The 2015 college football season is now firmly in the rearview mirror and with the Super Bowl right around the corner as the final stop of the NFL season the focus will continue to shift to the 2016 NFL Draft. The Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine are the next stops on the path to the draft as the prospects from around the country look for another opportunity to impress scouts and improve their draft stock. Here is a look at the five prospects whose NFL Draft stock should rise in the coming weeks.
Carson Wentz, North Dakota State Bison
Quarterback
A broken wrist forced Wentz to miss a good portion of the regular season and the playoffs but he returned for the FCS title game and led North Dakota State to an unprecedented fifth straight national title while putting on a show with both his arm and legs. The fact that he went to a small school has been talked about a lot but at 6’6’’ and 235 pounds, Wentz has the prototypical frame for a pro quarterback along with the arm strength and accuracy to make all of the throws. Factor in his mobility and ability to make plays on the run and there is no doubt that Wentz is already being talked about as a potential first round pick. The Senior Bowl will be the next important test and if he delivers his stock will soar heading towards the NFL Draft.
O.J. Howard, Alabama Crimson Tide
Tight End
Howard’s athletic and pass-catching abilities were talked about a lot at points during his time with Alabama but he never really got the opportunity to showcase how dominant he can be until the National Championship game when he had five catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns. That breakthrough performance has put him on the map and scouts have talked a lot about how he has the opportunity to be the complete package at the next level at tight end. At 6’6’’ and 242 pounds, Howard has the size, athleticism and soft hands that NFL teams will covet at the next level and his draft stock should continue to soar in the coming weeks.
Kevin Dodd, Clemson Tigers
Defensive End
Clemson’s star defensive end was another player that used the National Championship game as another opportunity to make a statement as he registered three sacks and looked like he couldn’t be blocked for the majority of the game against a very good Alabama offensive line. His combination of size at 6’5’’ and 280 pounds, strength as an extremely powerful end and rare quickness for the position gives him everything he needs to excel at the next level and a strong NFL Scouting Combine performance could lead to his NFL Draft stock absolutely soaring.
Artie Burns, Miami Hurricanes
Cornerback
Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey and Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander are expected to be the top three cornerbacks on the board but don’t be shocked if Burns climb in to that mix as well if he can put together a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. At 6’0’’ and 193 pounds, Burns has the size that NFL teams will be looking for and when you combine that with his track speed and elite ball skills it looks like he has all of the tools to become a Pro Bowl cornerback at the next level. Burns has improved his stock throughout the past year but look for him to take it to that next level with a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.
De’Runnya Wilson, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Wide Receiver
Wilson hasn’t been talked about a lot as an elite wide receiver prospect but he has all of the intangibles to be exactly that including size, speed and pass-catching ability. Wilson is an absolute beast at 6’4’’ and 215 pounds and his enormous catch radius is pretty impressive. Wilson was a second-team All-SEC pick in 2015 but his potential is still somewhat underrated and the fact that he was arrested on multiple drug charges in March of 2015 didn’t help. However, those transgressions won’t keep NFL teams from drafting him in the first two rounds if he can stay clean and put together a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine so look for Wilson’s NFL Draft stock to continue to rise in the coming weeks.
