Figured we could use as much good news as possible around here. Kerry Hyder mentioned as one of ESPN Insider's "Next Breakout Stars", http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/18063950/nfl-2016-top-25-breakout-stars-week-10 :
What follows is our list of top 25 prospects, based on players who would qualify right now. Some of these players could play their way off the list as their snap counts rise over the final eight weeks of the season, while others might still be fairly unknown when we get to next year's training camp. But all of them are players to watch in the NFL going forward.
The criteria:
Third-round pick or lower (or undrafted) from the 2014-16 classes
What follows is our list of top 25 prospects, based on players who would qualify right now. Some of these players could play their way off the list as their snap counts rise over the final eight weeks of the season, while others might still be fairly unknown when we get to next year's training camp. But all of them are players to watch in the NFL going forward.
The criteria:
Third-round pick or lower (or undrafted) from the 2014-16 classes
500 or fewer offensive or defensive career snaps through Week 10
No signed contract extension
Age 26 or younger
6.Kerry Hyder, DL,Detroit Lions
376 defensive snaps | Undrafted (2014)
Stuck in a bad situation on Texas Tech's defense, Hyder was a major producer for the Red Raiders. He managed 25.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks his last two years on the interior line in Lubbock. He didn't get a sniff at the 2014 draft, as scouts railed against his body and lack of explosiveness. After two years on the Jets practice squad, Hyder was signed by the Lions in January.
Hyder's first steps towards greatness happened in the preseason, when he notched three sacks and four total quarterback hits. In his first NFL game, he claimed two sacks onAndrew Luck. It has been hard to keep him off the field since, though the Lions use a pretty heavy defensive line rotation. Hyder's seven sacks are a bit deceiving because according to Sports Info Solutions charting, he has only seven hurries to go with them. But he's still a pretty valuable pass-rusher, and his average run tackle has been made only 1.2 yards past the line of scrimmage. That's not bad for a guy any team in the NFL could have had.
