NFL Draft 2017: Highlighting the Best Small-School Diamonds in the Rough
There are a variety of reasons why talented prospects fall to the Division II level or below. Sometimes it's because of their behavior and an off-field issue. Sometimes it's because they were buried on the depth chart at a higher level. But more often they were simply overlooked.
Now it's up to the NFL to fix that problem.
A small-school status alone can drag prospects into Day 3 of the draft. The NFL only has so much time and resources, which means that merely being relative unknowns can force players to wait.
What separates the smart roster-building teams from the rest is nailing those Day 3 picks once Saturday comes. Those front offices can identify how an undersized pass-rusher like Dylan Donahue could develop into a key contributor. Or how well Jordan Herdman, a record-breaking Canadian linebacker, can transition into the NFL.
Those are the picks that can define a draft and give a team depth beyond the few marquee names selected in the early rounds. But finding a developmental gem who can blossom into something special is a challenge.
Here's a closer look at some of the notable small-school prospects teams are assessing as the countdown to draft day reaches its final stages.
Jordan Morgan, Offensive Lineman
1 of 10
Jordan Morgan has hurdles to clear on his way to NFL recognition, just like any small-school prospect. But he surely didn't anticipate one of them being a staring contest at the combine.
The 6'3", 309-pound offensive lineman out of Division II Kutztown provided the latest, and perhaps greatest, tale of scouting combine interview weirdness.
Take it away, Jordan (via Dustin Hockensmith of PennLive.com):
"The strangest thing I had asked of me at the combine was how long I could have my eyes open in a staring contest. I thought it was weird, but it's one of those things you don't question on the spot.
I didn't blink at all. He told me I could stare at anything. I just focused on a water bottle. I don't know how long it was, but it was pretty long. My eyes were fogging up. I couldn't see after. He was just like, 'I got what I need. You can stop now.'
"
Beyond his staring skills, Morgan was more notably a four-year starter at left tackle who rose to become a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award in 2016, given to the best Division II offensive lineman. It gets better, as Morgan was also named the Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference East offensive player of the year.
Yes, that's right: An offensive lineman was named the player of the year, a remarkable accomplishment in any conference.
NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein observed that Morgan has the athleticism at his size to transition to the inside and be a quality run blocker. However, he could struggle initially in pass protection.
"Morgan could become a solid NFL backup with eventual starter potential if he improves his balance and stops lunging," Zierlein wrote.
He's a mountainous Day 3 pick who could mature into being a fine all-around blocker. Those are the ingredients of a potential late-round steal.
Derek Rivers, Defensive End
2 of 10
Derek Rivers had a dominant career at Youngstown State. So dominant that he's leaving as the school's all-time sack leader.
In fact, he already held that record before his senior season even began. Rivers entered the 2016 season with 26 sacks and then added 10 more. He also recorded 12.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. Oh, and he was selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team three times.
Rivers has plenty of pass-rushing production to pad his resume, and talent evaluators are taking notice. He's been a busy man throughout the predraft process and has either visited or scheduled visits with the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
There's a lot of intrigue hovering around the 6'4", 248-pound pass-rusher. It's not hard to see why after his 2016 sack total ranked tied for second in the nation. Rivers could rise to become a late Day 2 pick, and if not he'll provide great value on Day 3.
Avery Moss, Defensive End
3 of 10
If a team misses out on Rivers, his teammate Avery Moss is a fine fallback option.
Moss needed time to mature at the college level. His football career was put on hold first due to a shoulder injury and then later an off-field incident that led to his leaving Nebraska. He landed at Youngstown State, after former Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini offered him a lifeline.
Moss responded with an explosion of pass-rushing production in 2016, finishing with 17.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks and 59 tackles overall.
Maturity concerns could lead to a drop for Moss. He might pay the draft price for being accused of exposing himself to a female convenience-store employee on the Nebraska campus.
But if a team is confident he's grown up since then, Moss has the tools to develop into a contributor.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Eric Saubert, Tight End
4 of 10
Eric Saubert is another massive, towering and athletic tight end in a draft filled with them.
The 6'5", 253-pound second-team FCS All-American in 2016 was the Drake Bulldogs' top receiver over the past two years. He really shined during his final year, finishing with 776 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
He's appealing because of his red-zone presence and an ability to create separation and capitalize on it. That's reflected in his frequent scoring during his senior season and how often Saubert stretched the field down the seam. He averaged 13.9 yards per reception in 2016 while also posting 90-plus yards in a game five times.
There's plenty to dream on with Saubert because of his size and the impressive speed to complement that bulk. The fatal flaw could lie in a rather important skill: catching.
Drops are scattered throughout Saubert's game film. They're not just focus drops, either, which are a little more tolerable. Focus drops are often the result of a receiver wanting to do too much and not taking care of the first step by looking the ball into his hands.
Saubert's issues are deeper, and there's a fear they might not be fixable.
"He's body beautiful, but he can't catch," an AFC regional scout told Zierlein. "I don't think it's correctable, either. I just think he doesn't see the ball well and doesn't have good hand-eye. You are drafting an athlete and not a tight end if you take him."
A team that trusts its offensive coaching staff, and especially the tight end coach, would have to be confident Saubert could be shaped and molded just right. That team is likely out there, but not until later in Day 3.
Dylan Donahue, Defensive End
5 of 10
Dylan Donahue has the potential to be a mid-round gem who's hidden at first but then blinds you the second all the dirt is brushed off.
The defensive end from Billings, Montana, set a single-season Gulf South Conference sack record in 2016 when he took down opposing quarterbacks 13.5 times. But he wasn't just a pass-rushing specialist, as Donahue also recorded 20 tackles for a loss during that season.
Donahue produced consistently for the West Georgia Wolves and finished 2015 with 12 sacks, which led the conference again and put him just outside the top 10 nationally.
The concern with Donahue is his size, or lack of it. Being 6'3" and 248 pounds didn't restrict him at a lower level of college football, but it could limit his power and ability to create leverage in the NFL.
Tarik Cohen, Running Back
6 of 10
The main criticism of running back Tarik Cohen is tied to something he can't control: his size.
Cohen stands only 5'6" and weighs 179 pounds. That alone will remove him from draft consideration for a lot of teams. Many teams won't trust his ability to withstand the punishment of a massive workload at the NFL level.
But Cohen would surely tell those teams to look at his college production for the North Carolina A&T Aggies and the pounding he absorbed just fine over four seasons. Cohen produced 5,619 rushing yards for the Aggies, which included 1,500-plus-yard seasons in 2015 and 2016. He did that while shouldering the weight of 966 touches.
Cohen was the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's leading rusher for four straight seasons. He soared as a senior in 2016 with a single-season best 1,588 yards at an incredible average of 7.5 yards per carry. He also scored 15-plus touchdowns three years in a row.
Even if NFL teams don't view Cohen as a running back who can take physical punishment over a long period of time, he still offers plenty as a pass-catcher. There is some Darren Sproles in him, at least as far as his body type is concerned. He recorded 200-plus receiving yards in each of the last three seasons.
Derrick Griffin, Tight End/Wide Receiver
7 of 10
You'll note the sport Derrick Griffin is playing in the picture above. It's not football.
Recently, Griffin is more known for his hoops skills after he averaged 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in 2016 for Texas Southern. He kept playing basketball because he had been dismissed from the football team for a violation of team rules.
Basketball became a fine athletic outlet for the 6'7", 240-pounder. But he still had NFL ambitions, which is why Griffin declared for the draft and hired heavyweight agent Bus Cook.
There may not be much recent game film to use while evaluating Griffin, but interested teams still won't have to go back far to see his dominance as a pass-catcher. In 2015, Griffin thrived while piling up 713 receiving yards on only 36 catches. Both his yardage and 11 touchdowns were team highs.
He was used as a tight end and wide receiver during his collegiate football career. How the NFL views Griffin's talent will depend on the system he lands in and, more importantly, whether the 23-year-old has the speed to separate consistently on the outside and in the slot.
He'll likely be utilized as a tight end and has had his tires kicked by several teams already, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Jordan Herdman, Linebacker
8 of 10
Now we journey to the frosty white north, a place filled with politeness and the always enjoyable giant inflatable beavers.
Linebacker Jordan Herdman played at Simon Fraser University, just north of Vancouver, British Columbia, in western Canada. He's the new Great Northwest Athletic Conference career tackles record holder (428). He also recorded 12.5 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles in 2016.
His impressive game film that shows natural instincts at the linebacker position and quick bursts to the ball landed Herman an invite to the Senior Bowl. Throughout the week of practice, he drew the attention of quite a few curious scouts.
"I remember the second day I made some good plays and I was talking to five scouts at one time shooting questions at me after the practice, all with their pens out writing notes down," Herdman said while speaking to Justin Dunk of Sportsnet.ca. "'What are your top games? What's your family life like? How were you raised? What did you take in school? Any injuries?' I'll always remember that."
In the game, Herdman delivered a thunderous hit after a short pass that made scouts scribble even more.
However, Herdman will have to overcome more than the obvious quality of competition concerns. The same scouts who complimented him by saying he's "physical, smart and instinctual" while speaking to Dunk also expressed uncertainty about Herdman's size. He stands only 5'10" and weighs 238 pounds.
He'll likely be on a roster by the end of April. How he gets there—either through the draft, or as an undrafted free agent—is a question that will be answered soon enough.
Then Herdman will answer the more important question: How long can he stay on a roster?
Robert Davis, Wide Receiver
9 of 10
You'll get a severe neck ache trying to watch wide receiver Robert Davis.
He has video game athleticism and showed it off with a time of 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, along with a 41-inch vertical jump. On the field, that resulted in 1,948 receiving yards over Davis' final two seasons with the Georgia State Panthers. He also scored 11 times during that stretch and averaged 15.2 yards per reception.
His speed led to an average of 2.38 yards per route run, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked 21st among non-Power Five conference receivers with at least 100 targets.
Overall, Davis' college production is solid. But solid isn't good enough for a receiver with his natural athletic gifts. What held him back was a lack of physicality, even though Davis has plenty of size to work with (6'3", 219 lbs).
His athleticism alone will be enough to get him drafted, but then he'll have to prove his athletic skill can show up on tape more often.
Chad Williams, Wide Receiver
10 of 10
In the not-so-distance past, wide receiver Chad Williams was considered a small-school sleeper prospect on the rise. The Grambling State standout started to establish a firm footing during the predraft evaluation process with an impressive showing throughout Senior Bowl week.
"One of the more pleasant surprises this week was Williams, who immediately looked like he belonged against FBS-level cornerbacks," Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com wrote while covering Senior Bowl practices. "He lacks nuance in his routes to create easy separation on athleticism alone, but Williams has the strong hands to secure 50-50 balls, snatching away from his body and tracking well over his shoulder."
There will always be a place in the draft and eventually on NFL rosters for receivers who demonstrate the ability to excel when the difficulty level rises. Those who can outleap opposing defensive backs or contort their bodies in midair to make tough adjustments have value.
That describes Williams, but he wasn't invited to the combine to continue building on his Senior Bowl buzz. The combine snub was likely due to off-field problems (arrest in 2016 for marijuana and firearm possession). But now if he can convince teams those issues are in the past, Williams could rise again.
It doesn't take long to salivate over his production in 2016 that was rooted in deep-ball effectiveness. Williams led the Southwestern Athletic Conference with 90 catches for 1,337 yards while scoring 11 times. There were five games in 2016 when he logged 130-plus receiving yards.
He still needs to become more polished as a route runner, and it may take time for his athleticism to be properly harnessed against a higher level of competition. But there's faith that transition will go ahead just fine; the entire NFC East has taken a look at Williams, according to Yahoo Sports' Eric Edholm.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport also reported the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills have visited with Williams.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
