NFL Draft 2014 Preview (62 page)

Strengths:
Very good leg strength to drive the ball. Experienced four-year starter. Handles kickoffs and served as the holder on PATs. Dedicated to his craft and the game is important to him.

Weaknesses:
Inconsistent hang time. Can improve placement and accuracy. Average athlete. Overly analytical and outthinks the game. Could stand to hone his mental toughness and learn to handle pressure.

Summary:
Outstanding-sized, right-footed, two-step punter transferred from Cincinnati upon graduation to be closer to home and hone his own technique. Has the leg strength to compete for a job, but must continue to hone his control and improve his directional punting.

Draft projection:
Priority free agent.

PK CAIRO SANTOS, #19

TULANE
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Grade: 5.10

Ht: 5-8 | Wt: 164 | Sp: 5.25e | Arm: 28 1/2 | Hand: 8 7/8

History:
Name is pronounced “KY-ro.” Born in Brazil. Came to the United States as a foreign exchange student in Florida. Was a three-year letterman who played wide receiver in addition to kicking. Led the team in scoring as a true freshman in 2010 after connecting on 13-of-16 field goals with a long of 39 and 32-of-33 extra point attempts. Also had 57 kickoffs for a 59.1-yard average and one touchback. In ’11, logged 11-of-18 FGs for a career 59 yards and 33-of-34 PATs while also kicking off 16-62.6-0. Punted 15 times for a 41.0-yard average with a long of 54 and eight kicks inside the 20-yard line. Won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best kicker in ’12 after a near-perfect 21-of-21 on FG attempts and 26-of-27 PATs. Handled kickoffs 55-64.1-31. Was a first-team All-Conference USA selection in ’13 after making 16-of-23 FGs with a long of 56 and all 38 PATs while kicking off (62-64.4-47). Tragedy struck in September as his father was killed while performing an airplane stunt in Brazil.

Strengths:
Takes a consistent approach and is consistently accurate from inside 50 with range to 60 yards. Good leg speed. Has shown he can handle pressure and come through in the clutch — converted game-winning kicks vs. North Texas and East Carolina in back-to-back weeks. Good work ethic. Four-year starter. Can serve as an emergency punter.

Weaknesses:
Tiny-framed. Average rise and lift. Marginal follow-through. Lacks power to drive the ball on kickoffs. Could stand to speed up his approach. Placement and hang-time on kickoffs has room for improvement. Benefited from kicking indoors.

Summary:
Brazilian-born, right-footed, 3-by-2, soccer-style kicker captured the Lou Groza award after converting all 21 field goals as a junior and has gradually improved his leg strength.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Player Rankings

Players are ranked according to their grades, not necessarily in the order they will be drafted. Factors such as a drafting team’s needs and the abundance or scarcity of available talent at a given position can cause a player to be drafted higher or lower than his grade would indicate. All grades take into account workouts up to and including the Indianapolis Scouting Combine. Post-Combine workouts were not factored.