UCLA Football: NFL Draft Projections for Every Former Bruin
With the 2015 NFL draft right around the corner, multiple former members of the UCLA football team are about to realize their dreams in becoming professional football players.
There are seven draft-eligible Bruins in this draft. While it's not a certainty all will be drafted, there are several expected to go within the first few rounds.
This piece will take a look at the four Bruins with the best shot at being drafted. These prospects are listed in terms of projected draft order, starting with the earliest round.
Here's a look at the NFL draft projections for the former UCLA Bruins.
Eric Kendricks
1 of 4
Draft Projection: Late Round 1/Early Round 2
While he doesn't necessarily have ideal size for his position, Eric Kendricks is one of the most pure football players in the entire draft.
Kendricks' instincts are unparalleled with any fellow middle linebacker prospect. He can read the play exceptionally well and explode forward toward the opposing ball-carrier. Kendricks also demonstrates considerable intelligence on the field. Rarely is he caught out of position.
There's a real chance he could go toward the latter portion of the first round. A team in need of a solid, steady force in the middle would do well to consider drafting Kendricks. With his skill set, he's got the look of a future 10-year veteran on the next level.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa
2 of 4
Draft Projection: Round 2
Owamagbe Odighizuwa appears to solidly be in the mix as a second-round selection. The Oregon native combines tremendous natural power with an impressive competitive streak.
Owa also brings positional versatility to the field. He's best when playing with his hand in the ground as a true defensive end. In obvious passing situations, he's big and powerful enough to move inside and act as a mobile defensive tackle.
Odighizuwa is also athletic enough to potentially drop in space and cover as an outside linebacker. His ability to play in both a base 3-4 and 4-3 makes him that much more intriguing for NFL teams.
Additionally, he's a quality individual from a character and leadership standpoint. There won't be any cause for concern in terms of off-the-field issues with Odighizuwa.
Brett Hundley
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Draft Projection: Rounds 2-3
Brett Hundley is a talented quarterback. The Arizona native possesses every physical trait one would want in the ideal signal-caller. With that said, he needs to improve on the nuances of the position. This includes pocket awareness and reading coverages with more efficiency.
As a result, he's likely not a guy ready to come in right away and start for an NFL team. Hundley's best bet would be to sit behind a seasoned veteran, picking up the tricks to the trade.
Based on his upside, he should be drafted somewhere in the second round—and no later than in the third. According to his former head coach Jim Mora, he believes Hundley will be a second-round selection. Mora even offered up guesses as to which teams could take his former quarterback.
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Ellis McCarthy
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Draft Projection: Rounds 4-6
It was a big surprise when Ellis McCarthy opted to enter the draft. The mammoth defensive tackle was a reserve in 2014. Throughout his UCLA career, he's battled weight concerns, injury issues and has been completely plagued by inconsistent play.
McCarthy has considerable upside. One can't teach size—and McCarthy has plenty of that at 6'5" and 338 pounds. He's also a powerful player at the point of attack. At times, McCarthy has demonstrated flashes of dominance. These flashes simply haven't been frequent enough for a player of his ability.
A team will draft him with the hopes he'll live up to the hype he had as a once-promising prospect in high school. While I tend to feel as if he'll go in the later rounds, a team could fall in love with his potential and take him earlier than expected.
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