Texas Football: The Longhorns' Top 5 2015 NFL Draft Prospects
Five Texas Longhorns take the field this week at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine to make a case for their professional futures. Meanwhile, one of the Longhorns' best prospects will have to bide his time until his pro day to prove his worth.
Malcom Brown, Jordan Hicks, Quandre Diggs, Cedric Reed and Malcolm Brown all received invites to this year's combine. The first three are almost locks to hear their names called in the spring, while injury may keep Reed from ever quelling the doubts about his athletic ability.
The latter Brown told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he enters this process with a big chip on his shoulder. Given that he only busted three runs of over 30 yards for his career, per SB Nation's Wescott Eberts, Brown is correct.
With that, the fifth Longhorn to hear his name may just be one-year wonder John Harris.
1. DT Malcom Brown
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The No. 21 player on Matt Miller's Big Board, defensive tackle Malcom Brown will get Texas back in the first round in this spring's draft.
Speaking to 247Sports' Jeff Howe, draft expert Mike Mayock called Brown a "first-round guy all day long." Mayock's not alone in his love for the 6'2", 320-pound penetrating tackle, who has been a fixture in the mock drafts of both Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay.
There's a lot to like about Brown, who turned in a career season with 72 tackles and 6.5 sacks. What will set him apart, according to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, is his ability to play in both a 3-4 and 4-3 front, which means he could help just about any team that needs help in the middle of its defense.
Brown has met and even exceeded every expectation since he was a 5-star high school recruit. His first-round status has been a long time coming.
2. LB Jordan Hicks
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Were it not for his injury history, which is extensive, Jordan Hicks would be hearing his name called in the first 100 picks of this draft. As it stands, he will be a high-upside mid-rounder so long as he can stay healthy.
Hicks has good size and range, and he finishes tackles with the best of them. He's a steady hand rather than a game-changer, with his two forced turnovers and 5.5 career sacks paling in comparison to his 299 career tackles.
There's every-down ability here, but losing almost two full seasons to separate injuries will scare teams off before the fourth round. Talent-wise, he probably deserves the rating Miller gives him, though CBSSports.com's fifth-round projection is closer to the mark.
At his size, there's potential for him to sneak up boards with an impressive showing at the combine.
3. CB Quandre Diggs
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Quandre Diggs will see plenty of criticism for his size, but the fiery defensive back has plenty of desirable traits that will make him attractive to NFL teams.
Diggs is physical, a natural leader and has NFL pedigree through his brother Quentin Jammer, who played 11 years in the league. Mayock told Howe he likes Diggs in the nickel, though Inside Texas' Ian Boyd really believes he could excel at free safety:
"Diggs is great in deep coverage, instinctive, physical, why wouldn't he project great at FS? Because he hasn't played there? Lazy analysis.
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Size has been no detriment to former Longhorn and All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, nor has it kept nickel corners like Brandon Boykin from playing shutdown coverage.
Thomas and Boykin are both very fast, making Diggs' performance in the 40-yard dash one of the most important factors in his evaluation. Anything in the 4.4s would drive up the interest, especially because of his physical style of play.
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4. DE Cedric Reed
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Once considered a first-round talent by Kiper, bookend Cedric Reed has seen his stock fall through the floor following an off senior season.
Reed was plagued by a meniscus tear as a senior, and his recovery from the surgery might keep him out of this week's combine. He should sit this one out if he's even a little limited, as CBS Sports' Dane Brugler already sees him as an average athlete.
As a 6'6", 270-pound pass-rusher, Reed should attract some late-round attention. Unless he can get healthy by Texas' pro day, that's probably his ceiling in this draft.
5. WR John Harris
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Running back Malcolm Brown was the fifth and final Longhorn to receive a combine invite, where his speed will receive the utmost scrutiny. Given Brown's lack of big-play production in college, the safer draft bet would be wideout John Harris.
A benchwarmer for his first four years on campus, Harris enjoyed one of the most surprising breakouts in the country. The 6'2" receiver led the Longhorns in every receiving category, becoming only the sixth pass-catcher in school history to post a 1,000-yard season.
Harris did his damage at every level of field for Texas, hauling in balls deep downfield, moving the chains and scoring seven touchdowns as a senior. It made you wonder how it took so long for him to get his chance.
There is little draft buzz about Harris at this stage, but he comes in at a size that tends to translate to NFL success. Now, he has to prove he's fast and explosive enough for the professional level.
His testing numbers at Texas' pro day will show us almost immediately what his future holds.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats and information courtesy of TexasSports.com.
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