Jan 31 2008
Farewell to class of 2007: Hodgkiss-Sullivan
On to the second half of the graduated/ing seniors. Sorry about not being more clear in the first article. This group overall has a better shot at the NFL.
Corby Hodgkiss (DB): Was anyone else worried when the top two safeties went down in fall camp? Hodgkiss turned into one of my favorite players to watch and produced one of the best hits of the season by destroying a Utah receiver in the flat. One of the more seasoned players leaving the team, Hodgkiss played in 37 games during his BYU career. His senior season was his best, with 57 tackles (5 for loss) and 3 interceptions (including one for touchdown.)
Future: Unknown.
NFL Potential: 3 - I should make mention here that this isn’t meant to be a measure of his potential IN the NFL, but rather of getting TO the NFL. Hodgkiss is a smart player and was in the right place at the right time, but I don’t think he has the speed or experience at this point to make even a FA contract.
Bryan Kehl (LB): What can you say about Bryan Kehl? He has played in every game since 2005, All MWC selection, 191 career tackles (25 for loss, 7 sacks), and 3 interceptions his senior year (including a touchdown.) Kehl is fast, strong and smart. You often hear the term “shut down” corner who the opposing team is scared to throw the ball his direction. Kehl was a shut down linebacker and entire offensive schemes were built around keeping him out of the game (see the Tulsa game.)
Future: Unknown.
NFL Potential: 10 - The only player for BYU would call a lock to get a shot at the NFL. He is the only player invited to the combine and only one that participated in a Senior bowl (East West Shrine game a couple weeks back.) The scouts at the Shrine game said he was good in coverage but worried about his size to stop the run. They added a day or two later that his arm length lets him wrap up well and might be a good fit at safety. Kehl reportedly wants to run a 4.5 40 yard dash which would really help him out in the draft. I would put him in 5-7th rounds.
Kelly Poppinga (LB): Poppinga stepped up and really had a fantastic season replacing the General (Cameron Jensen.) He lead the team with 113 tackles (followed by Kehl) and displayed great burst and some really fantastic games (back-to-back double-digit tackle games against CSU and TCU.) He was a vocal leader on and off the field.
Future: Unknown.
NFL Potential: 6 - Playing on one of the top ranked defenses in the country should get him some looks. With an older brother playing for the Packers, he should get a decent shot at being drafted (6th-7th round or FA at worst.)
Andre Saulsberry (DB): Did a great job stepping up when starter Ben Criddle couldn’t. He started several games this year and ended with 12 tackles and 2 passes defended. Like Bolden, this is a player I think could have shined more if they could come back next year in a starting role.
Future:Unknown.
NFL Potential: 2 - I don’t see Saulsberry getting a FA contract. He would really have to blow scouts away at Pro Day for this to happen.
Joe Semanoff (RB): The good news is we will never have to hear the Mtn. call him “Touchdown Joe” ever again (2 touchdowns on the season.) The bad news is that Semanoff was a dominating blocker and will be sorely missed. Many of Unga’s big plays were due to Semanoff’s great blocks. He has great hands out of the backfield and freakishly strong.
Future: Personal trainer with his brother and sister-in-law. Check out their website.
NFL Potential: 4 - But I want to say its higher. If you are a football geek, go watch some games and focus on #27. He demolishes linebackers and really is a fantastic asset in short yardage situations. That being said, there aren’t a ton of opportunities for a true fullback in the draft. Most teams take big RB’s and convert them. Potentially a FA though.
Markell Staffieri (LB): Staffieri was this year’s Aaron Wagner, he quietly had a good, not great, year. He finished the year with 54 tackles. He struggled in 2006 with a hamstring injury and it continued to bother him in 2007 (along with an ankle problem later in the season.) He is married to John Beck’s sister, random trivia for you.
Future: Coaching football (says he wants to be coaching at BYU in 20 years.)
NFL Potential: 2 - I don’t see it happening for Staffieri. He was a great player when healthy, but couldn’t pull the whole thing together to get a shot at the big time.
Sean Sullivan (DL): Played in 14 games in the last 3 seasons. This year was his best, with 7 tackles. He was about 5th string on the DE rotation and participated on special teams.
Future: Unknown.
NFL Potential: 0 - No go.
Note: I left David Tafuna (DB) off the list because he is red-shirting this season due to injury and is expected to return next season.
8 Responses to “Farewell to class of 2007: Hodgkiss-Sullivan”
Peter- Great Job! Just a few questions & comments: if you rated Kehl a “10″ then what would you have rated Beck at about this time last year…an 11 or 12 because he went in the early 2nd round; Kehl would have had better stats and been more effective had they used him like the LB from UNLV (let him line up where ever he thought it was best); much of the time he was guarding a flanker or a 4th receiver; on the Hail Mary last pass in the Utah game he got all the way down the field to the endzone and either batted it away or was close to it; Joe Semanoff (5′11″ 220lbs): he reminds a little of Tom Rathman (6′1″ 230lbs) who played for the Niners from 86-93 and blocked for Roger Craig & Ricky Waters (he was as valuable for these runners as Semanoff was for Unga).
Walt- According to my note in this article, the number is their shot at the NFL, not their skill level. Beck was a 10 as well in that he was a lock to get drafted. I agree Kehl would have had spectacular numbers if they let him play a true-LB instead of making him a extra defensive back on passing plays.
I think kehl Has a shot at the 2-3 round if some one can fit him where they have a need… he’s like Franscisco only bigger just as fast and tougher… he is truly a diamond in the rough.
I thought I read in the Trib or DesNews that Semanoff was going to jump-school?
JHW5: Correct. Here is a quote from the SLTrib article:
“After BYU’s bowl game, Semanoff will begin preparing for jump school. He will spend nine days with the World War II Airborne Demonstration team in Frederick, and make five jumps from a C47 aircraft. ”
And further in the article:
” Semanoff hopes to join his brother, Mike, and sister-in-law, Holly, in fitness lifestyle coaching after he graduates.”
You can read the full article here: https://www.sltrib.com/byucougars/ci_7598028
Not a great class of seniors. The coaching staff needs to improve recruiting and bring in some NFL caliber players.
Probably a pretty accurate statement up front. Most of BYU’s stars were sophomores, so look for the class of 2010 to be loaded with NFL talent.
With all due respect to the recently departed seniors, one of the reasons optimism abounds for BYU fans right now is the point that Peter brought up - since most of BYU’s starters were really young guys this past year, the negative impact of the lost experience is MUCH less than what you would expect to see.
Normally, if you said a team was losing nine starters and four other major contributors, I’d say, “Go easy on them next year.” But look at the guys filling the holes - in all but two or three slots, BYU has a player coming in with a higher ceiling than the guy leaving:
(plus) Tom Sorenson for Sete Aulai
(plus) Spencer Hafoka, Oneill Chambers, Luke Ashworth for Matt Allen
(minus) Colby Clawson, Terrence Hooks, et al for Bryan Kehl (NOTE: this would go to a “plus” if Uona Kaveinga signs)
(plus) Matt Bauman, Shawn Doman, Jadon Wagner, et al for Kelly Poppinga and Markell Staffieri
(big plus) Brandon Bradley, G Pittman, Brandon Howard, Brannon Brooks, Scott Johnson for Kayle Buchanan and Ben Criddle
(plus) Jordan Pendleton, Aaron Attig for Quinn Gooch (not sure what to do with Kellen Fowler - technically was a backup to Gooch, but got significant time at the end of the season, so he could be considered the starter here.)
(even) David Tafuna for Corby Hodgkiss
Looks pretty promising…