With the conclusion of the 2013 NCAA football season and the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft fast approaching, it is time to take a look at the best of the best heading into the draft process. We will be bringing you the top 50 draft prospects in installments of ten throughout the week. Today we look players 50-41.
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50: Yawin Smallwood* – LB – Connecticut
A junior who flies under the radar, Smallwood possesses a lot of tools that don’t necessarily come together. Smallwood is a great athlete who can tackle better than most collegiate players. However, he doesn’t excel at taking on blockers or in coverage, making his transition to the pros more complicated.
49: Kyle Van Noy – LB – BYU
Smart, instinctive, and productive, Van Noy has built an impressive resume while in Provo. One of the better tacklers in this year’s linebacker crop, Van Noy has had trouble staying on the up-and-up serving several suspensions for violations of team rules. That said, he can play the run and the pass and pressure the QB, a rare combination in today’s game.
48: Jack Mewhort – OT – Ohio State
A converted high school TE, Mewhort exhibits the athleticism of his former position, as well as a more finesse mindset that might detract from his draft standing. Mewhort is a very smart and sound player who needs to add more strength, but can easily develop into a strong-side tackle.
47: Kelcy Quarles* – DT – South Carolina
Quarles was one of the first underclassmen to do declare for the draft, and not entirely without reason. Strong, productive, and a bit undersized, Quarles is a very good pass-rusher for an interior lineman. A solid all-around player, he could get looks as a 3T, a 5T, or even a 43 DE in the mold of Raiders Lamarr Houston.
46: Will Sutton – DT – Arizona State
A stumpy player, Sutton has added roughly 30lbs since last season, and his play has benefitted from it. He is still one of the more explosive DT prospects, but shedding some of that extra weight and returning more to his 2012 form will help him better play to his abilities, rather than trying to poorly shore up his weaknesses.
45: Ryan Shazier* – LB – Ohio State
A rush linebacker in a safety’s body, Shazier is a gifted athletic talent who excels at two of the more coveted linebacker traits in today’s NFL: pass coverage, and pass rushing. Shazier has the versatility to play the weak-side in a 43 scheme in the mold of Von Miller, or can play as an inside linebacker in a 34 scheme like Daryl Washington.
44: Adrian Hubbard* – LB – Alabama
Hubbard has the frame of a lighter DE prospect but has played linebacker as a member of the Crimson Tide defense, making him a valuable commodity for a 34 team that is looking for a safe bet on the outside. He still needs to work on his coverage skills, but he does have the experience dropping from a two point stance. Hubbard is at his best locking down the edge versus the run, and is no slouch getting after the passer either.
43: Kony Ealy* – DE – Missouri
Ealy has a good combination of athleticism and strength that allows him to be a very good all-around player. Unlike Clowney who can play rush linebacker, Ealy has the ability to move inside as a pass rusher, with a skill set similar to that of Justin Tuck of the Giants. While not the collegiate standout that teammate Michael Sam was, Ealy has better tools to contribute at the next level.
42: Max Bullough – LB – Michigan State
A third generation Spartan, Bullough is a very underrated prospect in my view though his upside in the NFL may be a touch limited. Bullough has outstanding instincts in run support and pass coverage, which helps mask his average athleticism. His suspension from the Rose Bowl will likely not be a huge blight on his record, given indications.
41: Odell Beckham Jr.* – WR – LSU
More athletic than his Tiger teammate and counterpart Jarvis Landry, Beckham has good speed but has acceleration and agility. Beckham can be a nightmare to tackle in the open field and flashes the ability to be a primary return man in the NFL.
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