The Top 2015 NFL Draft Prospect from Every Big Ten School
With the NFL Scouting Combine all but wrapped up, attention around the Big Ten will now turn to which conference alumni have the best shot at not only hearing their names called during the 2015 NFL draft, but how early they'll be called.
The Big Ten is a major supplier of NFL talent, and every team around the conference has at least one big name ready to make an impact on Sundays. Here, we'll look at the top NFL prospect from each 14 Big Ten program.
While quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers get the lion's share of attention in the college ranks, pro scouts and general managers are often looking for a player who can provide weekly output while contributing for years to come. Linemen, both offensive and defensive, have become hot draft commodities, and we don't expect 2015 to buck that trend.
That's not to say there won't be some great talent at skill positions out of the Big Ten this year, but the conference has become known for its perennial selection of great line muscle.
Let's take a look at the top 2015 NFL draft prospect from each Big Ten program.
Illinois
1 of 14
Simon Cvijanovic, OT
If you'd like to know just how far Illinois has fallen, just take a look at the state of NFL-ready prospects coming out of Champaign. According to CBSSports.com's rankings, Illinois' Simon Cvijanovic ranks No. 610 out of the top 1,000 prospects ranked.
To put it another way, there are six other prospects who played their college ball in the state of Illinois who rank ahead of Cvijanovic on the list (three from Northern Illinois, two from FCS Southern Illinois and one from FCS Illinois State).
At 6'6" and 310 pounds, Cvijanovic certainly has the size NFL teams want, but the question still remains if he has the talent those franchises need. Last season, Illinois ranked second-to-last in the conference in rushing yards per game (117.5) and 111th nationally in sacks allowed (37).
Being the top prospect from a team with that kind of performance isn't really a great resume builder.
Indiana
2 of 14
Tevin Coleman, RB
If you're a Hoosiers fan looking to place blame on Indiana's relative lack of success over the past couple of seasons, don't look at the running game. Indiana has fielded one of the most electric, exciting offensive attacks in the nation for the past few years.
Unfortunately, despite averaging 263.6 rushing yards per game, the Hoosiers' relative lack of a passing game combined with a pretty ugly defense for head coach Kevin Wilson's fourth consecutive sub-.500 season.
There is, however, some great talent coming out of Bloomington that doesn't have anything to do with Assembly Hall. Running back Tevin Coleman, underappreciated due to his team's lack of wins, should still hear his name called on the first day of the draft.
Last season, Coleman eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark, something only 17 others have ever done in FBS history. Coleman also managed the feat over 12 games, and only the plethora of amazing rushing performances in the Big Ten in 2014 kept his exploits from gaining wider attention.
Coleman is a tall guy for a running back (5'11"), which could make him a tempting target for NFL defenders, but Coleman has shown remarkable stamina late in games; after halftime, Coleman averaged an eye-popping 8.4 yards per carry over the course of the 2014 season.
Iowa
3 of 14
Brandon Scherff, OT
Is there any doubt that Iowa's Brandon Scherff is the top NFL prospect to come off the Hawkeyes' roster this year? Heck, Scherff is a no-brainer to be a first-round selection and could wind up being the top Big Ten pick in the draft.
While Scherff is easily a top-10 talent, his eventual draft position could be determined more by team needs than anything else. Scherff might fall to the middle of the first round, as perhaps only five or six teams use their first selection on an offensive lineman.
Scherff is one strong guy. Almost too strong. He relies on his strength, which can sometimes get him into trouble. That's a developmental issue, though, and once he settles into the NFL game, which needs skill as much as strength, he will transform into an All-Pro selection in no time.
His positives far outweigh his few, tiny weaknesses, and what negatives he has shouldn't scare any franchise away from a player who can make an instant impact during his rookie season.
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Maryland
4 of 14
Stefon Diggs, WR
Like Indiana, Maryland's top pro-ready talent often comes from the hardwood. But anyone overlooking standout wide receiver Stefon Diggs needs to take another glance.
Despite missing the last three games of the 2014 regular season due to a suspension and a subsequent injury, Diggs still finished among the top 10 in the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (five) and finished fourth in receiving yards per game (79.2).
Still, an injury-plagued three seasons at Maryland combined with a paucity of accomplishments will keep more than a few scouts skeptical of his true NFL value.
Diggs should be drafted and will easily be the highest Terrapin to go (and perhaps the only one). The question now becomes: Which round will Diggs be drafted?
Michigan
5 of 14
Devin Funchess, WR
The problem with Michigan under Brady Hoke was never a lack of talent. Michigan is one of those programs that has such a wealth of history, tradition and mystique that a trained chimp could bring in a pretty decent class of recruits most years.
No, Michigan's problem was developing that talent into a cohesive team that could go out and function as a single unit in order to win games.
Case in point: Devin Funchess.
During his sophomore season in 2013, Funchess emerged as one of the most electric tight ends in the nation. He could block, sure, but his catch-and-run abilities were something most coaches could only dream about.
So what did Brady Hoke do with that talent? Not much.
Funchess' junior year at Michigan was hampered by a couple of things. First, an injury sidelined him for a game against Miami University in September. Then, the Wolverines' continuing quarterbacking issues led to a decline in production that resulted in Funchess breaking the 100-yard mark only once more all season (against Ohio State) after returning to the lineup.
In the NFL, Funchess will get an opportunity he didn't receive from Hoke: playing wide receiver full-time. This is where Funchess will shine, as his enormous wingspan and ability to go and get the football should make him an early-round pick.
Michigan State
6 of 14
Trae Waynes, CB
Trae Waynes is just the latest great cornerback to come out of East Lansing. As a leading member of Michigan State's "No Fly Zone" in 2014, Waynes was one of two Spartans to finish in the top 10 in passes defended (11) in the conference, along with Kurtis Drummond.
Waynes will likely go higher—a lot higher—in the draft than Drummond based on body size and positional needs and skills. Both players are pretty lanky guys, but Drummond is more so, while Waynes at least looks to have the ability to bulk up into a prototypical NFL corner.
Waynes has also showcased his skills in one-on-one situations, and if there's one thing NFL coaches love, it's corners who can be trusted to work on an island.
Minnesota
7 of 14
Maxx Williams, TE
Minnesota wasn't a team full of superstar names this past season, but Maxx Williams stood out among his teammates in 2014.
Williams already looks like an NFL tight end. He's big, strong and has a pro-level athleticism that allows him to block on the edge or move in space like a receiver. He can block, has great route-running abilities and has massive hands that catch almost everything that comes his way.
Is there anything he can't do?
Don't be surprised to see Williams' name called early on the first day.
Nebraska
8 of 14
Randy Gregory, DT
It's entirely possible that half of the first 10 players selected in the draft will be underclassmen, and Nebraska's Randy Gregory should be among them.
Although he's a bit lean, Gregory's motor never stops, and he always manages to find his way to the football. That lack of size and his aggressiveness could work against him when lined up against some of the NFL's best O-lines, but there's plenty of time to add a little power to that ever-present tenacity.
Once he gets into an NFL weight room to add a little bulk, Gregory is going to be one very scary defensive player on Sundays. It's exactly for this reason that we've named him Nebraska's top 2015 NFL prospect.
He's arguably the top prospect out of the Big Ten, too.
Northwestern
9 of 14
Ibraheim Campbell, SS
Let's face it: Northwestern isn't a factory of NFL talent. But every so often, a bona fide NFL prospect like Ibraheim Campbell emerges.
Campbell has improved every season at Northwestern and continues to add muscle even now that his college career is over. NFL coaches love to see young prospects with a desire for continued improvement, and Campbell is second to none in that category.
Campbell will need to work on his pass coverage, especially if it doesn't involve charging the line of scrimmage. Even so, don't be surprised to see Campbell's name flash across your screens early on Day 2.
Ohio State
10 of 14
Michael Bennett, DT
It might have been easier to go with Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith, and there's no doubt that Smith is an NFL-level talent. But instead, teammate Michael Bennett grabs our nod as the top prospect for this year's draft.
It all comes down to positioning. Defensive line talent is in short supply this season compared to the plethora of great wide receivers entering the draft.
It's possible that Smith could wind up hearing his name called ahead of Bennett, but there are a number of teams in the late first round who may be looking to add defensive depth, as opposed to another horse in the stable of thoroughbred wideouts.
Add in the fact that Bennett is a phenomenal prospect with an undying tenacity and superb ability to sniff out plays in the offensive backfield, and it becomes a bit easier to see why we put Bennett just a hair in front of Smith.
Penn State
11 of 14
Jesse James, TE
It will take a little while for Penn State's NFL prospect production to catch up in the wake of NCAA scholarship reductions, but in the meantime, there are still a few guys attracting attention from NFL scouts.
Leading the pack for the Nittany Lions this year is tight end Jesse James.
James, who led the team in 2014 with three touchdown catches, is not only the top Penn State prospect for the draft but one of the top 10 overall tight ends available in this spring's draft.
Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller had James ranked 10th among tight ends in his pre-combine rankings, and with reports emerging about his impressive performance there, James' stock is sure to rise.
Purdue
12 of 14
Ryan Russell, DE
Just how far has Purdue fallen over the past several years? It's entirely possible that no Boilermaker will be selected in this year's NFL Draft—something that hasn't happened since 1997.
The best hope for Purdue lies with defensive end Ryan Russell.
Russell is currently projected as a possible late-seventh-round selection by NFLDraftScout.com but may fall out of the draft entirely without a very favorable report from the combine.
As Lance Zierlein put it for NFL.com, "Russell will frustrate NFL teams because he has many of the physical traits they covet, but he doesn't do enough with them."
Rutgers
13 of 14
Tyler Kroft, TE
Like Purdue, Rutgers really only has one legitimate draft prospect this season. Unlike Purdue, Rutgers is almost assured of being represented when Tyler Kroft is selected sometime early on in Day 2.
Kroft entered the combine weekend as the No. 5 overall tight end this year according to Matt Miller, and depending on team needs, a third-round selection for Kroft could be a very real possibility.
Kroft was a receiver in high school and only made the transition to tight end in college. That versatility could be very attractive to teams who like to put receivers in the slot, as well as those who don't have a ton of depth at either position.
Wisconsin
14 of 14
Melvin Gordon, RB
A college talent like Melvin Gordon might come around only once or twice in a generation, so it's a pretty safe bet that we'll hear Gordon's name called on the first day of the draft—probably in the first round, too.
Gordon possesses elite acceleration, and his refined balance makes him hard to bring down. He only needs a step or two to reach his top speed, and while not blazing at 4.52 speed, he does have the ability to shed contact.
There will be plenty of teams shopping for a running back in this year's draft, and Gordon is one of if not the top running back prospect in the 2015 NFL draft.
Follow Bleacher Report National College Football Featured Columnist David Luther on Twitter.
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