NFL 2018 Draft- Quick Look at Top Ten Prospects in College
SAM DARNOLD | QB | USC
No QB in college football will have more attention and hype surrounding him than USC’s Sam Darnold. The sophomore sensation took over as a freshman and led the Trojans on a 9 game in streak including his Heisman worthy performance against Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Now as the full time starter at QB, Darnold looks to lead USC back into the national championship picture and if he can show the same flashes this season as he did back in 2016, Darnold may end up being the #1 overall pick come April.
JOSH ALLEN | QB | WYOMING
In the 2016 NFL Draft, North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz was drafted #2 overall and the next small school QB to be drafted this high be indeed be Wyoming’s Josh Allen. Like Wentz, Allen is a big arm QB who came on late last season and even caused some to wonder whether he would enter the 2017 NFL Draft. Instead, Allen went back to school and is now of the more interesting QB’s in college due to the high levels of intrigue and mystery and when it’s all said and done may challenge USC’s Sam Darnold for the top QB in the 2018 NFL Draft.
JOSH ROSEN | QB | UCLA
At one point in time Colts QB Andrew Luck was the “chosen one” at Stanford and was highly regarded as one of the best QBs to enter the draft in a long time. Since Luck entered the draft back in 2012, the next QB expected to take up the “chosen one” status was UCLA’s Josh Rosen. Unlike Sam Darnold and Josh Allen, Rosen is most traditional out of the three QBs and is widely regarded as the most NFL ready due to UCLA’s offense Rosen’s ability to play under center. But after an injury stricken 2016 season, Rosen only played 6 games for the Bruins and is entering a crucial tie in his college career where he has to reclaim some of his 2015 hype. If Rosen can get back on track and remain healthy this season, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be a top 10 pick and one of the first QBs off the board.
SAQUON BARKLEY | RB | PENN STATE
There seems to be a RB resurgence underway in college football thanks to some great talents including Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott, Melvin Gordon, Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette. Right now in college, Penn State seems to have that next great RB named Saquon Barkley. The 5-11 220 lbs. RB has the perfect combination of seize, speed and versatility that teams look for in a RB and he is one of the most electrifying athletes in all of college. Barkley, along with QB Trace McSorley, brought Penn State back into contention after an extraordinary season tallying close to 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards and over 20 combined touchdowns. Both Fournette and Elliott were top 5 picks in their drafts and Barkley may be the next RB to accomplish that feat in 2018.
CONNOR WILLIAMS | OT | TEXAS
Entering the 2017 college football season there will be several OTs who will garner first round accolades and one of those OTs will be Connor Williams from Texas. Williams is an athletic tackle who is deceptively quick for his position and can block various types of pass rushers. While he needs to get stronger, Williams has the potential to finish the season as one of college football’s best offensive linemen and one of the best linemen in the draft.
MIKE MCGLINCHEY | OT | NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame’s Mike McMGlinchey could have entered the 2017 NFL Draft and would have been a first round pick but decided to go back to college for another season. McGlinchey isn’t the flashiest or quickest lineman but he is consistent in both pass and run blocking and can be a leader on offense as he is at Notre Dame. If he can show the same consistency this season, I don’t see why he couldn’t end up being one of the first offensive linemen drafted.
CHRISTIAN WILKINS | DL | CLEMSON
Clemson has one of the best defensive lines in college football and it’s led by star defensive lineman Christian Wilkins. The junior lineman is a powerful pass rusher who has the frame of a DT (6-4 300 lbs.) but is athletic enough to play outside as a DE on passing downs and has even dropped back in coverage on occasion. Wilkins is perfect for the modern day NFL defense which seems to be switching more towards versatility between 4-3 and 3-4 schemes and if Wilkins continues to play with the same confidence as last year, he should be the first defensive lineman drafted.
ARDEN KEY | DE/OLB | LSU
While Christian Wilkins is considered one of the top defensive linemen, LSU has the best pass rusher in college in DE/OLB Arden Key. Key is a tall, lean edge pusher who plays predominately 4-3 DE but has the mobility and athleticism to play 3-4 OLB. Not only does Key with the power to run through offensive linemen but he also uses his length and mobility to get around linemen and so far both techniques have helped him get to the QB ( 11 sacks & 12.5 tackles for loss in 2016). Although Key isn’t as polished as other top pass rushers like Myles Garrett and Joey Bosa, the hype is real and his potential will shoot his draft value into the top 5.
MINKAH FITZPATRICK | CB | ALABAMA
It’s a fact at this point that Alabama produces some of the best defenders in college and this year is no different including one of the best CBs in college, Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick showed great potential last year and is viewed as one of the best coverage CBs in college but is also viewed as not just a CB but also a potential S at the next level. Some former CBs from Alabama including Dre Kirkpatrick, Marlon Humphrey and Mark Barron Dee Milliner and yet when it’s all said and done, Fitzpatrick may be the best of the group.
DERWIN JAMES | S | FLORIDA STATE
Last year, LSU star S Jamal Adams was drafted #6 overall and in 2018, the same might happen with Florida State standout Derwin James. Like Adams, James is the best overall S in college mainly due to his rare size (6-3 210 lbs.) and freakish athleticism which allows him to play both S spots and cover anywhere on the field. Whether he is asked to drop back in coverage in a centerfielder type of role or defend the run at the line of scrimmage, James goes 100 mph every play and will certainly garner the same hype as former top picks including previously mentioned Jet S Jamal Adams along with Jaguar CB Jalen Ramsey.