Nebraska Football: How Tommy Armstrong’s NFL Shot Looks

The 2017 NFL Draft will be here before you know it. Nebraska football fans are eager to see which Huskers will be selected by NFL franchises. There’s one, in particular, that is a curious case.

Snapshot: 2017 NFL Combine Preview – TE Cethan Carter

Only two Huskers received invitations to the NFL Combine in Nate Gerry and Cethan Carter. What does that mean for the rest of the Big Red footballers trying to take their game to the next level? A better question is what does that mean for the player switching positions in Tommy Armstrong, Jr.?

The Positives

1. Athletic Ability

The biggest advantage Armstrong has is that he is a superb athlete. He is a smooth runner with the ball in his hands and can make some guys miss. While he is not afraid to run tough, he does have the ability to hurdle if need be.

Armstrong also has a nice burst to get past defenders and decent top end speed to keep separation. With his athletic ability, He should test fairly well in drills and showcase his talents at Nebraska’s pro day.

2. Versatility

We all know that Armstrong has shown versatility at the quarterback position. Multiple times he eluded blitzing defenders and made a play. However, he is not looking to get drafted as a quarterback, so that dual-threat aspect loses some of its appeal going into the draft.

In high school, Armstrong did a little of everything throughout his career. He had two receptions for 41 yards, one kickoff return for 18 yards, a punt return for 37 yards, six tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in addition to his quarterback work.

However, his stats do not stop there. he was also the punter senior year. He punted the ball 37 times in his career with 33 coming in his senior season.

Even though his non-quarterback stats will not blow you away, they do show he is able and willing to try different positions. He could be a versatile player in the NFL if given a shot.

3. Strength

Armstrong can take a hit. He took some good licks during his Husker career but always seemed to get up and brush the dirt off. He is also a tough runner. He is not afraid to lay a hit of his own to get a few extra yards.

Most importantly, his strength is not all physical. He’s mentally tough. He is a competitor and keeps that mindset throughout the game. This gives him the ability to bounce back from injuries. It also allows him to keep his team competing even when they are down.

The Negatives

1. Inexperience

It is weird to not put the “quarterback” label in front of Armstrong’s name. However, the fact is he will not be drafted as one. Switching to wide receiver is a smart move, but the inexperience factor likely drastically hurts his draft chances.

There is no college game film of him at the position. He will have to prove he can run solid routes and consistently make the catch.

2. Time

Time is definitely not on his side. Due to his inexperience, Armstrong has to showcase what he can do and do so in a hurry.

Playing receiver is not all about running routes and snatching the ball out of the air. Armstrong needs to prove he can block one-on-one against defensive backs.

On the plus side, he is working with Nebraska receivers coach Keith Williams. If anyone can get Armstrong ready in the finite amount of time he has, it is Dr. Route.

3. Competition

With little experience and a short time frame to prove himself, Armstrong will have to show he can stack up against some tough competition. He’s going up against great talent this year in players like Isaiah Ford, Ryan Switzer, Curtis Samuel, Mike Williams and Dede Westbrook. That is only a handful of the big names out there at the position.