2024 NFL Draft Prospect Report: Eastern Michigan Eagles

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 08 Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan

Nine former Eagles worked out in front of scouts from the NFL and CFL hoping to continue their football careers.

On March 14, nine Eastern Michigan Eagles worked out for NFL and CFL scouts at their Pro Day. Last year, Eastern Michigan was the only MAC program to have multiple players drafted to the NFL with Sidy Sow, Jose Ramirez, and Chad Ryland all hearing their names called.

This year, the Eagles do not have any currently expected to be drafted but these nine assembled at EMU’s football facilities with hopes that that could change. Two of the participants at EMU’s Pro Days were unable to participate in workouts and did not qualify for RAS scores, but are listed on this sheet. One EMU player has both unknown numbers and health status but is listed. Aaron Jackson, a tight end who graduated in 2022, also worked out but is not listed due to his prior graduation and lack of information.

All numbers and card graphics are courtesy of Kent Lee Platte over at RAS.football, and are re-published with his express permission.

WR Tanner Knue

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 14 Kent State at Eastern Michigan

Elevator Pitch:

Knue was a reliable anchor receiver dating back to his ascent to the starting lineup in 2020, finishing his EMU career with 154 receptions for 1,886 yards and 17 touchdowns. His breakout campaign in 2022 (45 rec., 632 yards, nine TDs) cemented him as one of the MAC’s best receivers. Knue, a thgree-time academic all-MAC receiver, was also a two-time all-MAC selection, earning nods on the third-team in 2022 and second-team in 2023.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: five-foot-10
Weight: 179 lbs.
Arms: 29 and one-quarter inches
Hands: nine and one-eight inches

Skill Drills (as of Pro Day)

40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds
10-yard split: 1.51 seconds
20-yard split: 2.63 seconds
Shuttle: 4.16 seconds
Three-cone drill: 7.02 seconds
Vertical jump: 40 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, six inches
Bench: 15 reps at 225 lbs.

Relative Athletic Score:

RAS Comparisons:

Joshua Stangby (2015)
Tyler Scott (2023)
Cedrick Wilson (2001)

LB Chase Kline

Elevator Pitch:

Kline, a former Michigan State Spartan, swapped out shades of green to transfer to EMU in 2022, immediately making an impact in the center of the Eagles defense as a run stuffer. In two years of service, Kline collected 234 total tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, three sacks, six passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Kline was a third-team all-MAC backer after a career-best 143 tackles, with five TFLs and two sacks.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: six-foot-two
Weight: 225 lbs.
Arms: 31 inches
Hands: nine inches

Skill Drills (as of Pro Day)

40-yard dash: 4.85 seconds
10-yard split: 1.58 seconds
20-yard split: 2.7 seconds
Shuttle: 4.37 seconds
Three-cone drill: 7.1 seconds
Vertical jump: 32 and one-half inches
Broad jump: nine feet, nine inches
Bench: 17 reps at 225 lbs.

Relative Athletic Score:

RAS Comparisons:

Markus Steele (2001)
Bryan Smith (2008)
Tommy Eichenberg (2024)

WR Hamze El-Zayat

Elevator Pitch:

El-Zayat, a former Dearborn Fordson [MI] HS Tractor, transferred to EMU to be closer to home after a five-year career at FCS Fordham in New York. El-Zayat only played in one season for the Eagles after sitting out in 2022, but did manage to haul in 27 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver, as well as an additional touchdown via special teams.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: five-foot-eight
Weight: 179 lbs.
Arms: 29 and one-half inches
Hands: nine inches

Skill Drills (as of Pro Day)

40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds
10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
20-yard split: 2.68 seconds
Shuttle: 4.28 seconds
Three-cone drill: 6.89 seconds
Vertical jump: 38 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, one inch
Bench: 16 reps at 225

Relative Athletic Score:

RAS Comparisons:

DeMornay Pierson-El (2018)
Dontez Bird (2018)
John Ursua (2019)

RB Samson Evans

NCAA Football: Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin

Elevator Pitch:

A former Iowa transfer, Evans was the dynamo which helped engineer EMU’s ascent under Chris Creighton. A four-year star for the Eagles, Evans was EMU’s workhorse back and also the primary option in Wildcat packages. Evans first caught eyes with his 2021 campaign, picking up a bewildering 16 total touchdowns (13 rushing and three passing) on just 343 total yards. Evans was named to the second-team all-MAC roster in 2022 after a 1,116-yard, 15 score campaign. He would finish his career in Green and Grey with 515 total carries for 2,319 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: six-foot
Weight: 215 lbs.
Arms: 31 inches
Hands: nine and one-half inches

Skill Drills (as of Pro Day)

40-yard dash: 4.77 seconds
10-yard split: 1.58 seconds
20-yard split: 2.76 seconds
Shuttle: 4.44 seconds
Three-cone drill: 7.06 seconds
Vertical jump: 32 and one-half inches
Broad jump: nine feet, seven inches
Bench: 15 reps at 225 lbs.

Relative Athletic Score:

RAS Comparisons:

Sean Jackson (1994)
Alfred Jenkins (1087)
Jahray Hayes (2017)

DL Adrian Gonzalez

Elevator Pitch:

Gonzales, a native of Leon, Mexico, was a rotational depth piece at EMU along the defensive line. The former ITESM Monterey collegiate product— who also moonlighted as an offensive lineman and kicker at Liceo Cancun HS— had a career-best season in 2023, finishing with 15 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, a half-sack and a fumble recovery.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: six-foot-two
Weight: 283 lbs.
Arms: N/A (unknown)
Hands: N/A (unknown)

Skill Drills (as of Pro Day)

Bench: 21 reps at 225

Relative Athletic Score:

Did not qualify due to knee injury

OL Brian Dooley

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 17 Eastern Michigan at Arizona State

Elevator Pitch:

Dooley was a six-year contributor for the Eagles, dating back to his tight end stint as a freshman. Dooley was moved to right tackle in 2019 and never gave the position up, finishing his career with 57 straight starts. Dooley was highly respected amongst his peers and coaches, being named a team captain midway through his tenure. Dooley would finish his final three campaigns at an all-MAC level, with two placements on the second-team (2022, 2023) and one placement on the third team (2021.)

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: six-foot-five
Weight: 318 lbs.
Arms: 34 and three-quarter inches
Hands: nine and seven-eight inches

Skill Drills (as of Pro Day)

40-yard dash: 5.63 seconds
10-yard split: 1.86 seconds
20-yard split: 3.14 seconds
Shuttle: 4.85 seconds
Three-cone drill: 8.12 seconds
Vertical jump: 28 and one-half inches
Broad jump: eight feet, seven inches
Bench: 19 reps at 225

Relative Athletic Score:

RAS Comparisons:

Josh Buttrill (2010)
Jason Erdmann (2020)
Brennan Williams (2013)

LS Steve Bird

Elevator Pitch:

Bird served as the Eagles’ long snapper form the 2020 season onwards, collecting 45 career starts at the position. Throughout his tenure, EMU was one of the best special teams units in the league, graduating several pro punters and kickers while also making 112 consecutive PATs and 45-of-54 field goals.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: five-foot-nine
Weight: 237 lbs.
Arms: 29 inches
Hands: nine inches

Skill Drills (as of Pro Day)

40-yard dash: 5.39 seconds
10-yard split: 1.76 seconds
20-yard split: 3.01 seconds
Shuttle: 4.95 seconds
Three-cone drill: 7.81 seconds
Vertical jump: 25 inches
Broad jump: eight feet
Bench: 19 reps at 225

Relative Athletic Score:

RAS Comparisons:

Brian Keating (2022)
Turner Bernard (2021)

DB Londyn Craft

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 21 Eastern Michigan at Buffalo

Elevator Pitch:

Craft joined the Eagles in 2023 as a graduate transfer, finishing the campaign with 27 tackles and two tackles-for-loss. At Mississippi State in 2021, he played in 10 games— starting eight contests— and accumulated 56 tackles for 1.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery. Craft transferred to Kentucky after sitting out the 2021 season due to injury, but did not play after another injury setback.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: six-foot-three
Weight: 267 lbs.
Arms: 34 and one-half inches
Hands: nine and one-eight inches

Relative Athletic Score:

Did not qualify due to hamstring injury

LB Joe Sparacio

68 Ventures Bowl - South Alabama v Eastern Michigan

Elevator Pitch:

Sparacio was the defensive captain for the Eagles, quickly earning a role as a team leader after transferring in from Boston College in 2022. Sparacio had a career year in 2023, finishing the season with 136 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles en route to a second-team all-MAC selection. Over his six-year career between both schools, he picked up 287 tackles, 22 TFLs and six sacks.

Draft Projections:

UDFA

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

Height: five-foot-10
Weight: 220 lbs.
Arms: N/A
Hands: N/A

Relative Athletic Score:

Did not qualify due to lack of information