3 NFL Draft Prospects Cowboys Fans Should Watch in CFB Week 4
Another week and another opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys to evaluate the wealth of players that college football has to offer. This will be another small step toward building the final board the Cowboys will use on draft day.
What these prospects do now will have a huge effect on where and by whom they are drafted by.
The key to the draft is improving upon weaker positions and solidifying strengths. Whether it is drafting a nose tackle who you think is better than any currently on the roster or a backup linebacker who will provide good depth and be a contributor on special teams, there are plenty of opportunities to become a better team through the draft.
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Here we will review how last week's spotlighted players did and introduce three more players to keep an eye on this week.
How the Spotlighted Players from Last Week Performed
Last week, we highlighted three players who might not be first-round picks, but who can be a great value in the mid-rounds. The highlighted players were Florida's Dante Fowler Jr., Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah and Texas' Quandre Diggs.
Dante Fowler Jr.
Dante Fowler Jr. has yet to really break out this season. He has, however, been showing better quickness and pass-rush ability, but he just hasn't finished the deal as of yet. This all changed when he lined up against Kentucky.
"Dante Fowler , yeah http://t.co/zGfl7kCOtl
— Mean Jeaux Greene (@LordDraftnik) September 15, 2014"
Fowler recorded six tackles, two for loss, and a sack against the Wildcats and displayed all the attributes that make him one of the best pass-rushers in the 2015 draft class.
Fowler is a player who could play on the weak- or strong-side defensive end position for the Cowboys. While he doesn't have the elite first step or pass-rush moves of a player such as Shane Ray, he has better size and versatility, which makes him a great candidate for a Cowboys selection.
Ameer Abdullah
Ameer Abdullah, who has the longest active streak of at least 100 yards from scrimmage, continued his stellar play against Fresno State. He carried the ball 19 times for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Bulldogs, while showcasing some of the attributes that make him a compelling prospect.
What makes Abdullah great is that he has the ability to pound the ball between the tackles or outside; his ability to utilize speed along with power is a nightmare for opposing defenses.
If the Cowboys don't re-sign DeMarco Murray at the end of this season, Abdullah may be a great candidate to take his place as the "bell cow" for their running game.
Quandre Diggs
Quandre Diggs had a quiet but impactful game against UCLA. He recorded just three tackles, but that doesn't account for the impact he had on the game.
Diggs played a great deal of the game in the slot, and he did a great job. He played well and displayed great quickness and flexibility with his hips in his drops. At times, he got a little too handsy with the UCLA receivers, which would have resulted in a great deal of holding penalties had it been in an NFL setting.
Diggs projects as a slot cornerback at the next level. He would be a great fit with the Cowboys as a backup slot cornerback and special teams ace. Diggs has better leadership skills and is a more athletic cornerback than Terrance Mitchell, who the Cowboys drafted in May.
This Week's Players to Watch
As with every week, we will now take a look at three players who are draft eligible and appear to fit the Cowboys' scheme and philosophy.
This week, we will take a look at huge defensive tackle, a road-grating guard and a playmaking safety.
Danny Shelton
Danny Shelton has what is arguably the most impressive stat sheet out of any defensive lineman in the country. He has registered 27 tackles to go along with six sacks, which leads the nation, all while being a 6'2", 339 pound nose tackle.
These stunning box scores have led to many draft pundits slotting Shelton into the first round in their mock drafts.
Shelton's stat lines may have you asking whether he is the next coming of Ndamukong Suh. The answer to that question would be a resounding "no". Sheldon's stats are probably one of the biggest misnomers in the entire 2015 draft class.
Shelton doesn't have the elite interior pass-rushing ability his numbers suggest. What he does have is incredible strength coupled with great balance at the point of attack to go along with his great hand-fighting techniques.
However, Shelton is not a quick-twitch type of athlete. He doesn't have a great first step or the quickness off the snap that is required to be a great interior pass-rusher.
The most troubling aspect of Shelton's tape is his pad level. Oftentimes, he plays way too high and gets pushed back from the line of scrimmage because of it.
Nonetheless, if he can get his pad level fixed, he could be a run-stuffing dynamo in the NFL.
From a Cowboys perspective, Shelton could be the player necessary to finally push Nick Hayden off the team in 2015. Shelton has the ability to be a fantastic 1-technique defensive tackle for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's defense.
This week, Shelton and the Washington Huskies take on Georgia State in a game Shelton and his teammates Shaq Thompson and Hau'oli Kikaha should have a great showing.
A.J. Cann
During the 2014 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys seriously considered trading up in the third round to draft LSU guard Trai Turner over Ronald Leary. This, coupled with the fact that Leary has struggled mightily so far this season, means the Cowboys might be looking for guards come draft time.
The player who is best suited to be a plug-and-play guard in the 2015 draft class is South Carolina guard A.J. Cann.
Cann has great size for a guard at 6'4" and 311 pounds, as well as impressive technical abilities. Cann seems to have a keen understanding of the technical nuances that are needed for guard play. He utilizes great knee bend so that he absorbs the initial shock from the defense.
His most impressive attribute is his ability to get to the second level of the defense and make effective blocks on linebackers and safeties.
The only negative about Cann is that he doesn't have a particular nasty streak. You don't see him try and destroy defenders, he instead beats them with effective technique and balance.
Cann would be a great candidate for the Cowboys in possibly the second or third round of the NFL draft. He would be an ideal player to put next to left tackle Tyron Smith to create a dynamic duo on the left side for the next decade.
This week, Cann and the Gamecocks take on Vanderbilt, where Cann will look to lead the way to another impressive outing from running back Mike Davis.
Anthony Harris
The Cowboys have been is desperate need of a true playmaking single-high safety since Darren Woodson retired in 2004.
Anthony Harris could be the answer to that desperation when the NFL draft rolls around.
Harris a true playmaking safety who has all the necessary traits of a single-high safety. Last year, Harris was named on the Sports Illustrated All-America first-team while ranking No. 1 in the nation in interceptions.
Harris has adequate size for a safety at 6'1" and 190 pounds, though you would like to see him gain a little weight so that he can take the punishment that comes with playing on Sundays.
Harris has fantastic ball skills for a defensive player. He displays a great ability to track the ball in the air to make the play. He also has soft hands and great body control in the air, which gives him the ability to make plays on the ball most other players can't.
He has incredible speed, which allows him to accelerate into passing lanes to make plays on the ball. This also allows him to come downhill quickly in the run game, in which he is an above-average tackler.
One of the negatives about Harris is that he sometimes gets sloppy when he is tasked with changing direction. He needs to get better at making sharper cuts and having less wasted movement.
Harris is currently slated in the mid-rounds, though he could get elevated quickly once more pundits watch his tape. If the Cowboys were able to snag Harris in the third or fourth round, he could turn out to be one of the biggest steals in the draft.
Harris and the Virginia Cavaliers take on the No. 21-ranked BYU Cougars on Saturday. Look for Harris to be an impact player who makes several impact plays in both the passing and running games.
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