This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2016 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2016 NFL Draft Stock Up
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor Coleman kept up his prolific season by torching Kansas State last Thursday night for 11 receptions for 216 yards with two touchdowns. One score was an 81-yarder on which he burned coverage on a go route running down the field. Coleman ripped off some other long receptions over the evening as he was just too fast for the Kansas State defensive backs.
Coleman is a vertical receiver who offers a lot of speed for the NFL. He won’t win with size, but he could be a home-run hitter who stretches a defense vertically. While Coleman doesn’t provide a size mismatch, he is big enough to line up on the outside and isn’t just a slot receiver. Coleman’s huge year should have him on a path to eventually grade out as a late first-round or second-round pick for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame Last week, I moved Fuller into the first round of my 2016 NFL mock draft, and Fuller illustrated why as he was superb against Pittsburgh. A couple plays into the game, Fuller streaked down the field and got open for a 47-yard touchdown. He burned the safety with sheer speed down the field. Late in the second quarter, Fuller ran a deep post and hauled in a pretty over-the-shoulder catch for a 46-yard touchdown. He added a 14-yard touchdown reception later to enrich his total of seven receptions for 152 yards with those three scores. Fuller has 44 catches for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Fuller needs to get a little stronger for the NFL, but he has the speed to be a vertical play-maker who takes the top off of a defense. This is another tape that shows that Fuller is a first- or second-round talent, and his stock is climbing with what he has done as a junior with a freshman starter at quarterback.
A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama All of Alabama’s front seven played well against LSU, but the most impressive defender among a great team effort came from Robinson. He led the way to stuff a number of runs from Leonard Fournette and also was getting after the quarterback. This was the best game of the year for Robinson as he showed overwhelming power at the point of attack with the quickness to close.
Robinson has 29 tackles with 4.5 for a loss. This tape will aid his draft grade and help to trend his stock upward.
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Treadwell has been on a hot streak, and that continued against Arkansas. He made some vertical plays with a receptions of 30 and 41 yards before snagging a 17-yard touchdown catch. On the last play before intermission, Treadwell came through with a huge blocked field goal. He totaled 132 yards on seven receptions with the score.
In 2015, Treadwell has 68 receptions for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns. He has gone over 100 yards with a score in five straight games. Along with being a big, physical receiver who is dangerous after the catch, Treadwell is a tremendous blocker. He is a tough possession receiver for the NFL that looks like a mid- to late first-rounder. A lack of speed to separate is what pushes Treadwell out of the top of the Round 1, but he is showing the ability to be a dependable receiver to move the chains.
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Against Minnesota, Bosa had an excellent game. He made a number of good stops in the ground game where he shed blocks and stuffed backs. Joey had a tackle for a loss on an end around and multiple hits on the quarterback, dropped into coverage to break up a pass, and late in the fourth quarter, helped a teammate to record a coverage sack; it wasn’t credited to Bosa, but he helped make the play. It was an excellent tape from Bosa that shows why he’s a future top-10 pick.
In 2015, Bosa’s pass-rushing numbers have been down, but his run defense has been strong. He has 33 tackles with 12 for a loss and 3.5 sacks on the year. Sources feel that Bosa is a good player who has been overhyped, but they still see him as a top-10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Honorable Mentions: Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook, and LSU wide receiver Travin Dural.
2016 NFL Draft Stock Down
KeiVarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame Russell gave up some receptions and allowed separation to Pittsburgh’s receivers. He was lucky that one long reception was ruled to be trapped with the ground and also got away with a pass interference. In fourth-quarter garbage time, Tyler Boyd beat Russell for a 51-yard touchdown. Boyd ran an out-and-up to get separation. Russell thought he had safety help, and rather than sprinting after Boyd, he thought it more important to point and shout at his teammate. Boyd coasted into the end zone for the score.
While Russell may have been right about the assignments, he needed to sprint after Boyd and try to recover rather than ask for help while Boyd is running open down the field. That was a pathetic play by Russell. Overall, this was a bad tape from Russell where he allowed separation and showed a lack of intelligence in his play.
Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Sources have said that Decker can’t stay at left tackle in the NFL, and that was given further proof against Minnesota. He was beaten for a sack and other pressures around the edge. In short, Decker allowed too much heat on Cardale Jones. For the next level, Decker (6-8, 315) is a much better fit at right tackle. He doesn’t have the feet, quickness and agility to be a blind-side blocker. Decker looks like a mid- to late first-rounder.
Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss Against Arkansas, Nkemdiche had some plays of disruption, but he also had plays where Razorbacks guard Sebastian Tretola or left tackle Denver Kirkland blasted him off the ball. He had pass-rush opportunities get stuffed as well. Nkemdiche had a grand total of one assisted tackle in Ole Miss’ overtime loss to Arkansas. This season, he has just 17 tackles with 5.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks. In three seasons as a starter, with 31 games played, Nkemdiche has a total of 5.5 sacks.
As usual, Nkemdiche had plays where he would fire into backfield with strength or speed but wouldn’t make the tackle or get a sack. That is a common refrain with him as he struggles to finish plays. Nkemdiche lacks awareness, which leads to him coming up empty in the backfield. He also lacks pass-rushing moves as tries to get by blockers with speed or a bull rush. In the NFL, Nkemdiche is going to need more than that. He should add spin, rip and club moves to set up blockers. Nkemdiche has a great skill set, but he doesn’t produce off of that.
Trevon Boykin, QB, TCU In recent weeks, there has been some media pumping up Boykin’s pro prospects, but Boykin really is just a dual-threat college quarterback, and that was proven against Oklahoma State. He threw four interceptions that helped the Cowboys to open up a big lead that was too much for TCU to come back from. Even though he has put up some prolific numbers in college, Boykin would be better off switching positions for the NFL.
Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU Entering the game against Alabama, Hawkins was having an impressive season in his first year as a left tackle for the Tigers. He looked reliable in pass protection and opened holes for Leonard Fournette. However, the Crimson Tide feature a lot of future NFL starters in their front seven, and Hawkins really struggled against them. He was beaten by edge rusher Tim Williams for a sack early in game. Late in the third quarter, A’Shawn Robinson drove back Hawkins into the backfield and pushed him to the side to tackle Fournette for no gain.
There were other plays where Hawkins was beaten for pressure around the edge. He showed that he still needs development in his technique and should get stronger for the NFL. Hawkins looked like he would be better off returning for his senior year rather than entering the 2016 NFL Draft.
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