NFL Draft 2015: Updated Prospect Radar, Post-Week 14

While some teams’ college football seasons were already over, and many others spent it waiting to find out what bowl games they were selected to play in, conference-championship weekend provided a big stage for those 2015 NFL draft prospects whose teams were playing to stand out in their final non-bowl collegiate games.

Aside from Navy and the two teams who make the College Football Playoff final, no other team in the Football Bowl Subdivision has more than one game remaining this year. That means the window of opportunity for prospects to improve their draft stocks in collegiate games, save a final impression for some, has mostly come and gone.

That said, there were many players who took advantage of this past weekend—including Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Bennett and Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner, who each helped lead their teams into playoff berths with dominant performances—to show themselves at their best under the bright lights.

There were others who failed to assert their excellence in conference championship-game showcases—including Wisconsin running back sensation Melvin Gordon—but it wasn’t hard to find positive performances to get excited about, even as the focus of the nation turned away from individual players and toward the debate of who college football’s best four teams would be.

Stock Up: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State, Sr.

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This Week: Five total tackles, four tackles for loss (two sacks), two forced fumbles

Opponent: Wisconsin

Michael Bennett paid tribute to Kosta Karageorge, his former Ohio State teammate who was found dead in Columbus last week after going missing on Thanksgiving, by wearing Karageorge’s No. 53 in Saturday night’s Big Ten Championship Game.

With a dominant performance in OSU’s 59-0 win, Bennett made sure everyone took notice of his homage to his friend.

The Wisconsin offensive line has played up to its usual standard of greatness most of the year, but it had no answer for Bennett on Saturday night.

Best known for his quickness, Bennett also put his hand skills on full display as he ripped his way off blockers into the backfield for four tackles for loss, including two on Heisman Trophy candidate running back Melvin Gordon.

He forced Gordon to fumble once, and that loose ball was recovered by teammate Joey Bosa (a potential No. 1 overall pick in 2016) and returned for a touchdown. Bennett also had two sacks, one of which was a strip-sack on Badgers quarterback Joel Stave.

It was suggested earlier this year, after a disappointing first half of the season, that Bennett’s draft stock had fallen. If that was the case, Bennett has seemingly repaired any damage that was done.

Having accumulated 9.5 tackles for loss in his past five games alone, the senior defensive tackle has been dominant and re-established himself as a likely late first-round pick.

Current Draft Projection: Round 1

Stock Down: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin, Jr.

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This Week: 26 rushing attempts for 76 yards, one fumble

Opponent: Ohio State

While the aforementioned Bennett and Bosa dominated the line of scrimmage in Saturday night’s Big Ten Championship Game, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon had a disappointing performance in his final chance to convince voters that he should win this year’s Heisman Trophy.

Known for his ability to break runs out of the backfield for huge gains, Gordon never went further than 13 yards on any single carry as his team got routed Saturday. Most of his carries, behind an offensive line that was unable to open the big holes it usually does for him, were stopped around the line of scrimmage for minimal gains or losses of yardage.

While Gordon was unable to help the Wisconsin offense score any points in the game, his seventh fumble of the year led to an Ohio State touchdown. Overall, he averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and did not have any receptions.

A 6’1”, 213-pound running back who has a terrific combination of speed, agility and vision, Gordon is still likely to be the top player at his position selected in the 2015 draft. With 26 touchdowns and more than 2,300 rushing yards this year, Gordon has proven more than enough that he is an electrifying runner who can turn any play into a big play.

Still, Saturday’s game will give fuel to his detractors and those who suggest Gordon won’t have much success running between the tackles in the NFL, where the running lanes will be much more reminiscent to the ones he faced Saturday than those with wide-open gaps he has gotten in many games this year. He also did nothing to mitigate concerns about his pass-catching ability and ball security.

Current Draft Projection: Rounds 1-2

Stock Up: Cameron Erving, C, Florida State, Sr.

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This Week: Led Dalvin Cook to 177 rushing yards with a dominant performance in the middle of the line

Opponent: Georgia Tech

Florida State running back Dalvin Cook continued to establish himself as one of college football’s finest freshmen as he ran for 177 yards on 31 carries in Saturday night’s 37-35 ACC Championship Game win over Georgia Tech. A big reason why he had so much success, on a night when most of his carries came up the middle, was the consistent push generated by Seminoles center Cameron Erving.

Erving, who moved to the center position midseason from left tackle, was the star of the Florida State offensive line Sunday night.

He had a dominant outing as he consistently drove his man away from running plays and opened up big holes in the middle of the field for Cook to explode through with his burst. He was also steady throughout the game in pass protection, never allowing any significant pressure past him.

The great performance comes with a caveat: Georgia Tech’s starting defensive tackles, Adam Gotsis and Shawn Green, weigh just 282 and 276 pounds, respectively. Erving has great size for a center, at 6’6” and 308 pounds, but he won’t likely be able to move bigger NFL defensive tackles with the same success he had moving Gotsis and Green on Saturday night.

Still, it’s clear that the move to the middle has been a beneficial one for Erving, who had been struggling at offensive tackle. It now appears very well as though center might be the long, athletic offensive lineman’s hope at the next level, while his versatility to play anywhere from center to tackle will elevate his draft stock.

He projects to have a similar draft stock to Max Unger, who also made the move from tackle to center late in his collegiate career while at Oregon, and he ended up being a second-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2009 draft (and a two-time Pro Bowler since).

Current Draft Projection: Rounds 2-3

Stock Up: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon, Jr.

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This Week: Eight total tackles, two tackles for loss (one sack)

Opponent: Arizona

The Oregon defense had a completely dominant performance in the Pac-12 Championship Game, in which Arizona had just 25 first-half yards of offense, and the Ducks ultimately won the game, 51-13. There were many impressive performers among the Ducks defenders, but the star of the unit Friday night was junior defensive end DeForest Buckner.

A disruptive presence along the line of scrimmage throughout the game, Buckner brought pressure on numerous occasions, including two combined sacks (he was credited with a half-sack for each), while he also made a number of strong stops around the line of scrimmage versus the run.

A 6’7”, 290-pound defensive end who has the size and athleticism to line up on either inside or outside, Buckner has emerged as an excellent player in his junior year. He uses his hands well, rarely gets driven off the line of scrimmage on running plays and has great burst in pursuit for a man of his measurables.

Recognized as a second-team All-Pac-12 selection this year, Buckner leads the Ducks with 11.5 tackles for loss.

Buckner’s not a household name yet, but he’ll likely be a high selection if he declares for the draft. Former NFL scout John Middlekauff sees Buckner as “a top-20 pick.”

While the second round might be a more realistic landing spot for the Oregon defensive end, his physical traits and schematic versatility will lead him to rise. Coming out of Oregon’s 3-4 system, he might project best to playing as a 5-technique defensive end in the NFL, but he could also fit in a 4-3 front.

Current Draft Projection: Rounds 1-2

Stock Down: Byron Marshall, WR/RB, Oregon, Jr.

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This Week: Six rushing attempts for 31 yards, five receptions for 23 yards, three passes off his hands, one fumble

Opponent: Arizona

Although Friday was a great night all-around for Oregon, as it cruised to a victory that earned it a place in the inaugural College Football Playoff, one Ducks player who struggled his way through the evening was junior slotback Byron Marshall.

Marshall, a former Oregon tailback who now sees most of his playing time at wide receiver, has had a productive season for the Ducks, accumulating 1,197 yards from scrimmage as a pass-catcher and runner. On Saturday night, however, he had more miscues than he did positively impactful plays.

Marshall had three passes go off his hands—including one that would have been a 19-yard touchdown catch—while he also fumbled at the end of a short catch-and-run. As noted by Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon, Marshall also had a poor effort blocking.

While Marshall is a good athlete who has shown versatility this year, he hasn’t proven he’s good at anything to have a true role in the NFL. He must improve upon his suspect hands if he is going to be a successful pro wide receiver, while his limited between-the-tackles ability likely played a part in his move from running back (although largely, that was prompted by the breakout success of freshman Royce Freeman).

It would be in Marshall’s best interest to return to Oregon for his senior season, so that he can continue to develop as a receiver and prove that he has NFL talent, but he’s a likely late-rounder if he enters the draft in 2015.

Current Draft Projection: Rounds 6-7

Stock Up: Jimmie Hunt, WR, Missouri, Sr.

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This Week: Six receptions for 169 yards

Opponent: Alabama

The Missouri offense showed no ability to consistently move the ball against Alabama in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game loss, 42-13, as even short passes proved to be a struggle for Tigers redshirt sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk.

Unusually as it was, the one play that did work for Missouri on a multitude of occasions was Mauk throwing the ball deep to Jimmie Hunt, an underachieving senior wide receiver who burst onto the NFL draft radar Sunday.

The only standout for Missouri in an otherwise dreary day for his team, Hunt had 169 receiving yards—63 more than he had ever had in a previous game—while he also tied his career-high in receptions with six.

Hunt, an athletic wideout with decent size at 6’0” and 215 pounds, showed his ability to burn Alabama’s cornerbacks deep—something Auburn’s Sammie Coates was also able to do with frequency one week earlier—and that he could make challenging, acrobatic catches along the sidelines.

Hunt’s six receptions included plays that went for 63, 47 and 32 yards.

A player who has been known to drop the ball as he has been to catch it—he even had a drop early in Saturday’s game—Hunt is a raw talent who certainly qualifies as a project.

What he showed Saturday, however, should have caught the eyes of NFL scouts looking for a potential diamond in the rough. If he can become a better-hands catcher and route-runner, the SEC Championship Game was a sign that Hunt could, as GM Jr. Scouting’s Josh Liskiewitz thinks he will, be a better player in the NFL than he has been in college.

Current Draft Projection: Round 7 or Undrafted Free-Agent Signing

Stock Down: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri, Jr.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

This Week: Two tackles, one half-sack, ejected for targeting in second quarter

Opponent: Alabama

Shane Ray has had an outstanding junior season—one that should make him a first-round draft pick should he choose to declare for the 2015 draft—but the Missouri defensive end missed out on a big opportunity to impress scouts Saturday when he got ejected in the first half of the SEC Championship Game.

The infraction occurred in the second quarter of Saturday’s game, when Ray failed to slow down his rush after a pass by Alabama quarterback Blake Sims and instead drove his helmet into Sims’ helmet to incur a foul that was, by rule, correctly flagged as targeting, which forced him to sit out the rest of the game.

Ultimately, an NFL team’s not going to pass on a player, especially one who is a gifted pass-rusher like Ray, simply because he picked up a targeting penalty.

Ray had one great play prior to being removed from the game, when he started rushing upfield and then used his hands to slide off Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson, change direction and close on Sims to combine for a sack with teammate Harold Brantley.

Having accumulated 14 sacks this year, the athletic edge defender has put himself in position to potentially go as high as the top 10 picks and likely no later than the end of Round 1.

Still, it’s certainly not going to help his cause that he made a big mistake, hurting his team in the process, by committing an evident penalty that got him tossed from the game.

Had he been able to stay in the game, he might have been able to boost a defensive line that struggled without him—his fellow starting defensive end, Markus Golden, also failed to live up to his potential first-round billing Saturday as he had a quiet day rushing the passer—to bring pressure.

Current Draft Projection: Round 1

Stock Up: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU, Jr.

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This Week: Nine receptions for 151 yards, one touchdown

Opponent: Iowa State

Josh Doctson was mentioned in our Prospect Radar last week in regard to how he contributed to a bad night for Texas senior cornerback Quandre Diggs with multiple jump-ball wins over Diggs in a seven-catch, 115-yard performance. After following that up with a nine-catch, 151-yard performance in TCU’s 55-3 rout of Iowa State on Saturday, Doctson gets his own slide this week.

Highlighted by a spinning 18-yard touchdown reception, Doctson’s game Saturday continued to put the 6’4”, 190-pound wide receiver on the map. A tall target who can elevate to make plays, Doctson pairs great body control with good route-running ability and adequate athleticism.

He has shown his ability to make difficult catches throughout the season, and he has proven to be a tough one-on-one matchup for cornerbacks on the outside.

Much like his talented but still developing junior quarterback Trevone Boykin, Doctson would be best suited in returning to TCU for his senior year to gain another year of experience and continue to improve his game. He could emerge as one of the best wide receivers in the 2016 draft class if he can continue to produce the way he has over his past two games.

He might only be a Day 3 draft selection if he enters this year’s draft, which looks to be another class loaded with talented pass-catchers, but he’s at least established as a solid mid-round selection with starter potential.

Current Draft Projection: Round 4

Stock Up: Antwan Goodley, WR, Baylor, Sr.

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This Week: Nine receptions for 116 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown; one 33-yard run; one 19-yard kickoff return, one fumble and one false start

Opponent: Kansas State

Like the aforementioned Josh Doctson and TCU, Antwan Goodley and Baylor got left out of the College Football Playoff on Selection Sunday, but that couldn’t have been for any lack of impression made by those teams or their star receivers on Saturday.

Goodley played a key role in Baylor’s 38-27 win over Kansas State, a matchup of top-10 teams, as he led the Bears in receiving yards while accumulating 168 all-purpose yards.

The highlight of Goodley’s day came in the third quarter, when he showed his speed in beating two defensive backs up the right sideline to catch a deep ball for a 58-yard receiving touchdown.

Goodley also showed his potential to play running back on Baylor’s first series when he exploded through a big hole up the middle, lowered his shoulder through a defender and finished with a 33-yard gain. Built more like a traditional tailback than a wide receiver, at 5’11 and 220 pounds, it’s possible some NFL teams might envision him playing out of the backfield at the next level.

Either way, Goodley’s explosive traits and his versatility to line up in multiple spots, and even be used as a returner if needed, could make him an attractive option to many teams as a potential Day 2 draft pick.

There were two blemishes in Goodley’s day—he fumbled once, though he recovered his own fumble, and committed a false start. Overall, however, the wide receiver had one of his best games to show why, despite his limited height, he could prove to be a dynamic weapon at the next level.

Current Draft Projection: Round 2

Stock Up: Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida, Jr.

This Week: Four receptions for 139 yards, including 51-yard game-winning touchdown catch

Opponent: East Carolina

There were many bigger games this past weekend than the Thursday night contest between Central Florida and East Carolina, but there was arguably no bigger play of the weekend than that game’s Hail Mary touchdown catch by UCF junior wide receiver Breshad Perriman, which gave the Knights a 32-30 victory as time expired.

With time to run only one more play and the team sitting at midfield while trailing by two points, strong-armed UCF quarterback Justin Holman did the only thing he could do in that situation: launch a deep ball to the end zone. It’s a desperate play that rarely works, but it did this time as Perriman located the ball with his eyes and was able to get behind three defensive backs to make the play.

Perriman also had a big play earlier in the game, in the second quarter, when he adjusted to a slightly underthrown deep ball to make a leaping catch, utilizing his size advantage over a smaller cornerback behind him, for a 45-yard gain.

Having made two more plays that could be on all of his highlight reels going forward, Perriman continued to show why he, in either 2015 or 2016, will follow in the footsteps of his father, Brett Perriman, who played 10 years in the NFL.

At 6’3” and 214 pounds, the younger Perriman is a significantly bigger receiver than his father was, while he also has very good downfield speed. His best skill is his ability to make big plays deep down the field, as he demonstrated Thursday.

Perriman has made no shortage of big plays lately, as he has caught one touchdown pass in each of his last seven games and nine of his last 10.

He should start to get the national attention he already deserved after Thursday’s catch, and he’s a good bet to be a Day 2 draft pick whether he declares for this year’s draft or waits until after his senior year.

Current Draft Projection: Round 3

Hidden Gem of the Week: Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech, Jr.

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This Week: 20 rushing attempts for 156 yards, three touchdowns

Opponent: Marshall

Louisiana Tech fell short of pulling an upset in the Conference USA Championship Game on Saturday, but it gave Marshall a tough fight for four quarters. Enabling them to do so was the rushing of Kenneth Dixon, who scored all three of Louisiana Tech’s touchdowns in the game.

The junior running back put his breakaway ability on display as he ran for touchdowns of 33, 30 and 19 yards, bringing his touchdown total for the season to 26 (21 rushing, five receiving).

Dixon doesn’t have any spectacular traits about him, but he has enough speed to make big plays in the open field while he also exhibits the toughness and balance to churn through contact and keep runs going.

He has a penchant for the end zone—having already scored 59 total touchdowns in his collegiate career—and is a steady pass-catcher, having caught 26 passes for 306 yards this year, although he didn’t have any receptions Saturday.

Dixon would be best served by returning to school for his senior year, but running backs tend to declare as early entries more than any other position, and Dixon is a draftable talent who has the skills to make it in the NFL as a backup running back, though he might have to prove himself on special teams to stick around.

Current Draft Projection: Rounds 6-7 or Undrafted Free-Agent Signing

Small School Stud of the Week: Xavier Williams, DT, Northern Iowa, Sr.

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This Week: Nine total tackles, two tackles for loss, one field goal block

Opponent: Illinois State

Northern Iowa’s season came to an end in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs on Saturday with a loss to Illinois State, but one player who made sure to finish his collegiate career with a big impression was senior defensive tackle Xavier Williams.

A disruptive player on the Northern Iowa defensive front all year, Williams saved one of his best games for last as he recorded nine total tackles, including two for losses against the run, while he also blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt by Illinois State’s Nick Aussieker.

It’s not often that a 6’2”, 309-pound defensive tackle records nine tackles in a game—or 93 tackles in a season, as Williams did this year. An athletic specimen for his size, Williams has been a consistently active presence on the Panthers defensive line.

That combination of activity level and physical attributes makes Williams a strong candidate to be a Day 3 draft selection. He will have a chance to prove his skills against increased competition at the East-West Shrine Game in January, where he could prove to be a star among the players in attendance.

Current Draft Projection: Round 6

Other Notable Performers

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As previously mentioned, DeForest Buckner wasn’t the only physical specimen to stand out on Oregon’s defense Friday night.

Junior defensive end Arik Armstead, who is even bigger than Buckner while also an outstanding athlete for his size, was likewise disruptive on the line of scrimmage all game and pressured the quarterback on multiple occasions. Senior outside linebacker Tony Washington, whose play bears some resemblance to that of 2013 No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan, displayed his explosion off the edge as he made numerous tackles for loss, including one six-yard sack he chased down in pursuit.

Michael Bennett wasn’t the only standout senior for the Buckeyes in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game. Two likely Day 3 draft choices had big nights as well: wide receiver Devin Smith continued to show his playmaking ability as a deep threat as he caught touchdown passes of 39, 44 and 42 yards, while senior cornerback Doran Grant got his hands on four passes, intercepting two of them.

Alabama inside linebacker Trey DePriest had an impressive first half against Missouri, in which he recorded four tackles and knocked down a pass, but he didn’t make any notable plays in the second half of the Crimson Tide’s SEC Championship Game win. One of the most impressive players on the Tide defense throughout the win was junior defensive end Jarran Reed, whose breakout year continued as he pushed the pocket all day and recorded two tackles for loss.

Florida State redshirt sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston, whose year-long struggles with interceptions were detailed here at Bleacher Report last week, had one of his best games of the season Saturday as he completed 21 of 30 passing attempts for 309 yards and three touchdowns, with no picks.

On the receiving end, Seminoles senior wideout Rashad Greene put his route-running and playmaking abilities on display as he caught seven passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns in one of the consistent pass-catcher’s best games.

TCU senior linebacker Paul Dawson hasn’t gotten a great deal of attention this season, but he’s had a fantastic year. In recording 13 total tackles with 1.5 for loss against Iowa State on Saturday, Dawson continued to push himself into being a potential early-round draft pick while increasing his season totals to 128 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss, both of which rank him among the top 12 in the FBS.

The reason “arguably” had to be used as a justifier for Breshad Perriman’s Hail Mary catch being the best play of the weekend is because Oklahoma State junior Tyreek Hill also had a spectacular that led to a victory for his team. WIth less than a minute to play against Oklahoma, Hill turned the rivalry game into true Bedlam with a 92-yard punt return touchdown, which forced overtime, in which his team was victorious.

A spectacular athlete who can be a triple threat as a runner, receiver and returner, Hill will be an intriguing prospects for teams to consider if he enters the 2015 draft.

NFL Draft Injury Notes

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Two Florida State juniors with the potential to be early-round draft selections, defensive tackle Eddie Goldman and cornerback Ronald Darby, left Saturday night's ACC Championship Game early due to injuries. Goldman (ankle) and Darby (arm) are both expected to be back in plenty of time for the Rose Bowl, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said Sunday according to Corey Clark of the Tallahassee Democrat.

A tough season continued for another Seminoles player expected to be drafted, running back Karlos Williams, was unable to play in Saturday's game due to a concussion. Williams entered the season as a potential early-round pick, but he's had a disappointing year both on and off the field, and he's now only likely to be a Day 3 selection.

One talented senior who missed out on what would have been a big opportunity for him to showcase his talent was Iowa State tight end E.J. Bibbs, who missed Saturday's game against TCU while recovering from knee surgery. Bibbs is a skilled tight end with a chance to rise in a thin draft class at this position, but he'll need to make a positive impression at the Senior Bowl.