Q&A with NFL Draft Analyst Dane Brugler

It's that time of year when waves of mock drafts come rolling in from NFL Draft analysts all over the Internet.  If you're a TCU fan, CBS Sports' Dane Brugler has a mock draft you will like.

As of March 28, Brugler has former TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson in the first round, going to the Cincinnati Bengals (because Andy Dalton throwing to Doctson would be the most mind-blowing thing ever, right?). Outside of the first round, through, Brugler has three other Frogs matching up with NFL teams.

Brugler took some time to not only chat with Frogs O' War about TCU's draft prospects, but also create a mini "mock draft" of TCU players only.

First off, when I think of TCU, I don't picture it to be a school that's constantly farming out players to the NFL. Arguably the biggest name in the pros right now is Andy Dalton, but other than that, there aren't too many names that jump out. Do you feel the same way, or would you disagree?

When compared to Ohio State or Alabama or other national powers, TCU will struggle to match up in terms of producing NFL talent. But since Gary Patterson took over the program, TCU has a handful or more of worthy NFL prospects worth checking out every year. NFL teams know the quality of player that Patterson and his crew groom so Fort Worth is a must-stop for NFL scouts throughout the fall.

How does TCU's system compare with the NFL? Would TCU players have a lot of adjusting to do as far as scheme and style of play?

Like several teams in today's college football, TCU's offense is high-tempo spread with simplistic reads, which does create a learning curve for players making the jump to the NFL. But this is an issue across the country as NFL teams have to make projections from spread schemes to more pro-style looks at the next level.

How would you describe the strength of TCU's draft class this year?

Average. Josh Doctson has a legitimate chance to land in round one, but he is the only prospect who is locked into the top-100 draft picks. Fellow wide receiver Kolby Listenbee has a chance to be drafted third round and then there are several TCU players with a chance of landing in the mid-to-late rounds like running back Aaron Green, safety Derrick Kindred, offensive tackle Halapoulivaati and quarterback Trevone Boykin.

A lot of analysts have Josh Doctson as TCU's best player coming into the draft. Some even say he's first-round quality. What do you like the most about him?

His body control downfield is tremendous. Doctson does a fantastic job finding the football in flight and making the necessary adjustments to attack the ball before the defender can make a play. He bailed out his quarterback on a number of throws and has the knack for making inaccurate passes look on point. He needs to improve his route tree, but the baseline traits are there.

How does Doctson compare with his competition, though? Why take (dare we say it) Baylor's Corey Coleman over a guy like Doctson?

This is a strong wide receiver draft class between picks 15 and 50 with over a handful or wideouts expected to be drafted in that span and each offer something different. Coleman has more burst and explosive potential, but Doctson gets the edge with his savvy and size. For NFL offenses, it will come down to fit and preference. A team might like Doctson better as a player, but Coleman could be the better fit for the offense and vice versa. Both Coleman and Doctson and several other receivers have a strong case to be drafted top-50 this year.

How do you feel about Trevone Boykin's chances in the NFL? Was the San Antonio incident the biggest hamper on Boykin's draft stock, or are there other factors that may make his entry to the NFL difficult?

What happened in San Antonio was unfortunate, but the main issues with his NFL projection are still on the field, mainly his inconsistent mechanics and streaky accuracy downfield. Boykin has the athleticism and arm strength that translates, but his skill-set needs an overhaul for him to see snaps in the NFL at quarterback.

What are your thoughts on Kolby Listenbee? Is speed everything?

Highly intriguing. He is still raw in areas, but showed polish the last two seasons as the starting split-end and dangerous deep threat, averaging 19.4 yards per catch. His track background shows on film with his long-speed, body control and multiple gears to create separation in coverage, also displaying the ballskills to develop into a consistent pro. He requires refinement in areas, but Listenbee has come a long way and has NFL starting potential with more seasoning.

TCU had six players invited to the Combine: Josh Doctson, Kolby Listenbee, Trevone Boykin, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Derrick Kindred and Jaden Oberkrom. Would you say these are the top players to come out of TCU, or are there any sleepers we should keep an eye on?

Those are definitely the top players. In terms of sleepers who weren't invited, running back Aaron Green is the main guy. He doesn't offer a power element to his run style, but he has elusive movements, it's like trying to tackle smoke when he gets in space. He has a chance to be drafted late. And center Joey Hunt as well.

Finally, if you could do a "mock draft" of just TCU players, what teams would you place them in, and what round?

These are pure guesses, but I'll take a stab at it: