The college football season has officially begun, which means the hype for the 2020 NFL Draft also does. This segment will highlight the top 25 prospects in all of college football, and work as a sort of power rankings. It’ll be updated weekly based mostly on player performance and injury.
This isn’t supposed to be a mock draft, but more of a ranking based only off of talent and skill.
25) Jordan Love, quarterback, Utah State:
Love comes into the 2019 season looking like one of the more physically promising prospects there is. His arm strength and mobility are great, but he needs another year of great tape to solidify a high draft slot.
24) Jalen Reagor, wide receiver, TCU:
Reagor proves that speed does kill on the football field. He can play any receiver position, as well as return kicks and take the occasional handoff
23) Kenny Willikes, defensive end, Michigan State:
A lot of people will look at this ranking and scoff, but Willikes put up unparalleled production last year. He notched 20.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. At 6’4″ and only 260, he projects as more of an outside linebacker at the next level. He’s coming off of a Big-Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award, so look for him to receive that honor again.
22) D’Andre Swift, running back, Georgia:
D’Andre Swift is quickly proving that running backs are a key part of the offense. The Georgia attack ran through him in 2018, and will again in 2019. He runs with a great combination of speed and rugged power. Expect monster stats from him again this season.
21) Raekwon Davis, defensive tackle, Alabama:
Davis is another prototypical Alabama monster. He’s an elite run defender, and dominates blockers in one-on-one situations. If he can develop a couple more pass-rush moves, he’ll shoot up these rankings.
20) CJ Henderson, cornerback, Florida:
Anyone who watched Florida’s season opener can tell how good this guy is. He locked down any receiver he faced, and only committed one penalty. He’s a man coverage specialist with good size at 6’0″, so the expectations are high for Henderson
19) Isaiah Simmons, linebacker, Clemson:
Simmons is a unique prospect. He’s a converted safety, but is big enough to stack up the run while still maintaining his coverage abilities. The Tigers linebacker starts off the season with an interesting matchup in Georgia Tech, which should be fun to watch.
18) Jake Fromm, quarterback, Georgia:
Fromm will get dinged for his mediocre arm strength and size, but his real talent is in his head. He’s a smart, efficient decision-maker who makes the right read, and doesn’t miss often. If he can step his play up against teams like Notre Dame, Florida, and Texas A&M, expect him to fly into the top ten.
17) Travis Etienne, running back, Clemson:
Etienne is an explosive, deadly runner in all parts of the ground game. He was an underrated part of Clemson’s title run, and deserves more recognition. The one hole in his game is his pass-catching, so hopefully that improves.
16) Bryce Hall, cornerback, Virginia:
Hall is another lengthy man cover corner. He often dominates his competition because of the low level of play. If Hall can step it up in big games against Notre Dame and Miami, his stock will skyrocket.
15) Tee Higgins, wide receiver, Clemson:
Higgins is a do-it-all player. He separates from corners using his size, and uses his excellent catch radius to reel in almost every throw. But he most show that his speed is up to par this season, or his stock will tumble
14) Paulson Adebo, cornerback, Stanford:
Adebo is almost criminally underrated. He was an absolute eraser last year in man coverage, and will look to be the same in 2019. Come April, teams will be looking at him in the top ten, barring an injury.
13) Jonathan Taylor, running back, Wisconsin:
Taylor is the definition of a workhorse. Without him, the Wisconsin offense is nothing, and everyone knows it. Taylor frequently tops the 100 yard marker while playing against defenses that stack the box, which only speaks to his ability. Taylor even passed the 2,000 yard threshold last year, far more than any other running back
12) CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver, Oklahoma:
Lamb is essentially a faster version of Tee Higgins. They have very similar games, but Lamb’s speed allows him to separate from defenders more easily, and it’s what separates the two in these rankings.
11) Kristian Fulton, cornerback, LSU:
Fulton is the last in a long list of dominant corners from LSU. Had he entered the draft last year, he probably would’ve been a first rounder, as many people saw him as better than now-Cleveland Browns cornerback Greedy Williams. Fulton will play a key role on an LSU team hoping for a title.
10) Derrick Brown, defensive tackle, Auburn:
Brown is another guy who would’ve been a first round pick last year. He’s a great interior pass-rusher, which is becoming more and more valuable in the NFL. Look for him to pack on more muscle to his frame and continue to throw his opponents around.
9) Walker Little, tackle, Stanford:
Little is a behemoth, both literally and metaphorically. The Stanford Cardinal stands at 6’7″ and weighs 315 pounds. More importantly, he’s also a dominant left tackle. He started at left tackle for the Cardinals as a freshman, and has grown as a player every year. Expect him to destroy PAC-12 edge rushers throughout the season, potentially earning a top-five draft slot.
8) Laviska Shenault, wide receiver, Colorado:
If CeeDee Lamb is a better version of Tee Higgins, Shenault is a better version of both of them combined. He combines Higgins’ catch radius with the speed of Lamb, adds in elite route running, and creates an elite receiver
7) AJ Epenesa, defensive end, Iowa:
Epenesa is almost a surefire top-ten pick next year. He’s an elite pass rusher, but also a guy who can easily stop the run by tossing lineman away like rag dolls. The Hawkeye played sparingly last year, but still notched ten sacks from a rotational role. He isn’t scheme dependent, but fits best as a pure edge-rusher in a 4-3 scheme.
6) Justin Herbert, quarterback, Oregon:
Herbert would’ve been a top five selection in the 2018 draft, but he elected to return to Eugene, Oregon. He has the body of a prototypical signal-caller, and the arm strength to match it. Herbert does need to improve his accuracy, as it looked sporadic at times last year.
5) Grant Delpit, safety, LSU:
Delpit looks like a reincarnation of Jamal Adams, with a touch of speed added. He’s as versatile as they come, with the ability to play in the slot, down in the box, or patrol the deep center of the field. He’ll be taken later than he should be, like Derwin James, and will have a Pro Bowl level campaign, just like James.
4) Andrew Thomas, tackle, Georgia:
Thomas is this year’s version of Quenton Nelson. What I mean by that is a player who instantly improves the offensive line of whatever team takes him dramatically. There are no holes in Thomas’s game as he’s great in the run and pass game. Thomas led the way for two Georgia running backs to have over 1,000 yards in 2018.
3) Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback, Alabama:
Tua highlights a great quarterback class. The Alabama star is the most accurate passer in the draft, and has great mobility to go along with it. With the stereotype of short quarterbacks all but gone, Tagovailoa will go in the top five next year.
2) Chase Young, defensive end, Ohio State:
Young already looks the part of an NFL game wrecker. He has multiple pass rush moves that are all effective, and will be able to contribute on week one of the 2020 NFL season. Young is a little underweight, so if he can pack on some muscle his stock will only rise.
1) Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver, Alabama:
This is one of the most loaded receiving classes in recent memory, and Jeudy is the clear headliner. Watching him run routes is a thing of beauty, as he routinely destroys anyone he goes against. Most of the time he looks completely uncoverable, and even when a defender is near there’s a good chance that Jeudy reaches up and makes the grab. I expect Jeudy to stay on top of these rankings, and make a strong bid for the Heisman Trophy this year.
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