David Kenyon
Although there are rarely “sure things” making the leap from college football to the pros, a handful of players stand out as can’t-miss talents heading into the 2016 NFL draft.
Between measurables, tape and performance at the NFL combine, the following athletes — while not necessarily the best overall prospects — have demanded extra attention from franchises.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
We know Ezekiel Elliott is an outstanding running back. After all, he’s the consensus No. 1 player at the position.
During the last two seasons, Elliott racked up 3,699 yards and 41 touchdowns. One of Ohio State’s many likely first-round picks, he added 55 catches for 426 yards yet still can improve as a receiver.
But what makes the 6-foot-0, 225-pounder special is his willingness to block. Elliott served as the lead blocker when the Buckeyes used designed quarterback runs, and he would throw himself in front of blitzers without issue.
In today’s pass-happy NFL, versatility is key for running backs. Elliott can do it all — and well.
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Josh Doctson isn’t a straight-line burner. He’s basically everything else, though, and that makes the TCU product immensely difficult to stop.
Highlighted by an 18-catch, 267-yard, three-touchdown performance on the road at Texas Tech, Doctson grabbed 78 passes for 1,326 yards and 14 scores last year. He accomplished those gaudy totals, despite missing three games.
Doctson has decent size (6-foot-2, 202 pounds), but one of his primary strengths is high-pointing the football — partly thanks to incredible explosion. At the combine, he recorded a receiver-best 41-inch vertical and 131-inch broad jump, which ranked second at the position.
Plus, a 4.50-second 40-yard dash is far from terrible. Considering that’s a complementary asset, Doctson has special tools.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
The New England Patriots run an offensive system predicated on receivers who get open quickly, but it takes a special type of wideout to consistently create separation within two seconds.
Sterling Shepard is that kind of player.
Let’s be clear: He’s not going to bench-press a cornerback. But a position-best 20 reps is indicative of outstanding upper-body strength. Combine that with a 41-inch vertical — yes, tied with Doctson — and Shepard is built well.
Shepard also crushed the on-field drills, backing up an impressive senior season at Oklahoma where he had 86 receptions, 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s going to be star in the NFL.
Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
Laremy Tunsil is a tremendous prospect. Ronnie Stanley is also near the top. In the second tier of offensive linemen, though, you shouldn’t have to go far before locating Jason Spriggs.
Spriggs isn’t a popular name mostly because he attended Indiana. However, he was a four-year starter and played multiple positions.
At the combine, Spriggs made himself a couple million dollars. The 6-foot-6, 301-pounder ran the fastest 40-yard dash and notched the longest broad jump. Spriggs was also a top-five finisher in the bench press and 20-yard shuttle.
Other prospects deserve to be ranked higher, but don’t miss Spriggs.
Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
The outlier of this list is Myles Jack, who didn’t participate in the NFL combine to have a couple extra weeks of recovery time before taking the field. Jack is recovering from a torn meniscus.
But unlike fellow top linebacker Jaylon Smith, Jack should be medically cleared in time for his school’s pro day. Still, one scout —and assuredly many others — aren’t concerned about the 6-foot-1, 245-pound linebacker.
“He’s a slam dunk,” that scout told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “He can play modern-day football. He ain’t never leaving the field.”
Jack is worthy of a top-three selection, and assuming no setbacks in recovery, there’s simply no good reason he falls past the Miami Dolphins at No. 8.
Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
Elliott and Joey Bosa are the most-known Ohio State prospects, but Darron Lee is a sure-fire first-round talent. The combine set him apart and validated everything he showed on tape.
Lee put down a scorching 4.47-second 40-yard dash, which was only slower than six wide receivers. He also registered the longest broad jump and top-10 marks in the 20-yard shuttle, 3-cone drill and vertical jump.
Reggie Ragland had claimed a spot as the second-best linebacker in some rankings before the combine, but Lee has likely — or at least should have — overtaken the Alabama star after the spectacular performance in Indianapolis.
An NFL club is going to happily snatch Lee in the middle of the first round.
William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Small-school products typically don’t receive the attention they may deserve. Houston cornerback William Jackson III is a perfect example of that.
He has good size at 6-foot-0 and 189 pounds. Jackson ran the 40-yard dash in a scorching 4.37 seconds. He broke up a Football Bowl Subdivision-best 23 passes and snatched five interceptions last season.
From a physical perspective, Jackson lacks little. His stature and ball skills are undoubtedly appealing, especially for NFL franchises that prefer a bigger body on the outside.
Considering Jackson has a second-round grade, one team will get a bargain.
Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State
Who is the No. 1 overall prospect in this draft? Is it Tunsil, Jack or Bosa? Perhaps it’s someone else — meaning Jalen Ramsey.
Transitioning from safety to cornerback is typically not easily done. Ramsey made the switch look simple last season at Florida State. He tallied 52 tackles and defended nine passes. But the 6-foot-1, 209-pound talent isn’t locked in at corner. An NFL team certainly wouldn’t suffer if it used him as a safety.
Of 59 defensive backs at the combine, Ramsey earned top-10 finishes in the 40-yard dash and 60-yard shuttle as well as No. 1 showings in the vertical and broad jumps.
Ramsey shouldn’t drop further than the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 5.
