The top prospects available for the 2017 NFL Draft.
By Charlie Campbell.
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Updated Nov. 2, 2016
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Top-5 Prospects:
- Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M. Previously: 1
11/02/16: Garrett was held out against New Mexico State. Against Alabama, he was held without a sack by Cam Robinson, but still recorded some pressures. Garrett got off to slow start in that outing, but he did well in run defense after that, totaling seven tackles with 3.5 for a loss.
Garrett was restricted with an ankle injury against Tennessee. He started the game well, recording a tackle for a loss and a strip-sack, but was quiet as he hobbled through the second half and overtime. Because of the ankle injury, Garrett was held out against South Carolina. He had three tackles with one for a loss and a fumble recovery against Arkansas, but he suffered the aforementioned injury on a cheap shot from Razorbacks left tackle Dan Skipper and couldn’t finish the drive.
In Week 1, Garrett notched three tackles, 1.5 for a loss and one sack against UCLA. Garrett had his way with Bruins left tackle Conor McDermott and got his sack by bull rushing through McDermott. For the season, Garrett has 21 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, four sacks and one forced fumble.
08/31/16: Aside from Fournette, Garrett is the other athletic freak and phenom for the 2017 NFL Draft. Garrett has ridiculous speed and a developed body with natural strength. He has a tremendous first-step out of his stance. After his great get-off, Garrett quickly accelerates to turn the corner. He has the ability to sink his hips and bend around the tackles to get pointed to the quarterback. Garrett also has good balance and natural strength to fight off blockers.
There are times where Garrett also flashes speed to power and can push offensive tackles into the pocket after getting upfield. Aside from his blinding speed and strength, Garrett has instincts to go for forced fumbles and batted passes. He looks like a potential high-impact pass-rusher in the NFL who will annually produce double-digit sack seasons.
During 2014, Garrett broke the NCAA freshman sack record previously set by Jadeveon Clowney with 11.5 sacks. Garrett also had 53 tackles and 14 for a loss that season. In 2015 even with teams sending extra blocking his direction, he continued to overwhelm the opposition. Garrett recorded 59 tackles with 12.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles, two passes batted and an interception on the year. He was utterly unblockable in many games.
Garrett (6-5, 255) is working to improve his run defense as there are plays in the run game that he can get pushed back. If he is to stay in a 4-3 defense, he could use more strength for holding his gap against downhill runs. - Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU. Previously: 2
11/02/16: LSU had a bye last week. In LSU’s last action, Fournette dominated Ole Miss and showed his 2015 form as he ran for 284 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns. His scoring runs were 59, 76 and 78 yards. He set the single-game record for rushing yards ever at LSU. The Tigers held Fournette out against Southern Miss and Missouri with an ankle injury. After sitting out the Jacksonville State game and running over Mississippi State, Fournette ran for 101 yards on 16 carries against Auburn, but he re-injured his ankle in the fourth quarter.
The junior has run well this year, but his ankle injury looks like it is holding back some of the speed and explosion he had as a sophomore. In 2016, Fournette has averaged 8.1 yards per carry for 670 yards with five touchdowns. He has 12 receptions for 94 yards as well.
08/31/16: Of all the eligible players for the 2017 NFL Draft, Fournette is the most complete prospect. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder could be a devastating offensive weapon as soon as his rookie season. He is a rare prospect with great size, strength and speed.
Fournette has the rare ability to run over tacklers and is shockingly fast to break off long runs. He is a threat to score any time he touches the ball from any place on the field. Fournette has tremendous body lean, balance, vision, and surprising elusiveness for such a big physical runner.
For the NFL, Fournette has the potential to be an Adrian Peterson-like player who can carry his team and be a franchise player. The junior could have a huge influence on wins and losses.
Fournette took his game to another level last season. The sophomore averaged 6.5 yards per carry for 1,953 yards with 22 touchdowns, plus caught 19 passes for 253 yards with a touchdown. He was impressive as a freshman, too, averaging 5.5 yards per carry on 187 rushes for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns. - Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama. Previously: 3
11/02/16: Alabama had a bye last week. Allen had one sack, six tackles, and returned a fumble for a touchdown against Texas A&M. He recorded a sack and a bunch of tackles against Kentucky. A few weeks earlier, Allen recorded four tackles with an interception returned 75 yards for a touchdown against Ole Miss. He came close to a few sacks as well. Against USC, Allen dominated at the point of attack, totaling four tackles, two sacks and two passes batted. He was very disruptive, using his speed and strength to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. This year, Allen has 35 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, six sacks, two passes batted and one interception.
08/31/16: The 6-foot-3, 294-pounder is dangerous pass-rusher with the versatility to line up as defensive end and tackle. In 2015, Allen recorded 12 sacks with 36 tackles, 14.5 for a loss, two forced fumbles, and four passes batted. He was Alabama’s most consistent defensive lineman and rusher in a very talented group.
For the NFL, Allen would fit very well as a speedy three-technique defensive tackle. He is very fast at firing his gap, and his speed poses a real mismatch against guards. Allen has a quick first-step and uses that speed to transition to power. He rushes with good pad level and leverage, so he can get into a guard’s chest and toss the lineman to the side to break free on the quarterback. Allen’s upper body strength to shed blocks is very impressive, especially for a sub 300-pound defensive lineman. Allen has the speed to beat right tackles and also uses his power to win on the edge. - Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State. Previously: 4
11/02/16: Against Clemson, Cook was phenomenal with 169 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries. He did have a fumble and a dropped pass, but he was very impressive against one of the best defenses he will see all season. In Florida State’s loss to North Carolina, Cook had 29 carries for 140 yards and three touchdowns. He also had six receptions for 106 yards. Cook previously dominated South Florida. He ran for 267 yards on 28 carries with two touchdowns and four receptions for 62 yards against the Bulls. In the blowout loss to Louisville, Cook totaled 54 yards on 16 carries. Ole Miss held him in check on the ground in Week 1, as he totaled 91 yards on 23 carries. Cook did more damage through the air with seven receptions for 101 yards. He did have a fumble though, as he dropped the ball – untouched – when about to walk into the end zone. In 2016, Cook has averaged 6.0 yards per carry for 1,069 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 23 receptions for 371 yards.
08/31/16: Cook somewhat reminds me of Marshall Faulk with his speed, athleticism and versatility. As a runner, Cook is impossible not to like. He is fast to hit the hole and has serious acceleration to the second level of the defense. When Cook breaks into the open field, he has sheer speed to run away from a lot of defensive backs and is a threat to take the ball to the house on long touchdown runs. Cook also has excellent body lean, pad level, vision to weave through defenders, balance, and patience. He is elusive in the open field and slashes through defenses.
Cook (6-0, 203) also shows some natural receiving skills. He has soft hands and is an athletic route-runner. The junior is very smooth running out of the backfield and is extremely dangerous in space. As a pro, Cook should be a real weapon in the passing game.
As a freshman, Cook ran for 1,008 yards with an average of 5.9 per carry and eight touchdowns. He averaged 7.4 yards per carry in 2015 for 1,691 yards with 19 touchdowns, plus had 24 receptions for 244 yards and a score. - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State. Previously: 7
11/02/16: Taking on Northwestern, Hooker recorded 14 tackles. He made a few mistakes against Wisconsin, but also made some great plays. Against Indiana, he had seven tackles and an interception.
While Hooker hasn’t received a lot of media attention, he has been one of the breakout stars of the 2016 season. Ohio State lost both Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell to the NFL after the 2015 season, but Hooker has been an upgrade for the Buckeyes.
Hooker has totaled 50 tackles with four for a loss, .5 sacks, three passes broken up and four interceptions this season. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder has excellent size to go along with speed and instincts. Hooker eats up ground in an instant and also also can hit hard when he gets there. He could end up being one of the top prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft. - Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State. Previously: 8
11/02/16: In the early portion against rival Michigan, McDowell was quiet, but he came alive in the fourth quarter with a few tackles for a loss. McDowell notched one sack and three tackles against Maryland. Against Notre Dame, he had four tackles but harassed the quarterback a lot. In 2016, McDowell has 34 tackles with seven for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Sources have told WalterFootball.com that McDowell is a top-10 talent and could easily be a top-20 pick if he declares for the 2017 NFL Draft.
08/31/16: Last year, the Michigan State front seven was superb and McDowell enjoyed a breakout season. At times, he was the Spartans’ most disruptive defensive lineman. He totaled 41 tackles with 13 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick-six on the year. McDowell finished the year in excellent fashion.
McDowell is at his best when uses his quickness to get upfield. With his speed, he can fire his gap and get penetration into the backfield. His height can make him a little stiff though, and he isn’t great at bending to redirect, but that is typical with players of his stature. With McDowell being tall, playing with good pad level and leverage is important. When he stays low, he has a powerful bull rush.
There are a few things that McDowell could improve upon as a junior. He definitely could stand to get better at using his hands to shed blocks. Doing more to get off blocks is definitely necessary for McDowell to have success against NFL offensive linemen. - Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida. Previously: 6
11/02/16: Against Georgia, Tabor was excellent in pass coverage, plus recorded a sack. Missouri was an easy opponent for Tabor as he had two tackles along with an interception returned for a touchdown. Tabor recorded an interception and one tackle versus Vanderbilt. Against Tennessee, he had an impressive interception in off-man coverage, but he also gave up a few completions downfield. Tabor fell down in coverage at one point, and that allowed a 67-yard touchdown to the Volunteers.
Tabor played well against Kentucky in his first action of the year, recording an interception and two tackles. He had one tackle and a pass broken up against North Texas. In 2016, Tabor has 12 tackles with four interceptions and one pass broken up.
08/31/16: While Vernon Hargreaves III received more attention, one could make the argument that Tabor was the Gators’ best cornerback at times during the 2015 season. At the end of the season, Hargreaves even said that Tabor was playing at a higher level. Tabor had 40 tackles, 14 passes broken up and four interceptions – two of them being pick-sixes – in 2015. He hurt his draft stock with a suspension to open the 2016 season.
There is a lot to like about Tabor for NFL. He is very good at running the route and preventing separation from wide receivers in the short to intermediate part of the field. Tabor also has quick feet, length, and is put together well. He uses his quickness and athleticism to stay with wideouts in and out of their breaks. That puts him in good position to drive on the ball, and he breaks on the ball extremely aggressively. Tabor plays fast, physical, and really challenges receivers. He is a good tackler, but showed some hesitance when taking on power backs like Derrick Henry. Against the run, Tabor isn’t a liability, but he isn’t an asset. - Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC. Previously: 5
11/02/16: Jackson had six tackles and a pass broken up with some good returns on special teams against California. Against Arizona, Jackson recorded four tackles. The junior has 40 tackles with five passes broken up and two interceptions on the season. He has produced big plays in a number of games.
Taking on Arizona State, Jackson notched five tackles with a pass broken up. Versus Utah, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Jackson recorded six tackles and an interception against Stanford. In Week 2, he returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown.
Jackson had an awesome game against Alabama as he shut down star wide receiver Calvin Ridley. He held Ridley to only two receptions for nine yards on the night. Aside from shutting down one of the best wideouts in college football, Jackson showed his speed twice in the game by chasing down a running back downfield and making touchdown-saving tackles on long runs. Jackson also had a 40-yard kick return. While it was a rough night for USC, Jackson gave the NFL proof that he is a serious cover-corner prospect for the 2017 NFL Draft.
08/31/16: There is no doubt that the 5-foot-11, 186-pounder is a great athlete. He played in all three phases last year, catching passes, playing corner and returning both kicks and punts. On defense, Jackson notched 35 tackles with eight passes broken up and one interception at corner. As a wide receiver, he had 27 receptions for 414 yards and two touchdowns.
Jackson projects more as a cornerback than a receiver for the next level. In coverage, he is a fast athlete who is able to run with receivers. However, Jackson is prone to some lapses and needs to become a more disciplined defender. He really struggled with Notre Dame’s Will Fuller, a first-round pick of the Texans in the 2016 NFL Draft. Jackson needs to improve his coverage as a junior. - Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama. Previously: 9
11/02/16: Alabama had a bye last week. Against Texas A&M, Humphrey had an excellent interception in zone coverage to along with three tackles. He played well against Tennessee with good coverage to force some incompletions. Against Arkansas, Humphrey notched three tackles and had a lot of tight coverage, but also gave up a few receptions, including a touchdown. He had a rough game against Ole Miss as he gave up a few completions downfield, including a score. On those plays, Humphrey was close to the receivers and not allowing separation, but they were making receptions over him and he wasn’t doing a good job of playing the ball.
In the 2016 season opener, Humphrey had an excellent game against USC as he shut down wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was held to one catch for nine yards. Humphrey also snagged an interception, returning it 18 yards for a touchdown, and picked up a tackle for a loss. He’s totaled 20 tackles with two tackles for a loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups so far this year.
08/31/16: Sources at multiple teams think that Humphrey has high first-round potential. After redshirting in 2014, Humphrey had an excellent debut to help Alabama win last season’s National Championship. He earned a starting job across from Cyrus Jones and was the Crimson Tide’s top corner. In 2015, Humphrey totaled 45 tackles with three interceptions and eight passes broken up. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder is an Alabama legacy as the son of Bobby Humphrey. Marlon Humphrey could be poised for a huge 2016 season. - DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame. Previously: 10
11/02/16: After a rough showing against Stanford, Kizer played better against Miami, completing 25-of-38 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns. The horrible rain conditions from Hurricane Matthew produced a game against N.C. State with 10 fumbles, dropped passes and terrible snaps from start to finish. Kizer was 9-of-26 for 54 yards with an interception in that contest. It is hard to hold that game against him as the conditions were abysmal. He may never play a game in worse conditions for the rest of his life. Still, some cold-weather teams like Cleveland or Chicago might be soured some seeing how the wet conditions had such a big impact on Kizer. That tape will be a negative towards Kizer’s draft grade, but it won’t keep him from being the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Kizer has made a lot of accurate throws into tight windows this season while showing field vision to read the field. He has hung tough and thrown in the face of the rush and hasn’t allowed his vision to be distorted by the pass rush. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has a strong arm with a fastball that he can fire by defenders to beat good coverage, plus had the mobility to make plays with his feet.
Kizer started this year with a tremendous game against Texas and gave evidence to NFL teams that he could be a future franchise quarterback. He lofted in some beautiful passes between defenders. Kizer showed excellent decision-making versus Texas while maintaining his poise under pass rush. He protected the football and made extraordinary passes into small openings. Against the Longhorns, Kizer completed 15-of-24 passes for 215 yards with five touchdown passes. He ran for 77 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown as well.
In 2016, Kizer has completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,038 yards with 16 touchdowns and sevens interceptions. He also has run for six touchdowns. Kizer has the skill set to be one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2017 NFL Draft. - Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee. Previously: 12
11/02/16: Tennessee lost to South Carolina, but Barnett played well with three sacks and four tackles. He had a good start versus Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson, beating him for a strip-sack, and later, Barnett caught a deflection for an interception. After a hot start, he slowed down and Robinson had some wins against him, especially in the ground game. Barnett also got off to a strong start against Texas A&M with a sack and a hit that helped produce an interception, but he was quiet in the second half and in overtime. Barnett came alive in the second half against Georgia to help Tennessee pull off another comeback win. He totaled 2.5 tackles for a loss, five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Barnett put together a superb game against Florida the week before as he dominated in the second half to help the Volunteers pull off their huge comeback. He totaled five tackles, three for a loss, two sacks and one pass batted. On the year, Barnett has 36 tackles with 14.5 for a loss, nine sacks, one forced fumble and two passes broken up.
Sources say that they think Barnett is very similar to Shaq Lawson. He is a smooth rusher with good body lean and hand usage. Like Lawson, Barnett could be a top-20 pick in his draft class.
08/31/16: Barnett set records with a tremendous freshman season in 2014, totaling 10 sacks, with 20.5 tackles for a loss and 72 tackles. As a sophomore, his play was consistent throughout the season. He totaled 69 tackles with 12.5 for a loss and 10 sacks on the year. Aside from the sacks, Barnett put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.
Barnett (6-3, 268) is a danger off the edge. The best traits that he illustrates are an ability to sink his hips and dip under tackles to get leverage in chasing down the quarterback. Barnett bends extremely well and has enough lower body strength to stay up with tackles pressing down on him.
Barnett’s hands are very good for a college player as well. He shows a nice ability to use his hands and feet at the same time. Tackles try to get a hold of him, but Barnett has strong hands to slap them away and get free of blocks. Once Barnett is free, he has a real burst to close and is adept at getting the quarterback on the ground.
In the ground game, Barnett is a solid defender. He has room for improvement but isn’t a liability. Barnett could wear down in the NFL and should continue to work on his strength be a run stopper as a professional. Most importantly for the NFL, Barnett should work on building up a repertoire of pass-rushing moves. - Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame. Previously: 13
11/02/16: McGlinchey played well against Miami. Against N.C. State in terrible conditions, McGlinchey and the offensive line struggled with their footing. That led to McGlinchey giving up a sack and some pressures. He played well against Michigan State, overall. Throughout the night against the Spartans, he was dependable, though there was one play against Malik McDowell and a couple of others where DeShone Kizer scrambled into McGlinchey’s defender, but McGlinchey was reliable in pass protection and got a push in the ground game. He showed impressive power to open a goal-line hole for Kizer and on a pancake block in pass protection.
As a run blocker, McGlinchey can get movement at the point of attack. He flashes heavy hands to push defenders out of their gaps and open holes for his back. In pass protection, he looks like a natural at left tackle, and one wouldn’t have thought that he wasn’t playing the position last year. McGlinchey seems to have excellent feet to get depth in his kick slide and cut off speed rushers. He also has displayed a nice ability to bend at the knee, and that in combination with his feet, keeps him from having to reach after edge rushers.
McGlinchey was very impressive in his debut at left tackle for the Fighting Irish. His performance against Texas gave evidence that he is a future starting left tackle in the NFL and a first-round pick.
08/31/16: McGlinchey (6-7, 310) is a tough run blocker and has been part of a good Notre Dame line. After breaking into starting lineup during his sophomore year, the junior had an impressive 2015 season as a pass protector at right tackle where he showed nice athleticism and the strength to open holes in the ground game.
With Ronnie Stanley in the NFL, McGlinchey is moving to left tackle as a senior. If he has a big season at left tackle, he could rise high during the season and lead up to the 2017 NFL Draft. McGlinchey also has more of a physical style of play than than Stanley did. - Charles Harris, DE, Missouri. Previously: 14
11/02/16: Harris had seven tackles against Kentucky. To open the year, Harris put together underwhelming performances against West Virginia and Eastern Michigan with a total of five tackles in those games. However, he exploded versus Georgia with three sacks and seven tackles. Against LSU, Harris picked up six tackles. He has 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass batted and one forced fumble on the season.
08/31/16: In 2015, Harris enjoyed a breakout season totaling 56 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and two forced fumbles. His sack total doesn’t fully reflect his pass-rushing production and potential.
For the NFL, Harris is a dangerous edge rusher. What he does the best is get after the quarterback. Harris is a fast edge rusher with a fantastic first-step. He quickly achieves penetration into the backfield and shows a nice ability to finish off plays. Harris is a fast edge rusher who can burn tackles with pure speed around the corner. Not only is his speed dangerous, but he shows some good moves with an excellent spin move back to the inside. Harris has some speed-to-power skills with the ability to fight offensive tackles. Harris also has some functional strength for the pass rush and shows quality read-and-react skills.
Harris needs to improve his run defense and is undersized for a defensive end. Where he struggles is when runs come straight at him and he has to hold his gap. Being undersized means Harris can get pushed back and washed out of his gap, so that is the big area of improvement for him as a redshirt junior and after he enters the NFL. - Marshaun Lattimore, CB, Ohio State. Previously: 15
11/02/16: Taking on Northwestern, Lattimore had one tackle. Against Penn State, he played well with three tackles and two passes broken up. Lattimore has been excellent in coverage this season, and sources from multiple teams tell WalterFootball.com that Lattimore has graded out as a high first-rounder. He had excellent games against Tulsa and Oklahoma early in the season. In 2016, Lattimore has 28 tackles with eight passes broken up and three interceptions.
What helps Lattimore in coverage is that he has both the size to match up against big wideouts and the speed to run with receivers downfield. The 6-foot, 192-pounder has teams excited for his skill set, and many believe that Hooker will be a future No. 1 cover corner in the NFL.
- Jamal Adams, S, LSU. Previously: 16
11/02/16: LSU had a bye last week. Adams did a nice job in pass coverage to limit Evan Engram, Ole Miss’ best receiving weapon. In that contest, Adams had five tackles with .5 tackles for a loss, one pass broken up and some big plays on special teams. A few weeks earlier, he turned in a 13-tackle game against Auburn. Adams has 50 tackles on the season with three passes broken up on the year; however, he has zero interceptions or forced fumbles.
08/31/16: The 6-foot-1, 211-pound Adams is a rare safety prospect who is equally as good as a free or strong safety. In pass coverage, he is extremely instinctive. Adams is very good at covering a lot of ground and helping his cornerbacks over the top. He also is a reliable last line of defense.
Adams can cover in zone, man, and has ball skills to help break up passes or create turnovers. In run defense, he is a reliable tackler and he flies around the field. Adams will come downhill and pop running backs in the tackle box or on the perimeter.
As a freshman 2014, Adams recorded 66 tackles with five pass breakups in an impressive debut. He took his game to another level in 2015 and was one of the best safeties in college football. Adams totaled 67 tackles with six passes broken up and four interceptions on the year. He was all over the field for the LSU defense. - Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama. Previously: 18
11/02/16: Alabama had a bye last week. Williams continued his superb senior year with a sack and other pressures against Texas A&M. In 2016, he has 6.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 16 tackles, two forced fumbles and a pass batted.
Williams is a pass-rushing demon who is extremely difficult to block. The 6-foot-4, 252-pounder is extremely fast off the snap with the agility to beat tackles around the corner or to the inside. As a junior, he had 10.5 sacks in a part-time role. Williams also had 19 tackles and 12.5 of them were for a loss. He would be a great fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. - Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford. Previously: 17
11/02/16: McCaffrey ran for 169 yards on 23 carries with two scores and caught four passes for 27 yards and a score against Arizona. Taking on Washington State, he ran for 35 yards on eight carries. A week earlier, McCaffrey dominated USC with 165 yards on 30 carries and one touchdown on the ground. Through the air, he had four catches for 73 yards with a touchdown. Against Kansas State, McCaffrey ran for 126 yards on 22 carries with two scores. He had seven receptions for 40 yards, plus a 28-yard kick return and a 16-yard punt return as well. McCaffrey put together a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown, but it was called back by a questionable penalty.
In 2016, McCaffrey has averaged 5.5 yards per carry for 781 yards and five touchdowns. He has 24 receptions for 207 yards and one touchdown as well.
08/31/16: In my opinion, McCaffrey (6-0, 200) should have won last season’s Heisman Trophy because he carried Stanford in 2015. McCaffrey has a tremendous burst to break into the open field. He also has great vision and cutting ability. In 2015, McCaffrey averaged six yards per carry for 2,019 yards with eight touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 45 catches for 645 yards and five scores.
What really sets McCaffrey apart as a runner is his acceleration and explosiveness. He is a home-run hitter and a threat to rip off a huge gain every time he touches the ball. McCaffrey has a nice first-step, and he darts through the hole to get into the second level of the defense. In the open field, he has a second gear to pull away from defenders and also is very elusive. He uses his feet, vision, and agility to weave around defenders. McCaffrey isn’t a power runner who just runs over tacklers, but he does finish his runs well and can pick up some yards after contact. - Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama. Previously: 11
11/02/16: Alabama had a bye last week. Robinson put together a bounce-back performance against Texas A&M. He kept Myles Garrett from getting any sacks and did well in run blocking against him. It was much better than the previous week when Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett beat Robinson for a strip-sack and some other pressures. Robinson played better after a slow start, but the outing against the Volunteers was a bad tape for his draft grade. Robinson played very well against Arkansas and played a key part in limiting edge rusher Deatrich Wise Jr. to just two tackles and zero sacks on the day. Robinson had a good game overall against Ole Miss as he does well with the rushing attack. He didn’t give up a sack, logging pretty play and ugly play going against Rebels edge rusher Marquis Haynes.
Robinson played well against USC. In the ground game, he was dominant as he generated a serious push at the point of attack. It was a quiet night for Robinson in the passing game, and that’s a good thing. He didn’t allow pressures on his quarterback and showed improvement in his technique. Robinson looked better at bending at the knee and in his kick slide.
Sources say Robinson dropped some weight from last year, and that is one reason why he looks quicker and more athletic.
08/31/16: Robinson took over starting at left tackle as a freshman in 2014 and has been a tough blocker for Alabama eve since. He is a powerful run blocker who is very skilled at opening holes at the point of attack. The 6-foot-6, 326-pounder is ready to run block in the NFL. He displays the ability to pass protect, but still needs work on that aspect of the game.
Right now, Robinson is not a shutdown left tackle. In many games, you see him allow some pressures on the quarterback and plays in the backfield. Those issues stem from inconsistencies in his technique. Robinson definitely needs to improve his hand placement and kick slide, plus get more consistent with his bending while not reaching for defenders. - Caleb Brantley, LB, Florida. Previously: 23
11/02/16: Against Georgia, Brantley dominated the Bulldogs’ offensive line. He caused tons of havoc behind the line of scrimmage and led the way for the Gators to shut down the Georgia ground game. Brantley had one tackle against Missouri. He has 13 tackles with 2.5 for a loss, and a sack this season and has been very disruptive with his quickness at the point of attack.
While Florida’s defense let a big lead slip away, Brantley was superb against Tennessee. Early on, he had a stuff on the goal line to help lead a goal-line stand for Florida. In the second quarter on a first-and-goal situation, Brantley swam over the right guard and exploded into the running back to make a tackle for a loss. In the third quarter, Brantley hit Josh Dobbs’ arm as he threw, and that led to an interception for the Gators. Brantley blew up a run in the backfield during the same quarter to create a tackle for a loss for a teammate. Then on the next play, Brantley almost had a sack. He caused a ton of disruption throughout the contest. Brantley blew up run plays in the backfield and applied pressure on the quarterback. Against Tennessee, he totaled three tackles with a tackle for a loss. That was a tape that will help him to grade out as a first-round pick.
08/31/16: The 6-foot-2, 314-pound Brantley flashed a lot of disruption at the point of attack as a redshirt sophomore in 2015. He totaled 29 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. While that isn’t a huge sack total, it is a quality number for an interior defender, and Brantley showed the potential to be a three-down defender in the NFL.
Sources say that entering this season, they see Brantley as a potential first-round talent. Many expect him to forego his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL Draft. There were some rumblings that he was considering bolting for the NFL after last season when he was draft eligible.
Brantley could stand to get more consistent with his production and show continued development in 2016. Teams already see him as a potential first-rounder, so if he builds on his redshirt sophomore season, he could be in demand as a Thursday night selection. - Desmond King, CB, Iowa. Previously: 19
11/02/16: Iowa had a bye last Saturday. Taking on Wisconsin, King played well, making 12 tackles. He had one interception returned 41 yards for a touchdown, one pass broken up and four tackles against Purdue. It was an impressive game from King despite the Boilermakers throwing for a ton of yards on the Hawkeyes. In 2016, he has 41 tackles with six passes broken up, one interception and one forced fumble, plus some good kick and punt returns.
08/31/16: As a freshman, King contributed with 69 tackles with eight passes batted. He improved on that in 2014 with 64 tackles with five breakups and three interceptions. As a junior, King took his game to another level and ended up winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. He had a massive 2015 season with eight interceptions and 13 passes broken up alongside 72 tackles. King averaged 14.2 yards per punt return and 24 yards per kick return.
The characteristic that stands out the most with King (5-11, 200) is his ball skills. He is tremendous at playing the ball with excellent hands to snatch passes. He is very good at high-pointing passes and has superb composure to avoid panicking while the ball is coming his direction.
In zone coverage, King has impressive instincts and feel. He is very adept at reading the quarterback’s eyes and jumping routes to make plays on the ball. In man coverage, King is reliable to run the route and prevent separation. He can play a variety of techniques and shows the skill for off-man coverage. King also is a physical defender and isn’t shy about mixing it up. His physicality can be seen against the run, and he is tough on the edge. King is a good tackler and a willing defender. - Marcus Maye, S, Florida. Previously: 21
11/02/16: Maye had some impressive plays and one bust against Georgia on his way to three tackles and a pass broken up. He totaled six tackles and a pass broken up against Missouri. Versus Vanderbilt, Maye collected seven tackles and a pass broken up. He turned in good games against North Texas, Kentucky and Massachusetts.
On the other hand, Maye had a mixed game against Tennessee. Early in the first quarter, he made a tremendous play on a fourth-and-goal. He was on the inside in man coverage and went around a scrum to explode on the ball. Maye slapped the pass away for an incompletion. It was a phenomenal play from the senior. However in the fourth quarter, Maye made a poor play as he took some false steps and took a bad angle on a receiver crossing the field. As the last line of defense, nobody else was in position to stop the receiver, and that let the receiver get the sideline for a 42-yard touchdown.
In 2016, Maye has 38 tackles, one interception and five passes broken up on the season.
Maye totaled 82 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions in 2015. He was a solid free safety for Florida and generally a good deep center fielder, but he had an ugly performance against Alabama in the SEC Championship and didn’t finish well against Michigan in the bowl game. Sources say Maye has good free safety pass-coverage potential for the NFL, but has some kinks to work out.
After a rough start to the year, Maye showed some improvement as a starter in 2014. Maye was put in some man situations in Will Muschamp’s defense and didn’t perform all that well, but he finished the year strongly. Maye recorded 62 tackles with an interception and five passes broken up on the year. - Mike Williams, WR, Clemson. Previously: 22
11/02/16: Against Florida State, Williams had seven receptions for 70 yards. Versus N.C. State, he recorded 12 receptions for 146 yards. Williams played really well for Clemson to open the season, carrying his team’s passing offense in a tight win over Auburn. He totaled nine receptions for 174 yards in that outing and was unstoppable on the sideline back-shoulder plays. If it weren’t for a fumble and a dropped touchdown, that would have been a major stock-up performance for Williams. On the year, he is up to 46 receptions for 648 yards and four touchdowns.
08/31/16: Williams looked poised for a massive 2015 season, but things went horribly wrong in that season’s opener. Against Wofford, Williams ran into the goal post after making a leaping touchdown reception. He suffered a small fracture in his neck, but didn’t need surgery after wearing a brace. Still, Williams missed the 2015 season, but has been practicing to return this fall.
In 2014, Williams took over Watkins as the feature receiver in the Clemson offense. He caught 57 passes for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore.
There is a lot to like about Williams. He has a special combination of size and speed, so he is able to stretch the field vertically yet make tough catches downfield. Williams has good length and shows the concentration to snatch contested passes over defensive backs. His size and length makes him tough to cover even when cornerbacks prevent him from getting separation. Williams can make some tremendous adjustments to the ball and uses his big frame to get in position to make receptions. Williams has some speed to get open and generate separation out of his breaks, but he may not have elite burner speed for the NFL. - Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia. Previously: 20
11/02/16: Florida shut down Chubb, and he didn’t look good as his legs went dead on contact. He had 20 yards on nine carries. Chubb ran for 40 yards on 16 carries against Vanderbilt. A week earlier, he totaled 121 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns versus South Carolina. Previously, an ankle injury caused him to miss most of the game against Tennessee.
Against a quality North Carolina team to open the year, Chubb showed NFL evaluators he was healthy and ready to roll this season. Chubb hung 222 yards on 32 carries with two touchdowns on the Tar Heels. Not only did he run well, but he showed some nice blitz pick-up at times. Chubb showed his quickness, power, and cutting ability to move the chains. He didn’t quite have the speed and explosion that he had before his knee injury. But considering it was less than a year since he was hurt, that is understandable. Even at 80-90 percent, Chubb proved that he remains a devastating runner capable of dominating a defense.
In 2016, Chubb has averaged 4.8 yards per carry for 606 yards with five touchdowns. He has three receptions for 34 yards as well.
08/31/16: Prior to his season-ending knee injury in 2015, Chubb had picked up where he left off as a freshman. The sophomore averaged 8.1 yards per carry for 747 yards and seven touchdowns in his shortened 2015 season. He also made four catches for 32 yards and a score. In 2014 while splitting time with Todd Gurley, Chubb averaged 7.1 yards per carry for 1,547 yards with 14 touchdowns. He caught 18 receptions for 213 yards and two scores as well. Chubb is expected to ready for the start of the 2016 regular season.
Chubb (5-10, 220) is akin to a human bowling ball, rolling over tacklers and and being a physical force in the SEC. He is a powerful runner who also has the quickness to rip off yards in chunks. Chubb has a real burst to the hole and acceleration to the second-level defense. He uses that speed to consistently break runs into sizable gains. His body lean and ability to run behind his pads is excellent. That makes it very difficult for defenders to get a hold of Chubb and get him to the ground. He has shown quality ball security as well. - Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame. Previously: 24
11/02/16: Nelson played well against Miami. The 6-foot-5, 325-pounder has been dominant this season. He has been rock solid in pass protection for DeShone Kizer, and is strong at the point of attack to open holes in the ground game. With his athleticism and quickness, Nelson should be an asset as an interior pass protector in the NFL. Sources say that Nelson is getting first-round grades, and one national scout told WalterFootball.com that they think Nelson is a future Pro Bowler. - Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson. Previously: 25
11/02/16: Tankersley had an ugly game against Florida State, giving up a touchdown and some passes downfield for completions. He struggled to run with the Seminoles’ receivers. Against N.C. State, Tankersley recorded five tackles and a pass broken up. He had an impressive game with very good coverage against Louisville, totaling four tackles and a pass broken up. Tankersley recorded four tackles with two for a loss and one pass broken up versus Auburn. Against Troy, he broke up three passes and made a tackle. Tankersley has 27 tackles and seven passes broken up on the season.
08/31/16: Tankersley was part of a tough cornerback duo for Clemson in 2015 with Mackensie Alexander. Tankersley showed impressive ball skills with five interceptions and nine passes broken up. He also had 48 tackles. While Tankersley played well, teams did throw at him more than Alexander. Tankersley (6-1, 195) has size and coverage skills. NFL sources say they see Tankersley as a first-round talent. - Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida. Previously: 26
- Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois. Previously: 27
- Carroll Phillips, DE, Illinois. Previously: 28
- Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss. Previously: 29
- Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU. Previously: 30
- Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt. Previously: 31
- Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU. Previously: 32
- Sidney Jones, CB, Washington. Previously: 33
- Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan. Previously: 34
- Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State. Previously: 35
- Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan. Previously: 36
- O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama. Previously: 37
- Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee. Previously: 38
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC. Previously: 39
- Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson. Previously: 40
- Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M. Previously: 41
- Ethan Pocic, C, LSU. Previously: 42
- Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama. Previously: 43
- Travin Dural, WR, LSU. Previously: 44
- Cam Sutton, CB, Tennessee. Previously: 45
- Marquis Haynes, DE/LB, Ole Miss. Previously: 46
- Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova. Previously: 47
- Carl Lawson, OLB, Auburn. Previously: 48
- Jake Butt, TE, Michigan. Previously: 49
- Julia’n Davenport, OT, Bucknell. Previously: 50
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