The 2015 NFL draft kicks off this coming Thursday evening. Here are some fascinating facts surrounding some of the top draft prospects in the days leading to one of the NFL’s major event.
Marcus Mariots’s Amazing Touchdown to Interception Ratio
Top quarterback prospect Marcus Mariota tallied 105 touchdowns and only threw 14 interceptions during his three-year college career. That amounts to a 7.5 touchdown to interception ratio, which is the highest in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) since 1996.
The quarterback with the highest touchdown to interception ratio currently in the NFL is Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, a former first-round draft pick from 2005, who boasts a 3.96 ratio.
Who will land Mariota remains a burning question. The Tennessee Titans could select him with the second overall pick. However, there is much speculation that the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets or Philadelphia Eagles may look to trade up for a shot at the Oregon product.
Florida State Quarterbacks Dominate First Round
It is a no-brainer that quarterback Jameis Winston will be selected in the first round. Most likely, first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If Winston goes off the board in the first round, he will become the third quarterback to be selected from Florida State in Round 1 over the past five years. Florida State produced Christian Ponder in 2011 and EJ Manuel in 2013. Both went in the top half of the first round.
Let’s hope that Winston’s path does not follow that of Manuel and Ponder, both of whom have failed to impress as first-rounders.
Melvin Gordon’s Ridiculous Production
Running back Melvin Gordon from Wisconsin averaged an an astonishing 7.8 yards per carry during his college career. Gordon’s average is the highest on a minimum of 400 touches since 1996. Since then, only two running backs Tevin Coleman (7.1 yards per touch) and Reggie Bush (7.3 yards per touch) have averaged over 7.0 yards per carry.
If Gordon lasts all the way to the 27th overall pick, it would not be too surprising to see the Dallas Cowboys select him.
Alabama Will Add to Cream of Draft Crops
Alabama products Amari Cooper and Landon Collins should disappear off the NFL draft board in the first round. In the past five years years, Alabama has had 15 players picked in Round 1. Next behind Alabama is Florida with seven first-round picks.
The Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers both seem to be a popular destination for Cooper. Oakland could select him fourth overall, while there has been talk of San Francisco moving up from the 15th spot. Possible landing spots for Collins are the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He, too, will go off the board on Day 1.
Is Jameis Winston a Risk?
Winston, who is likely going to be the top pick in the draft, threw 18 interceptions last season for Florida State. That’s a dramatic increase from the 10 he threw in 2013.
The only current starting quarterback in the NFL who threw more interceptions in his final season than Winston did last year for the Seminoles is Matt Ryan, who was picked 19 times with Boston College in 2007. Still trusted today, Ryan has never thrown more than 17 interceptions in a single NFL season.
All statistics produced from Sports Reference and Pro Football Reference.
Photo: USA Today Sports