Best 2016 NFL Draft Eligible Prospects to Watch for the National Title Game

Chances are, if you’re an NFL scout, the center of your world the past few weeks has been in Glendale, Arizona.

Last week’s Fiesta Bowl between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes featured as many as eight potential first-round draft picks, and the upcoming national title game between the undefeated Clemson Tigers and Vegas-favorite Alabama Crimson Tide could bump that number up into the 20s.

Not bad for one stadium over an 11-day span.

Of course, of those two games, one means significantly more than the other. And while hoisting the College Football Playoff trophy is no doubt at the forefront of the minds of the Tigers and Tide, there are a number of players who will quickly have to decide whether to turn pro and declare for the NFL Draft or to remain in school.

With that in mind, here are a few draft-eligible players who will have one last chance to shine for scouts at the national title game and could possibly wind up as future stars in the NFL.

Alabama

LB Reggie Ragland

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year has blossomed from top recruit to one of the best linebackers head coach Nick Saban has ever had during his four years at Alabama. Whether it’s tracking down ball-carriers from sideline to sideline or dropping in pass coverage, there’s very little Ragland can’t do from his interior position. He appears flexible enough to be both a middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme at the next level as well as an inside linebacker in a 3-4.

Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller ranks him as the No. 16 player in the 2016 draft class in his initial Top 300 ranking, but it would surprise nobody if he winds up creeping upward on the list by the time the predraft process is over. If you’re looking to show young players how to play linebacker in college, putting on film of Ragland is a good place to start. In his post-regular season mock draft, Miller slotted Ragland to the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 24 overall pick.

DL Jarran Reed

Reed was among a number of Alabama players who considered leaving for the NFL after last season but returned to Tuscaloosa for another year, a move that appears to have paid off in a big way. His size (6'4'', 313 pounds) is readily apparent and he could play a number of different positions in the pros, from defensive end in a 3-4 to defensive tackle in a 4-3. Miller ranks him as the No. 18 prospect in the draft this season and included him in the first round of his latest mock draft—to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 overall.

DL A’Shawn Robinson

Robinson might be the most well-known player on the Alabama defense, thanks mostly to his appearance and ability to look 40 going on 20. But beyond the beard and outward presentation lies a terrific defensive lineman who can make life hell for opposing offensive linemen each and every game. Few convert power as well as Robinson and he works his hands better than most realize.

Miller slotted him in at No. 22 in his Top 300 prospect list and mocked him as a first-round pick. It’s a very deep year at defensive tackle in the draft and Robinson has a chance to be one of the best, assuming the junior does what everybody expects and declares for the draft after the title game.

DL Jonathan Allen

Yet another underclassmen who is already appearing on draft boards based on what he did this season, Allen is just as highly regarded as his interior teammate Robinson—if not more. Despite his 6'3'', 275-pound frame, he plays bigger than that on tape and can do everything from setting the edge to making offensive tackles whiff as he runs by them on the way to the quarterback. He’s ranked No. 23 in Miller’s Top 300 for a reason and is yet another potential first-rounder when the draft rolls around.

OL Ryan Kelly

There is not a better center in the country and most Alabama fans can immediately tell you just how much Kelly means to the offense following a remarkable 2015 campaign. In addition to being the anchor of the line and making all the protection calls, the smart and steady player is equally adept at run and pass blocking (no sacks allowed, according to the school).

At this point, it would be a surprise if any center is picked ahead of him in the draft and his size (6'4'', 297 pounds) should allow him to play guard at the next level as well. Although interior linemen rarely get ranked highly at this point in the year, Miller considers Kelly a top-75 prospect.

TE O.J. Howard

Another underclassmen who could leave, there is little question that Howard has the skill set to thrive in the NFL more than he has at Alabama. His speed and athleticism immediately catch your eye when you see him in warm-ups or during the rare time that he catches a pass. At 6'6'', 242 pounds, he has great size to be a receiving tight end for a wide-open offense and a major threat to score after the catch in the pros. Plus, you just know he’ll shoot up draft boards after attending the NFL Scouting Combine.

RB Derrick Henry

The Heisman Trophy winner seems all but a lock to declare early and enter the draft, but he might be one of the most divisive prospects available for NFL teams to pick apart when the time comes. Certainly his incredible season in 2015 jumps out, but the fact is there simply are not that many 6'3'', 242-pound running backs who are racking up carries.

Miller ranks Henry as the No. 74 prospect in the country but when you factor in the depressed value of tailbacks in the draft, predicting where he actually lands is all over the map. Still, Henry has been amazing on the field for the Tide in carrying them to the title game.

DB Eddie Jackson

A starter since his freshman year and an All-SEC First Team selection this season, Jackson is one of the best defensive backs in the country and has made the most of his move to safety in 2015. His ability to play a number of spots in addition to being a cover safety will enhance his value during draft time if he comes out. It’s possible he returns to school but if Jackson does come out, Miller ranks him right in the middle of his Top 300 list.

RB Kenyan Drake

Often overshadowed by the primary running back for the Tide, Drake has been the do-it-all runner that has contributed in every facet of the offense at Alabama. He won’t be an early-round pick by any stretch of the imagination—a tough injury history will hurt him in the eyes of scouts—but he has a chance of becoming a solid contributor who sees snaps at a number of different positions in addition to being a stud special teams player.

DB Cyrus Jones

A converted receiver, Jones brings plenty of speed to the table and the ability to track the ball better than just about every other defensive back. His return ability alone will make him a coveted mid-to-late round pick. Miller has him slotted in the top 200 of his rankings and there’s a chance that Jones could shoot up even more with a good national title performance and top testing numbers at the combine.

QB Jake Coker

Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher was not shy in saying he thought Coker would be a high draft pick by the time his Alabama career wrapped up after transferring over from Florida State. That likely won’t be the case this spring, but given the number of lackluster pro-style quarterback options this year, there’s still a good chance Coker gets drafted somewhere based on his strong arm and wealth of experience. Miller includes him in his top 300 (No. 244 to be exact), and let’s face it: If Lane Kiffin can turn Jonathan Crompton into a fifth-round pick, the same can probably said for the Tide offensive coordinator’s work with Coker this season.

DL Darren Lake

Lake doesn’t have the numbers of some of his peers, but there is some potential in the 6'3'', 315-pounder. A big combine performance and a strong showing at Alabama’s Senior Day could allow his name to be called in the draft.

LB Tim Williams

Williams said he will return to school for his senior season, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook him when the title game rolls around. Though he’s not on the field every snap, Williams has been a terror off the edge for the Tide and has, at times, been the most disruptive pass-rusher for defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s defense. He’ll head into 2016 with high expectations from the scouting community based on what he flashed this year.

LB Ryan Anderson

Anderson was a key part in shutting out Michigan State in the team’s semifinal game, a familiar scene for the Alabama defense considering how integral the outside linebacker has been in getting to the quarterback. He has six sacks on the season and has great size (6'2'', 249 pounds) to be a factor at the next level. Off-the-field concerns may dampen teams’ enthusiasm for him, however.

Clemson

DB Mackenzie Alexander

A redshirt sophomore, the Tigers’ top cornerback has been leaning toward entering the draft after the title game and it’s not hard to see why when you pop on the film and see him blanketing opposing receivers. On top of the speed needed to get downfield, Alexander is very fluid when it comes to coverage and he’s a big reason why Clemson sports a top-10 pass defense. Miller considers Alexander to be a top-10 prospect in this year’s draft and actually slotted him to the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 6 pick in his latest mock draft, over Florida State star Jalen Ramsey.

DL Shaq Lawson

Lawson wasn’t much of a factor in Clemson’s big semifinal win over Oklahoma following a knee injury, but make no mistake, he’s one of the best defenders in the country after an incredible 2015 season. Miller regards Lawson as the No. 14 prospect and a first-rounder after being named a first-team All-American and leading the nation in tackles for loss.

S Jayron Kearse

The nephew of former NFL defensive end Jevon "The Freak" Kearse, the Tigers safety is an incredible athlete in his own right. At 6'5'', 220 pounds, he’s a big presence in the middle of the field and delivers some punishing hits to wideouts who dare challenge him. He could go in the first two rounds of the draft and is considered by Miller to be a top-50 prospect.

TE Jordan Leggett

The Mackey Award finalist may be quarterback Deshaun Watson’s best friend against the attacking Alabama defense Monday. While the Clemson receiving corps has thinned out over the course of the season, Leggett has remained a consistent threat to make a big play in the Tigers offense. He could be one of the first tight ends taken in the draft this spring as a matchup nightmare at any level of football.

OL Eric Mac Lain

All Mac Lain did in his first season as a starter was keep Watson upright in the backfield and be named a first-team All-ACC player. Interior offensive linemen can get valued differently, but it's safe to say that some team could get a good one in Mac Lain.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

DL D.J. Reader

The ever-talkative Lawson gets all the press on the team’s defensive line, but Reader is a very good player in his own right. It’s a deep year for defensive tackles, which might hurt his value when it comes to the draft itself, but he’s a big presence in the middle who has shown that he can get penetration into the backfield against any offensive double-team.

LB Travis Blanks

Blanks came to Clemson as a safety but has bulked up to play a solid role as a hybrid linebacker for the Tigers. He’s started the majority of games this season, put up decent numbers and appears to be ready to move on to the next level after dealing with several serious injuries during the course of his college career.

Bryan Fischer is a national college football columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him at @BryanDFischer.