by LARRY VAUGHT
“If someone likes you on the next level, you can make a team because it’s all about the fit because everyone is good. The couple of guys that are obvious for me on defense are (nose tackle David) Gusta and (tackle Marquise) Humphrey-Grace. Gusta has a really good chance,” Hiles said.
“Offensively, (running back) Seth (McGowan) has shown enough where he can be a backup running back, but there’s so many running backs in this country that I don’t know where he fits in. It’s gonna come down to scheme fit and if a coach really appreciates his talent level.”
Hiles also thinks redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley could easily be a future NFL player along with one or more young receivers depending on how they develop the next two to three years.
“I also think Jager Burton has a chance to become a center at the next level. I’m not sure, but he has a chance,” Hiles said.
Receiver Kendrick Law, an Alabama transfer, has shown flashes of big-time ability but Hiles is not sold on him at the next level. Hiles said Law is like former UK standout Lynn Bowden who was not a great route runner and he ended his NFL career in a short time while another former UK receiver, Wan’Dale Robinson, is still playing for the New York Giants because he’s a terrific route runner.
“The concern with Law is can he consistently run routes and be pressed man? Is his IQ high enough where he can adapt the route on the run and find green grass? Can he find a window? Those are the concerns for me on the next level,” Hiles said. “It’s not ability. It is the fine details of being a receiver that he doesn’t have at this point. That’s the same problem he had coming out of high school in Louisiana.
“He’s an unbelievable athlete with the ball in his hand. But you have to get the ball in your hand on the next level, and the way you get the ball in your hands is being able to run routes. I’m not sure he’s at that level at this point.”
