A plethora of games around college football were taken over by singular defensive performances in Week 11. Some of the players that rose to occasion pushed themselves to the top of the list and became Week 11’s Defensive NFL Draft Risers.
Players Single-Handedly Took Over Games En Route To Being Week 11’s Defensive NFL Draft Risers
EDGE Jordan Burch, Oregon
Burch was bringing chaos to Oregon’s win over Maryland, racking up a sack, a forced fumble and two pass breakups. His massive senior season continued, and he was simply outmatching the Terrapins on almost every rep. His 6’6” 295-pound frame combined with an impressive drive gave offensive linemen all sorts of fits. He continued to pressure QB Billy Edwards Jr. His violent pass-rushing led to four pressures on the day.
The long-talked-about potential that most scouts believed he has is finally being tapped into, and at the perfect time. As the Ducks maintain dominance over the college football landscape, Burch’s play and draft stock continue to rise to new heights and he has become an integral part of one of the country’s best defenses.
Potential Team Fit: Jacksonville Jaguars
LB Kain Medrano, UCLA
Not many around NFL Draft media are familiar with Kain Medrano, but he might be forcing that to change. The fifth-year senior took over the Bruins’ game versus Iowa with nine tackles, 0.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He ripped the ball away from the Hawkeyes QB late in the second quarter and flew around the field all night. He was constantly impacting plays and shutting down star running back Kaleb Johnson.
Despite being undersized, Medrano has shown solid sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability and a fantastic feel for numerous defensive schemes. He was firing on all cylinders this weekend and most definitely caught the eyes of some NFL teams and scouts. He chose to stay at UCLA for one final season and that decision seems to be paying off exactly how he planned.
Potential Team Fit: Dallas Cowboys
CB Mello Dotson, Kansas
By every definition, the Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week was perfect against Iowa State this week. Dotson didn’t allow a single catch in 45 coverage snaps and took one pass back for a touchdown. He was graded as the best cornerback in the country by PFF at 84.9. Dotson had his side of the field locked down for the whole game.
Dotson had his second straight pick-six against the Cyclones to string together yet another elite performance. The Jayhawk star might not enter the draft this cycle due to extra eligibility. However, he could raise his stock to a level that sways him to declare. He has a prototypical frame with above-average skills in most areas and could be a team’s draft crush come April.
Potential Team Fit: Kansas City Chiefs
DB Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
The highest-graded safety in the country, Lathan Ransom, had one of the best games of his illustrious Buckeyes career against Purdue. He picked a ball off at the goal line and patrolled the defensive secondary with notable physicality. He was again a true difference-maker for OSU and has been one of the best safeties in CFB for a good portion of the season.
Ransom has floated all around draft boards since before the 2023 season, and his value is now firmly on the rise. His hard-hitting play style and aggressive mentality popped, and he showed out in all the right ways against the Boilermakers. Most have him slotted around the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, but he could see more attention coming his way. As the season reaches the late stages and the games become more crucial, many more eyes will be present.
Potential Team Fit: Cincinnati Bengals
Main Photo Courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea – Imagn Images
