving.
2009: Started 9 of 13 games. 29 receptions for 356 yards (12.3 ypc) and 3 TDs. Also had 7 rushes for 102 yards (14.6 ypc).
2008: Six receptions for 141 yards (23.5 ypc) and no TDs in seven games. Was behind two tight ends currently in the NFL on the depth chart.
Academics: Majored in economics. Has already graduated and is working on a second degree.
Rankings:
Pro Football Weekly: #29 player overall, #2 tight end. Grade: 5.95, has a good chance to become a quality NFL player and contribute readily. Top-50 pick.
NFLDraftScout.com: #82 player overall, #2 tight end. Third-round grade.
Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News): #53 player overall, #2 tight end.
DraftCountdown.com: #59 player overall, #2 tight end. Second- to third-round grade.
Injuries:
2010: Missed part of one game due to an internal injury after landing hard on the football after a touchdown catch.
2008: Missed about half the season due to a broken fibula.
NFL Combine Stats:
4.75 40-yard dash
34.5 vertical
10'2" broad jump (2nd-best by a TE at the Combine)
6.94 3-cone drill
4.15 20-yard shuttle (2nd-best by a TE)
25 bench press reps at 225 lbs (tied for 3rd-best TE)
Wonderlic score (unconfirmed): 21
Positives
Sure-handed catcher. Attacks the ball and highpoints it in the air. Great spring in his legs and great body control. Outstanding athleticism and movement. Versatile; can line up anywhere,on the line, flexed, split wide, in the wing, fullback, and more. Can stretch the seam and escape LBs covering man-to-man. Linebackers can't stay with him. Has good field awareness and can run routes all over the field. Gets off the line in a hurry. Legitimate deep threat down the seam. Has good moves to free himself at the line of scrimmage. Has the hands of a wide receiver. Originally played WR at Wisconsin. Has enough speed and elusiveness to be used on reverses. Impressive weight-room strength translates to the field. Willing blocker who can create movement in the run game and connect on the second level. Finishes his blocks and decleats defenders when he has an angle. Very productive. Has a frame to grow into and upside to become a mismatch piece.
Negatives
Arrested in 2008 after driving a MOPED with a blood-alcohol level of .19. Underage drinking charge against him was dropped. Less than a month after that, was cited AGAIN for underage drinking while riding in the car of a suspected drunk driver. Lacks ideal bulk to handle defensive ends in the pros. Could stand to get stronger, especially in the lower body. Can be muscled at the point of attack. Smaller defenders knock his hands away and get around him. Crosses his feet blocking at times and will struggle to recover from that in the pros. Can sharpen his route-running. Not a creative runner after the catch.
Compares to: I'm going with Dustin Keller, or a slightly-smaller Jermaine Gresham. Kendricks is right there in terms of size, speed, running ability and ball skills.
Fun Facts:
Lance is an award-winning artist who won a regional award in Milwaukee for one of his drawings. This is the best link I have to any of his work.
RamView:
This pick has Josh McDaniels all over it and is not a bad pick at all at the tight end position. It looks like Kendricks will be a piece McDaniels can move all over the place in the passing game and get big-time mismatches. They must have REALLY wanted to make sure to get a tight end, because they deferred bigger needs (WR, RB, DT) with enticing players to get him. In McDaniels I trust, but I NEVER would have drafted a tight end this high. Thumbs to the side.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly, NFLDraftScout.com, DraftCountdown.com (Scott Wright), NFL.com, Rotowire.com
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