BoxingRobes
Junior
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2013
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I Thought Id post what he had to say about the canes players...
Will Mallory:
BACKGROUND: William “Will” Mallory, who has a sister, grew up in a football family and often moved around as his father (Mike) changed coaching positions. The family moved to Jacksonville in 2013, when Mike was hired as the Jaguars’ special teams coordinator and Will enrolled at Providence School, a private Christian school. After seeing varsity action as a freshman and sophomore, Mallory had a breakout junior season as an outside wide receiver with 46 receptions for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning All-Conference honors. He battled multiple injuries as a senior and finished with 21 catches for 364 yards and three scores. Mallory also lettered in basketball and track, finishing fourth in the 100 meters (10.99 seconds) and 110-meter hurdles (14.91) at the 2018 state championships. His set personal bests in the 100 meters (10.85), 200 meters (22.95) and high jump (6 feet 0 inches). A four-star recruit, Mallory was the No. 8 tight end in the 2018 recruiting class (three spots behind Kyle Pitts, one ahead of Pat Freiermuth) and the No. 37 recruit in Florida. As a Michigan legacy, the Wolverines were his first offer when he was only a freshman. Mallory also picked up offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC. He grew up a Michigan fan and most assumed he was headed for Ann Arbor, but Mallory wanted to pave his own way and committed to Miami (Fla) and head coach Mark Richt in April of his junior year. (Mallory grew up around former Hurricanes tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Jimmy Graham while his father coached with the Saints). While he was highly recruited, Mallory was the second-ranked tight end in Miami’s 2018 class behind Brevin Jordan, who was the No.1 tight end nationally. Will’s paternal grandfather (Bill), who died in 2018, was a long-time college football head coach with Miami Ohio (1969-73), Colorado (1974-78), Northern Illinois (1980-83) and Indiana (1984-96) before retiring from coaching in 1996. Bill had three sons, all of whom played at Michigan. Will’s father (Mike) played linebacker for the Wolverines (1982-85) and was team MVP in 1984 before he got into coaching. He had nine stops as an assistant in college (Indiana, Kent State, Eastern Illinois, Rhode Island, Northern Illinois, Maryland, Illinois, Kansas, Louisville), then jumped to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints (2008-12), Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-20) and the Denver Broncos (2022). Will’s mother (Kim) also attended Michigan. Will has two uncles (Mike’s brothers) in coaching: Doug, who was with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-20) and is currently a defensive analyst with Michigan; Curt, who was the defensive backs coach at Michigan (2011-14) and has been head coach at Indiana State since 2017. Mallory took advantage of the extra year of eligibility and returned to Miami for a fifth season in 2022. He accepted his invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS: Sleek, athletic frame with above average speed (his 4.54 40-yard dash was No. 1 among tight ends at the combine) … has the acceleration to run by the second level and threaten safeties vertically or on crossers … uses a quick inside/outside stem to square off patterns … fights off physical coverage and works to space as a zone buster … improved focus at the catch point, and his drop rate declined his senior season … his catch radius has always been a strength to his game … with a father who coaches special teams at a high level in college and professional football, he grew up in NFL meeting rooms and knows what is expected of him at the next level … voted a senior captain and set career bests in 2022.
WEAKNESSES: Average overall bulk and body mass … doesn’t have the power in his lower body to consistently drive edge talent or second-level targets … often outleveraged at the point of attack, leading to sustain issues (multiple holding penalties on 2022 game tapes studied) … average base strength and will throw his hands wide in pass protection … doesn’t create enough separation mid-route for a player with his athletic talent … fazed by crowded catch points and often loses 50-50 battles (see: 2022 Texas A&M tape).
SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Miami, Mallory was a hybrid tight end in former offensive coordinator Josh Gattis’ pro-style spread. With gradual improvements in his production each season, Mallory led the Hurricanes in receiving in 2022 and finished No. 2 in receiving among tight ends in school history, which is even more impressive considering Miami’s NFL pipeline at the position. With a family tree that includes several accomplished players and coaches at the high school, college and NFL levels, Mallory has the athletic pedigree and focus to play at the next level. However, he can be mugged at the line and downfield, and his blocking tape is very mediocre. Overall, Mallory isn’t the type of tight end you are going to line up inline and play smash-mouth football, but he is an athletic pass catcher on the move with long-striding speed and accessible ball skills. He has the talent to compete for F tight end duties for an NFL team.
GRADE: 5th-6th Round
If he goes undrafted or maybe as a mid-late Day 3 player...a possible spot for him is Jacksonville. Would be a good spot for his skillset, considering they use Evan Engram in the slot without a worry for blocking...they had him in for the local pro day (from the JAX area) and have some interest.
JAX also had in Tyrique Stevenson...as they look for a nickel/safety/hybrid type. Supposedly a Day 2 candidate for them, depending how the draft shakes out.