By Steven Callahan
Hardcore NFL fans look at college football a little differently than your average college fan. They may enjoy the big-time games and rivalries, but they don’t get as much joy and excitement out of the sport as they should. For NFL fans, college football could strictly be looked at as a minor league for the NFL. It’s impossible for them to watch a game and not think of how the players they are watching will translate into the NFL.
There’s no true indicator of what a college football player needs to translate into a successful pro. There’s been success from every position on the field by players from big schools, small schools, incredible stats, and stats that don’t pop off the sheet. A big draw to the Power Five conferences is their status as a gateway to the NFL. In the 2016 Draft, 71% of the selections were from Power Five (182 out of 253), as the SEC led all conferences with 51 draftees, including eight in the first round.
With the NFL essentially at its halfway point of the season, more and more fan bases will be peeking ahead at the NFL draft prospects as the season dwindles down. Here are some under the radar prospects from each Power Five conference.
ACC
Virginia Tech Wide Receiver Isaiah Ford: Ford is set to become the all-time leading receiver at Virginia Tech in only three seasons of play, as the 6’2”, 195-pound receiver set school records with 75 receptions, 1,164 yards, and 11 touchdown catches in 2015. Ford is big-play threat, averaging 14 yards per catch this season with this 648 yards and six touchdowns. In a shallow wide receiver class, Ford can sneak into the first round with little national name power.
Florida State Defensive End DeMarcus Walker: Walker is sometimes mocked as the 6th or 7th defensive end selected in the 2017 draft, despite his 8.5 sacks ranking second in the country. Walker is a first round talent who could be a great value in the second round.
Big Ten
Wisconsin Running Back Corey Clement: It is a misconception that the NFL is moving away from the importance of the running back position. Do you need a superstar running back to win a Super Bowl? No, but you still need to be able to run the ball extremely well, especially come playoff time. Teams will be able to snag Clement in the mid rounds and have the chance to develop him into a productive player, as he has averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his career at Wisconsin.
Ohio State Offensive Lineman Pat Elflein: As one of the Ohio State captains, Elflein has been a leader on one of the best teams in the country. Elflein has made 42 consecutive starts, including leading the way for Ezekiel Elliott as his right guard and now as the Buckeyes’ center. Elflein’s proven versatility only adds to his draft value and he will have another chance to impress scouts when the Michigan Wolverines come to town in his last career game at home.
Big 12
Baylor Running Back Shock Linwood: It was surprising when Linwood decided against declaring for the 2016 NFL draft as an underclassman. The running back was coming off a year where he ran for 1,329 yards with 10 touchdowns. Linwood has averaged over 6 yards a carry on over 650 career carries and already has an awesome first name that would make Shock an instant fan favorite for the team that drafts him.
Oklahoma State Tight End Blake Jarwin: Oklahoma State does not utilize the tight end position that much and not nearly as much as a typical NFL offense. Standing at 6’5” and 248 pounds, Jarwin has the prototypical body for today’s NFL, averaging over 11 yards per catch in the last two seasons.
Pac-12
Oregon Wide Receiver Danny Carrington: The Ducks’ junior wide receiver has been a model of consistency during his tenure at Oregon. After averaging 19 yards per reception in his first two seasons, Carrington is on pace to set a career high in receptions this season. Ducks’ receivers don’t generally fare well in the NFL, but Carrington can break the mold with his size (6’2”) and big-play ability.
USC Offensive Tackle Zach Banner: Banner came into the season with a first round grade, but his stock has dipped this season, now being mocked in the middle rounds. Banner is a massive human being with his 6’9”, 344-pound frame. If Banner does indeed slip in the draft, it would be interesting to see how far he falls, since his potential is so high.
SEC
Auburn Defensive Tackle Montravius Adams: The 6’4”, 309-pound senior has the ability to create interior pressure by surging gaps and generating push with his reach. Adams is on pace to set career highs in tackles for losses and sacks this season.
Alabama Defensive Tackle Da’Shawn Hand: Hand came into the season as one of the best defensive tackle prospects for the 2017 draft. Hand’s numbers are down and is slipping in mock drafts, even though he is a main piece in Alabama’s defense. Hand can go under the radar and become a steal in next April’s draft.
