FanPost

Durst's 2015 NFL Draft - Defensive Only Big Board - Post Bowl Updates

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
DE
Leonard Williams DeForest Buckner Marcus Golden Marcus Hardison Deion Barnes Ray Drew
DE
Randy Gregory Arik Armstead Za'Darius Smith Theiren Cockran Preston Smith Hau'oli Kikaha
DE
Dante Fowler Trey Flowers Cedric Reed Frank Clark Henry Anderson Ryan Muller
DE

Mario Edwards

Danielle Hunter

Nate Orchard

Owamagbe Odighizuwa

Corey Crawford

Caleb Azubike

Devonte Fields

Noah Spence

Ryan Russell

Marin Ifedi

Marcus Rush

DT Eddie Goldman Danny Shelton Grady Jarrett Gabe Wright JT Surratt Travis Raciti
James Castleman
Malcom Brown

Carl Davis

Terry Williams

Darius Philon

Kaleb Eulls


Christian Covington

Bradon Ivory

David Parry
Matt Hoch
Jordan Phillips

Michael Bennett

Ellis McCarthy Tyeler Davidson Louis Trinca-Pasat Chucky Hunter Kalafitoni Pole
ILB
Stephone Anthony Reggie Ragland Trey DePriest Henry Coley Jake Ryan AJ Johnson
Benardrick McKinney Eric Kendricks Amarlo Herrera Taiwan Jones Tyler Matakevich
Steve Edmond
Dalton Santos

Denzel Perryman Ramik Wilson Mike Hull Bryce Hager Curtis Grant AJ Tarpley
OLB Shane Ray Lorenzo Mauldin Tony Washington Martrell Spaight Xzavier Dickson CJ Johnson JR Tavai
Alvin Dupree Eli Harold Paul Dawson Norkeithus Otis Josh Forrest Derrick Malone

Shaq Thompson

Vic Beasley

Max Valles Kwon Alexander

Hayes Pullard

Damien Wilson

Terrance Plummer JR Tavai James Vaughters
CB Trae Waynes Doran Grant Kevin Johnson Ladarius Gunter Quandre Diggs Tevin Mitchel Kevon Seymour

Ron Darby

Alex Carter Senquez Golson Ifo Ekpre-Olomu Steven Nelson Tim Scott (S?)
Jonathan McKnight
Marcus Peters De'Vante Harris Deshazor Everett Julian Wilson Blake Countess Damian Swann Justin Coleman
PJ Williams Jalen Collins Lafayette Pitts Kevin White Kevin Peterson Byron Jones (S?) Damarious Randall
S
Gerod Holliman Eric Rowe (CB?)

Kurtis Drummond

Sam Carter

Derron Smith

Clayton Geathers

Ronald Martin

Landon Collins Durrell Eskridge Cody Prewitt Anthony Harris Josh Shaw (CB?) Erick Dargan Kyshoen Jarrett

Jalen Mills Deon Bush Adrian Amos Jermaine Whitehead Jordan Richards Ibraheim Campbell

NTs:

Washington's Danny Shelton, UCLA's Ellis McCarthy, and East Carolina's Terry Williams represent the three best NT prospects with Williams being the shortest and heaviest at 6'1/350+.

At 6'2/339 Shelton has been surprisingly productive as a pass-rusher, finishing the regular season with nine sacks, and 16.5 TFL. While those number are impressive, more surprising was that Shelton is UW's second-leading tackler (89), a rarity from the NT position, and after UW's bowl game, he finished first in the nation with five fumble recoveries.

In addition to being one of three Washington Huskies defenders named to the AP first-team All-American team, he also made the first-team Academic All-American squad. Last year, Louis Nix did not hear his name called until the 83rd pick (partially due to knee issues) but you should hear Shelton's name called somewhere between the 20-50th pick.

Looking for a late-round NT, look no further than Fresno State's Tyeler Davidson, a three-year starter.

4-3 DTs:

Eddie Goldman and Malcom Brown: (week four and seven risers respectively)

Eddie Goldman and Malcom Brown are similarly-sized DT prospects. At 6-4/314, Goldman was thought by many to be the #1 DT prospect in the nation coming out of high school and started 13 contests as a 3-4 DE for FSU's national champion team.

Fellow underclassman, Brown is also a two year starer. Coming our of high school, he was ESPNU's #2 DT prospect, behind only Goldman. Listed at is 6'2/320, he can be very disruptive including being a major part of Texas' upset victory over Oklahoma.

Carl Davis and Jordan Phillips:

At 6'5/315, Iowa's Carl Davis' body might probably projects best to 4-3 DT or even 3-4 DE rather than NT.

One of my week 14 risers, after Davis looked good against Nebraska, blocking a field goal attempt, and tipping a pass at the LOS that caused an interception.

Davis was a first round pick when I did my board last spring (now graded as a second-rounder) and reminds me of former Ohio State DT Johnathan Hankins.

At 6'6/334, Phillips is even bigger. A back-up in 2012, and limited to just four games in 2013 due to a back injury, 2014 was a break-out of sorts for Phillips. With a frame similar to Michael Brockers, I expect Phillips to gain momentum during the post season, and emerge as a mid-first rounder.

Three 3-techniques:

Last year, Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald burst on the scene during the Senior Bowl and was very impressive at the NFL combine, which forced NFL teams to reevaluate their fixation on size. While I don't believe they are quite as impressive, Ohio State's Michael Bennett, Clemson's Grady Jackson, and Auburn's Gabe Wright are also smaller DT prospects that project as ideal three-technique interior pass-rushers.

Jackson gave South Carolina's AJ Cann a great deal of trouble during Clemson's win over the Gamecocks, and Bennett has impressed me more during the second-half of the season (including the Big-10 Championship, National semi-finals, and National Championship game)

While many had him as a first-round prospect coming into the season (Mel Kiper's #1 Senior DT) I have had him graded as a third-round prospect last spring, and only recently have bumped him up into the second round.

Bennett had made only one start heading into his junior season, but made 13 starts last season, when he finished with 42 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and three forced fumbles.

At 6'2/288, he is a bit of a "tweener" but probably projects best as a three-technique DT who can penetrate the interior on the offensive line in the NFL.

3-4 DEs:

Oregon's Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner and Baylor's Shawn Oakman all stand 6'7-6'9 and between 280 to 290 pounds. That kinds of arm-length can be quite an asset when trying to combat NFL offensive tackles.

Armstead has been more versatile in college and frequently plays aligns over the right guard, but has been the most requently injured. Oakman is the least versatile, both in terms of alignment and skill-set. However, he combines a good hand-chop with his elongated first step to immediately challenge the LTs in pass-protection.

While Armstead and Oakman are likely being overrated, Buckner may be underrated. Look for him to make an impact against Florida State's true freshman LT Roderick Johnson in the Rose Bowl, and for Oakman to be relatively quiet against Michigan State's red-shirt Sophomore LT Jack Conklin.

At 6'6/287, Stanford's Henry Anderson is well-coached in the 3-4, and will likely be seen as a similar talent as Houston's former 4th rounder Jared Crick.

Marcus Hardison: (week 13 risers)

Arizona State's Marcus Hardison also has the required frame and athleticism to flourish as a 3-4 DE, but enough versatility to play other positions.

Most games, he lines up outside of the RT in ASU's 4-3 defense, but at 6'4/300, he has the prototypical size for a 3-4 DE.

Against Washington State, Hardison registered two sacks, and interception, and a forced fumble. Of coarse, WSU is not the best opponent to judge if a player has NFL-level talent, but I have seen ASU play four or five times, and the one guy that continued to catch my eye was Hardison.

A Dodge-City CC transfer, where he was the #5-ranked JC prospect, Hardison had only five tackles all last season, but now has had back-to-back two-sack games, with eight of his ten sacks coming in the past five games.

The former youth/HS QB is rumored to still run a 4.7 and can throw the ball further the either of ASU's two starting QBs Taylor Kelly and Mike Bercovici.

4-3 DEs:

Leonard Williams, DE, USC:

Leonard Williams has been my #1 overall prospect since last spring, and can certainly play multiple positions, including 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT, but at 6'5/300, I envision him playing a Julius Peppers/Mario Williams role in the NFL, and feel he will become a star early in his career.

Trey Flowers, DE, Arkansas: (week five risers)

Flowers' 31st start came last weekend against Texas A&M, in a game billed as a match-up against a potential top-10 pick in Aggies' LT Cedric Ogbuehi, but instead Flowers lined up on the left side, where he had his way early with Aggies RT Germain Ifedi, beating him for a sack and then bull-rushing him into the QB on the following play.

Flowers is a pure 4-3 left-side DE (lined up over the RT) and has the strength to stand-up against the run, while still contributing (not dominating) as a pass-rusher. His skill set reminds me of the former UCLA DE Datone Jones.

Flowers explored entering the 2014 NFL draft but elected to return for his senior campaign after reportedly earning a third round grade from the Advisory Committee. After putting on about 15 pounds, Flowers certainly looks the part of an NFL DE, checking in at around 6'4/280.

Starting opposite fellow DE Chris Smith until this season, Flowers raked-up 44 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks, as well as three forced fumbles and an interception in 2013. That kind of production was nothing new for Flowers, who posted similar numbers in 2012 (50 tackles, including 13 for loss and six sacks) and 28 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and a sack as a true Freshman.

Nate Orchard, DE, Utah: (bowl game risers)

Orchard finished the season with 18.5 sacks, but some have been questioning if he is a "one year wonder". According to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks, most scouts see Orchard as "a borderline "Day 2 prospect."

I only saw Utah play twice this season, but Orchard dominated his one-on-one match-up with Colorado State LT Ty Sambrailo in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. Sambrailo entered the bowl season with a potential top-50 grade, so it should be an impressive film for scouts to study. The 6'4/255-pound DE will play in the Senior Bowl.

Arkansas' Trey Flowers, UCLA's Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Missouri's Marcus Golden, Texas' Cedric Reed, Kentucky's Za'Darius Smith and Mississippi State's Preston Smith all have the frame of 4-3 DEs, who could occasionally move inside on 3rd-down. While I don't believe any of them will be a dominant pass-rusher in the pros, Flowers is my favorite of the average-looking group.

Owamagbe Odighizua, DE, UCLA (week 13 risers)

Odighizuwa received a +9.5 grade from ProFootballFocus.com for his play against USC. Those not familiar, should check out their website. According to PFF, Odighizuwa "notched two sacks, two hits and six hurries in just 35 pass-rushing snaps".

USC RT Zach Banner in particular struggled with Odighizuwa, but so did USC's guards, and LT Toa Lobendahn.

The 6'3/270 pound redshirt senior missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his hip and entered Saturday night's game with 45 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

While he certainly looks the part, Odighizua does not always play with such intensity. I do not believe he is as dominating a prospect as former Bruin Datone Jones, but have went back-and-forth between grading him as a late second to mid-third round. After watching the USC game, I am once again like him just past the top-50 prospects.

The three forgotten pass-rushers:

Devante Fields, Frank Clark, and Noah Spence all looked future NFL stars at points in their career, but all three were kicked off their teams in college. It is difficult to determine which represents the greatest risk, but without the off-the-field troubles, I believe all would be considered top-50 candidates.

Please note, last year, character concerns torpedoed Aaron Lynch's draft stock, and he was not taken until the 150th pick. His six sacks as a rookie matched his total of his final season at South Florida.

3-4 OLBs:

Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska:

I feel he is slightly overrated, and the difference between Gregory and Leonard Williams was evident in the Holiday Bowl. All indications are he will be a top-10 selection.

Danielle Hunter, DE/OLB, LSU: (week four risers)

At 6'6/240, Randy Gregory and Danielle Hunter share both a similar skill-set and body type, but while Gregory has been talked about as a potential top-five pick, Hunter is only recently starting to gain top-50 consideration. I placed a first-round grade on Hunter last spring, that I lowered to an early-second after I realized that absolutely nobody agreed with me.

His performance against Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley in the Franklin American Mortage Music City Bowl was slightly disappointing, but he was giving up roughly 80 pounds to LT Ronnie Stanley.

Hunter first caught my eye during LSU's 2013 game against Texas A&M. In that game, Hunter technically got a sack with Jake Matthews blocking him, but Manziel more of less ran right into him.

His sack while working against Iowa LT Brandon Scherff in LSU's bowl game win over Iowa was more legit.

A four-star prospect out of HS, Hunter got limited playing time his Freshman season playing behind Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, but started ten games in 2013, and all this past season.

Hunter has a lean frame (claims he has only 3% body fat) and projects much better to 3-4 OLB than the 4-3 DE position he plays at LSU.

OLBs Lorenzo Mauldin (week 1 riser) vs Bud Dupree (week 14 risers)

Dupree looks like he uses his hands better, and has better change-of-direction skills. …interesting to see Mauldin drop back while safety Gerod Holliman blitzed from the other side on 3rd-7.

Dupree got near constant pressure, despite nursing a groin injury, and caused the fumble UK returned for a TD. Coming into the game, I had Mauldin above Dupree, but I like Dupree slightly more and will bump him up into my first round, while keeping Mauldin in my second.

Update. Kentucky DE/LB Alvin "Bud" Dupree has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Kentucky was not bowl-eligible, so that will be our next time to see him. The 6-foot-4, 267-pound Dupree had a pretty solid four-year career (247 tackles, 24 sacks) for the Wildcats, but his draft stock will likely rise between now and April, especially after the NFL Combine, where Dupree is expected to run and jump with best of them.

Dante Fowler, DE, Florida:

I have not been a big fan of Fowler, but it is hard to ignore his three sacks (even if it was his only 3 tackles) and two hurries against East Carolina.

Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson: (week four sliders)

I have not seen a single big board or mock draft that does not have Beasley as a first rounder, and often top-10 players. I have not been nearly as high. His body is more similar to a RB or safety than an NFL pass-rusher, and while he does have great burst, and "bends" around the edge, he typically exploits speed-deficient 320+ offensive tackles.

During the FSU-Clemson game, I noticed that FSU was able to move their TE across the LOS and have him engage Beasley. (he was less successful when going one-on-one with similar athletes, in this case, the Seminoles' Nick O'Leary).

Believed to be this year's Bruce Irvin -Von Miller, I expect Beasley to have trouble finding the field as a rookie.

Max Valles and Eli Harold, OLBs, Virginia:

Max Valles surprised everybody when he announced he will declare for the NFL draft. The 6'5/240-pounder had a team-leading nine sacks, ranked seventh in the ACC with 12.5 tackles for loss, led all non-defensive backs in the conference with eight passes defended, and tied for fourth in the ACC with three forced fumbles.

After starting just four games in 2013, Valles recorded six tackles, including 2.0 sacks in UVa' season opener against UCLA, which led to far more criticism of Bruins' QB Brett Hundley and the UCLA offensive line, than credit given to the Cavalier's defense.

Valles, although just a sophomore, is draft eligible because he's three years removed from high school graduation (spent 2012 at Fork Union Military Academy).

At 6'4/250 Eli Harold is slightly larger shorter and heavier. He finished career with 36.5 career tackles for loss, with 17.5 career sacks (seven in 2014, 8.5 in 2013). The 24 game starter left with one season of eligibility remaining.

Recently, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah tweeted the more he watches Harold, the more he likes him, while ESPN's Mel Kiper wrote Harold "could definitely land in Round ". Rotoworld's Josh Norris currently ranks Harold as his No. 18 overall prospect.

Hau'oli Kikaha, OLB/DE, Washington:

Kikaha moved from DE to OLB this season, but his role did not change much. He was primarily used to rush the passer. Kikaha became the Huskies' all-time career sacks leader in his senior season with 34.5. Kikaha finished the regular season leading the nation in sacks with 18. He had 13 sacks last season, making a courageous comeback, after knee injuries limited him to just four total games in 2011 and 2012.

I have been calling Kikaha "Shayne Skov 2.0" since last spring, referencing the fact that Skov was down right dominating (and appeared 100% healthy following his own knee injuries) during his last season at Stanford but went undrafted, presumably due to failed medicals.

CJ Johnson, Ole Miss:

Lost in the debacle against TCU was that Johnson had a sack, a fumble recovery , a pass deflection (batted ball that Boykin caught), and 3 TFLs.

At 6'2/225, Johnson will either need to move to LB (every game he has started has been at DE) or simply be a pass-rush specialist, but for the season he had only four sacks.

In 2013, Johnson started the first four games at defensive end before missing the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his ankle.

His small frame, limited productivity, injury concerns, and questionable position will likely cause Johnson to be a third-day pick or possibly go undrafted.

ILBs:

Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State: (week four risers)

At 6'5/250, some feel that Mississippi State Benardrick McKinney may actually be too tall for ILB, but Roland McClain was a top-10 pick with a similar build. He can play in any LB position and in any system.

I had him ranked as my #3 OLB last spring (with a first round grade) but I have move him to my #1 ILB position.

I was one of many that felt McKinney's freakish ability (made Bruce Feldman's annual "freak"s list in both 2013 and 2014) were being misused by MSU coaches, and that he would be better utilized as a pass-rushing 3-4 OLB.

After watching at least six MSU games this season, I am convinced the coaches are right.

McKinney burst onto the scene after his red-shirt Freshman season, starting ten games in his first season playing, and earning first time Freshman All-American honors.

As a third-year Sophomore, he then led the Bulldogs in tackles (71), TFL (7), sacks (3.5) and fumble recoveries (2).

With his sideline-to-sideline range, ability to stack-and-shed, and gorilla-sized arms, when thinking of a comparable, the late Junior Seau comes the mind.

Stephone Anthony:

Perhaps the only pure ILB with the ideal height/weight/speed is Clemson's Stephone Anthony...

Others:

Run-stuffing ILBs are so 1995. In today's NFL, they are labeled "two-downers" for their inability to play in passing situations, and are often replaced by a fifth DB. Many fine "two-downers" can be had in the fourth-fifth rounds.

Recent examples are Chris Borland (Rd3, 2014), Lamin Barrow (Rd5, 2014), Michael Mauti (Rd 7, 2013), Tank Carder (Rd4, 2012), Case Matthews (Rd4, 2011).

This season, I would expect Penn State's Michael Hull, Michigan's Jake Ryan, and Temple's Tyler Matakevich to be drafted no earlier than the fourth round.

Borland's immediate NFL success may help the sub-six-foot Denzel Perryman reach the second round, and UCLA's Eric Kendricks has a chance to be drafted higher than his brother Mychal (46th pick, Eagles).

Georgia's ILB duo of Wilson and Herrera don't seem quite as talented as former SEC ILBs Kevin Minter and Jon Bostic, each of which were second-rounders.

Tennessee's AJ Johnson already had questions about his athletic ability before being dismissed for the Vols following his arrest on rape charges. If true, getting drafted will be the least of his worries.

4-3 OLBs:

Shaq Thompson: (week 2 and 5 risers)

Washington's Shaq Thompson, a junior OLB, made contributions on both sides of the ball, racking up 70.0 total tackles, seven sacks and nine tackles for loss while scoring four defensive touchdowns for the Huskies on three fumble recoveries and an interception return. Thompson also made contributions on offense, rushing for 456 yards and two touchdowns on 61 attempts. He won the 2014 Paul Hornung Award, given out annually to college football’s most versatile player.

Kwon Alexander, LB, LSU:

Alexander is very athletic, but even small, generously listed at 6'2/227. He maybe should have stayed at LSU for him final season with an emphasis on gaining weight and getting stronger, but would he lose speed and agility?

I wonder if I am underrating him with a third-round grade.

Paul Dawson, LB, TCU:

At just 6'2/230, one can debate if Dawson would be a better fit inside of outside in a 4-3 defense, but the Big 12 player of the year was the only player in the nation with 100+ tackles, 5 sacks, and 4 interceptions.

Dawson has put on weight since his days as a HS WR, but is still pretty rangy. Notable is that Dawson has started for two seasons in TCU's 4-2-5 defense which may be the defense of the future in the NFL.

CBs:

Marcus Peters:

Marcus Peters was the best CB I saw this season. Rumor has it he attempted to choke one of his coaches. Clearly something happened to get Peterson kicked off the University of Washington's team, but until I hear it from Mike Mayock that NFL teams have taken him off their boards, I am going to continue to give him a first-round grade.

Trae Waynes:

Taking character risks into consideration, I have a pair of Big-10 corners ranked as my top-two CB prospects. Expect to hear chatter of how Trae Waynes is faster than former teammate Darqueze Dennard.

FSU Corners: (week 8 risers and sliders)

Against Oregon, FSU junior CB Ronald Darby appeared more physical, but is normally more of a finesse defender with outstanding speed. At 5'11/188, Darby is smaller than fellow FSU CB PJ Williams, but is a world-class sprinter, having won medals at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics.

Darby was the #2 ranked cornerback prospect coming out of high school, then claimed the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year as a true-freshman (despite not starting a game).

After a strong sophomore campaign (eight starts) most (including myself) had Darby pegged as a first round prospect. Darby's strength is man-to-man coverage, where his pure speed has allowed him to get away with technique problems and a lack of eye-discipline.

Furthermore, Darby comes with some injury concerns, including a groin injury that required surgery spring 2013, and hamstring issues this season.

At 6'0/196, FSU junior CB PJ Williams is bigger, and has less injury concerns, but while Darby did well against Notre Dame, Williams struggled.

He is a height/weight/speed guy, and it's easy to fall in love with Williams' potential. He possesses the length, athleticism, and speed to challenge elite receivers in press coverage, so I am not sure what is happening here.

Against the Irish, Williams frequently got lost in coverage, losing his man about five times on crossing-routes. What was most surprising was how many time they threw in the direction of Williams, as I thought the game-plan would be to avoid throwing his direction.

The Louisville -FSU game is another to watch, as Williams frequently defended Devante Parker with mixed results.

http://www.bigblueview.com/2014/11/11/7194945/dursts-2015-nfl-draft-week-eleven-risers-sliders-and-big-board

Doran Grant, CB, Ohio State: (week 11 risers)

Against Alabama, Grant severely overplayed Amari Cooper to the inside, when Cooper broke outside for a 15-yard first quarter touchdown. Prior to that, Grant gave-up one completion and defended one pass to Cooper. The TD was the last time Cooper caught a pass with Grant in coverage.

What's this I hear, Ohio State senior CB Doran Grant "doesn't have great speed" as an NFL executive speaking with NFL.com. One source has the 5'11/191-pounder running a 4.54 forty. I believe Grant combines a great combination of speed and athletic ability with prototypical size.

Overshadowed by Bradley Roby, Grant is now the Buckeye's "shadow corner", and earlier this year, he did a good job shadowing Michigan State's Tony Lippett who entered the game as the Big-10's leading receiver, had home-field advantage, but Grant helped hold him to just five catches for 64 yards and zero touchdowns. (three of Lippett's catches were in the fourth quarter, when Grant was either not on him, or had passed him off)

After week 11, I stated Grant may end-up drafted higher than Roby.

Copy-cat the Seahawks?

Increasingly, more teams are looking for size and length at corner. Teams like Seattle will likely rate certain players higher than other teams. Miami's Ladarius Gunter (6'2/198), Oklahoma's Julian Wilson (6'2/201), LSU' s Jalen Collins (6'2/198), and UConn's Byron Jones (6'1/196) are just a few that may be graded higher on certain teams boards than others.

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu:

Oregon's Ifo Ekpre-Olomu was arguably the best college corner last season, but suffered a significant injury and was already battling questions about his height. Last year, Aaron Colvin suffered a similar injury, and fell to the 114th (4th round) pick.

The 5'10/185 pound senior corner has been starting since his freshman campaign and leaves school with 40 career starts. There is plenty of film with him covering the likes of Marqise Lee and Brandin Cooks just to name a few.

Senquez Golson, CB, Ole Miss: (week eight risers)

Mississippi's Senquez Golson was another outstanding collegiate corner who may be downgraded due to height. He displayed great ball-skills, finishing second in the nation in interceptions with 10.

Coming into the season with 20 career starts, the Senior CB also played baseball for the Rebels in 2012.

Safeties:

Cody Prewitt and Kurtis Drummond are fan favorites, and have had very productive careers. Going into the season, I felt each were being overrated, and believe, that they may fall some during post-season work-outs. Not everyone agrees to the importance of such work-outs, but I think by the time it is said and done, they will be seen as potential draft "steals" rather than elite prospects. (that is, they are likely to outperform their draft position)

Cody Prewitt, Safety, Mississippi: (week 6 sliders)

Against TCU, Prewitt gave-up TCU's third touchdown pass, but was also one of the defenders fooled on the earlier trick-play that ended with one TCU WR throwing to another.

Prewitt did have a nice interception (12 of his career) late in the first half. Overall, Prewitt had a good, not great game, but hardly looked like an elite prospect.

Lightly regarded out of high school, Prewitt is a three-plus year starter. Many were high on Prewitt entering his final season, and after a junior year that ended with Prewitt voted a first-team All-American, many considered him a first round prospect.

At 6'2/217, Prewitt is a huge FS prospect, powerful hitter, and has above-average instincts, but I kept moving him up and down my rankings because of concerns I have over his speed. Those concerns would be lessened if he were more of an in-the-box defender, but he has more experience as a deep center-fielder.

Kurtis Drummond, Safety, Michigan State: (week 9 risers)

MSU game-up 550 yards passing in MSU's 42-41 win over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl. The 550 yards were the fourth-most ever in a bowl game. (so much for "no fly-zone").

Certainly, not all the blame can be put on Drummond, but he did little to slow down the Baylor offensive-machine.

I wrote about Drummond in my week nine risers after MSU's annual game against Michigan. Drummond had six tackles, two pass break-ups and one tackle-for-loss, and made three or four hits on Devin Funchess, each time causing Michigan's start WR to drop the ball, including once in the endzone.

However, when re-watching the 2014 Rose Bowl, last summer, I came to the conclusion that Drummond was a very similar prospect to Stanford's Ed Reynolds (who was drafted in the fifth-round) and ranked as a fifth rounder last May.

Previously, I stated " Drummond is an average-sized safety, with average speed, that has been protected by elite corners, and a stout front-seven", but I was more impressed with him against Michigan.

A first-team All-Big 10 after his junior season, when MSU had arguably the nation's best defensive backfield, Drummond is a highly respected, co-captain who entered the season with 161 tackles, eight interceptions, and 10 pass breakups for his career.

Mel Kiper's preseason #2 senior safety prospect, was given a third-round grade by Tony Pauline over the summer, and I agree with that third-round rating.

Durell Eskridge and Gerod Holliman: (week six risers and sliders)

Finding starting strong safety is easier than finding someone a team can trust as a deep center-fielder. Fortunately for NFL teams, there are two strong candidates this year in Louisville's Gerod Holliman, and Syracuse's Durell Eskridge.

Many are aware of Holliman as he has already tied the single-season interception record, with one more game remaining, against Georgia. Unfortunately, he is not a physical player, and is a liability in run-support.

Eskridge is less known, but the underclassman has already declared for the draft. While his ball-skills are not inline with Holliman, Eskridge brings rare length for the position. At 6'3/207 with long-arms, he has the potential to lessen the mismatches offenses are trying to create.

Erick Dargan, Safety, Oregon: (bowl week risers)

Dargen had a big impact against Florida State, and came into the game leading Oregon in both tackles and interceptions, then he caused a forced-fumble and had an interception in the third-quarter against FSU.

Listed at 5’11/210, he is not an elite prospect, but has come-up big in the big games this season, with interceptions against Michigan State, Washington, Stanford, and against Arizona in the PAC-12 Championship prior to his big night against FSU.

Others:

This draft class has several DBs that have started at both corner and Safety. Jalen Mills (LSU), John Shaw (USC), Tim Scott (UNC), Byron Jones (Connecticut), Adrian Amos (Penn State), Deshazor Everett (Texas A&M), and Eric Rowe (Utah) are just a few. While many of these prospects could be seen as merely a team's fifth or sixth DB, it is important to realize how frequently defenses are playing five or more DBs, making a team's nickel-back a de facto starter.

Adrian Amos, S/CB, Penn State:

Prior to this season, Amos had already started 25 games at Penn State, 19 at CB and six at safety. Amos started every game at cornerback in 2012 but shifted to strong safety in the spring and stayed at that position through the first six games of 2013. He then moved back to CB for the final six games, and then back to safety after the hiring ofJames Franklin.

That versatility could see Amos drafted higher than most think, as some teams are looking for larger corners, and Amos packs about 209 pounds on his 6'1 frame.

While he has selflessly changed positions based on team needs, and has been a rugged competitor in the Big-Ten, Amos is not an elite athlete, nor is he exceptionally fast, thus I feel he projects best as a "coverage safety" for a team that uses the "Big Nickel" package.

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