We still have several weeks remaining in the college football season, but through seven weeks, players have already started to position themselves as potential first round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Of course, much can change not only over the course of these next two months, but also with who declares for the draft and who stands out at the NFL Scouting Combine in the spring.
The NFL Draft is set for April 26-28 with the host city yet to be determined. Also, of note, Houston has already traded its first round pick to Cleveland and Kansas City the same to Buffalo.
The draft order has been put together courtesy the latest Super Bowl odds for this week.
There are some out there on social media who believe Southern Cal quarterback Sam Darnold will ignore the glitz and glamour of the NFL and return to the Trojans for another season.
But would he really?
The idea of playing for San Francisco might not be at the top of Darnold’s list, but being the overall No. 1 pick and all that comes with it could just be too hard to pass up. And he is a California kid, so remaining right in the heart of his city would be a nice fit.
The biggest thing separating Darnold from Pac-12 rival Josh Rosen of UCLA is that “it” factor.
When you listen to the announcers call a Trojan game with Darnold, they just seem to constantly refer back to it. While he isn’t on the same level of Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady yet – or even close – you can see why they like him.
Darnold will make what is viewed as a bad pass, only to rebound on the very next drive and lead USC to the end zone.
Why is that? Because he isn’t bothered by making errors.
Many college quarterbacks completely get down on themselves for throwing a pick or not hitting the right target. Darnold knows more chances will come and he’s already thinking about that pass.
On the year, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound redshirt sophomore has thrown for 2,063 yards and 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
While the Browns continue to sort out the quarterback spot between former Notre Dame star DeShone Kizer and ex-Stanford standout Kevin Hogan, the real pressing need for the offense remains at running back.
Insert Saquon Barkley right now, the Cleveland is a vastly-improved team on the very next series.
That’s the difference Barkley can make.
Cleveland is averaging just 3.8 yards per rush this year with Isaiah Crowell handling the bulk of the duties. Kizer has shown promise in the run game, with Duke Johnson providing big plays out of the backfield with his hands.
In comparison, Barkley is posting three yards more per carry for the Nittany Lions. And, he could do what both Crowell and Johnson are doing together as just one player, allowing for more roster space.
Barkley, a top candidate for the Heisman, currently has 649 yards rushing and six touchdowns on the ground, with another 29 catches, 395 yards and two scores in the passing game. He’s also a great kick returner, giving him more chances to get on the field from the start and provide a difference for Cleveland.
Last year, the Bears found a steal in the fourth round when they nabbed Eddie Jackson from Alabama.
Jackson quickly worked his way into the starting lineup and has looked like a wise investment so far.
Playing in the NFC North against two of the top quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, having a second Pro Bowl-caliber player along the back line of the defense would be perfect for the Bears.
And look, here’s one coming from Florida State in Derwin James that fills the void.
James could slide over to the strong safety position, or Jackson could take that and allow the rookie to be the free safety for Chicago’s 3-4 defense moving forward.
As a freshman competing in the ACC, James recorded 91 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He has excellent cover skills and can also cause damage in the run game with his explosive style of hitting.
Need more evidence of his strength? James was doing dumbbell presses with 120s as a true freshman at FSU.
James missed most of last year after suffering a lateral meniscus tear in Week 2. He hasn’t missed a beat this year, recording 29 tackles, breaking up four passes and adding 1.5 tackles for loss in four games.
Right now, the Chargers need help.
The team has been floundering since deciding to move to Los Angeles, failing to even fill a soccer stadium. With Philip Rivers piling up the years, it only makes sense that the Chargers look to the draft to start fresh.
Enter Josh Rosen, who, like Sam Darnold, is a California native and has been making an impact this season after returning from an injury.
Rosen, a native of Manhattan Beach, was a high school All-American and became the first true freshman to ever start the season opener for the Bruins. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he has the right size to handle the wear and tear of the everyday life in the NFL.
As a freshman at UCLA, Rosen threw for 3,670 yards and completed 292 of 487 with 23 touchdowns. He played in just six games last year due to an injury, throwing for 1,915 yards and 10 touchdowns.
So far this year, he has looked like the prized recruit everyone was expecting, completing a career-high 65 percent of his throws for 2,354 yards and 17 touchdowns.
For an added bonus, Rivers could take on the role of mentor and leader to Rosen, helping bridge the gap between the two signal callers.
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in over 230 pounds, Josh Allen has the right attributes to be a standout for many seasons to come in the NFL.
However, his numbers have yet to match that.
Allen played in 14 games last year as a redshirt sophomore, completing 556 percent of his passes for 3,203 yards with 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. So far this year, he has yet to get on that pace, throwing for 1,085 yards and seven touchdowns with fourth interceptions.
Draft experts, though, just cannot discount Allen because of his size and frame. He has the big arm teams look for and has so many similarities to Ben Roethlisberger coming out of college that it’s difficult to pass him by.
The New York Jets have never struggled to make crazy picks, and taking Allen this high would be another one. They selected Christian Hackenberg previously, but the former Penn State standout has been unable to move past Josh McCown or Bryce Petty on the depth chart.
Is it time to give up on Eli Manning? Doubtful considering the number of quarterbacks to go before the Giants pick and the idea of those in free agency not being better than the former Super Bowl winner.
So, the best bet is to protect Manning and hope all those skill players return healthy next year.
Connor Williams stands 6-foot-6 and weighs almost 300 pounds, and has played along the Texas starting line since his freshman year. He had a great season under Charlie Strong and is gaining even more pro-style offensive experience with new head coach Tom Herman.
In September, Williams was injured in a double-overtime loss to USC. The school announced that he will need surgery and his return to the Longhorns remains unknown.
https://twitter.com/Connorwi1liams/status/909548055338405888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.burntorangenation.com%2Ffootball%2F2017%2F9%2F17%2F16323896%2Ftexas-lt-connor-williams-to-undergo-surgery-no-return-timetable-set
The injury was a sprain to the medial and posterior collateral ligaments, to go along with a meniscus tear.
For as great as Alabama has been at producing defensive line and linebacker starters to the NFL, those that come from Nick Saban’s program out of the secondary have been even better.
Enter Minkah Fiztpatrick, who stands over 6-feet and weighs 200 pounds while running a 4.5 40-yard dash. Those numbers alone would get him noticed, but having experience playing under Saban and in the SEC make him a first round pick.
In his first two seasons with Bama, Fitzpatrick recorded over 100 tackles and broke up 18 passes. He also showed a knack for the big play, returning two interceptions for touchdowns.
The Dolphins can use another playmaker on defense. Fitzpatrick could slide in at either safety spot over Nate Allen at free safety or Reshad Jones at strong safety. Both are approaching 30 years old.
Fitzpatrick has also shown his ability to play anywhere on the field, as he has played cornerback this year and is quickly moving up the draft boards everywhere, as CBS Sports ranks him as the second-best prospect overall.
On the year, Fitzpatrick has made 28 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, along with breaking up four passes and picking off one.
It feels when you have a national power that produces NFL player and NFL player, they tend to go right in order in the draft. Larry Fitzgerald is preparing to hang it up and if Bruce Arians wants to keep his offense clicking out west, landing a stud wide receiver is of vital importance.
Calvin Ridley might not enter the NFL with the same promise of fellow former Bama star Amari Cooper, but he has all the intangibles.
Ridley was actually brought in as the replacement for Cooper with the Crimson Tide. In 2015, he hauled in 89 passes for 1,045 yards with seven touchdowns, including huge games that helped lift Alabama to the national title. Last year, his numbers slipped as they broke in new quarterback Jalen Hurts, with Ridley finishing with 72 catches for 769 yards and seven scores.
At 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds with speed, Ridley is NFL-ready from an athletic standpoint. This year, he has 29 receptions, 390 yards and two touchdowns.
For someone weighing over 270 pounds, Bradley Chubb looks to be that of a defensive tackle and not a rush end. But his athletic ability makes him a freak on that edge, as evident by his incredible climb up draft boards.
The NC State defender had a strong year last season, recording 58 tackles. Of those 22 were for loss and he had 10.5 sacks with three forced fumbles and even a pass batted down. His sophomore season included 5.5 sacks.
The Wolfpack have built their defense to succeed around Chubb, and the Colts could easily do the same. With their 3-4 scheme in place, Chubb could even line up at outside linebacker.
Indianapolis’ current defensive ends Henry Anderson and Johnathan Hankins have a combined 12 sacks in their career. With a 16-game season ahead of him, Chubb could match that total in one year.
Chubb has 37 tackles, 14 for loss, 6.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries on the season.
How do you keep an offense moving in the right direction despite a new quarterback, new running backs and new wide receivers? You have incredible anchors along the offensive line.
Mitch Hyatt has been just that for the Clemson Tigers this season, helping the national title contenders replace quarterback Deshaun Watson, running back Wayne Gallman and wide receiver Mike Williams without skipping a beat.
The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder was tasked with protecting the blindside of Watson for two seasons, but his athleticism makes him a target to move inside to guard. Tennessee has invested a lot of time and money in quarterback Marcus Mariota, so delivering the former Oregon standout a protector on draft night makes all the sense in the world.
The Titans have Jack Conklin at right tackle and Taylor Lewan on the left side of the line, leaving Hyatt to shift to that guard spot in place of either Quinton Spain or Josh Kline.
It’s hard to discount what the Los Angeles Rams are doing. They’ve put together a big-play offense with quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley and wide receivers Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Tavon Austin.
Scoring points is not a problem for the Rams. Stopping teams, however, is where issues still remain.
Florida State’s Tarvarus McFadden hasn’t been the dominant corner that he should be, but with the right focus, he should find his top-level of performance. McFadden recorded eight interceptions last year and 20 tackles, breaking up another six passes. He has excellent press coverage skills.
By joining the Rams, he would be pairing up with fellow former Florida State standout Lamarcus Joyner, a starting safety in L.A.
McFadden has made 12 tackles and broken up five passes this year with the Seminoles. He fits right in over either Trumaine Johnson or Kayvon Webster in the starting lineup for the Rams.
If you know a Cincinnati Bengal fan, more than likely they want nothing more than the Andy Dalton era to end. Dalton isn’t horrible, he just leaves much to be desired for those that support the team.
Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph is a big-time gunslinger who stands 6-foot-5 and has shown a knack for making plays with his legs when needed.
As a junior, Rudolph completed 63 percent of his passes for 4,091 yards with 28 touchdowns and just four interceptions. As a sophomore, he hit on 264 of 424 for 3,770 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine picks.
To note how much his ability to get the ball down the field has improved over the years, Rudolph is averaging over 11 yards per attempt, up two yards from last year. He has thrown for 2,368 yards with 19 scores and four interceptions, completing 68 percent of his throws.
Rudolph has thrown for at least 300 yards in every game this season and thrown at least two touchdowns, as well.
With two first round picks, the Bills can afford to reach here. Trading away Sammy Watkins right before the season started created a huge hole at wide receiver for Tyrod Taylor, as Jordan Matthews, Zay Jones and company just don’t quite strike fear in NFL defenses.
Christian Kirk can do that.
Regarded by some as the top wide receiver in college football today, Kirk runs a 4.4 40 and is just a shade under 6-feet talk. He broke into the game with a 1,000-yard season, hauling in 80 passes and seven touchdowns.
Those numbers fell to 928 yards last year, but he increased his catches to 83 and his touchdowns to nine.
Kirk has found it a little more difficult this year as the Aggies have struggled at the quarterback position, hauling in 29 passes for 360 yards. The Arizona native has scored five touchdowns and did have a 5-catch, 110-yard, 2-touchdown performance in a win at Arkansas last month.
As he continues to gain a bigger and bigger reputation for causing problems, Christian Wilkins‘ numbers have dwindled. But for a defensive tackle, that is considered a good thing.
Opposing offenses are doubling-down on the 310-pounder from Clemson, freeing other Tiger players to make plays.
Injuries also forced Wilkins to the outside of the line last year, where he showed good speed and an ability to rush the quarterback. That versatility will do him well in the NFL.
As a sophomore, Wilkins recorded 48 tackles, including 13 for loss, 3.5 sacks and broke up 10 passes from his spot along the line. Wilkins has 15 tackles this year and 2.5 sacks.
In 2015, Wilkins made history when he became the first Clemson defensive lineman to catch a pass, hauling in a 31-yard reception on a fake punt during the Orange Bowl.
Washington’s 3-4 defense would give Wilkins the freedom to move from the nose tackle spot to defensive end.
It’s difficult to watch a veteran begin to fall apart as their career comes to a close, but Drew Brees is not like others.
Brees continues to produce for New Orleans, having completed almost 70 percent of his passes for over 1,000 yards despite turning 38 years old this past January. But isn’t it about time the Saints really found a suitable replacement for Brees?
Washington State walk-on-turned-Heisman candidate Luke Falk would go from learning under Mike Leach to learning under Brees with this selection.
Falk has embraced the run-and-gun offense deployed by Leach in the Pac-12, throwing for 2,286 yards and 19 touchdowns. It would make a near-flawless transition from that to New Orleans and Brees. He is coming off his worst game this season, completing just 28 of 43 without a touchdown for 286 yards and five interceptions.
In 2014, Falk threw for 1,859 yards with 13 touchdowns, completing 64 percent of his passes. He moved those numbers to 4,561 and completed 69 percent of his throws, including 38 touchdowns to just eight interceptions.
Last year, Falk finished with 4,468 yards, 38 touchdowns and completed 70 percent.
Earlier this year, Falk had an almost perfect game vs. Nevada, going 36 of 47 for 478 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.
With the series of quarterbacks coming off the board to start the draft, and several capable signal callers to be had later in the draft, the Jaguars should look elsewhere here to improve. Leonardo Fournette appears to be a grand slam from last year and maybe Blake Bortles will fill out.
The defense, however, can use more new blood to battle in the AFC South alongside Myles Jack, Jalen Ramsey and company. Malik Jefferson would make a perfect replacement for the aging Paul Posluszny at middle linebacker alongside Jack and Telvin Smith.
Jefferson might be a bit of reach at this spot, but his combination of being 6-foot-3, weighing 230-plus pounds and having speed to go sideline-to-sideline make him a first round pick.
As a freshman, Jefferson produced right away for Texas, recording 61 tackles, 2.5 sacks, breaking up three passes and forcing a fumble. He followed that up with 59 tackles, 5.5 sacks and three pass break ups.
So far this year, Jefferson has 54 tackles with 2.5 sacks.
Joe Thomas is locked in at left tackle and is one of the best in the business. Putting Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson alongside him would make for a perfect compliment and give the Irish guard a chance to learn along the best.
Joel Bitonio and Kevin Zeitler are the current guards, but Nelson should have no trouble replacing either one of them.
The 6-foot-5, 325-pounder grades out well, as WalterFootball.com has him the top guard in the draft. They state Nelson earned first round grades last year protecting DeShone Kizer and was regarded as a future Pro Bowler.
With the Browns having selected Kizer last year, Nelson would give him a familiar face and a familiar protector up front.
This year, Nelson has helped pave the way for running back Josh Adams, who is turning in a fine season carrying the ball for Brian Kelly‘s offensive attack out of South Bend.
Alabama already had one player selected from the secondary in this mock draft with Minkah Fitzpatrick, so why not a second.
Ronnie Harrison recorded 86 tackles, broke up seven passes and picked off another two. As a freshman, the 6-foot-3 safety picked off two passes and broke up six more, making 17 tackles.
As mentioned with Fitzpatrick, the coaching staff of the Crimson Tide led by Nick Saban just continues to produce NFL-ready players year after year after year.
Harrison came to Alabama from Tallahassee, Florida and the FSU University School. Saban swiped him out of Seminole Country and now the Bucs get to bring him back home. He was even a quarterback during his high school career before becoming the QB of one of the top defenses in the country.
As a senior, Harrison threw for 2,076 yards, ran for another 1,015, scored 29 touchdowns, made 39 tackles and broke up five passes.
With Chris Conte and Keith Tandy occupying the safety positions for Tampa Bay at the moment, an athlete like Harrison would provide a big-time defensive playmaker.
On the year, Harrison has 31 tackles, including three for loss and two intereceptions.
A senior from Massachusetts, Maurice Hurst is putting together a year like most expected out of him. In a loss to MIchigan State, Hurst recorded eight tackles, including six solo stops. He has 29 tackles on the year.
Okaland boasts one of the better offenses in all the NFL with Derek Carr, Marshawn Lynch, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, but you have to get stops when needed and putting pressure on the quarterback and limiting the opposition in the run game are two good starts to making that happen.
The Raiders have a good youth movement going along the defensive line with Khalil Mack, Mario Edwards Jr. and Eddie Vanderdoes starting on that unit right now.
Hurst also has the genes, as his father, Maurice Hurst Sr., formerly played for the New England Patriots. He’s also an excellent student, earning academic all-Big Ten in both 2014 and 2015.
Hurst even has an interesting story about how he ended up at Michigan, as the told the Detroit Free Press:
“I played a lot of NCAA,” Hurst said. “I loved using Michigan because I loved seeing the winged helmet. It’s one of the most iconic images, the block M everyone knows.”
Slowly, but surely, the Boston College football team is starting to put together good efforts on a weekly basis. On the defensive side of the ball, that starts with Harold Landry.
The senior defensive end made a huge impact last year along the line, making 51 tackles, including 34 solo stops. He also had 22 tackles for loss, with 16.5 of those being quarterback sacks. Add in seven forced fumbles, four pass breakups and an interception, and Landry could have easily taken his talents to the big leagues.
Instead, he’s returned to help Boston College out and continue to improve his own game. This year, Landry has 37 tackles and five sacks.
NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah called him a “natural pass rusher” who has an “explosive first step” and referred to his ability to finish as “special.”
The Lions are banking on Haloti Ngata returning next year healthy to the defensive front along with A’Shawn Robinson. Pairing Landry on the outside with former first round pick Ezekiel Ansah gives them a top-notch unit.
It is quite evident that the Baltimore Ravens and Joe Flacco need some offensive help. The wide receiving crew isn’t the biggest issue, as that sits next to Flacco at running back.
Terrance West is a good situational back, as is Danny Woodhead. Javorius Allen tries to do both, but Bryce Love is the home run threat that the Ravens need.
Love has picked right up as the main offensive threat for the Stanford Cardinal, replacing Christian McCaffery and excelling.
He opened the season with three games in a five-game stretch where he had double figure carries and averaged at least 12 yards per carry. That included a 30-carry, 263-yard performance in a win over UCLA, only to go for 25-301 and three scores the following week in a victory over Arizona State.
While just a junior, Love could return for another season, but adding wear and tear to his 5-foot-10, 195-pound frame at the college level isn’t worth it. Love currently has 1,387 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on the year.
SMU head coach Chad Morris saw something in Courtland Sutton that others might have missed.
At Brenham High School in Texas, Sutton played tight end and safety. When he arrived on the campus of SMU, Morris exposed him to a wide-open offense fresh with the ability to turn into an NFL prospect. And Sutton has done just that.
His first season was cut short by an injury, but Sutton returned just as strong. He had 49 catches, 862 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015, even playing on the SMU basketball team. The following year, the 6-foot-4 receiver caught 76 passes for 1,246 yards and scored 12 times.
Instead of declaring for the draft, he returned to school and has shined once more alongside Trey Quinn, hauling in 31 passes for 489 yards.
Minnesota has some decisions to make at quarterback, but no matter who is lined up under center, having Sutton on the outside with Stefon Diggs and a returning Dalvin Cook make the Vikings threats in the NFC.
It’s good to be Alabama when you can see this many players come off the board from the defensive side of the ball and know that next year, a new crop will be inserted as replacements and no beat will be skipped.
Da’Ron Payne would produce more depth for the Cowboys to rotate along the interior defensive line with starters Maliek Collins and Stephane Paea to go along with backups David Irving and Brian Price.
The biggest issue with Dallas at the moment is in the secondary, but it’s also difficult to pass over a talent like Payne when he is available.
According to his Alabama profile, Payne was a five-star prospect who was inviteed to the Nike 2014 “The Opening” event and was selected to the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Payne has made 29 tackles this year, including a high of seven in a recent victory over Mississippi.
Based off other mock drafts out there, if Trey Adams falls to the Broncos here, John Elway and staff will be getting a steal.
One of the main protectors for Jake Browning, Adams has the NFL-type size for a tackle at 6-7 and 302 pounds. According to Walter Football sources, Adams has “the potential to be an elite prospect” and they think he “could emerge as one of the top talents for the 2018 NFL Draft and had him in the Top-3 of all players entering the season.”
That is some high praise for the left tackle. He’s shown his skills on the field against some elite pass rushers in the Pac-12, along with holding his own last year during the College Football Playoff when Washington fell to Alabama in the semifinals.
The Huskies are one of the more balanced teams in the nation, with Browning leading the passing attack and Myles Gaskin the run game, but all of that starts with Adams.
A junior, Adams was named first team all-conference a year ago and has started all but three games since arriving on campus from Wenatchee, Washington.
Denver spent a first round pick last year on left tackle Garett Bolles, who has inserted himself into the starting lineup. Adams would make a great compliment for years to come with Bolles in the trenches.
With so many glitz and glamour picks going in the early portion of the first round, those teams who are constant playoff contenders are able to gobble up top prospects along the lines.
That’s where Carolina can go once again with Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey, who could serve as a great understudy to veteran Matt Kalil or compete with Daryl Williams for playing time at right tackle.
McGlinchey, a grad student this year for the Irish, stands 6-8 and weights over 300 pounds. He has twice been named a team captain for Notre Dame and was a Phil Steele third team All-American last year while helping protect DeShone Kizer.
He hasn’t missed a game inside the trenches since his sophomore season, starting each of the past two-plus years after a standout career in Pennsylvania.
On an interesting note, according to his Notre Dame profile, McGlinchey is a first cousin of current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
You can bet Carson Wentz will have some say in the war room come draft night for the Eagles, and if Washington do-it-all wide receiver Dante Pettis is sitting on the board, he could do not wrong in asking for him.
Pettis has helped Jake Browning for the better part of his career, hauling in anything near him.
Last year as the No. 2 in the offense to John Ross, Pettis hauled in 53 balls for 822 yards and 15 touchdowns. This year, he has 44 catches, 472 yards and has scored six touchdowns.
Also, Pettis is an excellent return man, as he has already become the Pac-12 all-time leader in punt returns for touchdowns with seven, passing former Eagle DeSean Jackson. That marks has him currently tied for the NCAA career record with Wes Welker and Antonio Perkins.
Philadelphia has Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith to help stretch the field, allowing Pettis to work under the defense and make big plays with his speed.
It has been a rough start to the season for Florida State, but the defense has shown glimpses of brightness despite the offensive struggles.
Matthew Thomas is part of that standout unit, as the inside linebacker hit double digits for tackles in the season opener vs. Alabama.
Standing 6-4, Thomas made some early-season headlines when he was away from the team for what was being reported as an illness by the Tallahassee Democrat. You can bet NFL coaches will ask Thomas all about that mystery, but the Steelers have never been one to shy away from projects.
Thomas was a standout at Miami’s Booker T. Washington high school before joining the Seminoles. Last year, he was the leading tackler on the team with 77 stops, with 11 of those being for loss. He shined bright in the Orange Bowl vs. Michigan, recording a team-high 15 tackles.
Along with that mysterious illness, Thomas also missed all of 2015 due to a shoulder injury. In 2014, he played in eight games and recorded 26 tackles.
For as great as Russell Wilson can be, the Russell Wilson we saw at Wisconsin and leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl will never return if they don’t start protecting him and giving him time to work.
Oklahoma’s mountain of man, Orlando Brown, can do that for Wilson and Seattle. He is 6-8 and weights over 350 pounds while being both a solid pass protector and excellent run blocker on the left side for the Sooners.
Brown has started all 32 games since his made his way from Duluth, Georgia to Norman, Oklahoma. he earned several all-freshman honors and was a second-team All-American last year by the Associated Press, along with becoming the first sophomore to win the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award, according to his school profile.
Both Rees Odhiambo and Germain Ifedi have struggled at the tackle spots this year for Seattle. Brown would be welcomed by Luke Joeckel and Wilson with big and open arms.
No, he isn’t like the original Marcus Allen, but Penn State’s Marcus Allen could be just as important to the Falcons moving forward.
Undrafted Sharrod Neasman from Florida Atlantic is currently the starter in Atlanta at free safety next to 2016 first round pick Keanu Neal of Florida. Pairing Neal with a heavy hitter like Allen would make wide receivers think twice about coming over the middle vs. the Falcons.
Allen ranks in the Top-10 in Penn State history for tackles and was selected to the preseason lists for the Bednarik, Nagurski and Thorpe awards. As a junior, Allen recorded 110 tackles, with six being for loss, and broke up three passes. He also had a key blocked field goal attempt against Ohio State.
Allen was honored in 2014 by several outlets after making seven starts and appearing in all 13 games as a true freshman. He has missed just one game due to injury during his career and was named a team captain this season.
To date in 2017, Allen has 15 tackles and two pass break ups.
According to the draft gurus at Walker Football, there is no better cornerback prospect available this coming spring than Southern Cal’s Iman Marshall. Marshall became a starter in the secondary for the Trojans as a freshman and has continued to grow since.
A five-star recruit out of Long Beach Poly in California, Marshall appeared in all 14 games that first year with USC, starting 12 of them. He made 67 tackles and picked off three passes, recording 52 tackles and three more interceptions last year. To date, Marshall has 32 stops and eight passes defended.
And if you were wondering if Marshall can promote himself, of course a player with the nickname “BIggie” can:
https://twitter.com/iman_marshall8/status/891490808347607040
Green Bay used a second round pick on Kevin King last year and has veteran Davon House on the other side. With big-time receivers dominating the league right now, putting someone with lock-down skills on one side of the field can totally change a defense around for the better.
Much like Iman Marshall selected before him, Kevin Toliver II proved his worth from the first day he stepped on campus at LSU.
Toliver was named a freshman All-American, starting eight games for the Tigers, who constantly have one of the best defenses in the country. He made 35 tackles that year and broke up five passes, recording his first career interceptions.
Last year, Toliver missed the final four games with a shoulder injury, but he has returned with a vengeance and looked just like his old self.
HIs length and skills make him a prime candidate to step right in at the NFL level and compete right away for the Bills, who also used a first round pick on Tre’Davious White, a teammate of Toliver’s at LSU last year.
According to his LSU profile, Toliver was even ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the nation at one point, finishing sixth overall in the ESPN 300.
All of the skills are there. Great speed, the ability to rush the passer, freak athlete. But there is something missing from LSU’s Arden Key. Doesn’t that just sound like a perfect draft choice for the New England Patriots at the end of the first round?
Key made 56 tackles, had 12 sacks, forced three fumbles and broke up three passes last year and was viewed by many as an elite and can’t-miss prospect.
During the summer, though, Key was forced away from football with what his father told The Advocate as being personal issues. He also had shoulder surgery which kept him sidelined for the first few games of 2017.
Next: 2017 Top 50 players in college football
Key set the LSU single-season sack record with his dozen sacks in 2016 after collecting five as a freshman. Like usual, there are issues with Key, but if anyone is willing to take a chance in the first round on a Top-10 talent, it is the New England Patriots.