The Best 2016 NFL Draft Prospect for Every Power 5 College Football Team
The dust has just settled on the 2015 NFL draft, but scouts and analysts are already hard at work trying to pinpoint who will be the top targets for next year's draft.
As we saw from this edition, the power conferences are where the top talent resides. Of the 256 players selected, 201 came from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC or major independent Notre Dame, and there's every reason to suspect this trend will continue. With that in mind, we've gone ahead and identified each top draft-eligible prospect from every team in these leagues.
Not every power-conference program will necessarily have someone drafted next year, though, as this past draft saw 11 such schools (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Vanderbilt) miss out. And not everyone on this list will end up being in the 2016 draft, as many juniors will forgo declaring early and return for their final season to boost their draft stock.
Check out our picks for the top 2016 draft prospect from every Power Five school (plus Notre Dame) and then give us your thoughts in the comment section.
Alabama: DT A'Shawn Robinson
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 312 lbs
Alabama has a chance to boast the best defensive line in the country this season, and A'Shawn Robinson should get most of the credit for that honor.
The beefy but nimble tackle has played the nose and the 5-technique as well as defensive end, and new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is likely to use him in as many ways as possible this season to deal with double-teams. Robinson's ability to plug up running holes helped the Crimson Tide rank fourth in rushing defense last year and allow just five touchdowns on the ground.
Arizona: LB Scooby Wright
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'1", 246 lbs
Finalists for the Bednarik, Lombardi and Nagurski awards in 2014 went high in last weekend's draft, including Clemson's Vic Beasley, Texas' Malcom Brown, Alabama's Landon Collins, Ole Miss' Senquez Golson and Washington's Hau'oli Kikaha. Yet they all finished behind Scooby Wright in each award's voting.
Wright took down all three trophies, making him the most decorated defensive player in the country last season after leading FBS in tackles, tackles for loss and forced fumbles and ranking third in sacks. That's not bad for a player who wasn't highly rated coming out of high school and whose only FBS scholarship offer was from Arizona.
Though undersized for a middle linebacker, Wright makes up for it with his drive and intensity.
Arizona State: WR D.J. Foster
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 5'11", 195 lbs
A running back for his first three years, D.J. Foster was moved to the slot for his senior season to improve his pro prospects and provide depth to a receiving corps that was losing No. 1 receiver Jaelen Strong. After Cameron Smith got shut down for 2015 this spring because of knee surgery, Foster could end up being the primary target for quarterback Mike Bercovici, not that he wasn't already part of the passing game in the past.
Foster has 163 career receptions and 11 touchdowns to go with the 2,075 rushing yards and 18 scores he's amassed in his career. Last year he ran for 1,081 yards and nine TDs and caught 62 balls for 688 yards and three TDs.
"A lot of the advice I got was stay for my senior year and move to receiver, to the slot position," Foster told Ted Miller of ESPN.com. "That's what they see me more on the next level as. After I thought about it, I agree."
Arkansas: TE Hunter Henry
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'5", 250 lbs
Arkansas' only offensive draftee last weekend was at tight end, where A.J. Derby went in the sixth round to the New England Patriots. His more talented teammate, Hunter Henry, figures to go much higher in either 2016 or 2017.
Henry was the Razorbacks' second-leading receiver last year, with 37 receptions for 513 yards and two touchdowns. With good hands and mobility, as well as a big frame that makes him hard to take down, he has the potential to be a vital offensive weapon in the pros while also doing well at the run-blocking that Arkansas' many tight ends excel at.
Auburn: WR D'haquille Williams
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 224 lbs
He was the top-rated wide receiver coming out of junior college in 2014, but D'haquille Williams wasn't able to show off his skills much last season. A combination of injuries, a bowl-game suspension and Auburn going with a run-heavy offense diminished his numbers, though he still had 45 catches for 730 yards and four touchdowns.
This season, however, the Tigers are planning to throw the ball more with Jeremy Johnson and his strong arm at quarterback. That should translate into a big boost in production from Williams, and in turn the projections that he will be the first receiver off the board in the 2016 draft should make more sense.
"But bigger numbers aren't the only thing that would cement Williams as the top receiver in the 2016 draft," Joel Erickson of AL.com wrote. "A big-bodied receiver known for his catch radius, hands, ability to make catches in traffic and work the middle, Williams needs to improve his speed."
Baylor: DE Shawn Oakman
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'9", 280 lbs
Had Shawn Oakman come out for the 2015 draft, chances are he would have been taken during the first two days. Questions about his consistency and drive surfaced prior to him deciding to come back for his senior year, though, and those criticisms should serve as motivation for Oakman to improve enough to where he'll be a surefire first-round pick.
It will also mean another season of scaring the bejeezus out of whoever is trying to block him and who he has his sights on tackling. With a long and imposing frame that looms over the line on the edge, Oakman sometimes looks like he's already in the backfield before the ball has been snapped.
Last year he had 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.
Boston College: DB Justin Simmons
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'3", 198 lbs
Two straight season-heavy lineups led to seven Boston College players getting taken in the past two drafts, but it also means a relatively thin roster for 2015 in terms of draft-eligible talent. Of those who could get taken this year, Justin Simmons stands out above the others.
A starter at both cornerback and safety last year who moved to a cover position because of injuries, Simmons handled both assignments equally well and helped the Eagles fare well in pass defense. He had 70 tackles, including 57 solo takedowns, with two interceptions and five pass breakups.
Simmons is likely to split time between corner and safety again this season as BC breaks in new defensive backs.
California: QB Jared Goff
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 210 lbs
Barring injury, Jared Goff will be the runaway leader in career passing yards and touchdowns for California by the time his junior year is over. He's almost there already after two productive seasons, including last year when he broke 15 single-season school records.
That included passing yards (3,973) and touchdowns (35), while his 162.1 passer rating was fourth-best in program history. One of the guys ahead of him is Aaron Rodgers, though Rodgers didn't throw nearly as much as Goff does, as last season he attempted 509 passes in 12 games running Sonny Dykes' Air Raid offense.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has Goff projected as the fourth quarterback taken in the 2016 draft, going 19th to the Buffalo Bills, noting that "if Goff enters the draft as a junior, his production and arm talent will have teams ready to jump all over him."
Clemson: CB Mackensie Alexander
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Year: Redshirt sophomore
Height, weight: 5'10", 190 lbs
He's only played one season of college ball, having missed 2014 because of injury, but that lone outing was more than enough to show that Mackensie Alexander has NFL talent and could be ready to contribute in the pros as early as 2016.
Last year Alexander started all 13 games for Clemson, setting a school record for most snaps by a freshman. He didn't intercept a pass, but he did break up six and locked down his half of the field well enough to enable the Tigers to overload the weak side and rank second nationally in pass defense.
Colorado: WR Nelson Spruce
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'1", 195 lbs
No one is ever going to mistake Nelson Spruce for a No. 1 receiver, a big-play guy who can stretch the field and get behind the defense. But few will also doubt his ability to make a catch when a few yards are needed, as last season he was the nation's top possession receiver and could easily translate into a similar role in the NFL.
In 2014 Spruce caught 106 passes for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns—more than twice what any other Colorado player had. With 15 more catches he'll be the Buffaloes' all-time leader, and he also needs just 295 yards and four touchdowns to hold those school career records.
Spruce had four games with at least 10 catches last year, including a 19-reception, 179-yard, three-TD effort in an overtime loss to California.
Duke: S Jeremy Cash
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 205 lbs
Jeremy Cash began his career at Ohio State, but after only getting into five games as a freshman in 2011 he opted to transfer to Duke. Following his redshirt season, he's spent little time off the field for the Blue Devils.
In the past two seasons Cash has made 235 tackles, and last year he had 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. His ability to handle both pass coverage and deal with stopping the run should reap benefits when next year's draft comes around, as he's rated by NFLDraftScout as the No. 1 strong safety from his class.
Florida: CB Vernon Hargreaves III
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 5'11", 198 lbs
From the moment he stepped on the field as a true freshman for Florida in 2013, Vernon Hargreaves III has been getting eyed by NFL scouts as a top pro prospect. Now that he's reached draft eligibility, he's going to be even more scrutinized as to whether he truly translates into a Sunday-level player.
So far, there's nothing to indicate that isn't the case. In his two seasons Hargreaves has intercepted six passes and broke up 24 others in 24 games, including 22 starts. He's become as close to a lockdown corner as you'll find at the collegiate level.
While Florida had an uncharacteristically high number of draft picks this year for a team that went 7-5, Hargreaves is better than all those who just left.
Florida State: DB Jalen Ramsey
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'1", 201 lbs
If it were physically possible to play every position in the secondary at the same time, Jalen Ramsey would find a way to make it happen. Instead, he just seems to be able to shift from one to another by the season or sometimes by the game.
A cornerback and free safety as a freshman, Ramsey started every game at the star position in 2014 but is likely to move back to the corner this fall as Florida State replaces both corners who got drafted over the weekend. He's already shown the ability to handle this assignment, and he will continue to dominate there as he helps younger stars like true freshman Derwin James come into their own.
Georgia: LB Leonard Floyd
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 231 lbs
Leonard Floyd has split his time on the edge of Georgia's defensive line and in the linebacker corps during his college career, and that should continue this season. Though he missed the spring (and last year's bowl game) because of a shoulder injury, he will again be one of the top pass-rushers in the country this season.
In 2014 Floyd had six sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, forcing three fumbles along the way. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has an overabundance of linebackers this season, including Jordan Jenkins and Reggie Carter, and this could enable Floyd to move around even more to find the best matchups.
The more he's able to vary his attack toward the ball, the more Floyd will develop into a future NFL star.
Georgia Tech: S Jamal Golden
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'0", 193 lbs
Georgia Tech didn't have any defensive players drafted last weekend, but that won't be the case in 2015. Jamal Golden will ensure that, as he's considered the fourth-best free safety in the senior class, according to NFLDraftScout.
Golden has 20 career starts, with 12 of those coming last season when he had a team-high four interceptions to go with 61 tackles. He also forced three fumbles, and he brought back one of his picks for a touchdown against Clemson.
The Yellow Jackets weren't particularly strong overall on pass defense last year, ranking 90th in yards allowed. But with a more experienced group this year, led by Golden on the back line, those numbers should dramatically improve.
Illinois: DT Jihad Ward
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'6", 295 lbs
Rated as one of the top junior college defensive players entering last season, Jihad Ward had a strong first year on Illinois' defensive line. He figures to be much more involved in the Fighting Illini's attack this fall, as he'll have a full offseason to grow into his body and become stronger.
Ward is a raw talent that can only get better, as in 2014 he managed just three sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss but forced two fumbles with four recoveries.
"Every opponent will start their offensive game plan by trying to slow Ward down," wrote Aaron Rench of SBNation.
Indiana: OG Dan Feeney
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 305 lbs
Indiana doesn't figure to have as high a draft pick in 2016 as it did this past weekend, when 2,000-yard rusher Tevin Coleman went in the third round. But if he chooses to leave early, Dan Feeney's history of opening holes for Coleman should get him drafted relatively early.
A fourth-year junior, Feeney has started 24 games at right guard surrounding a medical redshirt year in 2013 when he suffered a season-ending foot injury in training camp. He came back from the absence as strong as ever, and in addition to the strong run blocking, he allowed only one sack last season, according to his online bio.
Iowa: OL Austin Blythe
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'3", 290 lbs
Most of the Iowa players drafted the past three years have been involved with the offensive line, and next year will be more of the same. Leading that charge will be a man who has 35 career starts on the Hawkeyes line at three different positions.
Austin Blythe started six games at center, six at left guard and one at right guard last season. In 2013 he started every game at center, and in 2012 he had nine starts at right guard.
Slotted to return to center this season after being an injury replacement at the guard spots a year ago, Blythe could be one of the first players taken at his position in 2016.
Iowa State: LB Luke Knott
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'1", 221 lbs
Luke Knott is entering his fourth season in Iowa State's program, but in terms of playing time he's barely a sophomore because he missed half of 2013 due to injury following a redshirt year in 2012. He started eight games last season, his only full calendar of activity, and with continued improvement he should have a breakout performance this fall that will get him on NFL radars.
Knott had 74 tackles last season, third-most on the team, with 3.5 tackles for loss. He had 15 tackles against Baylor, showing a knack for being able to chase down fast skill-position players.
Kansas: LB Jake Love
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'0", 214 lbs
He'll likely need to move to safety to make it in the NFL, but for now Jake Love has been managing to handle the linebacker job despite being one of the smallest players at his position in the country.
Love has 19 career starts at linebacker, and last season he had 9.5 tackles for loss along with three sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. He's one of only four starters returning on Kansas' defense this season, so look for his involvement and production to go up immensely.
Kansas State: FB Glenn Gronkowski
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'3", 234 lbs
One of the least-glamorous positions in football, the fullback rarely gets much attention since his main duty involves blocking and he rarely gets to touch the ball. But Glenn Gronkowski is a little more notable than most fullbacks thanks to his older brother, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
That's not what makes him stand out the most, though, because Glenn is an adept blocker who has been able to make the most of the carries or balls he gets. In two seasons he's scored four touchdowns on his 10 receptions, and he's considered the top fullback in the 2017 draft class by NFLDraftScout.
Kentucky: LB Josh Forrest
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'3", 233 lbs
Kentucky saw its two best defensive players (Bud Dupree and Za'Darius Smith) get drafted in the first and fourth rounds, respectively. Whether Josh Forrest can end up going as high in 2016 will depend on if he can continue to improve what's already been a strong career.
Forrest only had 29 tackles in his first two seasons, and then last year he erupted for 110 takedowns along with 8.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
Louisville: DE Devonte Fields
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'3", 250 lbs
Devonte Fields hasn't been in an FBS game since September 2013, but he's still regarded as a strong NFL prospect if he can return to the level of play he showed three years ago.
After a monster freshman year that saw him win the Big 12's freshman of the year award while playing for TCU, it seemed like Devonte Fields was destined to be an NFL star. He was injured early in 2013, missing most of that season, but he was picked to be the conference's preseason player of the year last season before getting dismissed from the Horned Frogs for off-the-field incidents.
Fields spent last year at a junior college, and after signing with Louisville he is expected to step right in and replace some of the many defensive standouts that the Cardinals had drafted this past season.
LSU: WR Travin Dural
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'2", 192 lbs
Senior safety Jalen Mills might end up being LSU's highest drafted player in 2016, but in terms of overall NFL talent and potential, the Tigers' top prospect plays on the other side of the ball.
This couldn't be seen as much by his numbers in 2014, as Dural's 37 receptions were more than any other two LSU players last season. But he translated that limited production into 758 yards and seven touchdowns, effectively being the Tigers' only consistent receiving weapon.
Assuming LSU can sort out its last-in-the-SEC passing offense this season, Dural's numbers should go up, and his value as an NFL receiver will become more evident.
Maryland: K Brad Craddock
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'0", 189 lbs
The reigning Lou Groza Award winner, Brad Craddock beat out Florida State's Roberto Aguayo for the honor given to the nation's top place-kicker. Aguayo will likely go higher in the draft if he leaves school after this season, but Craddock is still a top-level kicking prospect who will get a shot in the NFL.
Last year Craddock made 18 of his 19 field-goal attempts, the best performance in school history, after missing 10 kicks in his first two seasons. Eleven of those field goals were from 40 or more yards out, with two coming from beyond 50 yards including a 54-yarder against Ohio State. He's made 24 straight heading into his final season.
Miami (Florida): S Deon Bush
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'1", 205 lbs
Miami has sent some stellar defensive backs into the NFL over the years, and the next down the pike could be Deon Bush. He doesn't have the fanfare of predecessors like Ed Reed, Antrel Rolle or Sean Taylor, but with a strong final season he can start moving in that direction.
Bush has made 20 starts in his career, including 11 last season at free safety. He forced five fumbles in 2014, and has nine forced fumbles for his career as he's become more involved with run-stopping as his time in Miami has progressed.
With LaDarius Gunter in the NFL, Bush could end up seeing additional time as a cornerback this year and could see his draft stock rise with strong cross-training play.
Michigan: OT Erik Magnuson
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'6", 296 lbs
The arrival of Jim Harbaugh as Michigan's head coach is expected to lead to great improvement across the board, particularly with the Wolverines offense. That includes finding the right lineup up front, and if Erik Magnuson can find himself in the correct position, he'll be a strong draft candidate in 2016 or 2017.
To this point, Magnuson has been hit or miss as he's gone in and out of the lineup. In his two seasons of action he's played in 20 games and started 13 times, mostly at guard. He's been able to handle the tackle spot as well, and he could end up anywhere other than center this fall.
Michigan State: QB Connor Cook
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'4", 220 lbs
Only seven quarterbacks were drafted this past weekend, the fewest since 1955, according to NFL.com's Gil Brandt. It would have been at least eight had Connor Cook not decided to stay in school for another season, despite the expectation he'd have been one of the first passers taken.
Cook opted not to declare because he wanted to finish what he started, telling Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press: "I looked at it the same way as graduating high school early to come to school. You only have one prom, you only go to high school once, you only go to college once is how I look at it."
Since sliding into the starting job early in his sophomore year, Cook has been on a seemingly nonstop upward trend that has coincided with Michigan State's best back-to-back seasons ever. He had 47 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions in his career, but a completion rate around 58 percent was concerning enough to make coming back to school a smart choice.
Minnesota: CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 5'11", 188 lbs
Briean Boddy-Calhoun moved into the starting lineup last season, and Minnesota's pass defense had a noticeable improvement. He registered five interceptions, which is tied for third most in school history, despite only starting 10 games.
Boddy-Calhoun missed nearly all of 2013 after suffering a knee injury in the second game, but he showed no signs of lingering problems as a redshirt junior. He had 51 tackles, nine pass breakups and a fumble recovery that sealed a win over Nebraska in November.
Mississippi State: QB Dak Prescott
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 230 lbs
Now that Marcus Mariota has been drafted, Dak Prescott is the most experienced and most accomplished dual-threat quarterback in FBS. That doesn't mean he'll end up going second overall next season, but he will have a chance to win the Heisman in 2015.
Prescott has the second-best odds to claim the trophy at 7-1, per Odds Shark, trailing only Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. What could enable him to move into the top spot is the fact that Prescott will likely be handling nearly all of Mississippi State's touches this season after running or throwing it 606 times in 2014.
Prescott has more than 7,400 yards of total offense in his career and has been responsible for 75 touchdowns. If MSU is going to come close to matching what it did last season, Prescott will be the guy leading that charge, and if he can continue to improve his passing, he'll be one of the first quarterbacks taken next April.
Missouri: LB Kentrell Brothers
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'1", 235 lbs
Missouri has seen four defensive linemen get drafted in the past two years, but in 2015 it may be the linebacker corps where the Tigers have the biggest impact on the draft.
Kentrell Brothers has been coming along at a steady pace over the past two seasons as a starter, and last year he had 122 tackles. He basically handled whatever Shane Ray, Markus Golden and the rest of the line couldn't get to up front, making sure nobody got past the second level.
Though on the small side, with another year to work on his technique (while also being more involved with what happens up at the line of scrimmage), Brothers will be primed for the NFL.
Nebraska: DT Maliek Collins
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'2", 300 lbs
The loss of Randy Gregory from the defensive line could have been devastating for Nebraska if not for Maliek Collins' presence right next to him. While Gregory got most of the accolades in 2014, Collins was the one who did the dirty work inside that enabled Gregory to have so much success coming off the edge.
Now it will be Collins' turn to be in the spotlight, coming off a year in which he started all 13 games and led the Cornhuskers with 14 tackles for loss. Now he'll need to be more involved in the pass rush, with new defensive coordinator Mark Banker setting up his alignment in a way that unleashes Collins.
"He doesn't have to maverick away and make stuff up," Banker told ESPN.com's Mitch Sherman. "He just needs to play the call and do his thing, because he can be a big-time difference-maker and take it to another level than even what he was at."
North Carolina: WR Quinshad Davis
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'4", 210 lbs
A broken leg suffered during garbage time of North Carolina's bowl loss to Rutgers ensured that Quinshad Davis would return for his senior year, since surgery to repair the issue would take away much of his offseason and prevent him from preparing for the draft. As painful as that was to see him go down late, it did mean that the Tar Heels would be getting back one of their best offensive weapons for 2015.
And assuming he can return to the form that has produced 21 touchdown catches in his career, Davis won't have to worry about what impact the injury and another year had on his draft status.
Davis needs 32 receptions and 865 yards to surpass Hakeem Nicks' career records at the school, while his next touchdown catch will break a tie with Nicks for that all-time UNC mark.
North Carolina State: DE Mike Rose
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'3", 277 lbs
There's something to be said for consistency and dependability. Mike Rose isn't the flashiest or most explosive player on the field, but he's been reliable for North Carolina State during his career, and that should translate into an NFL career if he can continue to produce.
Rose has played in 38 games for the Wolfpack, and last year he had a team-high 14 tackles for loss to go with five sacks, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries, per CFBStats.com.
Northwestern: CB Nick VanHoose
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'0", 190 lbs
With 32 career starts, Nick VanHoose has been through the highs and lows of Northwestern's last three seasons. He's also a key to getting the Wildcats back to prominence after a pair of down years and could parlay that into a pro career.
VanHoose started 10 games last year before getting injured and missing the final two weeks, but before his absence he recorded 59 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions.
Notre Dame: OT Ronnie Stanley
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'5", 315 lbs
A strong candidate to turn pro last season, Ronnie Stanley is expected to make the most of an extra year working with new Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford and blocking for the Fighting Irish's strong cadre of skill-position players. If things go according to projections, such as the one by Bleacher Report NFL draft expert Matt Miller, he'll go No. 1 overall.
Stanley started 13 games at left tackle in 2014, a year after doing the same at the right tackle spot. This will make him enticing to a multitude of NFL teams, as he has shown the ability to handle multiple positions and has done so effectively.
With an additional year becoming more consistent and fine-tuning his technique, Stanley could become just the third offensive tackle to go first in the draft since 1998 and the first Notre Dame player taken No. 1 since defensive tackle Walt Patulski in 1972.
Ohio State: DE Joey Bosa
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'6", 275 lbs
If whoever ends up with the first pick in the 2016 draft has a need on the defensive line, it would be foolish not to take Joey Bosa. If that team were to pass him up, odds are he'd eventually make them pay in the future with a monster game against them...and some post-sack shoulder shrugs.
Bosa had 13.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss last season for Ohio State during its national title run, and whether he was single- or double-covered he made his presence felt on nearly every play. He was already a highly regarded player before that year, but working with former Penn State and NFL star Larry Johnson (the Buckeyes' defensive line coach) just sent his play to another level.
"Watching the film I see that plays could just fall into my lap," Bosa told Bill Bender of Sporting News. "As long as I'm doing my job, I'll make even more sacks. I see five or six sacks I could've had because I went inside and they scrambled outside; something like that."
Oklahoma: LB Eric Striker
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'0", 223 lbs
Oklahoma had two defensive linemen drafted over the weekend, but neither Geneo Grissom nor Jordan Phillips would have been able to achieve as much in 2014 had he not had the support of Eric Striker coming from the linebacker spot. The same can't be said for Striker, who will continue to excel without those teammates around this fall.
Striker had nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss a year ago, both team highs, and he was projected as a high draft pick but opted to come back for his senior season.
Already the school's career sack leader with 15.5, Striker wants to finish on a high note rather than the rough finish to 2014 that saw the Sooners go 8-5. If he can key a defensive turnaround, his stock will benefit greatly from that achievement.
Oklahoma State: DE Emmanuel Ogbah
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 275 lbs
Oklahoma State's first-ever Big 12 defensive lineman of the year, Emmanuel Ogbah was one of the breakout stars of 2014. A key reserve as a redshirt freshman the year before, Ogbah had 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss that included a school-record 5.5 TFL in a win over Kansas.
Ogbah moved from Nigeria to Texas when he was nine, and since taking up football in seventh grade he's been on a rapid ascent. Oklahoma State previously cultivated fellow Nigerian Russell Okung, an offensive tackle, into a player who has 59 career starts on the Seattle Seahawks line, and the Cowboys staff is having similar success with Ogbah.
Heading into what will likely be his final college season, Ogbah is projected by CBS Sports as the No. 31 overall pick in 2016...to Seattle.
Ole Miss: DT Robert Nkemdiche
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 280 lbs
Don't let his lack of numbers fool you: Robert Nkemdiche's first two college seasons have been massive successes, and the third figures to be even better. Much like a professional athlete during his so-called "free agent" year, Nkemdiche should ramp things up this fall as he prepares to be the first defensive tackle taken in the 2016 draft.
Nkemdiche was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2013 recruiting class, but as a defensive end. He was moved inside by Ole Miss and has thrived, albeit without posting large tallies in sack and tackles for loss. He has 69 career tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks, but he was a freshman All-American in 2013 and an all-SEC first-team last year as well as a second-team All-American.
Ole Miss lost several notable members of its defense from last season, but the front four is still strong, and Nkemdiche should shine yet again as he progresses toward the NFL.
Oregon: DE DeForest Buckner
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'7", 290 lbs
DeForest Buckner led Oregon in tackles for loss (13) last season, yet it was fellow lineman Arik Armstead who turned pro after his junior year. Buckner would have gone rather high in the draft had he departed following the Ducks' run to the national title game, but by coming back he can ensure himself a spot in the first round.
Buckner has started 23 straight games, and his play down the stretch for Oregon was lauded by experts and scouts because of his range and versatility in moving around on the defensive line. With the size and speed of an edge-rusher as well as the strength to handle the middle of the line, Buckner is as complete a defensive lineman as there will be available in next year's draft.
Oregon State: C Isaac Seumalo
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'5", 297 lbs
Isaac Seumalo was on pace to be one of the most accomplished offensive linemen in Oregon State history when injuries interrupted his career. He's still in limbo, having missed spring practice after sitting out all of the 2014 season, but the play he showed as a true freshman in 2012 and as a starter at center and tackle the following year is enough to make him still an enticing prospect.
Seumalo had two foot surgeries last year that kept him out for the entire season, and further issues with that injury kept him from participating in spring ball. Prior to the setbacks, Seumalo was a major award candidate and a possible early NFL departure; if he can return to his old form, those are still possibilities.
"I'm staying 'optimistically pessimistic,' until August or whenever our first game is," Seumalo told Gina Mizell of The Oregonian. "Then I'll be happy."
Penn State: QB Christian Hackenberg
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 236 lbs
Christian Hackenberg was getting tabbed as a potential first-round pick before ever starting a college game, and then after a strong true freshman season he was seeing his name listed atop early 2016 mock drafts. A subpar second year has dipped those projections a bit, but Hackenberg remains one of the most intriguing prospects in the game and one whose every move will be watched this fall.
Accuracy issues and an overabundance of sacks led to numbers in 2014 that were worse than the season before, despite an extra game and monster performances in the season opener and season-ending bowl game. In between Hackenberg was victimized by a porous offensive line, getting sacked 44 times, but he was also his own worst enemy quite often.
"Instead of fixing some of the deep-rooted issues around him, he amplified them," Bleacher Report's Brian Leigh wrote, noting that Hackenberg would often have outbursts at teammates when he and his team struggled.
Even with the recent lows, the previous highs keep him in the mix for a top draft spot. WalterFootball.com has him projected as the No. 6 overall pick in 2016.
Pittsburgh: WR Tyler Boyd
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'2", 190 lbs
While Tyler Boyd might not look like Larry Fitzgerald in terms of his size and body frame, he has a very similar game to the best receiver in Pittsburgh history and one of the tops in the NFL over the past decade. Boyd is well on his way to matching or surpassing what Fitzgerald did in college, and as a result he should be one of the first receivers taken next year.
Boyd has 163 receptions for 2,435 yards and 15 touchdowns the past two years, with his numbers holding steady last season despite the Panthers also producing a top-notch run game behind James Conner. He regularly faced double coverage yet still managed to catch at least six balls in the seven games.
Purdue: DE Jake Replogle
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'5", 275 lbs
Purdue only had one player drafted last weekend: defensive end Ryan Russell. Its best shot at a draftee for 2016 is Jake Replogle, though his best move is to remain in school beyond this fall so he can continue to develop like he did as a sophomore.
Last year Replogle moved into the starting lineup and thrived with three sacks and a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss. Unless he has a huge junior season, he'll be back the following year and find himself getting a lot of scout attention as a senior.
Rutgers: WR Leonte Carroo
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'1", 205 lbs
Rutgers is breaking in a new quarterback this season after four years with Gary Nova throwing the ball around. That puts added weight on the Scarlet Knights receivers to be reliable targets, and few have been as dependable the past two years as Leonte Carroo.
Carroo has caught 19 touchdowns in the last two years on just 83 receptions, and last year he had 55 receptions for 1,086 yards and a school record-tying 10 TDs to become just the sixth Rutgers receiver to top 1,000 yards. Previous achievers include Mohamed Sanu and Kenny Britt, and with another strong season Carroo will be joining those alumni as an NFL wideout.
South Carolina: WR Pharoh Cooper
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 5'11", 208 lbs
Pharoh Cooper projects as a slot receiver in the NFL, since he doesn't have the size or speed to line up outside and be a deep threat. But what he might lack in those areas he makes up for in versatility, as South Carolina has maximized these skills by getting him the ball in every way possible the past two years.
Cooper was more than just the Gamecocks' leading receiver, with 69 catches for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also a viable weapon in the run game by scoring two TDs and gaining 200 yards, and he also completed five of eight passes for 78 yards and two TDs.
He had a TD on a pass, rush and reception in a game against Tennessee last season, and for his career he's amassed more than 2,000 all-purpose yards in 24 games.
Stanford: S Kodi Whitfield
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 204 lbs
Kodi Whitfield began his Stanford career as a wide receiver but couldn't get much playing time on that side of the ball, with just 18 receptions and one touchdowns in 27 games. Switched to a safety in 2014, he found his place and now projects as an NFL-level defensive back who is tapping into his instincts as a receiver to play this new position.
Whitfield only had five tackles in 12 games last year as a free safety, but now he's sliding into the starting lineup to replace the departed Jordan Richards. He's gotten rave reviews from veteran defensive coordinator Duane Akina, and if he continues to improve he'll be drafted next spring.
Syracuse: QB Terrel Hunt
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'3", 234 lbs
Terrel Hunt might not have a future in the NFL as a quarterback, but his athleticism and skill set figure to translate to some role on a pro team. This assumes he can return to his old form prior to suffering a broken leg midway through last season, but if that happens, then he should get a look.
Hunt was one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks during the second half of the 2013 season, when he took over Syracuse's starting job, and he was faring well early last year before breaking his leg against Louisville. Despite missing the final seven games, Hunt still led the Orange with 1,275 yards of total offense.
He didn't look particularly well in Syracuse's spring game, his first competition in more than six months, but he's still Syracuse's best prospect and has the potential to do something in the NFL if he can return to his old level.
TCU: WR Josh Doctson
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'3", 195 lbs
Though Trevone Boykin is TCU's most notable player and the one who has the most impact on how the Horned Frogs fare on offense and whether they'll be able to compete for a playoff spot this season, he's not the one with the biggest NFL upside. That would be Josh Doctson, Boykin's most reliable target last year and the one who again will be called on to make the big catches.
Last season Doctson had 65 catches, 1,018 yards and 11 touchdowns with three 100-yard games. He came up big in key contests; he had four two-touchdown games including in the Peach Bowl and seven catches for 115 yards and a score at rival Texas.
Tennessee: LB Curt Maggitt
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'3", 246 lbs
Curt Maggitt is one of the last notable holdovers from Tennessee's previous regime, and while the Volunteers have been all about the youth movement the past two years (and will continue to be so this season), he's still a key piece of what this team is capable of in 2015.
Maggitt had 11 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last year, bouncing back from missing the 2013 season because of a torn ACL suffered late in 2012. That injury slowed down a promising start to his career, but now that Maggitt is on the other side of that surgery, he's primed to be the Vols' senior leader and a guy whose leadership can make him a more enticing pro prospect.
Texas: DT Hassan Ridgeway
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'4", 320 lbs
Texas' defense became exponentially better when Hassan Ridgeway was moved into the starting lineup after three games last season. Before the massive middle man got onto the defensive line the Longhorns had been coming off rough outings against UCLA and BYU, but after he joined the lineup the numbers were far better.
Ridgeway had 46 tackles, six sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2014, but now that Malcom Brown has moved into the NFL and Cedric Reed has graduated, he becomes even more integral to Texas' defensive scheme.
He might not be in line to go into the draft after the 2015 season, but by the time his college career is over, he should end up being a valuable pro asset. Coach Charlie Strong's previous team at Louisville just had 10 players drafted, including six on defense, and his knack for developing defensive players should lead to Ridgeway getting better and better.
Texas A&M: C MIke Matthews
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 290 lbs
Texas A&M has had an offensive lineman drafted in the first round for three straight years, and while Mike Matthews doesn't project to go as high in 2016, he should still be among the first centers taken. Having worked alongside the likes of past first-rounders like Cedric Ogbuehi, Luke Joeckel and brother Jake Matthews, Mike Matthews has put himself in position for a strong pro career.
With 23 starts over the past two years, he's been a part of some potent offenses while snapping to three different quarterbacks. He missed two games early in 2014 because of injury but bounced back for a solid season. He is set to anchor the middle of A&M's line yet again this fall.
Texas Tech: OT Le'Raven Clark
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'6", 313 lbs
Le'Raven Clark redshirted in 2011 and has started every game since, entering his final season with 38 starts that include 25 over the past two years at left tackle.
Though Texas Tech has mostly been known for passing over the years, in 2014 he helped the Red Raiders rush for their most yards since 1998 and produce their first 1,000-yard rusher since that same season.
UCLA: LB Myles Jack
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'1", 232 lbs
With everything that Myles Jack has managed to do in his career—linebacker, running back and even the occasional defensive back, depending on UCLA's alignment—the best thing about him is that he still can get so much better.
"He's an athletic freak and still only 19 years old," wrote USA Today's Jason McIntyre while projecting Jack as the No. 15 pick in the 2016 draft.
Jack has started all but one of the Bruins' 26 games the past two years, with 25 starts at linebacker and one at running back in 2013. That year he burst onto the scene as a two-way player, with several rushing touchdowns to go with his defensive play, and while that double duty was minimized last year it's still a possibility.
He's also being transitioned into more of a dual-threat defender, getting put in places where he can impact the pass game as much as the run game. It all comes together to make him one of the hottest prospects for 2016, when he's expected to be in the draft.
USC: LB/S Su'a Cravens
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'1", 225 lbs
Su'a Cravens came to USC as one of the highest-rated safeties in the country in 2013, and he starred at that position as a true freshman. But the Trojans needed more help closer to the ball last year, and he was morphed into a hybrid position that included as much play at linebacker as in the secondary, and somehow Cravens' already strong stock rose even further.
In 2014 he had five sacks, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions and nine pass breakups, making him one of the most versatile defenders in the country.
He'll be in a similar role this season, but with even more emphasis on play near the line of scrimmage as USC looks to replace the production from drafted linebackers Hayes Pullard and the graduated J.R. Tavai.
Utah: Devontae Booker
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 5'11", 212 lbs
A relative unknown heading into his first season with Utah, Devontae Booker ended the year as one of the top running backs in the country. But with only one year at the FBS level—he was at junior college the previous two—it made sense for Booker to finish up his eligibility with the Utes to get better prepared for an NFL career.
In the process, he could play his way into the Heisman race, according to coach Kyle Whittingham.
"He can have a better year than last year," Whittingham said last week during a Pac-12 conference call, per Kyle Kensing of CFBHuddle.com. "He's in the Heisman conversation if he does the things we hope he's able to do."
To have a better year than 2014 would mean topping a season in which Booker ran for 1,512 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Vanderbilt: LB Stephen Weatherly
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'5", 250 lbs
Vanderbilt went without having anyone drafted for the first time since 2011, the first of James Franklin's three seasons as head coach. Derek Mason will have at least one draftee in the next two years as long as Stephen Weatherly remains on the career track he's been on.
Weatherly thrived in Vandy's new 3-4 alignment as an outside linebacker, starting nine games in 2014 and recording 55 tackles with 4.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.
Virginia: WR Canaan Severin
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 215 lbs
His first two years only resulted in six receptions, but given a chance to be a key player in 2014, Canaan Severin developed into Virginia's top target in the passing game. He can continue to ride that momentum into the NFL with another strong year, and in doing so he could be the first Cavalier wideout to get drafted since Marques Hagans in 2006.
Severin had 42 receptions for 578 yards and five touchdowns last year, the most receiving yards for a Virginia player since 2011.
Virginia Tech: CB Kendall Fuller
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 6'0", 197 lbs
Kendall Fuller got to play his freshman year at Virginia Tech with his older brother, Kyle, who ended up getting taken 14th overall by the Chicago Bears after the 2013 season. Kendall Fuller is destined to be the fourth Fuller brother to make the NFL and may be the best of the lot based on his play with the Hokies to this point.
In 26 games and 25 starts, Fuller has intercepted eight passes and broken up 26. This past year he became more of a player at the line, with two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, and with continued progress in that area he may challenge Florida's Vernon Hargreaves III for the first cornerback taken next spring.
Wake Forest: S Ryan Janvion
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 5'11", 190 lbs
It hasn't been a successful past two years for Wake Forest as a team, but the school has still managed to produce some top-tier NFL players. Cornerback Kevin Johnson was the 16th overall pick in last weekend's draft, and Ryan Janvion has a chance to be among the first safeties taken in 2016 or 2017.
Janvion has been superb in his first two seasons with the Demon Deacons, recording 95 tackles as a freshman and then 115 last year as he transitioned into Dave Clawson's defense. He also had seven tackles for loss, six pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Washington: WR John Ross
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Year: Junior
Height, weight: 5'11", 194 lbs
Washington had four defensive players drafted in the first two rounds in 2015, including a two-way star in Shaq Thompson whose versatility as a running back added to his reputation as a linebacker. John Ross is developing into a similar do-everything player, though he's moved in the opposite direction from an offensive and special teams standout into one with a future as an NFL defensive back.
Ross began last season as one of the Huskies' starting wide receivers and then moved into the secondary and started four games at cornerback. Throughout the year he remained their top kickoff returner, and he ended up with seven total touchdowns (four receiving, two return, one rushing) with a pair of 100-yard scores and an average of 21.8 yards on receptions.
Ross had knee surgery in January, but he's expected to be at full strength this season and will again see time in all three facets of the game.
Washington State: LB Kache Palacio
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'2", 227 lbs
For as much attention that Washington State gets for its offense, the program that has had some of the worst defenses in the country of late continues to churn out NFL-level defensive players. Defensive tackle Xavier Cooper went in the third round this year, while Deone Bucannon was a first-round pick in 2013.
Kache Palacio should be the next Cougars defender to make the NFL, as he's coming off a second straight solid season in the middle of the field with 57 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
West Virginia: S Karl Joseph
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 5'11", 197 lbs
A projected second- or third-rounder, Karl Joseph passed on the opportunity to get into the NFL now in an effort to get closer to being in the first round. That might not happen, based on the strength of the safety position for 2016, but it will mean he gets another year to become NFL-ready while continuing to help West Virginia's defense on the back end.
In 2014 Joseph had 92 tackles to give him 260 for his career, and he heads into his final season as the leader of a secondary that brings back all five players.
Wisconsin: OT Tyler Marz
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Year: Senior
Height, weight: 6'5", 321 lbs
Tyler Marz has started 25 games over the past two years at left tackle, helping Wisconsin produce a 2,500-yard rusher last year in first-round pick Melvin Gordon and an overall rushing attack that ranked fourth nationally at 320.1 yards per game. If he can help the Badgers become more adept in the passing game this season, he'll have a chance to go nearly as high as fellow tackle Rob Havenstein (second round) did last weekend.
Marz is one of two full-time starters coming back from Wisconsin's line, along with center Dan Voltz.
Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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