West Virginia Football: Top 3 prospects for the 2021 NFL Draft

As West Virginia football seeks to improve in Neal Brown’s second season, keep an eye on these three prospects for next April’s NFL draft.

While West Virginia football finished 5-7 a year ago, there were signs that they were an improving team throughout the season and they will be a team to watch to make a second-year leap this season and see if they can be more than a spoiler in the Big 12 title race.

West Virginia used to be a place that produced NFL talent regularly during the eras of Rich Rodriguez and Dana Holgersen, with top draft picks such as Adam Jones, Steve Slaton, Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Bruce Irvin.

In the next couple of years, West Virginia will get back to producing more top talent such as those players and they will need to if they hope to return to the national stage sooner rather than later.

With that in mind, these are the top three prospects for the Mountaineers entering the 2021 NFL Draft process.

Sean Mahone first became a starter last season and he took full advantage of that, becoming the leading tackler for the Mountaineers and helping to turn around the defense and become a more physical football team.

Mahone finished the season with 77 total tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception and was one of the leaders of the team and it was just his first full season as a starter.

The senior operates best in the run game and is a physical run stopping safety and I think that will be his role in the NFL as an in the box safety or a nickel linebacker with coverage skills to matchup on tight ends and running backs.

Look for a good season from Mahone and keep your eyes on him as a day two draft pick.