LSU Football: Top 5 draft prospects for 2021 NFL Draft

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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 07: D’Andre Swift #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball as Tyler Shelvin #72 of the LSU Tigers attempts to tackle him during a game between Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers at Mercedes Benz Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

4. Tyler Shelvin, DT

After playing just four games as a redshirt freshman in 2018, Tyler Shelvin became the backbone of LSU’s defensive line in 2019.

Shelvin played in 14 games for the Tigers and made 13 starts at the nose tackle position. He recorded 39 total tackles with three coming for a loss. He also defended a pair of passes with both coming on a day that he also posted four tackles against Vanderbilt.

In the 2019 SEC Championship game, Shelvin made three tackles and helped limit Georgia to just 61 rushing yards. He also helped hold Oklahoma to a season-low 97 rushing yards in the Tigers Peach Bowl victory.

While Shelvin doesn’t have star numbers, his size and versatility make him an intriguing early-round prospect. He stands 6-foot-3 and 346 pounds, which is the perfect mix of height and weight for a nose tackle.

He can play either as the lone nose tackle in a 3-4 defense or on either side of the middle in a 4-3. This versatility and experience making plays on college football’s biggest stage will stand out to prospects and could lead him to declare for the draft a year early rather than returning for a redshirt senior season in 2021.

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