Meet the Replacement for Every 3rd-Round NFL Draft Pick of 2015
While players who get drafted in the first and second rounds tend to get far more publicity at the outset, those who are taken in the third round often end up earning that attention through their play in the NFL.
A pair of last year's third-round selections were named to NFL.com's All-Rookie team. Auburn running back Tre Mason (St. Louis Rams) and Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland (San Francisco 49ers) didn't get picked until late on the second day, but that didn't lessen their impact in the league.
Replacing third-round draft picks isn't easy either, but it has to be done. Graduation and early NFL entry make it imperative for schools to plan for the future, and those that are losing players in the third round hope to have a successor in place when the 2015 season begins.
Here's our look at the players who will step in for this year's third-round picks, based on their performance last season and how they fared during spring practice.
65. Raekwon Williams, CB, Florida Atlantic (D'Joun Smith)
1 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 5'11", 180 lbs
Considering what Raekwon Williams had to deal with in his first-ever college game, the notion of being called on to replace a high draft pick in the starting lineup must seem like child's play.
Williams made his debut with Florida Atlantic last September against Alabama, and according to his online bio, his job was "covering an All-American," which turned out to be first round pick Amari Cooper. Williams made eight tackles in that 41-0 loss, though Cooper had 13 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown.
66. J.J. Dielman, OT, Utah (Jeremiah Poutasi)
2 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'5", 295 lbs
Jeremiah Poutasi's early departure for the NFL draft caught some off guard, but it paid off for the big man by going in the third round. His absence has prompted Utah to do some shuffling on the offensive line to make for the best alignment, including moving 2014 starting right tackle J.J. Dielman over to Poutasi's spot at left tackle.
Last year Dielman started all 13 games, playing more snaps (852) than any other Ute, per his online bio. It was a big jump in production from the season before, when he played one game and saw a mere 12 snaps.
67. Cody Waldrop, OG, South Carolina (A.J. Cann)
3 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'2", 309 lbs
A former starter at center who has also started at right guard, Cody Waldrop now gets a chance to succeed longtime starter A.J. Cann on the left side if he can make a full recovery from offseason knee surgery.
Waldrop only played four games in 2014 after injuring his knee early in the year, but before going down he had started at right guard. In his career he's made appearances at nearly every spot on the line, and that versatility will make him valuable this season.
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68. Standish Dobard, TE, Miami (Clive Walford)
4 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 262 lbs
Miami will have another massive target falling off the line to catch passes in the flat this season, though it remains to be seen if Standish Dobard is capable of having as much of an impact as Clive Walford had in 2014.
Walford was the Hurricanes' leading pass-catcher last year in terms of receptions, with 44 for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. He was injured late in the season and replaced in the Duck Commander Bowl by Dobard, who had six of his seven receptions in the final four contests.
69. Deante Burton, WR, Kansas State (Tyler Lockett)
5 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'2", 205 lbs
Deante Burton won't be new to the starting lineup, as he made nine appearances as Kansas State's No. 3 receiver last season. But he will be making his first foray into being a go-to guy, one who has to try to replace at least part of the massive production that all-time leading Wildcats receiver Tyler Lockett took with him to the NFL.
Burton had 17 catches for 171 yards as a sophomore but did not score a touchdown. Lockett, who had 106 receptions, 1,515 yards and 11 scores, had five games of double-digit catches.
70. Devin Lucien, WR, Arizona State (Jaelen Strong)
6 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'1", 201 lbs
Arizona State's plans for how to replace Jaelen Strong's massive production have gone through several changes since Strong announced he was turning pro early. Cameron Smith looked to be the guy to take over the No. 1 spot, but then lingering injuries shut him down for 2015, which made it seem like converted running back D.J. Foster (who was moving to the slot) would step in.
Then the Sun Devils landed an impact graduate transfer in Devin Lucien, who announced in March he was leaving UCLA and earlier this week chose ASU as the team he'd play for during his final college season.
Lucien caught 58 balls in three seasons at UCLA, including 29 for 225 yards and two touchdowns in 2014.
71. Doug Brenner, C, Oregon (Hroniss Grasu)
7 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 6'2", 305 lbs
Oregon's injury issues on the offensive line made last season an adventure on the blocking and protection front, but it will reap benefits for the future because of the depth that was created. And with the Ducks losing three starters from 2014, this comes into play even more.
Doug Brenner earned valuable experience last season, first as backup to Hroniss Grasu at center and later with starts at left guard. All told, Brenner played in 10 games in 2014 and is slotted to be Oregon's center this fall.
72. Aaron Epps, OT, Louisville (Jamon Brown)
8 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'7", 288 lbs
Three of Louisville's starting linemen from last year have graduated, and protection is a big issue for the Cardinals if they want to match the nine-win season they had in 2014. Aaron Epps became the starter at right tackle last year, but he'll be more valuable on the left side in place of the departed Jamon Brown.
Epps made his first start against North Carolina State last year, when the Cardinals' run game produced 166 yards and a season-best 5.03 yards per carry.
73. Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana (Tevin Coleman)
9 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'1", 225 lbs
Jordan Howard was UAB's leading rusher last season, running for 1,587 yards with 13 touchdowns, and the dissolution of that program meant Howard had to look elsewhere to finish his career. He chose to go to a place where he'd be stepping in for the nation's second-leading rusher from a year ago, as Tevin Coleman ran for more than 2,000 yards.
The Big Ten will be a major step up in competition from Conference USA, but with a career per-carry average of 5.5 yards, Howard should hold his own.
74. Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA (Owa Odighizuwa)
10 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 230 lbs
Academics at his previous school, Contra Costa College, forced Takkarist McKinley to not be able to join UCLA until its fall quarter last season. That meant he missed the Bruins' first three games, yet despite having no training camp to get acclimated, he stepped right in and played in all 10 games he was eligible.
Backing up Owa Odighizuwa, McKinley had 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on just five tackles. A pass-rushing specialist, he'll take on more of a role as a run-stopper this year as a full-time player.
75. Nick Stevens, QB, Colorado State (Garrett Grayson)
11 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 6'3", 190 lbs
The competition to replace the greatest quarterback in Colorado State history is a two-man race heading into the fall, but if first-year coach Mike Bobo goes with the guy who had the best spring, then Nick Stevens will be succeeding the prolific Garrett Grayson.
Stevens, who appeared in five games last year as Grayson's backup and threw for 136 yards with a touchdown, had 438 passing yards and four TDs in the Rams' spring game. Fellow candidate Coleman Key, a redshirt freshman, had 337 yards and two TDs.
76. Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia (Chris Conley)
12 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'1", 195 lbs
After his freshman year, when Malcolm Mitchell had 45 receptions and four touchdowns, he seemed on track to be one of Georgia's best receivers ever. But then the production started to go down when injuries took over the narrative, with Mitchell missing all of 2013 with a torn ACL and then only playing nine games last season as he missed the first month.
Mitchell has one last chance to come through, taking over leading receiver Chris Conley's spot as the No. 1 wideout. With 116 receptions, he is 16th on the school's all-time chart and just 89 short of Terrence Edwards' school record.
77. Joseph Yearby, RB, Miami (Duke Johnson)
13 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 5'9", 195 lbs
Duke Johnson was such an effective running back it could take two players to replace his production this season. Along with Gus Edwards will be Joseph Yearby, who had a heck of a debut in 2014 and finished second on the team with 509 rushing yards on just 86 carries.
Yearby, who also had 118 receiving yards on eight catches with a score, will need to get out of the doghouse when training camp begins in order to hold onto his status. He was suspended for the spring game for violation of team rules stemming from a curfew violation, per Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post.
78. Marquez White, CB, Florida State (P.J. Williams)
14 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'0", 179 lbs
Florida State's loss of both starting cornerbacks from last season led to plenty of competition this spring, and longtime reserve Marquez White looks like the one who will emerge from the pack as P.J. Williams' replacement opposite converted safety Jalen Ramsey.
White saw limited action a year ago, with just three tackles in 12 games, but as a freshman in 2013 he had an interception against Wake Forest. A former basketball player with the Seminoles as well, White has the athleticism needed to step in for a talent like Williams.
79. Kwontie Moore, DE, Virginia (Eli Harold)
15 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 290 lbs
Eli Harold had seven sacks and a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss last season, and he parlayed that into an early jump to the NFL. Kwontie Moore will be hard-pressed to have as much of an impact in 2015, but after a strong spring practice he sits atop the depth chart in Harold's former spot.
Moore has played in 24 games in three seasons, making a start last year against Florida State but at the defensive tackle position. For the year he had eight tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.
80. Terrence Alexander, CB, Stanford (Alex Carter)
16 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 5'10", 178 lbs
Alex Carter was Stanford's top cover corner last season, and after he broke up nine passes and intercepted another he turned pro as a junior. That sped up the clock for Terrence Alexander, who saw time as a true freshman but was being brought along slowly.
Now Alexander, who had 13 tackles in 12 games and intercepted a pass against California, will be expected to get into gear for 2015.
81. Khalil Hunter, OG, Louisville (John Miller)
17 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 300 lbs
With both starting guards from last season no longer on the roster, Louisville will be in desperate need of dependable play at those spots in order to produce on offense. Khalil Hunter showed up this spring from Eastern Arizona College, and the highly regarded transfer should be playing right away.
Hunter, who also had offers from Cincinnati, Georgia and Missouri, could start at either guard spot but will fit best as John Miller's replacement on the left side.
82. Devonte Fields, DE, Louisville (Lorenzo Mauldin)
18 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 240 lbs
Once the Big 12's freshman of the year in 2012 and one of the top young defensive players in the country, Devonte Fields had to spend last season in junior college after being dismissed from TCU last spring because of off-the-field issues. Now he has a chance to resurrect his career and also step in for one of Louisville's most important defensive players from 2014.
Lorenzo Mauldin had 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last season, numbers that Fields surpassed as a freshman at TCU when he had 10 sacks and 18.5 TFL.
83. Dila Rosemond, CB, Texas State (Craig Mager)
19 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 5'10", 175 lbs
After spending his first two seasons at Texas State (including a redshirt in 2013) and learning from Craig Mager, Dila Rosemond is ready to take over and provide the same kind of lockdown coverage that Mager had for the Bobcats last year.
Rosemond appeared in 11 games last season and made 24 tackles, with nine of those coming in a narrow loss to South Alabama.
84. Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas (Jordan Hicks)
20 of 35
Year: True freshman
Height, weight: 6'2", 215 lbs
The nation's top-rated inside linebacker from the 2015 recruiting class, per 247Sports, Malik Jefferson enrolled early and is already making a name for himself thanks to a strong spring practice. He figures to be the face of the Texas defense that Charlie Strong has wanted to develop.
"It's a given Jefferson will play a lot this season, and the coaches are already preparing him to be a key cog in the defense," 247Sports' Jeff Howe wrote.
Jefferson will be used both as a linebacker and a hybrid defensive end, per Howe.
85. Nick Arcidiacono, TE, Rutgers (Tyler Kroft)
21 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'5", 235 lbs
The tight end wasn't a big part of Rutgers offense in 2014, though Tyler Kroft made the most of his chances and caught the eye of pro scouts when they saw how he could run routes and contribute in a variety of ways. Nick Arcidiacono is a similarly skilled player, though the Scarlet Knights have plans to use him in as many ways as possible.
"Arcidiacono figures to get plenty of playing time at multiple positions in Rutgers' offensive scheme, whether it's at H-back, wideout or his familiar tight end spot," Keith Sargeant of NJ.com wrote.
Last season Arcidiacono only had one catch for 11 yards after hauling in five passes as a freshman in 2013.
86. Darrian Miller, RB, Northern Iowa (David Johnson)
22 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 5'11", 203 lbs
After spending his first three years at Kansas, Darrian Miller served as the backup to standout rusher David Johnson this past season while also handling kickoff and punt return duties. He'll now be the main ball-carrier for the Panthers after gaining 332 yards with three touchdowns on the ground in 2014.
Miller, who also had two receiving TDs last year, averaged more than 47 all-purpose yards per game. At Kansas he was the team's second-leading rusher in 2013 and also contributed to the return game.
87. Ricardo Louis, WR, Auburn (Sammie Coates)
23 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 215 lbs
Ricardo Louis saw his production drop last season with the arrival of D'haquille Williams, falling down the depth chart and only ending up with 21 receptions. But now Louis has one last chance to make his mark, and with Auburn moving to a more pass-happy offense and top receiver Sammie Coates on the way out, he figures to have a monster senior year.
Louis has 52 career receptions with five touchdowns; the most notable is the tipped ball that he caught for a score to beat Georgia during the run to the 2013 national championship.
88. Maquedius Bain, DE, LSU (Danielle Hunter)
24 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 6'4", 299 lbs
A tackle his first two years with the Tigers, Maquedius Bain has been shifted outside to try to beef up the pass rush for 2014. Danielle Hunter only had 1.5 sacks last season, so it won't take much for Bain to meet what his predecessor did.
New defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has done a lot of shifting up front this spring, and Bain is benefiting from this movement by getting out from behind a crowded field on the interior of the line.
89. Seth Collins, QB, Oregon State (Sean Mannion)
25 of 35
Year: True freshman
Height, weight: 6'3", 186 lbs
New coach Gary Andersen didn't get a chance to work with the most prolific passer in Oregon State and Pac-12 history, instead having to choose between seven relatively untested candidates to replace Sean Mannion.
He quickly whittled that group down to three, but after former Alabama player Luke Del Rio decided to transfer from the program, that left two freshmen (Seth Collins and Nick Mitchell) heading into the fall in contention for the job.
Collins, who enrolled early, didn't look to have a shot at the gig a few months ago, but according to Gina Mizell of The Oregonian he's "the likely front-runner to win the starting job because of his combination of athleticism and improved arm."
90. Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa (Carl Davis)
26 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 310 lbs
Carl Davis started Iowa's last 26 games on the interior of the defensive line, but Jaleel Johnson managed to get meaningful snaps as his backup in most of those outings. That experience will come in handy now that Davis and fellow tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat have graduated.
"This is what we've been working toward," Johnson told Steve Batterson of the Quad City Times. "We knew they wouldn't be here forever. Now is our chance to step in and help lead the way they did."
Johnson had 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack last season.
91. Martez Ivey, OT, Florida (Chaz Green)
27 of 35
Year: True freshman
Height, weight: 6'5", 275 lbs
The top-rated offensive lineman in the 2015 class was already expected to be a major contributor to Florida as soon as he showed up this summer, but now Martez Ivey is almost guaranteed a starting spot, as the Gators' already thin offensive line became even less experienced during the spring.
Outgoing right tackle Chaz Scott's spot was expected to be filled by Roderick Johnson, but then Johnson suffered a stinger during spring ball that led to the discovery he had a congenital spine injury that required him to give up football.
That pushes Ivey into the fire as the presumptive starter at right tackle.
92. Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State (Jeff Heuerman)
28 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'6", 260 lbs
Ohio State's tight ends are expected to catch the ball as well as they block, something that Jeff Heuerman did so well he was highly coveted by NFL teams. Nick Vannett is in a similar mold but might be a better weapon.
Vannett caught five touchdown passes in 2014 on just 19 receptions, including one in the national title game against Oregon.
93. Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford (Henry Anderson)
29 of 35
Year: Redshirt freshman
Height, weight: 6'3", 256 lbs
Stanford is hoping that Solomon Thomas lives up to his hype after getting a redshirt season to prepare himself for the college game. The 5-star recruit, who chose the Cardinal on national signing day by putting on a pair of broken glasses, was coveted by many top programs.
Thomas was a standout in Stanford's spring game last month, when he registered seven tackles in a defense-dominated game.
94. Michael Rector, WR, Stanford (Ty Montgomery)
30 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'1", 185 lbs
While Devon Cajuste established himself as a player who can be counted on for Stanford's top receiving target, particularly in the red zone, there's still a need to replace Ty Montgomery's ability to stretch the field and haul in the deep ball.
Michael Rector will be that guy if he can continue to develop. In three seasons (including a redshirt) he's made 38 catches, hauling in 24 passes last season for 324 yards and two touchdowns, including one in the Cardinal's upset of UCLA to end the regular season.
95. Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida (Matt Jones)
31 of 35
Year: Junior
Height, weight: 5'10", 209 lbs
When Matt Jones decided to turn pro after his junior year rather than battle to hold onto his starting spot, it only cemented what seemed like a foregone conclusion that Kelvin Taylor would move into the No. 1 position in Florida's backfield.
The son of former Gator standout rusher Fred Taylor, Kelvin was second on the team with 565 yards and six touchdowns in 2014. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and he was a key part of Florida's blowout upset of rival Georgia when he ran for 197 yards and two TDs.
96. Daniel Ekuale, DT, Washington State (Xavier Cooper)
32 of 35
Year: Sophomore
Height, weight: 6'3", 281 lbs
Washington State's defensive line didn't get much pressure on the quarterback last season, though Xavier Cooper was by far the most effective in that area from the three-down lineman. Now that he is gone, the job of making more of an impact in pass defense goes to Daniel Ekuale.
Ekuale saw action in every game last year but only had a handful of tackles and one tackle for loss. He's moved into this spot during the spring and played well, giving the Cougars hope they can be more effective getting to the quarterback.
97. Devante Bond, DE, Oklahoma (Geneo Grissom)
33 of 35
Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'1", 236 lbs
Devante Bond got an early jump on his role as Oklahoma's starting linebacker for this season when he had to replace an injured Geneo Grissom for the final three games of 2014. His effort in those games solidified the job for the junior college transfer.
Bond had half of his 30 tackles during those final three starts, and in the Russell Athletic Bowl he had six tackles, including a tackle, for loss and blocked a kick.
98. Dwayne Williams, CB, Oregon State (Steven Nelson)
34 of 35
Year: Redshirt freshman
Height, weight: 5'9", 176 lbs
Steven Nelson was on the small side at 5'10" but made up for it with big hits and heady play at Oregon State, a style he'll now take into the NFL. One of his understudies from last season, Dwayne Williams, has a chance to carve out a similar path with the Beavers after a strong spring.
He redshirted last year because of a deep secondary, but along with Nelson's graduation, several other defensive backs have left the program, which gives Williams an opening.
99. Mike Freeze, LB, TCU (Paul Dawson)
35 of 35
Year: True freshman
Height, weight: 6'3", 220 lbs
A lot can still happen this fall, when additional reinforcements from TCU's recruiting class arrive on campus, but as it stands now Mike Freeze has done enough to show he can step right in for Paul Dawson in the middle of the Horned Frogs defense.
An incredible spring pushed the early enrollee to the top of the depth chart at middle linebacker, where last year Dawson had 136 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six sacks and four interceptions.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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