Highlighting the Top NFL Draft Prospects at 2016 Shrine Game

Even with the conference championship games just days away, the eyes of many NFL fans have turned to their respective team's preparations for the 2016 NFL draft.

The all-star circuit is in full swing this week, but as many are already looking ahead to next week's Senior Bowl, practices for the East-West Shrine Game got underway in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday. There are plenty of talented players who won't be in Mobile, Alabama, next week but will use this opportunity to show NFL decision-makers they're worthy of consideration come April.

With a couple of days of practice already in the books, let's take a look at who could go from making a splash at the Shrine Game to making an impact on Sundays.

91st Annual East-West Shrine Game

Date: Saturday, January 23

Time: 4 p.m. ET

Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

TV: NFL Network

Justin Simmons, S, Boston College

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

This year's Shrine Game has plenty of legitimate NFL hopefuls, but Simmons could be the best overall prospect of them all.

Simmons has experience at both corner and safety, but he projects best as a free safety at the next level. His struggles in man coverage were evident early in practice this week, but so were the traits that could make him an instant starter on the back end in the NFL, via Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com:

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He struggled in one-on-one drills, getting his feet tied up and failing to cover receivers in reverse. But during seven-on-seven drills at safety, Simmons was able to read the quarterback and jump routes, knocking down several passes and intercepting one of them.

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Simmons is at his best when he's able to play in space and use his instincts to create big plays. He's a natural ball hawk in coverage and has a knack for takeaways, picking off five passes and recovering three fumbles for the Eagles in 2015. He's also a natural leader, as Jeff Risdon of Draft Breakdown points out.

He may not get the attention of some bigger-name safeties, but Simmons is a legitimate Day 2 pick who should make an immediate impact for an NFL team this fall.

Tajae Sharpe, WR, Massachusetts

Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

With nearly 200 receptions and over 2,500 yards over the past two seasons, Sharpe's production is enough to raise eyebrows among front offices across the NFL.

But Sharpe's natural tools are just as attractive when projecting him at the next level, as Lance Zierlein of NFL.com points out:

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Sharpe is the most productive receiver to come out of UMass, and as a receiver who turned 21 in December, it is conceivable that he could still be filling out his long frame. Sharpe has the athleticism, hands and feel for space to work from the slot and the size and route acumen to work outside. It might take a year, but he has the talent and football character to become a productive NFL receiver.

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At 6'2", 189 pounds, Sharpe has an NFL frame that could use a little bulk, but it allows him to beat smaller corners with physicality and technique. He's already garnering plenty of praise at practice this week—via MassLive.com—and he should generate plenty of interest among NFL teams when the draft rolls around.

Victor Ochi, DE, Stony Brook

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

One of the early defensive stars of Shrine Game practice so far, Ochi has impressed with his quickness and knack for creating turnovers, despite being undersized for an NFL pass-rusher.

Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com pointed out Ochi's strengths and weaknesses after the first two days of practice:

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He is very quick off the ball, but doesn't have the same type of athleticism or flexibility around the corner, which showed during drills. Ochi has very aggressive hands at the contact point and forced a fumble for the second straight practice. His size alone (6'0", 245 lbs) will take him off several NFL draft boards, but he could prove to be a good day three value if schemed correctly at the next level as a sub-package linebacker.

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His size will certainly be a concern for some teams at the next level, but his explosiveness, technique and ability to force takeaways should be enough to get someone to take a chance on him on Day 3. In the right system, he could make an impact as a situational player.

Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State

Another small-school standout, Hargrave wasted no time proving he can hang with FBS players during this week's practices. Mike Mayock of NFL Network was among the many to praise Hargrave following Tuesday's session.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com sees some attractive traits in Hargrave but admits his learning curve at the pro level could be significant:

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Raw, but athletic one­gap penetrator who dominated his level of competition with effort and quickness. Credited with 16 sacks and 23.5 tackles for losses, Hargrave has the ability to play on the other side of the ball, but the jump in talent and size could be challenging for him. Hargrave is better than a “project”, but he will require patience and much more coaching to realize his potential.

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The jump from lower-division play to the NFL can indeed be daunting, but Hargrave clearly has physical tools that can't be taught, something pro teams are always trying to get their hands on. There should be plenty of defensive line coaches lobbying their team to take Hargrave sometime on Day 3, giving them the chance to develop him into a more refined player.

Ted Karras, G, Illinois

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

His name should be familiar to any true NFL fan, but Karras is doing his best to carve his own path to pro football greatness.

Alex Karras—Ted's great uncle—was an Outland Trophy winner at Iowa and a four-time Pro Bowler for the Detroit Lions. A four-year starter at right guard, Ted is the seventh member of his family to play football in the Big Ten, and he wants to take advantage of his chance to make it at the next level.

"They're not going to, like, disown me if I don't make (the NFL)," Karras told Greg Auman and Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times. "We love football. I've been around football my whole life. Everyone's been a coach. It's just a great opportunity to be here, and … I want to take advantage of it."

He's limited athletically, but Karras wins with great technique and awareness, traits that translate well to the pro game and should give him a decent shot of making an NFL roster as a rookie this fall.