2018 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting every first round selection
Marcus Davenport. 20. player. 50. . DE. Texas-San Antonio
Every year there are a few guys from lesser-known schools that find their way into the first round. Last year it was Corey Davis from Western Michigan and Haason Reddick from Temple. This year it will be UT-San Antonio pass rusher Marcus Davenport.
His meteoric rise up the draft board was spurred from a combination of measurables, Senior Bowl activities and freakish highlights like this:
Louisiana Tech pales in comparison to the offensive line talent that exists in the NFL, but Daveport’s combination of size (6-foot-7, 255 pounds) and raw power make him a tantalizing prospect.
The Lions still have to make a decision concerning star defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. After five seasons with the Lions Ansah is set to enter free agency after being unable to reach a deal with Detroit. That doesn’t preclude him from returning to the Lions, but it does indicate that the team is considering other alternatives.
Davenport has upped his production every season at UTSA, going from 2.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks as a freshman to 17.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks as a senior. It’s not out of the question that his best, given NFL-caliber coaching and training, is yet to come.