As college football season nears kickoff, we’ll be breaking down the best prospects by position in each FBS conference. Few conferences come close to producing the type of NFL talent that the SEC does, but this year there are a few positions that are thin thanks to attrition. As always the SEC boasts multiple first-round talents, many of them being underclassmen. Today’s focus is on the offensive side of the ball.
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SEC Prospect Preview
DE: Dante Fowler Jr,* Florida
Fowler is powerful and explosive, capable of shedding blocks or simply slipping through gaps to get into the backfield. The problem is that once he is there, he can have some trouble converting that success into an impactful play, due to average instincts and tackling. Fowler has flashed excellent ability and shown that he can be a force of nature against SEC competition; now he just needs to show it more often.
DE: Shane Ray,* Missouri
Mizzou’s reservoir of pass rushers seems nearly endless, as both Shane Ray and Markus Golden take over for last year’s draft picks Kony Ealy and Michael Sam. Ray has very good speed off the snap and mixes natural athleticism with technique to get after the QB. More snaps thanks to the departure of Ealy and Sam could help improve his instincts against the run.
DT: Gabe Wright, Auburn
Effort and extremely active hands are Wright’s calling cards as a draft prospect. He is powerful, and while he is not a nose tackle or a one-tech by any means, he has shown he can collapse the pocket and defeat blocks with straight ahead power or with his hands. Wright looks as if he could be a day two prospect who could carve out a living as a three technique in the NFL.
LB: Alvin Dupree, Kentucky
If there was one word to describe Dupree, it would be quick. He is extremely quick off the snap and is even quick to laterally disengage from blocks against the run. However, Dupree is too easily stymied by blocks as a pass rusher, and just needs to add more strength and power before he will become a good NFL pass rusher. His diagnostic ability is a little off at this point as well, and some improvement in the aforementioned areas would greatly boast his draft stock this season.
LB: Benardrick McKinney,* Mississippi State
Clearly the best player on the defensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs, McKinney is built like a defensive end with a long, powerful frame, but can play linebacker as well. While he is not a good mover or tackler in space, McKinney is an effective downhill thumper in the box. His best fit in the NFL might be a 34 defensive team that uses versatile players like the Patriots.
LB: Ramik Wilson, Alabama
A strong tackler, whose range leaves something to be desired, Wilson is an adequate NFL prospect. While his lateral movement is below average, Wilson moves quickly in a straight line and can hit with a thump. Unlike a lot of defenders, Wilson is actually a very reliable tackler especially when he’s inside the box.
LB: Leonard Floyd,** Georgia
I rarely mention a redshirt sophomore on a conference preview, but Floyd just doesn’t play like a redshirt sophomore. Floyd can bend the edge with speed and flexibility, and fight through blocks with surprising power for a stand up rusher. His spin move is very effective and he does a good job of getting his hands up in passing lanes, attributes you would expect more from an elder statesman than a prospect with just one season under his belt.
CB: Damian Swann, Georgia
Swann is a very thin corner who is willing versus the run, though is easily neutralized but not for a want of effort. Swann is primarily a zone corner who can get burned in deep coverage, but he is capable of making big plays. He will need to cut down on any errors he makes, as he could be picked on in the NFL due to his lack of long speed.
CB: Jalen Collins,* LSU
Collins has the frame and strength to become a good press-man corner at the next level. While he is not the greatest athlete, he is physically gifted enough to carry receivers into deep coverage and make plays on the football. He will slide over to free safety for the Tigers this season, but should continue to boost his case for a draft selection as soon as this May.
FS: Cody Prewitt, Mississippi
Prewitt is a very strong and reliable tackler, but outside of that he has some holes in his game. His instincts against the run are not the sharpest and he can be liable for some big plays in coverage. Prewitt can hit with pop, but does not jar the ball loose, or play the ball in coverage. While Prewitt is a decent safety net in the back four, he some limitations at this time.
SS: Landon Collins,* Alabama
Collins is an extremely aggressive defender, exploding downhill and making explosive plays in the backfield but giving up some big plays as well. The aggressive nature and explosive athleticism of Collins could make him the best safety to come out of Alabama in the last five years, as long as his instincts continue to improve. Given that he has not even seen a full year of starting action, that improvement should be imminent.
Missed the Cut:
DE: Trey Flowers, Arkansas
DE: Shane Ray, Missouri
DT: Leon Orr, Florida
LB: Trey DePriest, Alabama
LB: A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
CB: Deshazor Everett, Texas A&M
S: Justin Cox, Mississippi State
On the Horizon:
DE: Danielle Hunter,* LSU
DE: Robert Nkemdiche,** Mississippi
DT: Darren Lake,* Alabama
LB: Jordan Jenkins,* Georgia
LB: Kris Frost,* Auburn
CB: Vernon Hargreaves III,** Florida
S: LaDarrell McNeil,* Tennessee
Inside next week’s War Room: 2015 NFL Draft Fall Rankings
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