NFL Draft 2015: Updated Prospect Radar, Post-Week 10
While this past Saturday was highlighted by its six matchups between teams both ranked within the Top 17 of the College Football Playoff standings, the weekend also brought no shortage of notable individual performances and milestones reached.
The number of teams still in contention to make the four-team competition for the championship is dwindling, but every team in college football still has individual players who are trying to establish themselves as prospects for the 2015 NFL draft.
Some players did just that this past weekend. A number of early-round possibilities had performances that made them stand out among the masses, while there were also some more under-the-radar talents in marquee games who put themselves on the prospect radar.
On the other end of the spectrum, there was one high-profile quarterback who was at his worst in a crucial game for his team, while two prospects’ reputations took big hits as they were noteworthily dismissed from their teams.
Stock Up: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota, RS So.
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This Week: Five receptions for 46 yards, three touchdowns
Opponent: Iowa
Although he’s only a redshirt sophomore and might not yet be well-known nationally, Minnesota’s Maxx Williams has a chance to be the star tight end of the 2015 draft class if he declares.
A 6’4”, 250-pound tight end with great athletic ability for his size, Williams put his pass-catching ability and body control on full display with two spectacular toe-dragging catches in Saturday’s win over Iowa.
The first effort, a 25-yard catch at the sideline, wouldn’t have counted in the NFL because he only had one foot in bounds, but it was still a remarkable display of his ability to make a play on the ball.
Even more impressive was a four-yard touchdown catch later in the game where he managed to catch a ball sailing for the back line of the end zone, get one foot down solidly and drag his second foot to secure possession that would stand in the pros.
With three touchdowns Saturday and 12 total through the first 21 games of his career, Williams is a well-established red-zone threat. His ability to move downfield and catch even the most difficult passes makes him a tough matchup for any defender, especially in the end zone.
Also a solid blocker, Williams appears to have more upside and playmaking ability than any of college football’s senior tight ends. It’s not frequent that redshirt sophomores declare for a draft, but Williams might want to consider it, as he could be the top player selected from his position group if he does.
Current Draft Projection: Rounds 2-3
Stock Down: Everett Golson, QB, Notre Dame, Jr.
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This Week: 22-of-41 passing, 446 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns); 16 rushing attempts for minus-11 yards, two fumbles (one lost)
Opponent: Arizona State
Notre Dame’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff disintegrated as it lost its second game of the year Saturday to Arizona State, largely as a result of the turnovers quarterback Everett Golson had throughout the game.
Golson either fumbled or threw an interception on each of his first four possessions in Saturday’s game. While he was able to recover his first fumble, it stalled a drive that had been promising but ended with a field goal.
His turnovers on the next three possessions all led to Arizona State touchdowns, allowing the Sun Devils to take a 24-3 lead that became a 31-3 advantage after a Notre Dame three-and-out and another ASU scoring drive.
After throwing his third interception of the game on the first drive of the second half, Golson made some impressive plays that put his cannon arm and athletic ability on display as he led a 28-point run that brought the game within a three-point deficit.
Ultimately, however, Arizona State went on to win the game, 55-31, and not before getting its second pick-six of the day (though the second one, as it went in and out of the hands of Notre Dame wide receiver Corey Robinson, was not his fault).
In total, Golson finished the day with five turnovers, bringing his turnover total to 17 over the past six games alone, per Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com.
Golson’s physical tools and playmaking ability have pushed him into the discussion to be among the top quarterbacks in the 2015 draft, but Saturday’s game showed how far in his development he still has to go.
By bringing heavy pressure off blitzes against Golson all day, the Sun Devils defense exposed the quarterback’s flaws.
He made poor decisions and struggled with his accuracy. He took seven sacks, showing he needs to have a better feel for pressure and when to get rid of the ball. The three passes he had tipped at the line of scrimmage–two of which were intercepted off deflections—will extend concerns about where he can overcome his lack of height.
From a football standpoint, it would be in Golson’s best interest to plan on returning to Notre Dame for his senior season. His potential still makes him a likely middle-round selection, but he needs to be a much more efficient, less mistake-prone pocket passer in order to succeed in the NFL.
Current Draft Projection: Rounds 3-4
Stock Up: Marcus Hardison, DE, Arizona State, Sr.
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This Week: Three passes defensed (one interception), one sack
Opponent: Notre Dame
One of the players who played a big role in making Saturday a bad day for Golson and the Fighting Irish was Arizona State senior defensive end Marcus Hardison, who stood out as the most disruptive player on the Sun Devils’ defensive front.
The 6’4”, 300-pound defensive lineman showed his athletic ability and ball skills as he leaped up to deflect two separate passes at the line of scrimmage, while he also caught a pass off a deflection by teammate Demetrius Cherry for an interception of his own.
As a pass-rusher, Hardison made his presence felt throughout the game. It’s rare for a defensive end to record three passes defensed (and Hardison had never even had one in his career prior to Saturday’s game), so that statistic is impressive in itself. Hardison also recorded a sack and brought a number of additional pressures that forced incompletions.
Lined up mostly against Christian Lombard, Hardison dominated Notre Dame’s senior right tackle with his power and quickness. He knocked Lombard down to the ground on multiple occasions and made the most of his plays against the RT.
When lined up against junior left tackle Ronnie Stanley—a potential early-round draft pick—Hardison was mostly shut down. He also didn’t record any tackles versus the run, though he did provide a solid presence and was rarely driven backward in a game that Notre Dame ran for just 1.1 yards per carry.
Overall, however, Hardison had a fantastic performance Saturday that propelled him onto the draft radar and put his potential on full display.
The junior-college transfer didn’t have much production in his 2013 season with Arizona State, but he’s really been coming along as a senior. He has a combination of size and athletic ability that suits him well for playing defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, the same spot he plays in for the Sun Devils, and he could continue to rise up the draft board if he continues to make big plays like he did against Notre Dame.
Current Draft Projection: Rounds 5-6
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Stock Up: Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville, RS So.
4 of 12This Week: Three interceptions returned for 53 combined yards, four total passes defensed, four tackles (one for loss)
Opponent: Boston College
I don’t typically allow myself to highlight the same player two weeks in a row in this slideshow, but it’s also not typical for a player to have three interceptions in a game or 13 interceptions 10 games into a season, which is why an exception is being made for Gerod Holliman this week.
Holliman had already been making plays at an incredible rate, in a breakout redshirt sophomore season for a player who has essentially been unknown a few months ago, but that rate reached a potentially record-breaking pace on Saturday against Boston College.
The safety’s hat trick of picks on Saturday set a single-game school record for interceptions, while he also broke up another pass and recorded four tackles, including one for loss.
Holliman, the only player to even be in double digits in interceptions in the Football Bowl Subdivision so far this season, has at least one interception in all but two of Louisville’s games this year. He broke the school record for interceptions in a season Saturday and is just one pick away from tying Al Worley’s FBS record set in 1968.
A good-sized safety at 6’2” and 213 pounds, Holliman is a fluid mover who has a clear knack for tracking the ball in the air and catching up to it with his speed, while he is also a sure-handed at securing the ball for an interception.
With the year Holliman is having, no player in college football’s draft stock has risen faster. He could opt to return to school for a year or two, but he’d be smart to declare while all the momentum is in his favor, as the odds will be against him being able to top or even duplicate this season in future years.
Current Draft Projection: Rounds 1-2
Stock Down: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington, Jr.
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This Week: Dismissed from team
Marcus Peters was arguably the most talented cornerback in college football, but it now appears as though his college football career is over.
Having already suspended the defensive back for one game earlier this year following a sideline tantrum during a game, Washington coach Chris Petersen made the decision to dismiss Peters from the program last week. “An argument with an assistant coach during practice Wednesday” was the “final straw” that made Petersen kick him off the team, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times.
Peters’ abbreviated junior season, in which he played eight games, ended with 30 total tackles, three interceptions and 10 total passes defensed. For his career, Peters had 129 tackles, 11 interceptions and 35 passes defensed.
From a talent standpoint, Peters is worthy of a first-round draft pick. A physical defensive back and fluid athlete, Peters has a skill set that could enable him to excel in any scheme.
From a character standpoint, Peters will be heavily scrutinized. One NFL scout told Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller that “Petersen just doesn't like him. He'll be fine in the pros,” but that report came prior to Peters’ dismissal. According to a report from former NFL scout John Middlekauff, at least three NFL teams have already removed Peters from their boards.
All it takes is one team to take a chance, and it’s likely that one will do so with Peters in either the first or second round. That said, predraft interviews will be crucial for Peters to try to convince teams that the issues he had at Washington will not lead to problems with his NFL team.
Current Draft Projection: Rounds 1-2
Stock Down: Leon Orr, DT, Florida, Sr.
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This Week: Dismissed from team
While Marcus Peters’ dismissal could cost him some money, no potential NFL draft prospect made himself look worse this past week than Florida defensive tackle Leon Orr.
According to a release on Florida’s official athletics website, “Orr expressed displeasure when he realized he would not be in the starting lineup for the fifth straight game,” despite the fact that Florida typically rotates its defensive linemen regularly and Orr was set to see playing time Saturday against Vanderbilt.
As a result, Orr “opted to leave the team and return to Gainesville on a bus,” according to the release.
"He said he wanted to start, and he was leaving if he wasn’t starting," Muschamp said after the game, according to Jonathan Czupryn of The Independent Florida Alligator. "I said, 'If you go home, you’re done. You’re not a Florida Gator anymore.'"
Yet Orr left anyway.
There’s some discrepancy as to whether Orr’s departure was fully his decision—according to a tweet from Richard Johnson of Jacksonville.com before the game, a team spokesperson said Orr was sent home and did not voluntarily leave. Muschamp’s side of the story, however, was that Orr made the decision himself to leave, with Muschamp dismissing him from the team in turn.
Regardless of how it precisely played out, the incident and its outcome makes Orr look very bad. NFL teams don’t like quitters and would be right to be wary of a player who apparently cared more about being a starter than being a part of the Florida program.
A 6’5”, 305-pound defensive tackle, Orr has enough talent that he could have potentially drawn consideration as a mid-round draft pick, but he doesn’t have enough talent to overcome a serious character red flag, which will likely lead to his removal from many teams’ draft boards.
Current Draft Projection: Undrafted free agent
Stock Up: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin, Jr.
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This Week: 25 carries for 205 yards, one touchdown, one fumble; three catches for 44 yards, one touchdown
Opponent: Purdue
One of the most dynamic offensive players in college football, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon became the first player in the FBS this year to top 1,500 rushing yards, on a day that he had 249 total yards from scrimmage, during the Badgers’ win over Purdue.
Gordon put his speed, ability to change directions and ability to run through contact on display as he piled up 205 yards in his third game of the season with 200 yards or more and his seventh consecutive game with at least 122 yards and one touchdown.
Sunday’s performance also addressed one of the biggest concerns about Gordon—his ability to catch passes out of the backfield—as he made three receptions for 44 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown on which he made a catch well downfield on a wheel route and then hurdled a defender at the goal line.
Gordon lost his third fumble of the season, his lone blemish of the day, but was otherwise as impressive as ever as a runner, while more productive than usual as a receiver.
Also second in the nation with 19 rushing touchdowns and 21 total touchdowns, Gordon combines a flair for big plays with the ability to consistently run for significant gains. He might not be able to make as many dazzling rushes or be as consistent between the tackles against faster, more disciplined NFL defenses, but the tools he possesses should make him a high draft pick nonetheless.
Current Draft Projection: Rounds 1-2
Stock Up: Devontae Booker, RB, Utah, Jr.
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This Week: 18 rushing attempts for 65 yards, two fumbles (one lost); eight receptions for 110 yards, one touchdown
Opponent: Oregon
Despite failing to extend his streak of 100-plus-yard rushing performances to six games, Utah junior Devontae Booker—like the aforementioned Melvin Gordon—improved his draft stock Saturday by having a breakout performance as a receiver out of the backfield.
Booker, better known prior to Saturday for his toughness running between the tackles, displayed soft hands and his ability to make plays in space as he caught eight passes, including three that went for 24 yards or more.
The junior-college transfer from American River College made some impressive catches away from his body: one low grab near his ankles on the 24-yard gain, a one-handed grab on his 29-yard touchdown and a leaping catch above his head on a 27-yard gain.
On this slideshow as one of our “Hidden Gem of the Week” selections earlier in the year, Booker’s talent is a secret no more. The back, who currently ranks 17th in the FBS in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage, has been compared by at least one NFL scout to Houston Texans star Arian Foster, according to Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evans and Pete Thamel.
Booker has an issue with fumbling—he put the ball on the ground twice Saturday, one of which was recovered by Oregon, and he has five total fumbles on the year—and there’s nothing spectacular about him physically.
That said, he’s showing playmaking both inside and outside as a runner and receiver, and that versatility could very well enable him to end up emerging as an NFL feature back, whether he declares for the 2015 draft or stays for his senior season. He might not be a high draft pick considering the position he plays, but he’s put himself in position to at least be selected, unlike Foster.
Current Draft Projection: Rounds 4-5
Stock Up: Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State, Sr.
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This Week: Six catches for 129 yards, one touchdown
Opponent: Michigan State
Devin Smith’s playmaking ability has been apparent since his freshman year at Ohio State, but his development—or lack thereof—has been disappointing over the past three years as he has continued to make big plays but has failed to emerge as a consistent pass-catcher.
On Saturday night, at least in the first half, he was able to combine his big-play ability while also emerging as a key player in the intermediate passing game, and the senior wideout helped lead OSU to a win over Michigan State.
Known as much for dropping easy passes as he has been for catching deep balls throughout his career, Smith caught every on-target throw that came his way Saturday night. In addition to the six receptions for 129 yards that he was credited with, he also has a nice 18-yard grab, which he made through a hit from Michigan State safety Kurtis Drummond, wiped out by a penalty on the offensive line.
Smith’s consistency running short routes and catching the ball when it's placed in his hands didn’t stop him from showing his skill as a deep threat. He made two big plays in the second quarter: a 43-yard over-the-shoulder catch with a cornerback pinning him tightly to the right sideline, following that up later in the quarter with a 44-yard touchdown straight over the middle.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Saturday’s game was the best of Smith’s career, according to The Lantern’s Tim Moody.
The 6’1”, 199-pound speedster’s draft stock has been hurt by his limited improvement over the years, but what has always been clear is that Smith can burn defenses deep with his ability to accelerate downfield. He’s also added value this season by making plays on special teams as a gunner.
If Smith is going to raise his draft value significantly, he’s going to need to continue showing in upcoming games that he can run diversified routes and catch everything that comes his way. At the least, however, it’s likely that someone will take a late-round shot on Smith because of his ability to win vertically.
Current Draft Projection: Round 6
Small School Stud of the Week: David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa, Sr.
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This Week: 28 rushing attempts for 133 yards; two receptions for 36 yards; 41-yard kickoff return
Opponent: North Dakota State
The biggest upset you possibly didn’t hear about this weekend happened in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the Northern Iowa Panthers handed North Dakota State, the three-time reigning Football Championship Subdivision champion, its first loss since 2010.
One of the key players in that upset—and one of the best players in the FCS—is Northern Iowa running back David Johnson, a dominant player at that level of competition who should be taken seriously as an NFL prospect.
Johnson made plays as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner on Saturday and does so in each capacity on a regular basis. He has accumulated at least 200 all-purpose yards in four consecutive games and ranks fourth overall in the FCS with 1,736 all-purpose yards in 10 games this season.
The versatility and athleticism Johnson possesses is impressive for a 6’1”, 229-pound back. He’s not the most naturally agile runner, but he has good speed for his size and catches the ball downfield. Though his size projects well to running between the tackles, he could also be a candidate for a transition to a H-back role.
Getting it done and leading his team to victory against North Dakota State, an elite team at the FCS level which ranks third in the subdivision in least total yards allowed per game, is a good indicator of Johnson’s ability to translate his game to the next level.
He already made such statements earlier this year against FBS schools Iowa, against which he caught five passes for 203 yards, and Hawaii, against which he had 119 yards from scrimmage.
Current Draft Projection: Round 5
Other Notable Performers
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Texas senior defensive end Cedric Reed failed to live up to expectations in the Longhorns’ first nine games of the year, so much so that two of five NFL personnel executives questioned by NFL Media Analyst Daniel Jeremiah named him as the most disappointing prospect they have watched this season.
Reed bounced back in a big way on Saturday, recording 12 total tackles—including four for loss and three sacks—and a forced fumble, which led the Longhorns to a victory over West Virginia. For his efforts, Reed earned the Athlon Sports Defensive Player of the Week Award.
Another highly touted defensive lineman who had been having a disappointing senior year, but started to change that Saturday, was Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Bennett.
Bennett gave Michigan State guards Travis Jackson and Connor Kruse fits and penetrated the Spartans’ backfield throughout a game in which he recorded four total tackles, including two tackles for loss, one of which was a strip-sack. He also recorded a pass breakup.
Texas A&M senior cornerback Deshazor Everett has suffered some bad beats in coverage this season (and throughout his career), but it was his playmaking ability that was on full display in the Aggies’ upset win over Auburn on Saturday.
Everett recorded five tackles (including one for loss), had a pass breakup and, on the last play of the first half, he scooped up a blocked field goal and showed his speed in returning it 65 yards for a touchdown.
In a losing effort, Auburn senior running back Cameron Artis-Payne was impressive as he rushed for a career-high 221 yards on 30 attempts and scored two touchdowns. There’s nothing particularly special about Artis-Payne’s game, but he’s a hard-charging runner who has been impressive in high-volume work this year. He could end up being a late-round draft steal and be a productive NFL running back.
As is usually the case, Baylor senior middle linebacker Bryce Hager made plays all over the field in the Bears’ blowout win over Oklahoma on Saturday. The highlight of his game came when Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight threw an interception, which he returned 36 yards to the 1-yard line to set up a touchdown, but he also had 10 tackles including one for loss.
An instinctive linebacker who excels as a downhill run defender, Hager’s physical limitations make him a likely late-round pick, but his hustle as a player could make him a steal. It should surprise no one if he ends up becoming a valuable NFL player.
NFL Draft Injury Notes
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No team was hit harder by injuries on Saturday than Oregon, whose road could be tougher ahead—despite its win over Utah—because of the players it could be missing going forward.
Senior cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who has had a rough senior season on the field already, was knocked out of the game in the first half with a toe injury. The potential first-round pick told reporters that he expects to play in Oregon’s next game, Nov. 22 against Colorado, according to Andrew Greif of The Oregonian.
The severity of the leg injury suffered by senior center Hroniss Grasu, who could potentially be the top player drafted at his position, is unknown. According to Steve Mims of The Register-Guard, the rest of his season could be in doubt.
The worst Oregon injury of the night was suffered by junior tight end Pharaoh Brown. The athletic playmaker, who had also been emerging as the potential top prospect at his position if he declared for the draft, suffered a gruesome leg injury. He was, as of Sunday night, still hospitalized in Utah while awaiting surgery, according to Greif.
Auburn didn’t just lose a game and its playoff hopes on Saturday, it also lost one of its best players. Junior wide receiver D’haquille Williams suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee against Texas A&M, according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com, but it is believed he could return this season, a much more promising outlook than when he was on crutches Saturday.
One of Oklahoma’s most talented prospects, junior wide receiver Sterling Shepard, missed Saturday’s game against Baylor with a groin injury.
Without Shepard, it was a rough day on the gridiron for redshirt sophomore Trevor Knight. After completing just 12 of 27 passing attempts, with many bad throws including three that went straight to the hands of linebackers (one interception, two dropped interceptions), Knight was knocked out of the game from a big hit that forced him to be strapped down to a backboard and carted off the field.
Fortunately, Knight appears to have avoided serious injury—the results of his MRI were “favorable,” according to a report by Ryan Aber of NewsOK.com—but regardless of whether or not he is able to play the rest of the season, Knight should have his sights set on returning to Oklahoma for at least one more year and continuing to develop.
Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon fumbled a ball late in the game against LSU that nearly led to an Alabama loss, and he simultaneously suffered an ankle injury on the play. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said after the game that he was not sure of the injury’s severity, according to CBSSports.com’s Jon Solomon.
Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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