This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2015 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2015 NFL Draft Stock Up
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville After coming back from breaking his foot, Parker has picked up where he left off in 2013 despite not having quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Against Florida State last Thursday night, Parker made his presence felt on the first play as he streaked through busted coverage to get wide open. He was hit in stride and ran to the five-yard line before being tackled by junior safety Tyler Hunter for a 71-yard gain. All night, Parker gave the Seminoles’ secondary fits.
Parker showed the ability to make some contested catches against big Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams. Parker used his size to shove away cornerback Ronald Darby for a 51-yard reception. Parker’s size and quickness was a mismatch as he was open even when some corners like Williams ran with him. Parker finished with eight receptions for 214 yards.
After two games played, Parker has 17 receptions for 346 yards. He showed the quickness to get open with the size and strength to make contested catches. Parker (6-3, 208) doesn’t have elite speed, but this tape showed that he is an early-round talent with the ability to make big plays against NFL-caliber defensive backs. This tape will help his draft grade.
P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State While DeVante Parker had a big game, one Florida State cornerback showed that he has the ability to cover the future NFL receiver and that was Williams. Parker had a couple of receptions on him, but they were good plays that Parker made and he wasn’t burning Williams down the field. The junior cornerback was a big physical defender on the edge.
Williams had a forced fumble not called his way, but it was a nice play that illustrated his strength to rip the ball out of the back’s hands. In the fourth quarter, Williams blanketed Parker to slap away a pass on a slant. He showed good skills to prevent receivers from getting separation. It was an impressive performance.
Williams had seven tackles with a tackle for a loss and two passes broken up against Louisville. In 2014, he has nine passes broken up, one interception and 32 tackles. The 6-foot, 196-pounder has speed, size, and physicality. This performance could help him to be a first-round pick.
Matt Jones, RB, Florida The Gators pulled off a shocking upset over Georgia, and Jones was the grinder who lead Florida to a victory. He came up with some huge runs that made the difference in the game. Jones set up scores in the first half and exploded for a 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It was a great run that showed some speed to get downfield.
All day, Jones powered through tacklers and picked up yards after contact. He broke some big tackles to get first downs and maintain time of possession for Florida. The junior was a tough, physical, downhill runner that showed good balance and vision. Against Georgia, he totaled 192 yards on 25 carries with two scores.
In 2014, Jones has averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 616 yards and five touchdowns. He has 10 receptions for 61 yards. Jones has talent, but has had issues staying healthy in college. This tape will help him to command attention from NFL draft evaluators, but even so he should probably return for his senior year.
Michael Dyer, RB, Louisville The former Auburn Tiger ran over the Florida State defense all night. He ripped off yards in chunks with his longest run being 20 yards. In the second quarter, Dyer had a great drive to move the ball down the field on some chunk runs, and he finished it with a short touchdown run in the second quarter. After a Winston interception, Dyer darted into the end zone a second time. It easily could have been called the other way. He had a few nice runs in the fourth quarter including a short touchdown. Dyer finished with 134 yards on 28 carries with three scores.
In 2014, Dyer has averaged 4.8 yards per carry for 372 yards with four touchdowns. He’s totaled 307 yards in the past two games against N.C. State and Florida State. Dyer (5-9, 213) clearly has early-round talent, but his off-the-field issues could cause him to fall late or go undrafted. However, this tape will help Dyer to get drafted or, at least, get a chance in some team’s training camp as an undrafted free agent.
Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, Florida The Gators’ defense came through with a strong game to help Florida knock off Georgia. In the first quarter, Fowler was active with a pressure to force an incompletion on a third down and had a tackle for a loss after shedding a block in ground game. He showed his pass rush later with a speed rush around the right side for a sack. Shortly later, Fowler joined Jonathan Bulllard for a tackle for a loss coming unblocked around the left side to chase down Nick Chubb. Fowler came close to another sack with a spin move, but quarterback Huston Mason was able to step up in the pocket. Fowler totaled six tackles, with 2.5 for a loss and a sack versus Georgia.
The stats don’t illustrate how much Fowler made his presence felt in the backfield as he blew up a number of plays. Likewise, his season totals don’t illustrate how well Fowler has played for the Gators. In 2014, he has 40 tackles with 7.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. With his speed and power, Fowler looks like a top-25 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Kevin White, CB, TCU White had the challenge of matching up against West Virginia’s Kevin White, one of the best receivers in the nation and a likely first-round pick. The Horned Frogs’ Kevin White had an excellent game limiting the star receiver. White consistently maintained tight coverage and prevented separation. The Mountaineers’ White was held to only three receptions for 28 yards. TCU’s Kevin White used the sideline and safety help over the top to make sure that he wasn’t part of any big plays allowed. White also added a pass broken up for the Horned Frogs to go with seven tackles and two for a loss.
White (5-10, 174) was an honorable mention Big XII pick by the conferences coaches last year, but was overshadowed by Jason Verrett. In 2014, White has 32 tackles with three tackles for a loss, two interceptions and five passes broken up. While White is undersized, he showed against West Virginia he can battle a big wideout. White should command some attention from scouts after this game.
Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn It has been hard for Coates to stand out this year with Auburn’s ground attack, the emergence of Duke Williams and the limitations of quarterback Nick Marshall. Coates came through with a big game against Ole Miss to help the Tigers stay alive in the playoff race. After having a deep ball get slapped out of his hands, Coates was excellent against the Rebels. In the second quarter, Coates made up for it with a 57-yard touchdown reception. He held on as cornerback Senquez Golson slapped at the ball. On the play, Coates ran by both Golson and Prewitt for the score. Coates later caught a jump ball for a 39-yard gain as he beat Golson for the pass. Coates finished with five receptions for 122 yards.
In 2014, Coates has 18 receptions for 358 yards and two scores. The 6-foot-2, 201-pounder has the speed to make big plays downfield with enough size and strength to win 50-50 passes. Coates is raw and could use some development, but he if he enters the 2015 NFL Draft, he could go in the first round.
Honorable Mentions: Florida State tight end Nick O’Leary, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Miami running back Duke Johnson, Kentucky defensive end Alvin Dupree and Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman.
2015 NFL Draft Stock Down
Karlos Williams, RB, Florida State Williams killed his draft stock with an off-the-field issue. The Tallahassee Police Department is looking into a domestic assault of Williams’ ex-girlfriend. She is the mother of their infant son and is pregnant with their second child. Even if Williams avoids legal trouble, considering the NFL’s controversy, he could easily fall into the undrafted ranks.
On the field, Williams has been disappointing this season as he hasn’t run with the power or speed that he displayed in 2013. Williams has averaged 4.6 yards per carry for 450 yards with seven touchdowns. He has 15 receptions for 143 yards.
Cody Prewitt, S, Ole Miss Prewitt had an underwhelming game against Auburn. He was part of burned coverage on a 57-yard touchdown by Sammie Coates. It was very ugly for Prewitt as his job was to not let a defender get behind him, but he got caught looking into the backfield while Coates ran right by him. Prewitt dished out some hits throughout the game, but he also didn’t wrapping up ball-carriers on a few plays. In the second quarter, Prewitt was stiff-armed away from a tackle. This tape won’t help his draft stock as he looked more like a second-day pick rather than a first-rounder.
Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford Montgomery gave NFL evaluators another tape that shows that he has suspect hands. The big, fast senior is a dangerous weapon as a receiver, runner, punt returner and kick returner, but he doesn’t show natural hands. Earlier this season, Montgomery dropped three passes against Notre Dame. Versus Oregon, there were a couple of plays that illustrated this lack of good hands. Montgomery let the ground take away a reception along the sideline when he hit the ground. It should have been a catch. On the same drive, Montgomery juggled a pass he tipped to himself on a screen, and it fell incomplete. He was lucky it wasn’t intercepted.
In 2014, Montgomery has 56 receptions for 549 yards with three scores. He has 118 yards on the ground (6.2 average) with a touchdown, too. The senior has averaged 18.3 yards per punt return with two scores and 25.2 yards per kick return. Montgomery is a versatile weapon, but he just doesn’t have natural hands. Montgomery needs to improve that for the next level.
Dishonorable Mention: Georgia linebacker Ramik Wilson, Florida State wide receiver Rashad Greene and South Carolina left tackle Corey Robinson.
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