This section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2019 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2019 NFL Draft Stock Up
Jacob Dolegala, QB, Central Connecticut Dolegala is a small-school quarterback who is generating a buzz in the scouting community. While Dolegala has not gotten any media attention, team sources say that Dolegala is an intriguing talent and some think he could end up being a mid-round pick. Team sources say that Dolegala has good arm action and great size. He is listed at 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, which is just about ideal for the NFL. The senior completed 61 percent of his passes in 2018 for 2,221 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. With his skill set, he could impress in pre-draft workouts. Right now, Dolegala has put himself on the map, and he could end up being graded out as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, according to some sources.
Cody Ford, OT/G, Oklahoma Months ago, WalterFootball.com was first to report that Ford was receiving second-round grades from some teams and could be a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Ford put a cap on his impressive regular season with a dominant performance against West Virginia. All night, he was rock solid in pass protection while opening holes in the ground game. In the third quarter, Ford impressively blocked two defenders to spring his back for a good gain. Ford pushed the defensive end off the snap and then flew to a linebacker and knocked him out of the play. Ford was superb versus the Mountaineers
Ford could be the top interior offensive lineman in this draft class. He is thick blocker with good bulk for the next level. Scouts who have been through Oklahoma say that Ford is an outstanding athlete for his size. He has good knee bend with quick feet and excellent size. Ford has the skill set to handle fast interior rushers with the size to take on the heavy powerful tackles. Ford does a nice job of keeping his feet moving and his hands engaged to sustain his blocks. I think Ford could work his way into the 20s of the 2019 NFL Draft and end up being one of the better guards in the NFL during his career.
Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State The Egg Bowl was probably the final game for Simmons, and he went out in style. In the first quarter, Simmons chased down quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, who had scrambled out of the pocket. Simmons ripped Ta’amu to the ground while punching out the ball, which the Bulldogs recovered to set up their offense for easy points. Early in the fourth quarter, Simmons used a swim move to get free of the right guard and then closed on the quarterback with a burst to get a sack. Simmons recorded four tackles with two for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble and a pass batted in the Egg Bowl. He dominated the Ole Miss offensive line, which was incapable of blocking him.
Simmons has been one of the best tackles in the SEC in 2018 and is among the conference’s leaders in tackles. Considering the SEC’s other star tackles like Alabama’s Quinnen Williams, Auburn’s Derrick Brown, Alabama’s Raekwon Davis, and a good pair at LSU, that is really saying something for Simmons. He is quick at the point of attack with a fast first-step and impressive athleticism. Simmons also possesses functional strength and holds his ground as a run defender. In the 2019 NFL Draft, he could be worthy of a top-20 pick.
Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State Abram also had an impressive Egg Bowl. In the first quarter, he played tight man coverage on a tight end and was able to slap a third -own pass away to get his defense off the field. Shortly later, Abram used his speed to get to the flat and make a tackle for a loss in run support. In the third quarter, Abram picked off Jordan Ta’amu after reading his eyes to make an easy interception on an underthrown pass. With a decent return from Abram, that turnover set up the Bulldogs’ offense inside the Rebels’ 20-yard line. He added another pass breakup later in the game. Abram totaled five tackles with one for a loss, one interception and two passes broken up for the Egg Bowl, and the performance should help his draft grade.
Team sources like Abram and feel he plays the game the right way. He is put together well with strength to tackle in the ground game. In the NFL, he could be a good strong safety who functions as the eighth man in the box and provides some quality coverage in the middle of the field. Abram could help cover tight ends, slot receivers, and running backs. He is not a deep single-high free safety, but he could be a good second-round pick who turns into a good starter quickly in his pro career.
Foster Moreau, TE, LSU Moreau earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl because of his skills as a blocker. The 6-foot-6, 256-pounder does not fit as a receiving weapon for the NFL, but he could be a Y tight end who helps in the ground game as well as in short-yardage, and goal-line situations. Moreau has 16 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown in 2018. As a junior, he totaed 24 receptions for 278 yards and three scores. If Moreau were to show more receiving skills than expected in Mobile, he could rise into second-day consideration for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Gary Jennings, WR, West Virginia Jennings really helped himself with an impressive game against Oklahoma. The senior burned double coverage numerous times to produce some huge plays for West Virginia. Jennings got separation and had enough quickness to run away from the defensive backs while recording touchdown receptions from 52 and 75 yards out. Jennings totaled 225 yards on seven receptions with two touchdowns. In 2018, he has 54 receptions for 917 yards and 13 touchdowns. The tape versus Oklahoma should help Jennings’ draft grade for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State Campbell is one of the most explosive play-makers in college football, but many don’t realize that because the Buckeyes have struggled to get Campbell the ball during his collegiate career. Campbell set up Ohio State for points in the early going against Michigan by getting open on crossing routes to move the chains. He had critical receptions of 16 and 20 yards to set up touchdowns for the Buckeyes. Early in the fourth quarter against the Wolverines, Campbell put the game away on an end around that saw him explode down the sideline for a 78-yard touchdown. Later in the fourth quarter, he got open on a corner post for a 16-yard touchdown. Campbell totaled six receptions for 192 yards and two scores for the afternoon.
Campbell is an explosive receiver who has the ability to score on any touch. He will challenge NFL secondaries over the top and stretch the field. With excellent speed to go along with a put-together frame, Campbell is a dangerous run-after-the-catch receiver who can turn into a running back with impressive feet, agility and vision. In the 2019 NFL Draft, Campbell could be a first- or second-round pick.
Jachai Polite, DE, Florida Polite had a dominating performance against Florida State, overwhelming the Seminoles’ offensive line from start to finish. On the first drive of the game, he tossed off a pulling right guard to stuff a running back and notch a tackle for a loss. In the third quarter, Polite used his speed to loop around the left tackle and then fully extended to get a strip-sack that was recovered by Florida inside the Seminoles’ 25-yard line. On the next drive, Polite destroyed Florida State’s right tackle and used his speed to chase down Deondre Francois for another sack.
Polite will probably be a late first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He is very fast off the edge with a nose for the quarterback. Polite could work on polishing up more moves, but he has double-digit sack potential assisted by his speed and agility. In the ground game, Polite is a solid defender, and that is surprising considering he is short and a bit light. Polite would be a great fit in the NFL as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
2019 NFL Draft Stock Down
Will Grier, QB, West Virginia It isn’t often that a player can make the Stock Down section after throwing for 539 yards and four touchdowns in a single game, but Grier earns the distinction. His two fumbles returned for a touchdown were the difference in West Virginia losing a three-point game to Oklahoma. Team sources have told me that they have given Grier some second-day and mid-round grades, and that can be seen in his skill set. He does not have the tools of a top-of-the-raft quarterback. Grier passes accurately and has average arm strength. However, he needs a clean pocket to be successful. His arm strength gets sapped when his feet aren’t set. That is a problem for the NFL, where pockets are not as clean as what he saw in the weak Big XII. Team sources aren’t close to as high on Grier as many media members are.
Brian Burns, DE, Florida State Burns had an ugly game against the Gators. While taking on a bad offensive tackle in Martez Ivey, Burns was a non-factor. He got in on a few runs, but Florida kept him from making any big plays. Ivey was dominated in many games this year, including embarrassing performances versus Josh Allen of Kentucky and Montez Sweat of Mississippi State. Against Florida, it became obvious that Burns was not of the same caliber as those defenders. The Florida tape illustrates that Burns should return for his senior year and get stronger before going to the NFL.
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