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http://gbnreport.com/2016-draft-preview/
2016 Draft PreviewWith the start of the college football season now less than three weeks away, now is as good a time as any to start thinking ahead to the 2016 draft. As such, we’ll be previewing the top prospects at the various positions over the next few weeks.
2016 QB preview
Posted: August 18, 2015 | No CommentsInteresting! Intriguing! Challenging! All pretty good words to describe the potential 2016 draft class at QB. On the one hand, it appears there could be an inordinate number of very good prospects at the position for the upcoming draft. At the same time, though, none of the top-rated guys at the position has yet to firmly solidify themselves as a true #1 prospect overall in the Andrew Luck class.
Penn State junior Christian Hackenberg, for example, looks the part of a franchise NFL pocket passer with all the tools to be the next great one including prototype size, size, the arm strength to make all the throws, as well as outstanding football smarts and pocket presence. However, Hackenberg still hasn’t played that way to date, although the lack of a solid supporting cast at Penn State hasn’t helped. Last year, for example, Hackenberg completed just 55% of his pass attempts, while throwing more picks (15) than TD passes (12), although he was at his best with games on the line last fall. Still the top 5-10 talent is there. On the other hand, California junior Jared Goff hasn’t gotten much national exposure playing on a bad west coast team, but threw for almost 4,000 yards, along with 35 TDs against just 7 picks last fall. Goff needs to add a little lower body bulk, but like Hackenberg has a legitimate top 5-10 arm with nice touch and the ability to get the ball down the field.
Meanwhile, Michigan State’s Connor Cook is arguably the top senior QB prospect this year. Cook may not have quite the skill set of a Hackenberg or Goff, but he is a legitimate mid-first round prospect with all the prototype tools to be an excellent pro pocket passer including good size, a live arm and enough mobility to escape trouble and make the odd play with his legs, but his footwork isn’t always textbook and he isn’t as consistently accurate as pro scouts would like to see.
The biggest wild card at the position this coming spring could be Ohio State junior Cardale Jones. The previously unheralded Jones came off the bench late last fall to lead the Buckeyes to the national title with wins over Wisconsin in the conference championship game and then Alabama and Oregon in the playoffs. Jones then flirted with the idea of entering the 2015 draft despite his limited resume, but ultimately decided to return to school. However, Jones is no guarantee to start this fall with star sophomore T.J. Barrett back healthy, which needless to say would cause pro scouts some grief. What they did see in his brief tenure last fall was a guy built like Cam Newton or Jamies Winston with a cannon for an arm who will hang in the pocket to make plays downfield. Not surprisingly, though, Jones is also very raw and needs to work on his footwork in the pocket and his ability to read the whole field and find the open man; with Jones there are also some questions about his maturity and football smarts, but again brings a unique set of physical skills to the table.
There is a bit of a drop-off to the next level of QB prospects which includes a number of second-day candidates such as Cody Kessler of Southern California, Dak Prescott of Mississippi State, Mike Bercovici of Arizona State, Stanford’s Kevin Hogan and Cincinnati junior Gunner Kiel. USC’s Kessler, for example, is an ultra-efficient game manager who completed over 70% of his pass attempts for close to 4,000 yards and 39 TDs while having just 5 interceptions in 2014; however, pro scouts are concerned that because he isn’t all that tall and lacks a big arm that Kessler will just doesn’t have the physical skills to be anything more than a game manager type. Meanwhile, at 6-2, 230, Prescott is built more like a FB than a pro QB. In fact, Prescott draws a lot of comparisons to former Florida QB Tim Tebow, especially after he put up some Tebow type numbers last fall when he threw for 3,500 yards and 27 TDs while running for almost 1,000 more yards and 14 scores. Prescott, though, is actually a somewhat better passer at this stage than Tebow as he has better arm strength, reads the field well and is somewhat smoother delivering the ball, but still needs to improve his accuracy and ability to fit the ball into tight windows. ASU’s Bercovici, who may have the best arm in this year’s draft class, could be a real sleeper this year as he hasn’t played much to date, but has put up big numbers when he has gotten the call; indeed, Bercovici threw for just a couple of yards short of 1,000 yards in his first two career starts last season, the most in NCAA history. For his part, Hogan is the mystery man of this year’s QB class; on the one hand, he appears to have all the tools to be an elite QB including prototype size, plenty of arm strength and decent athleticism, however, the sum has never quite equaled the parts especially at key points in big games. Lastly, Kiel is a much travelled gunslinger who originally committed to LSU, but transferred first to Notre Dame where he redshirted in 2012 and then to Cincinnati where he had to sit out again in 2013. Kiel finally got to play last fall and responded by throwing for 3,300 yards and 31 scores, although he also had 13 picks. Indeed, Kiel needs to make better decisions as he will try and force balls into coverage; he can also get antsy when pressured, but has the arm strength to make all the throws and brings a gunslinger’s mentality to the pocket.
What makes the 2016 QB class so interesting, intriguing and challenging is that in addition to Ohio State’s Jones, there appears to be an inordinate number of wild cards at the position. Start with TCU’s Trevone Boykin, a sensational dual-threat who enters the season as a legitimate Heisman favorite after throwing for 3,900 yards and 33 TDs last fall, while running for another 700-plus yards. Boykin is a terrific athlete – he actually started games as a WR a couple of years back when Casey Pachall was at QB – and has the arm to make all the throws, but he’s not huge at barely 6-2, 205 and isn’t all that polished in the pocket, but the talent is there to be something special. Then there’s Everett Golson who led Notre Dame to the national championship game two years ago, but is now at Florida State trying to replace Jameis Winston, the #1 pick at the 2015 draft. Golson proved at Notre Dame that he could make plays, but he’s another guy who lacks prototype measurables – he’s barely 6-feet and his throwing mechanics are hardly textbook – and makes too many mistakes in the pocket.
And while Golson tries to replace Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, across the country, former Eastern Washington FCS All-American Vernon Adams has transferred to Oregon and will try and fill the shoes of Marcus Mariota, the 2014 Heisman winner and 2nd pick overall at this year’s draft. Adams was phenomenally productive at EWU – he threw for almost 5,000 yards and 55 TDs in 2013 and was on pace to exceed those numbers last fall but missed a few games with an injury – and brings a lot of Russell Wilson-like qualities to the table. However, like Wilson – and Golson – Adams is very short at barely 6-0 and also obviously has to prove that he can play with the big boys in a tough Power 5 conference. And the list goes: Jake Coker, for example, was supposed to be the next great QB at Alabama after transferring from Florida State, but he couldn’t beat out journeyman Blake Sims last fall and is no lock to start this year, but has the size and arm to intrigue NFL teams. Then there is Braxton Miller of Ohio State, who will play WR this fall, but was a dual-threat Heisman candidate in his own right before damaging his throwing shoulder – which still isn’t right – early last season.
The other thing that kind of sets apart the current draft class is that also appears to be plenty of depth at the position including veteran passers like Nate Sudfield of Indiana, Jacoby Brissett of North Carolina State, Blake Frohnapel of UMass, BYU’s Taysom Hill, Travis Wilson of Utah, Brandon Allen of Arkansas, North Carolina’s Marquise Williams, former USC starter Max Wittek who is now at Hawaii, and Chuckie Keeton of Utah State and Western Kentucky’s Brandon Doughty, both of were granted 6th years of eligibility because of past injuries. Each of those guys has at least some middle round potential with the tools to move up.
There is also some pretty good talent in the FCS ranks. Carson Wentz of North Dakota State, for example, is a top 10 prospect at the position on a number of boards around the league, while John Roberts of Villanova, Vad Lee of James Madison, Yale’s Morgan Roberts, 6-5 John Gibbs of Alcorn State and 6-6 Liam Nadler of Gannon also have big league skills. Meanwhile, several other top juniors who could impact the early going at the 2016 draft should they decide to turn pro this winter include Jeremy Johnson of Auburn, Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs, Patrick Bowles of Kentucky, Baylor’s Seth Russell, and Central Florida’s Justin Holman.
Agamemnon2016 Draft Preview
With the start of the college football season now less than three weeks away, now is as good a time as any to start thinking ahead to the 2016 draft. As such, we’ll be previewing the top prospects at the various positions over the next few weeks.
Offensive line
Posted: August 28, 2015 | No CommentsTrends come and trends go in football, but one of the game’s constants is that it sure helps to be strong in the trenches, especially on the outside at RT. As such, big offensive linemen who can move are always in demand when draft say rolls around. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the offensive line – and particularly the OT position – has been one of the stronger positions at the draft in recent years. Over the past three drafts, for example, 15 former collegiate OTs were taken in the opening round, one more than the more celebrated WRs for the most #1 picks of any position. And that trend isn’t likely going to change much this year as OT will again be one of the dominant positions. However, while there is a ton – both literally and figuratively – of talent at the position this year, OT may not be quite as deep as in some recent years. Meanwhile, there is also some intriguing upfront talent at both OG and C, although like the situation at OT, there is a significant drop-off through the middle rounds.
Offensive tackle: as noted, OT could be one of the strongest positions in the early going of the 2016 draft. Indeed, junior OTs Laremy Tunsil of Mississippi and Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley are both considered to have top 5 potential for the upcoming draft. Assuming he passes muster – Tunsil fractured a fibula and dislocated an ankle in the Rebels’ Peach Bowl loss to TCU in the Peach Bowl last January and there was the business of those charges and counter charges when he punched out his stepfather in a domestic situation with his mother earlier this summer – the Ole Miss star is a prototype LT prospect with long arms and a heavy punch, along with light feet and great body control and balance, although he’s more of a seal-off blocker than a drive blocker in the run game. For his part, the Irish’s Stanley isn’t as poslished as Tunsil, but is bigger, stronger and more physical at the point of attack. And while not exactly textbook when it comes to technique, Stanley still has next-level quickness working in the pocket as well as those long arms and heavy punch to protect the edge.
Tunsil and Stanley could be joined in this year’s opening round by as many as a half dozen other tackles including fellow juniors Jack Conklin of Michigan State, Texas A&M’s Germaine Ifedi and LSU’s Jerald Hawkins, along with veterans like Taylor Decker of Ohio State, Oregon’s Tyler Johnstone and spencer Drango of Baylor, while a lot of scouts also really like underrated Jason Spriggs of Indiana. There should also be some solid OTs available on the second day of this year’s draft including Texas Tech’s Le’Raven Clark, big Brandon Shell of South Carolina, Georgia’s John Theus, Kyle Murphy of Stanford, and North Dakota State’s Joe Haeg who if the draft were held today, would very likely be the first player taken from outside the ranks of FBS programs. At the same time, though, there appears to be something of a drop-off to the next level at the position which has some decent prospects, but few more than developmental types.
Offensive guards: Needless to say, OG has not had the same impact in the early going of the draft as the OTs. Still more often than not at least one pure OG is taken in the draft’s opening round. In 2015, for example, Detroit selected former Duke OG Laken Tomlinson with the 28th pick; and of course that was after Washington chose former Iowa star LT Brandon Scherff as an OG with the 5th pick overall, although Scherff was a career tackle for the Hawkeyes. And there is a better than even chance that at least one OG will be selected in this year’s opening round as Vadal Alexander of LSU and Arkansas junior Denver Kirkland, a couple of true roadgraders with size and surprising athleticism. The only fly in the ointment is that both are slated to play OT this fall and could conceivably be drafted as such next April.
There is also a solid second level OG group including players like North Carolina’s Landon Turner, underrated Cody Whitehair of Kansas State, Christian Westerman of Arizona State, Connor McGovern of Missouri, Cincinnati’s Parker Ehinger, Josh Garnett of Stanford, Cal’s Jordan Rigsbee, Sedrick Flowers of Texas and Rees Odhiambo of Boise State, along with juniors Pat Elfien of Ohio State and Georgia’s Greg Pyke, each of whom has at least some second-day potential.
Centre: The C position likely won’t be as talented at the 2016 draft as either the OTs or OGs – it almost never is – but there could be at a couple of Cs with some first-round potential in Max Tuerk of Southern Cal and Oregon State junior Isaac Seumalo. Turek is an angular (6-5) interior offensive lineman with the long arms, light feet and flexibility normally seen in elite level LTs; indeed, Tuerk has started at OT in the past. However, at only about 285 pounds, Tuerk isn’t going to pile drive anyone so has to get by of his smarts, quickness and technical smoothness. For his part, Seumalo looked all the part of a future top 100 C in his first two seasons with the Beavers in 2012 and 2013, but didn’t play at all last fall because of a foot injury that has required a couple of surgeries and needless to say will have to be checked out medically once he does declare for the draft. There is also some interesting depth at the position with Nick Martin of Notre Dame, Jack Allen of Michigan State, Missouri’s Evan Boehm and Wisconsin Dan Voltz all figuring to get some second-day consideration. There should also be some decent Cs in the later rounds including Mike Matthews of Texas A&M, Ryan Kelly of Alabama, Austin Blythe of Iowa and Jake Brendel of UCLA, among others who have the experience and skill to be useful later round pickups, although there likely isn’t a whole lot of size at the position in the later rounds.
TE Preview
Wide receivers
Running Backs
Quarterbackshttp://gbnreport.com/2016-draft-preview/
Agamemnon2016 Draft Preview
With the start of the college football season now less than three weeks away, now is as good a time as any to start thinking ahead to the 2016 draft. As such, we’ll be previewing the top prospects at the various positions over the next few weeks.
Defensive ends
Posted: September 1, 2015 | No CommentsBack at the beginning of the series, we described the 2016 QB class as “interesting, intriguing and challenging!” In many ways the same could be said about this year’s DE group. On the one hand, DE could very well end up being the best and likely deepest position of any group at the upcoming draft. At the same time, though, there is still a ton of work for pro scouts to do on the group which is talented, but still has players with questions to be answered, while there is still much sorting out to be done.
The one DE that pro scouts are pretty much agreed upon is Ohio State junior Joey Bosa, who is generally considered to be the consensus #1 prospect overall for the upcoming draft. Indeed, the 6-5, 275-pound Bosa, who has prototype size, strength and quickness as well as a non-stop motor, reminds pro scouts of Houston DE J.J. Watt, the most dominating defensive player in the NFL these days. In fact, about the only chink on Bosa’s armor is that he has had some minor off-field issues in the past and, in fact, will miss the Buckeyes’ season opener against Virginia Tech for one of those proverbial violations of team rules.
Adding to the flavor of this year’s DE class is the fact that there are as many as three guys who at one time or another were rated as top 10 prospects for the 2015 draft in Shawn Oakman of Baylor, Oregon’s DeForest Buckner and Shilique Calhoun of Michigan State, but all three ultimately opted to return to school for their senior campaign this fall. In fact, both Oakman and Buckner are still pretty close to elite prospects, although neither figures to be a top 10 lock this coming April. Oakman, for example, is a freakish 6-8, 275-pound specimen with a sculpted physique and the quickness and agility of a much smaller player; Oakman has also been absolutely dominant at times in his career – he had 11 sacks in 2014 – but he is still an unfinished product who struggles with pad level at times while there are also lingering questions about his overall football instincts. At 6-6, 290, Buckner is also an imposing physical presence on the football field who is probably a better prospect than Arik Armstead, his former Oregon teammate who was the 15th player selected (by the 49ers) at the 2015 draft. Buckner just eats up blockers holding the point of attack; however, he’s also pretty much exclusively a 5-tech DE who isn’t going to get much more than an average pass rush, but could get some looks from 4-3 teams as a DT. On the other hand, while Oakman and Buckner still look opening round picks for the upcoming draft, Calhoun has seen his stock slip somewhat. In particular, while scouts really like his technical consistency and work ethic, Calhoun isn’t necessarily a great athlete and lacks elite explosion off the snap.
At the same time, there is a growing top 10 buzz about a couple of other junior DEs in Emmanuel Ogbah of Oklahoma State and Auburn’s Carl Lawson. At 6-4, 275 with long arms and good quickness and explosion, Ogbah is one of the few really promising prototype 4-3 DEs in this year’s draft. Ogbah, who had 11 sacks in 2014, though he is still somewhat rough around the edges and needs to refine his pass rush arsenal as he tends to win most of his battles these days with raw physical ability. No question, though, that the raw physical tools are there. Meanwhile, Auburn’s Lawson has the tools to be this year’s Dante Fowler, the former Florida Gator DE who was the third player off the board this past spring after rocketing up draft boards late in the process. Lawson didn’t play in 2014 because of a torn ACL, but if healthy – and he reportedly looked terrific in fall camp – is a solidly built 6-2, 270-pounder with explosive quickness off the edge.
Of course, the other huge wild card at DE this year is Louisville junior Devonte Fields. Fields looked like a future elite prospect when he tore up the Big XII as a freshman at TCU in 2012, but was injured much of the following year and then spent the 2014 campaign at a junior college after being booted from TCU as a result of a domestic violence incident involving an ex-girlfriend. Whether he ultimately passes the character – and given the NFL’s current sensitivity to domestic violence – that won’t be easy, Fields at least still looks the part of a 4-3 DE or 3-4 edge rusher; he’s 6-4, 255 with long arms and very quick first step.
However, like a number of other positions for the 2016 draft, teams may not want to dawdle at DE as there really isn’t a lot of depth at the position. The exception might be 3-4 DE as Jarran Reed and Jonathan Allen of Alabama, Jonathan Bullard of Florida, Charles Tapper of Oklahoma and Notre Dame junior Sheldon Day could be good value on the second day. In contrast, there just doesn’t appear as if there will be many interesting second-day options among 4-3 DEs, athough the one exception may be Brnson Kaufusi of BYU who, a 6-6, 275 athlete, who will be bacj at DE full-time this year after an ill-fated attempt to have him play OLB last year.
http://gbnreport.com/2016-draft-preview/
AgamemnonWide receivers
By Colin Lindsay | August 23, 2015
No Comments‘Tis better to receive … The wide receiver position has been one of the positions of choice at recent drafts. Indeed, two receivers were taken among the first 7 picks in each of the past couple of drafts, including former Alabama star Amari Cooper and West Virginia’s Kevin White who were the 4th and 7th picks respectively by Oakland and Chicago at the 2015 draft. At the same time, a total of 11 WRs were taken in the opening round of the past two drafts combined, the most of any position.
And there likely won’t be a huge drop-off in the talent level at the position at the upcoming draft, although time will tell whether the WRs come off the board quite as quickly this spring as in the past couple of years. Juniors Tyler Boyd of Pittsburgh and Mississippi’s Laquon Treadwell, for example, both have top 10 ability, but both have issues which could impact their ultimate draft fate. In particular, Boyd, who doubles as one of the top returners in the country, will not play in the Panthers’ season opener next month after he was charged with DUI back in June. Meanwhile, Treadwell is coming off a gruesome leg injury late last season in which he suffered a broken leg and dislocated an ankle. However, if they get cleared both are very talented receivers. Boyd, in particular, is a big-play threat who put together back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his first two years at Pitt. Boyd isn’t the most physical receiver, but he has good speed, along with better quickness while he also has great hands and the ability to get open. For his part, Treadwell is a potential mismatch problem on every snap with his combination of size and athleticism along with elite body control and the ability to track and go up and get the ball.
In fact, underclassmen are going to pretty much determine the strength of the 2016 wide receiver class. In addition to Boyd and Treadwell, fellow junior receivers Michael Thomas of Ohio State, Mike Williams of Clemson and Florida’s Demarcus Robinson each has later first round potential, while there is another small army of junior receivers that should get some second-day consideration if they opt to enter this year’s draft including Rashard Higgins of Colorado State, Travin Dural of LSU, Mississippi State’s De’Runnya Wilson, Pharoah Cooper of South Carolina, Tennessee’s Marquez North, Stacy Coley of Miami, 6-5 Corey Robinson of Notre Dame, Josh Reynolds of Texas A&M, Corey Coleman of Baylor and Cayleb jones of Arizona.
At the same time, Duke Williams of Auburn, arguably the top senior receiving prospect this year, also has mid-to-late first round potential, but he comes with a boatload of character concerns that may scare away more than one team next spring. Josh Doctson of TCU, another big-play type could also conceivably get some late opening round consideration, although he’s had some injury issues in the past. Meanwhile, other senior WRs with top 100 credentials include Leonte Carroo of Rutgers, Colorado’s Nelson Spruce, Devon Cajuste of Stanford and Sterling Shepherd of Oklahoma.
There are also a number of possible wild cards at the position starting with former Ohio State QB Braxton Miller who will be catching passes this fall rather than throwing them. Miller still claims to be a QB and is playing WR this year primarily because his surgically repaired throwing shoulder still isn’t 100%, but most NFL scouts will tell you they are secretly thrilled that Miller will be working at receiver this year because he just doesn’t have an NFL arm. Meanwhile, other veteran wild card receivers worth multiple looks this year include D.J. Foster of Arizona State, who ran for over 1,000 yards as a RB last fall, but like Miller moves to receiver this fall. Same for Oregon speedster Byron Marshall. Meanwhile, anyone looking for a break out star at the position this year may not need to look much farther than TCU’s Kolby Listenbee, an emerging big-play threat with track speed.http://gbnreport.com/wide-receivers/
AgamemnonSeptember 20, 2015 – 11:19 pm
Defensive rankings posted … A little later than we actually planned, but our initial ranking of the DEs, DTs, MLBs, OLBs, CBs and safeties for the 2016 draft have been posted. And while there is still over 200 days to go until the picks start to come off the board next April, on first blush, it looks like it could be a very good year at CB, DE and OLB, while it should be pretty good at DT. On the other hand, the pickings at MLB and safety look like they could be considerably slimmer.
http://gbnreport.com/ Agamemnon
DE could very well end up being the best and likely deepest position of any group at the upcoming draft. At the same time, though, there is still a ton of work for pro scouts to do on the group which is talented, but still has players with questions to be answered, while there is still much sorting out to be done.
check above for more info.
AgamemnonTE Preview
By Colin Lindsay | August 25, 2015
http://gbnreport.com/te-preview/As more and more college teams across the country adopt the spread offense, more and more college teams are downplaying the TE position. Or at least the traditional two-way TE position which requires both a good blocker and receiver. And that trend shows up in the 2016 TE draft class which may end up being one of the weakest in years as there doesn’t appear to be any player at the position likely to be taken anywhere near the opening round.
However, pro teams that are looking to upgrade at TE at the upcoming draft may adopt the old ‘go west young man’ in their search. At least they’ll head to the SEC West which has the consensus top three prospects at the position this year in juniors Hunter Henry of Arkansas, Alabama’s O.J. Howard and Evan Engram of Mississippi. The Hogs’ Henry is the closest to a throwback among the top prospects at the position this year; on the one hand, Henry is a physical in-line blocker who can get some push at the point of attack, but is also an accomplished receiver with good hands who uses his size effectively to shield defenders away from the ball. And while no gazelle, Henry does have just enough speed to get into the seam on occasion. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Howard is a former 5-star recruit with exceptional athletic ability including reported sub-4.6 speed. The 6-6 Howard also has prototype length and a huge catching radius, as well as better than average hands, but pro scouts are still waiting for that talent to translate to productivity on the field. For his part, Ole Miss’ Engram is more a glorified WR with big-play receiving skills; indeed, the 6-3, 230-pound Engram, who isn’t much of a blocker, averaged over 17 yards per catch in 2014 when he had 38 total receptions despite missing three games with an ankle injury. There could be another underclassman in that top group if Stanford junior Austin Hooper, another solid two-way guy who can block as well as contribute as a receiver, opts to enter the upcoming draft; however, Hooper technically still has three years of eligibility left and may choose to stick around school awhile longer.
There is something of a drop-off to the senior TEs in this year’s class, but there are several veterans at the position who could be useful options in the middle rounds including Nick Vannett of Ohio State, Kyle Carter of Penn State, Darion Griswald of Arkansas State, Bryce Williams of East Carolina, Jay Rome of Georgia, Braxton Deaver of Duke and Ryan Malleck of Virginia Tech.
Everything else being equal, though, the top senior prospect at the position should be athletic Pharoah Brown of Oregon; however, the rangy 6-6 Brown suffered a rather gruesome leg injury late last season and still isn’t 100% sure he’ll even play at all this fall. Pro scouts will also be watching the progress of Colorado State’s Kivon Cartwright, another solid receiver with some explosiveness, who was granted a 6th year of eligibility after he played in only one game last year because of an ankle injury. Agamemnonhttp://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php
2016 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Ends
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/OhioState_logo.gif
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-6. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2016): Top-10 Pick.
9/26/15: Bosa recorded six tackles and .5 sacks against Northern Illinois. He was suspended for the season opener against Virginia Tech for either an academic violation or testing positive for marijuana use. Bosa was quiet against Hawaii for his first contest of the season.8/22/15: Bosa will miss the first game of 2015 over a suspension for violating team rules. It will be interesting to see if this comes back to hurt him in the future. In 2014, Bosa recorded 55 tackles with 13.5 sacks, 21 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and pass defended. He simply lived in opponents’ backfields. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder has quickness to go with natural strength. He has a serious burst off the snap with the speed to turn the corner. The sophomore also displayed good hands to shed blocks while working upfield. Many have compared Bosa to J.J. Watt, but that isn’t fair to Bosa as Watt has rewritten NFL record books and is the best player in the NFL. That being said, Bosa is a great prospect who looks like he has the talent to be perennial Pro Bowler and double-digit sacker.
Bosa was one of the best freshmen in 2013 and clearly is full of talent. He racked up 44 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble that season.
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/MichiganState_logo.gif
Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2016): 1.
9/26/15: Calhoun notched four tackles against Air Force. A week earlier, he had a solid performance against Oregon with three tackles and a coverage sack. Calhoun has shown an improved set of pass-rushing moves this season, including a spin move and a rip move. In 2015, he has eight tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks.8/22/15: Calhoun needs to add some weight for the NFL if he’s going to remain a defensive end. It would help if Calhoun added some functional strength as well. He also needs to add to his repertoire of pass-rushing moves. After a slow start to 2014, Calhoun played better in the second half of the year. The junior speed rusher recorded 39 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks and a forced fumble for the season.
Calhoun was one of the top players on Michigan State’s superb defense in 2013. For the year, he recorded 37 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/OklahomaState_logo.gif
Emmanuel Ogbah*, DE, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.77.
Projected Round (2016): 1-2.
9/26/15: While going against the early season’s weak opponents, Ogbah has sacks in all three games. He’s totaled 13 tackles, 4.5 for a loss and three sacks so far.8/22/15: Ogbah broke out for the Cowboys in 2014 with 11 sacks, 49 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and five passes batted. He has quickness to go with strength and made a lot of plays in the backfield. Ogbah isn’t a pure speed rusher or quick twitch, but he has power, plays the run well and has a good motor. As a freshman in 2013, Ogbah had four sacks and 20 tackles while rotating into the game.
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Mississippi_logo.gif
Robert Nkemdiche, DE/DT, Ole Miss
Height: 6-4. Weight: 296.
Projected 40 Time: 4.81.
Projected Round (2016): 1-3.
9/26/15: This season, Nkemdiche has 11 tackles, 3.5 for a loss and one sack. He had a huge performance against Alabama with six tackles, one sack and another 1.5 of his tackles were for a loss.Nkemdiche has a tremendous skill set with the speed and agility of a linebacker. For the NFL, there is no doubt that he has the ability to be a disruptive presence at the point of attack. Nkemdiche is a tremendous run defender, but sources say that he isn’t a natural pass-rusher and his lack of sacks illustrates that.
8/22/15: Laquan Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil weren’t the only star recruits to choose Ole Miss in an amazing 2013 class. Nkemdiche was considered to be the No. 1 player in the nation. He certainly flashed more than once in 2013. The freshman totaled 34 tackles with two sacks and eight tackles for a loss that year.
The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder has tons of physical talent with speed and athleticism. He could grow into a defensive tackle. In 2014, Nkemdiche recorded 35 tackles with two sacks. Thus far, he has not looked like a natural pass-rusher. Nkemdiche flashes serious size and speed talent, but lacks consistency. Perhaps that will come as a junior.
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Oregon_logo.gif
DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Height: 6-7. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
Projected Round (2015): 1-3.
9/26/15: In 2015, Buckner has 15 tackles with four for a loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass batted. He has played really well for the Ducks as a run defender and could produce more pass rush if they turned him lose. Their scheme has suppressed the pass-rush potential of other edge rushers like Arik Armstead and Dion Jordan.8/22/15: Buckner has a similar skill set to former teammate Arik Armstead. Buckner recorded 81 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, four sacks and four passes broken up in 2014. He looks capable of a big senior year, but Oregon’s scheme doesn’t lend itself to big sack totals as evidenced by Armstead and Dion Jordan.
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Baylor_logo.gif
Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
Height: 6-9. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.84.
Projected Round (2016): 1-3.
9/26/15: Oakman has six tackles, 3.5 for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble in his one games this season. He was suspended for the season opener because of a team rules violation. NFL teams already had off-the-field concerns with Oakman that the suspension will only add to.8/22/15: Oakman notched 48 tackles with 18.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, three passes batted and three forced fumbles in 2014. In the early going of the season, he was one of the more impressive players in college football. Oakman cooled down as the season progressed. He lacks instincts and technique, so he needs development. In some ways, Oakman is similar athlete and prospect to Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Margus Hunt, a second-round pick in 2013.
Oakman is strong and quick, but doesn’t play consistently up to his skill set. He looks like a great fit as a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense. Oakman also could be a base end in a 4-3 defense. Baylor also lines him up at defensive tackle and as a standup rush linebacker. Oakman just has to get more consistent and play up to his physical skills. In 2013, he totaled 33 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Oakman spent 2011 with a redshirt at Penn State. He then sat out the 2012 season after transferring.
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/NotreDame_logo.gif
Sheldon Day*, DE/DT, Notre Dame
Height: 6-2. Weight: 285.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2015): 2-3.
9/26/15: Day has six tackles, three for a loss and one sack in 2015. He has been a difference-maker and very disruptive at the point of attack.8/22/15: Day was a disruptive presence for Notre Dame in 2014 and played better than the numbers suggest. He totaled 40 tackles with 7.5 for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and two passes batted. Day has some natural strength and athleticism. He had a solid sophomore season, but the first-year starter didn’t have the breakout 2013 that many expected. He recorded 33 tackles with 5.5 tackles for a loss and only .5 sacks that year.
image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Alabama_logo.gif
Jonathan Allen*, DE, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 264.
Projected 40 Time: 4.76.
Projected Round (2016): 2-3.
9/26/15: This season, Allen has seven tackles, three for a loss, three sacks and two passes batted. He recorded two sacks against Ole Miss and was impressive against Wisconsin. Allen has helped his draft stock this season. He’s a tough player at the point of attack.8/22/15: Allen played well for the Crimson Tide as a sophomore. He had 33 tackles with 11.5 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and one pass broken up. Allen could produce more as a junior.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#VPXPPQgAHq2SfIg5.99
Agamemnon
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