LSU Football: Top 5 draft prospects for 2021 NFL Draft

Despite a record-tying 14 LSU football stars being selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, the 2021 class still is set to see plenty of Tigers selected.

The 2020 NFL Draft was a historic one for the LSU Tigers who saw 14 members of their 2019 national championship team selected.

This tied Ohio State’s seven-round record of 14 from 2004. Five of the 14 Tigers, were selected in the first round which fell one short of the Miami Hurricanes record of six also posted in 2004.

With so much talent gone, many assume the number will be far smaller in 2021. This is not the case however as another large group of Tigers will hear their names called including many who may be taken day one.

Here are LSU’s top five draft prospects for 2021.

5. Jabril Cox, ILB

One of the Tigers top prospects for the 2021draft has yet to play a snap in the purple and gold. Inside linebacker Jabril Cox will be transferring to LSU for his graduate transfer season.

Cox played three seasons at North Dakota State at middle linebacker. As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he was Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year after leading NDSU’s defense in tackles (75) and tackles for loss (13.0) as the Bison won the 2017 FCS title.

In 2018, Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team FCS All-American after recording 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions, three breakups and seven quarterback hurries and leading North Dakota State to another FCS championship.

Cox finished his time in Fargo by earning FCS first-team All-America honors in 2019 after recording 92 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He started 15-of-16 games as a minor injury snapped a 31 consecutive starts streak. Cox again led NDSU to an FCS championship.

Having played at the highest level of FCS football, Cox will now get to prove his value at the top of the FBS and if his game translates, he may be among the first linebackers selected in the 2021 Draft.