6 NFL Draft Prospects on the Rise

We are only only one month into the college football season and many teams have only played two games, but a number of NFL draft prospects have already made statements and caught the attention of scouts around the country. 

The following six players are draft-eligible prospects who have elevated their stock either with surprisingly impressive performances or by answering questions about their health and returning to full strength after injury-plagued seasons. 

Plenty of football is left to be played, but initial impressions certainly matter, and these prospects are headed in the right direction in what could be their final season of college ball. 

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

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Amari Cooper's early-season success certainly isn't a shock, but it does ease some of the concerns that lingered for him entering his junior year. 

After an impressive freshman season, Cooper's production dropped off due to a number of nagging injuries.

Entering the 2014 season, Cooper was widely viewed as a first-round talent, but if his sophomore-year injuries lingered, Cooper was at risk of falling down draft boards. 

Cooper now appears to be fully healthy and has already hauled in 33 passes—just 12 shy of his total from 2013. 

While he lacks elite breakaway speed or dominant size, Cooper wins with clean footwork and sharp cuts in his routes to create separation from defensive backs. His development of these skills bode well for a smooth transition to the NFL.

Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington

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Shaq Thompson has generated some extra press this season by taking some snaps at running back, but it's his performance on the defensive side of the ball that has his NFL draft stock on the rise. 

Thompson is slightly undersized (6'1", 228 pounds) but as more and more NFL teams are favoring speed over size on the defensive side of the ball, Thompson is generating legitimate first-round buzz. 

It's Thompson's ability to contribute against both the run and the pass that make him such an intriguing prospect, as Bleacher Report's Ian Wharton pointed out after a standout performance against Illinois:

"

Shaq Thompson had an excellent game against Illinois. Showed decisiveness against the run and good eyes in coverage.

— Ian Wharton (@NFLFilmStudy) September 19, 2014"

Thompson's skill set compares favorably to Tampa Bay's Lavonte David, who has excelled as a weak-side linebacker in the Bucs' 4-3 scheme. 

Kevin White, WR, West Virginia

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West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen has already sent two receivers to the NFL (Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey), and both have flopped. So it's fair to be skeptical of the huge numbers Kevin White is putting up in Holgorsen's offense.

But White possesses the one quality that both Bailey and Austin lack: size. 

At 6'3", 210 pounds, White can win the jump-ball battles in traffic and also has demonstrated an ability to adjust to the poorly placed balls.

At the next level, White may not be the big-play threat he has become at West Virginia, but he has the skills necessary to be a quality possession receiver. 

A strong performance against Oklahoma would go a long way toward proving that White can handle the physical matchups in the NFL. 

Gunner Kiel, QB, Cincinnati

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Gunner Kiel, the former highly touted recruit and Notre Dame transfer, finally made his collegiate debut in early September as the star of Cincinnati's high-powered offensive attack. 

Kiel's bizarre trip around the country, which included commitments to LSU, Indiana and one season at Notre Dame, certainly gave reason to doubt his ability to make an immediate impact, but he looked poised and prepared in Cincinnati's season-opening victory over Toledo. 

In his debut, Kiel completed 68 percent of his passes for 418 yards and six touchdowns with zero interceptions. 

Kiel's raw arm talent has been a known commodity since high school, but he impressed most with his pocket presence and accuracy against Toledo. 

Despite the two-year absence from the field, Kiel was calm while going through his progressions and stood tall in the pocket. 

Cincinnati aired it out early and often, but it wasn't a simplistic quick-strike attack. Kiel clearly had a strong grasp of the offense and should continue to develop in his decision-making throughout the season.

Hau’oli Kikaha, DE/LB, Washington

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Hau'oli Kikaha has bounced back from two ACL injuries and reemerged as one of the nation's most disruptive pass-rush threats. 

His history of injuries will certainly play a role in determining his draft stock, but it's impossible to ignore his early-season production. 

Kikaha is one of the most explosive edge-rushers and has been praised by NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang for his tenacity:

"

Third sack of the day for Washington's Hau'oli Kikaha. Beat RT with speed that time. Powerful, tenacious. Tendency to get sacks in bunches.

— Rob Rang (@RobRang) September 13, 2014"

Another injury would be devastating to his stock, but if Kikaha remains healthy and productive throughout the year, he appears to be headed toward a spot in the top 50 picks of the draft. 

Even if he is unable to establish himself as an every-down lineman at the next level, Kikaha has the skill set to excel as a situational pass-rusher in the NFL. 

Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

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Todd Gurley is another prospect who has emerged from a disappointing injury-plagued season to vault his stock back into the first-round conversation. 

As a sophomore in 2013, Gurley played in just 10 games and sat out parts of others due to a nagging ankle injury and also an early-season bruised thigh. 

Had those injuries lingered into 2014, questions would have been raised about Gurley's durability, especially since he is at his best pounding the defense between the tackles. 

Through two games, Gurley appears to have fully regained his form, and even added some weight. 

His performance is reminiscent of a young Marshawn Lynch from his days at California, and Gurley could allow the running back to position to climb back into the first round of the NFL draft as a result.