2006 Post Draft Signings - Vincent Meeks - SS - extensive profile

[That Guy]

Vincent Meeks, SS, Texas Tech
Washington Redskin


Name: Vincent Meeks
College: Texas Tech Number: 1
Height: 5-11 Weight: 210
Position: SS Pos2: FS
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2006
40 Time: 4.85
Projected Round: 7-FA Stock:
Rated number 16 out of 80 SS's 362 / 1738 TOTAL

Combine Results

Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 5105
Weight: 210
40 Yrd Dash: 4.85
20 Yrd Dash: 2.82
10 Yrd Dash: 1.69
Wonderlic:
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 11
Vertical Jump: 33
Broad Jump: 9'4'
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:

Pro Day Results
Dates: 03/09/06
Height: 5105
Weight: 210
40 Yrd Dash:
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash:
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump:
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:


Overview

The three-year starter has been one of the Red Raiders' more versatile performers during his career. He was utilized as a halfback during his freshman year, moving to free safety the following season. He stayed at that position for two years before again shifting, taking over strong safety duties as a senior. His final season was marred by off-field problems, as he missed two games due to a parole violation that earned him a 30-day jail sentence.

Meeks attended Rockwall High School, where he was rated the 55th-best prospect in the area by the Dallas Morning News and the 58th-best athlete in the country by Rivals100.com. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Top 100 pick was a member of Insiders.com's Texas Super Team All-State and earned first-team all-district and all-area honors. He rushed for 1,603 yards and 19 touchdowns on 266 carries as a senior and gained 1,756 yards and 21 scores on 282 carries as a junior.

Meeks began his Texas Tech career as a tailback, playing the first four games of the 2002 season there before moving to free safety, where he started the team's final four games. He also performed on special teams, gaining 321 yards with a touchdown on 14 kickoff returns (22.9 avg). He rushed 18 times for 102 yards (5.7 avg) and a pair of scores, adding 37 yards and a touchdown on three interception returns. He collected 27 tackles (17 solos) with two pass deflections.

Meeks took over free safety duties in 2003, producing 54 tackles (35 solos) with a sack and 2.5 stops for losses. He caused a fumble, intercepted four passes and averaged 14.0 yards on eight kickoff returns. He earned All-Big 12 Conference honors as a junior, coming up with 61 tackles (29 solos), 10 pass breakups and two interceptions from the free safety position.

Meeks missed the first two games of the 2005 season after being arrested for a parole violation. When he returned, he shifted to strong safety, coming up with 48 tackles (32 solos), three pass deflections and three interceptions.

In 45 games at Texas Tech, Meeks started 37 times. He recorded 190 tackles (116 solos) with a 10-yard sack, 2.5 stops for losses of 18 yards and a forced fumble. He deflected 16 passes and tied for sixth on the school's career list with 12 interceptions, good for 188 yards in returns with a touchdown. He scored twice on 18 carries for 102 yards (5.7 avg), caught five passes for 6 yards (1.2 avg) and returned 22 kickoffs for 433 yards (19.7 avg) and a score.



Analysis

Positives: Has a compact frame with lean muscle tone, good bubble, thick thighs and adequate playing strength...Generates pop on contact and has a smooth, short backpedal, showing good balance turning out of his breaks...Has quick feet to plant, drive and redirect...Does a good job of avoiding blockers on the move...Maintains relationship with receivers in the deep zone when keeping plays in front of him...Does a nice job of locating the target and tracking the ball playing in zone coverage...Shows good timing closing on plays and has the natural hands to compete for passes...Reaches and extends for the ball away from his frame...Much like Sammy Knight, he compensates for a lack of timed speed by making proper reads to get into position to make plays...Reliable wrap-up tackler who generates good force behind his hits.

Negatives: Big liability in man coverage due to his poor timed speed...Lacks the ideal height and leaping ability to combat for the jump balls...Needs to be in a scheme that will hide his shortcomings, as he lacks the acceleration to stay tight with receivers and is often separated from after the catch...Does a poor job of timing his leaps...Has good power, but can be ridden wide when trying to plug inside holes, as he tends to duck his head before making contact...Has had two off-field issues that need further review and was charged with a parole violation.



Career Notes

Tied with Boyd Cowan (1985-88) for sixth on the school's career list with 12 interceptions...Has scored touchdowns on interception returns, kickoff returns and rushing during his career.



2005 Season

All-Big 12 Conference second-team choice...Started the team's final 10 games at strong safety...Sat out the Florida International and Sam Houston State games after being charged with a parole violation (see Off-Field Issues below)...Finished with 48 tackles (32 solos), three pass deflections and three interceptions for 16 yards in returns.

2005 Game Analysis

2004 Season

All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice...Named Defensive MVP of the 2004 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl...Started all year at free safety, ranking fourth on the team with 61 tackles (29 solos)...Intercepted two passes for 48 yards in returns and led the squad with 10 pass deflections.

2004 Game Analysis

2003 Season

All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention...Started every game at free safety, ranking fourth on the team with 54 tackles (35 solos), including a 10-yard sack and 2.5 stops for losses of 18 yards...Caused a fumble and deflected a pass...Was one of three Red Raiders with multiple interceptions (R. Aycock with six, C. Johnson with two), gaining 87 yards on four interception returns...Added 112 yards on eight kickoff returns (14.0 avg).

2003 Game Analysis

2002 Season

Started the season as a running back and played four games at that position before being moved to defense...Gained 102 yards with two touchdowns on 18 carries (5.7 avg) and caught five passes for 6 yards...Recorded 27 tackles (17 solos) with two pass breakups and three interceptions for 37 yards in returns and a score as he started the final four games at free safety...Added 321 yards and a score on 14 kickoff returns (22.9 avg).

2002 Game Analysis

Off-field Issues

In 2003, Meeks was arrested for cashing a bad check written by his father for school. He cooperated with authorities and his father was also charged for check scamming. Meeks was given probation in the case, but in August 2005, a judge ordered Meeks to miss two games and serve 30 days in jail for violating terms of his probation on the forgery charge.
Meeks started serving the 30-day sentence on Thursday, September 8, but was released Monday. The judge in Rockwall, where the forgery incident occurred about two years ago, told Meeks he could serve the sentence a few days at a time in order to continue attending classes at Tech, Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow said.

In 2003, Meeks was accused of trying to cash an illegal $475 computer-generated check that was made out to him, Sumrow has said. He pleaded guilty, but was not convicted because the court gave him deferred adjudication and placed him on probation, Sumrow has said. If he had completed his probation without any incidents, the charge would have been removed from his record.

At a hearing on September 8, 2005, the judge also extended Meeks' original three years of probation by another three years. Meeks returned to jail on Friday, September 16 in Rockwall and was released the following Sunday. He has six months to complete the 30-day term, Sumrow said.

Meeks turned himself in after learning an arrest warrant had been issued for him for violating terms of his probation, including failing to report to his probation officer. The new terms of Meeks' probation included paying $1,050 in fees and fines by October 7 and completing 150 hours of community service by October, 2006. He was also required to complete a drug and alcohol assessment program by December and complete a life-skills program within 180 days. If Meeks fails to fulfill the requirements, he could be sentenced to up to two years in jail and will have a felony conviction on his record.

Tech coach Mike Leach allowed Meeks to remain on the team. "He's handling personal issues," Leach said. "When he handles those, we'll deal with it from there."



Injury Report

2006: Could not complete the agility tests at the combine, complaining of a right ankle sprain.



Agility Tests

Campus: 4.85 in the 40-yard dash...335-pound bench press...Bench pressed 225 pounds 13 times...460-pound squat...290-pound power clean...35.5-inch vertical jump...4.62 20-yard shuttle...7.23 three-cone drill.

Combine: 4.92 in the 40-yard dash...2.87 20-yard dash...1.72 10-yard dash...Bench pressed 225 pounds 11 times...33-inch vertical jump...9'4" broad jump...30 ¾-inch arm length...8 7/8-inch hands.



High School

Attended Rockwall (Texas) High School, playing football for head coach Mark Elam...Rated the 55th-best prospect in the area by the Dallas Morning News and the 58th-best athlete in the country by Rivals100.com...The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Top 100 pick was a member of Insiders.com's Texas Super Team All-State and earned first-team all-district and all-area honors...Rushed for 1,603 yards and 19 touchdowns on 266 carries as a senior and gained 1,756 yards and 21 scores on 282 carries as a junior.



Personal

Communication Studies major...Cousin, Clifford Jefferson, played football at Notre Dame...Son of Sandra Meeks and Vincent Jefferson...Born 1/20/84 in Dallas, Texas.

Draft Scout Player News

09/26/05 - SS Vincent Meeks returned to the starting lineup, playing his first game of the season in the 63-7 rout of Indiana State.

09/13/05 - S Vincent Meeks missed the Texas Tech opening win for undisclosed reasons. All Tech coach Mike Leach would say about the matter was that "personal issues" kept both WR Jarrett Hicks and Meeks off the field.

08/31/05 - SS Vincent Meeks -- Meeks was arrested Aug. 23 and charged with forgery of a financial instrument in Rockwall County. He was released on $10,000 bond. Meeks missed several practices, though he did not face disciplinary action from Texas Tech and is expected to be available for the season opener.

08/25/05 - OFF-FIELD ISSUES
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech starting safety Vincent Meeks faces two years in jail and a $10,000 fine for violating the terms of his parole.
Meeks is accused of violating terms of his three-year probation on a charge of forgery of a financial instrument, Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow said Wednesday. Meeks failed to report to a probation officer for several months, didn't pay court costs and failed to complete community service and other programs, Sumrow said.


Meeks was accused of trying to cash a $475 illegal computer-generated check in 2003 that was made out to him, Sumrow said. He pleaded guilty but was not convicted because the court gave him deferred adjudication, Sumrow said. If he had completed his probation without any incidents, the charge would have been removed from his record.

[That Guy]

sounds like he' be a better running back...

good field vision and recognition, but his terrible speed is going to make it a major hurdle for him to make any team's roster. It's seriously CFL/AFL type speed