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
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Stanley has generated a ton of late-season buzz, and he put an exclamation point on it by getting the better of the top draft-eligible defensive lineman, Leonard Williams, in limited plays against each other last Saturday. There were only a few of those reps, but they were impressive nonetheless that Stanley was able to handle one of the best defensive lineman in college football. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Stanley has good size to play left tackle in the NFL with quickness and athleticism.
Stanley broke into the starting lineup at right tackle as a sophomore and was part of a quality offensive line. He’s been superb at left tackle this year. Stanley’s stock is rising high and going early in the 2015 NFL Draft seems very possible – if he declares.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama Cooper was dominant in the Iron Bowl – just like he’s been all year. Midway through the first quarter, Cooper ran into the end zone and jumped over the Auburn cornerback for a 17-yard touchdown. When the Crimson Tide needed a big play in the third quarter, Cooper provided it with a 39-yard touchdown. He ran a great route with a jab step to the outside and a cut back to the middle to get wide open for his quarterback.
Cooper kept destroying Auburn; this time with a 78-yard touchdown. He lined up in the slot and ran a double-move before going deep to get wide open. Cooper set up more points for the Crimson Tide’s offense to put the game away. He totaled 13 receptions for 224 yards.
Entering the SEC Championship game, Cooper has 103 receptions for 1,573 yards with 14 touchdowns. This was another great tape from Cooper that illustrates that he’s a future No. 1 receiver in the NFL and a top-10 talent.
Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn If it weren’t for Cooper’s huge second half, Coates would be the headliner from the Iron Bowl as he was excellent versus the Crimson Tide. After dropping a touchdown, Coates helped make up for it with a 34-yard touchdown reception. He burned cornerback Eddie Jackson running a go route down the sideline when Jackson got caught looking at the quarterback. Coates made a nice hands catch to reel it in. He made another game-changing play a little bit later by burning Jackson again on a go route. Nick Marshall made a great pass to hit Coates in stride for a 68-yard touchdown. Another 40-yard reception over Landon Collins produced more points for the Tigers. Coates totaled 206 yards on five receptions.
The 6-foot-2, 201-pounder would have produced more this season if he played in a passing offense instead of Auburn’s ground-based attack. This performance illustrates his phenomenal combination of size and speed. If Coates enters the 2015 NFL Draft, this will help his bid to be a first-round pick.
DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville After missing seven games with a broken foot suffered in training camp, Parker has been superb for Louisville and hasn’t had a drop off in production after losing Teddy Bridgewater to the NFL. Parker has gone over 130 yards in four of his five games. In the regular-season finale against Kentucky, he ripped off 180 yards and three touchdowns on six receptions. Parker ran a nice 45-yard route for one of his scores. He also ran a dig and went through a few tacklers to dart into the end zone from 33 yards out.
Parker has 35 receptions for 735 yards and five touchdowns this year. The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder is proving to be worthy of a top-25 pick. Parker could be a potential No. 1 receiver for the next level.
Henry Anderson, DE, Stanford Anderson has been red hot in the final month of the season and has closed out his final regular-season in impressive fashion versus UCLA. He was active in stuffing the run throughout the game. Early in the third quarter, Anderson charged into the backfield to make a tackle for a loss. He later used his speed to fire by right guard Scott Quessenberry to chase down the mobile Brett Hundley for a sack. Against UCLA, Anderson totaled six tackles with a sack and tackle for a loss.
Anderson has 62 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and two passes broken up this year. His strong finish to the season helps his bid to be a second-day pick. Anderson would fit well in the NFL as a defensive end in a 3-4 defense, the same position he’s played in college.
Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson Beasley has owned South Carolina across his career and kept that up in the final home game of his Clemson career. Early in the second quarter, Beasley made a splash play. He cut to the inside of left tackle Corey Robinson, shed a block from guard A.J. Cann and ran down Dylan Thompson in the flat to slap the ball out while sacking the quarterback. A teammate recovered the fumble for Clemson. Beasley later beat Robinson for another sack and had a lot of other pressures as he routinely blew by the left tackle.
Beasley has 11 sacks, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 34 tackles, three forced fumbles and two passes defended in 2014. Some pundits have projected Beasley as a top-10 pick, and the need for pass-rushers could help push the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder into the top half of the 2015 NFL Draft. Teams have told WalterFootball.com that they view Beasley as a back half of the first-round pick and a future outside linebacker in the NFL.
Jalen Collins, CB, LSU Collins took on some talented receivers from Texas A&M in Speedy Noil, Josh Reynolds, Malcome Kennedy and Ricky Seals-Jones this past weekend. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Collins showed that he could cover the Aggies play-making receivers. He ran with all the receivers and prevented them from getting separation. Collins broke up a few passes, made a few tackles and recorded his first interception of the year.
Collins has 33 tackles with nine passes broken up and the interception this year. With the Seahawks’ cornerbacks en vogue, Collins should have plenty of admirers. WalterFootball.com has heard from sources that Collins is extremely fast in the 40, which, if true, could help send his draft stock skyrocketing. This tape should help Collins to grade out as a first-round pick.
Carl Davis, DT, Iowa Davis had one of his best games of the year versus Nebraska. He was active in the pass rush and wasn’t just a run-stuffer like he has been in some other outings. Early in the second quarter, Davis fought off a block with a spin move to hit Armstrong as he threw the ball. That sent the ball up in the air like a punt. An Iowa defender ran underneath it to pick it off and coast into the end zone from about 15 yards out. With Nebraska trying to get back into the game, Davis blocked a short field goal to give momentum back to Iowa. He added a sack, two tackles for a loss, three tackles and a number of pressures that led to incompletions.
Davis has 34 tackles with nine tackles for a loss, two sacks and a pass broken up in 2014. He looks like a good fit as a nose tackle in a 4-3 defense or a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. This tape should help Davis to be a Day-2 selection.
Honorable Mentions: Fresno State defensive tackle Tyeler Davison, Florida defensive back Brian Poole, Florida State tight end Nick O’Leary, Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan, East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden and Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall.
2015 NFL Draft Stock Down
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State Winston has made a habit of comeback wins while bailing out his teammates from big holes. Against Florida though, he created the deficit for the Seminoles and his teammates were the ones who saved him from costing the team its shot at the college playoffs. Winston finished completing 12-of-24 passes for 125 yards with two scores and four interceptions. It was the worst performance of his collegiate career.
Normally, Winston has good field vision, but he didn’t see the field well at all versus the Gators. He was playing a good defense, but he made mistakes that were very ugly as he failed to see defenders sitting in the middle of routes. Winston has completed 65 percent of his passes this year for 3,250 yards with 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He has far surpassed last year’s total of 10 picks. Winston’s off-the-field reports are going to hurt his draft stock, and this tape will do the same.
Corey Robinson, OT, South Carolina Even when Robinson knew that Vic Beasley’s speed rush was coming, Robinson was incapable of stopping him. Last year, Beasley burned Robinson for multiple sacks, and despite that beating, Beasley had his way with Robinson and guard A.J. Cann again. Beasley beat Robinson for a few sacks and came close to a bunch of others. Robinson was incapable of getting a finger on Beasley on some speed rushes. Clearly, Robinson was overwhelmed.
There is no doubt that Robinson can’t play left tackle as a pro. He has to move to right tackle. Robinson is a strong run-blocker and is athletic for his size, but he isn’t agile or quick enough to play on the left side. Robinson is also too tall to play guard.
In the NFL, Robinson could be similar to San Diego Chargers left tackle King Dunlap as a massive tackle who struggles with speed rushers. Dunlap’s had some ugly performances during his career, but he has played much better with San Diego than at other stops. If Robinson starts quickly in his NFL career, don’t be surprised if he has some meltdown performances that see him give up some huge sack totals. Defenses are going to send their best speed rushers his direction instead of the left tackle until Robinson proves he can stop speed. Robinson could need a lot of double-team help from his tight end as a pro.
Dishonorable Mention: South Carolina guard A.J. Cann and Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt.
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