NFL Prospects for the SEC Class o' '14

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  25 minutes ago

Seven from SEC make Mel Kiper Jr.'s Mock Draft 1.0 http://es.pn/14Fbm2o

On the final day for players to declare for the NFL draft, ESPN's NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. debuted his first mock draft of the new year.

4. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama -- Oakland Raiders
6. Shane Ray, DE, Missouri -- New York Jets
7. Landon Collins, S, Alabama -- Chicago Bears
8. Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida -- Atlanta Falcons

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  5 hours ago

Take Two: Who will help draft status the most? http://es.pn/1CwPwcV

I'll go with a player who I covered over the past year at LSU, Danielle Hunter.

This is the kind of guy who makes draft analysts' jobs interesting, because it's not what he has done thus far that would justify drafting Hunter. If he becomes an early-round pick, it will be because of expectations of future performance.

Hunter would probably be the first to say he has yet to play his best football after posting good-but-not-unbelievable stats in his junior season (73 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks). ESPN's Todd McShay said this month that Hunter should return for his senior season, as that time would have allowed him to become more consistent and develop into an elite pass-rusher.

To date, he has not done that, as his total of 4.5 sacks over the past two seasons would prove.

Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson

He put everything together in 2014, leading the SEC and ranking second nationally with 10 interceptions. He also tied for first in the SEC with 18 passes defended.

Golson, 5-9 and 176 pounds, is another one of those athletes capable of impressing a lot of pro teams with his intangibles on the field. What I think will really perk teams' interest when they watch film from the 2014 season is how much mental development he made on the field. A tremendously gifted athlete, Golson perfected the mind game in 2014 and was able to finally dissect and predict plays before they happened on the field.

[jbcarol]

James Crepea @JamesCrepea  ·  5 hours ago

Nick Marshall says he will change positions to cornerback for the NFL

[jbcarol]

Brandon Marcello @bmarcello  ·  4 hours ago

Mel Kiper adds that he believes Nick Marshall could be a third- or fourth-round selection if he tests well at NFL Combine, etc.

Mel Kiper has Sammie Coates with a late first-round projection. He says DT Gabe Wright has "flashed" second-round potential at times.

Biggest thing today from Mel Kiper on Auburn? He believes Duke Williams (@YFBurnna_cmh) could be nation's No. 1 receiver next year.

[jbcarol]

Alex Byington @AUBlog  ·  4 hours ago

Kiper also said age is only a number (my words not his) for experienced Auburn RB Cameron Artis Payne, who is 24.

[jbcarol]

GoGamecocks.com @gogamecocks  ·  3 hours ago
Kiper projects early rounds for Cann, later for Davis http://scne.ws/8BFlLq

Former South Carolina running back Mike Davis, who left the Gamecocks with one year of eligibility remaining, may have to wait until the final round of this spring's NFL Draft to hear his name called, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said Wednesday.

"This (running backs) group is a really deep and strong group," Kiper said. "You have a ton of juniors that are really good that are going to push backs down a little bit."

The prospects of former Gamecock offensive lineman A.J. Cann are much brighter. Cann is the top guard available in the draft and could sneak into the late picks of the first round, Kiper said.

[jbcarol]

Brandon Marcello @bmarcello  ·  21 hours ago

Gus Malzahn believes Nick Marshall could still be a 'very successful' NFL QB http://ow.ly/HNhQl 

[jbcarol]

Patrick Shuck @pshuck  ·  6 hours ago
If you want to see the future of the #NFL catch the @seniorbowl today at 4pm on the @nflnetwork.
CC: @SeniorBowlPhil @P_Woo @TaylorZRadio

[jbcarol]

SEC Network @SECNetwork  ·  4 hours ago
Football never sleeps in the #SEC.

[jbcarol]

Hugh Kellenberger @HKellenbergerCL  ·  2 hours ago

Last look at Cody Prewitt and Senquez Golson's Senior Bowl week. Stock: raised. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/olemisssports/2015/01/26/ole-miss-cody-prewitt-senior-bowl-nf-draft-stock-play/22343781/ ...

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  2 hours ago

Blake Sims invited to NFL combine, focused on QB but has backup plans. http://ow.ly/I5Vuy

Last year, 19 quarterbacks participated in the combine including Alabama's AJ McCarron. Of that group, 14 were drafted.

For athletic quarterbacks like Sims, it's not uncommon to see a positional switch before the draft to another position...

There are ... backup plans. He played running back early in his Alabama career and said that would be an option down the road.

"Yeah, that could happen," he said. "Maybe play some slot or something. But right now I'm focusing on quarterback."

Reviews were mixed coming out of Senior Bowl week. Sims completed 4 of 11 passes for 50 yards while showing mobility running for 23 yards on three attempts.

[jbcarol]

http://www.nflcombine.net/players/official-invite-list

Official Invite List
The official invitee list will be posted during the first week of February.

[jbcarol]

Seth Emerson @SethEmerson  ·  7 hours ago

Not final yet, but four UGA players have received invites to the NFL combine: Ramik Wilson, Amarlo Herrera, Damian Swann and Chris Conley.

Not sure if Todd Gurley isn't going because of the injury, or he does have an invite but will only attend in order to interview with teams.

[jbcarol]

Jim Kleinpeter @JimKleinpeter  ·  21 hours ago

Ex #LSU Tiger Jalen Collins ranked No. 3 CB in NFL Draft: Mel Kiper Jr.@tigerdroppings, @dandydonlsu http://s.nola.com/6rVYHTM  via @nolanews

Cornerback Jalen Collins and defensive end Danielle Hunter, both former LSU Tigers, have cracked the top 10 for their respective positions in the NFL Draft, according to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Both players, who passed on their senior season at LSU, were not in Kiper's previous top 10 rankings, which came out before the players declared their intention to enter the NFL draft. Collins was tied for third among cornerbacks  and Hunter was the No. 8 defensive end.

LSU could have as many as seven players picked when the NFL holds its annual draft April 30-May 2 in Chicago.

LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins remained at No. 4 in Kiper's ranking of that position and former Tiger fullback Connor Neighbors slipped from No. 5 to No. 8.

Defensive ends

1. Leonard Williams, USC

3. Shane Ray, Missouri

4. Dante Fowler, Florida

8. Danielle Hunter, LSU

10. Trey Flowers, Arkansas

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  3 minutes ago

Alabama sending 11 former players to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. http://ow.ly/IDty2

QB Blake Sims

FB Jalston Fowler

RB T.J. Yeldon

WR Amari Cooper

WR Christion Jones

WR DeAndrew White

OL Arie Kouandjio

OL Austin Shepherd

LB Xzavier Dickson

LB Trey DePriest

S Landon Collins

NFL combine schedule

Feb. 20: Specialists, offensive linemen, tight ends

Feb. 21: Quarterbacks, running backs wide receivers

Feb. 22: Defensive linemen, linebackers

Feb. 23: Defensive backs

[jbcarol]

Razorback Football @RazorbackFB  ·  20 minutes ago

Congrats to @AJ_Derby, @III_Flowers, @dukephilon_07 and @spaight1 on being invited to the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine #WoooPig

[jbcarol]

SEC Chad @SEC_Chad  ·  8 minutes ago

Kentucky's NFL Combine invites: Braylon Heard, Darrian Miller, ZaDarius Smith and Bud Dupree

Vols NFL Combine invites: A.J. Johnson and Justin Coleman...

South Carolina invites to the NFL Combine: RB Mike Davis, OG A.J. Cann, OT Corey Robinson, DT J.T. Surrat

Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt have been invited to the NFL Combine [Ole Miss]

Chris Conley, Damian Swann, Ramik Wilson, Herrera, and Gurley have all been invited to the NFL combine [UGa]

[jbcarol]

Matt Miller @nfldraftscout  ·  22 hours ago
The official 2015 NFL Scouting Combine list is available now. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000468963/article/prospects-invited-to-the-2015-nfl-scouting-combine-qbs ...

Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace did not receive a Combine invite.

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  35 minutes ago
Surprised Nick Marshall was invited to NFL Combine as quarterback? He is, too http://ow.ly/IFtiH

[jbcarol]

Tod Palmer @todpalmer  ·  Feb 6
#Mizzou has four players invited to NFL Combine: RB Marcus Murphy, OT Mitch Morse, DEs Markus Golde & Shane Ray. WR DGB also listed with MU.

[jbcarol]

Phil Murphy @Phil_Sports  ·  1 hour ago

ESPN recruit rankings are criticized at times for being East/Southeast-heavy. Of the 323 #NFLCombine invitees, 39% are from the SEC or ACC.

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  2 hours ago

SEC sending 68 players to NFL combine http://es.pn/1M6Fx4A

Listed by position.

There are several notable SEC names who didn't make the list. Among them: David Andrews (Georgia), Ben Beckwith (Mississippi State), Kaleb Eulls (Mississippi State), Connor Neighbors (LSU), Nick Perry (Alabama), Jermauria Rasco (LSU), Bud Sasser (Missouri) and C.J. Uzomah (Auburn).

[jbcarol]

Michael Bonner @MikeBBonner  ·  1 hour ago

A look at where Mississippi State's draft-eligible players rank among other prospects in this year's NFL Draft http://on.thec-l.com/1DfayiB

Former Bulldogs can be found as high as 15th and as low as 295th. In all, five former players were ranked in the top 295. The NFL's 32 teams made 256 picks last year.

The first Bulldog expected off the board this year is linebacker Benardrick McKinney. The junior ranked as the 15th overall best player in the draft...

No other Bulldog ranked within the top 50. Unless something shocking occurs, McKinney should be MSU's first first-round selection since Fletcher Cox went 12th overall to Philadelphia.

Preston Smith was the second-highest ranked Bulldog at No. 65. He also ranked as the 12th best defensive end in this year's draft...

Josh Robinson was the next Mississippi State player on Miller's list. The running back was ranked 153rd overall...

Justin Cox was placed at No. 264. Ben Beckwith wasn't far behind at 266. Kaleb Eulls rounded out the former MSU players at No. 295. [Eulls stopped a student with a gun on his school bus in high school.]

[jbcarol]

im Thomas @jthom1  ·  32 minutes ago
In his first positional rankings for the 2015 draft, Mike Mayock ranks Shane Ray No. 3 edge rusher and Dorial Green-Beckham No. 4 WR.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470108/article/mike-mayocks-position-rankings-for-2015-nfl-draft

[jbcarol]

SEC Network @SECNetwork  ·  46 minutes ago

Mel Kiper Jr.'s Mock Draft 2.0 has six #SEC players going in the first-round: http://es.pn/1vFQzci 

[jbcarol]

Courtney Cronin @CourtneyRCronin  ·  1 hour ago

Auburn safety Jermaine Whitehead told me Adidas is giving a Porsche to the person who runs fastest 40 at NFL Combine in their shoes.

[jbcarol]

Phil Savage @SeniorBowlPhil  ·  6 hours ago

From @FieldYates @ESPNNFL: 32 players NOT invited to 2014 Combine were drafted, while 111 players invited to Indy were not selected.

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  3 hours ago

SEC candidates who may overcome combine snubs http://es.pn/1AwkB2z

Kaleb Eulls, Mississippi State: A four-year starter along the defensive line, Eulls might be the most surprising member of this group. He has the build (6-3, 305) that pro clubs want from a defensive tackle, was solid against the run and was a good teammate at Mississippi State. He was not much of a pass-rusher in college, which could be part of the reason that he won't be in Indianapolis. Still, he's certainly good enough to be drafted...

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  3 hours ago

3 former SEC players that could have benefited from an invite to this week's 2015 NFL Combine: http://ow.ly/JbSuC 

Bud Sasser (6-2, 210 pounds), Missouri wide receiver

Ray Drew (6-5, 284 pounds), Georgia defensive end

Kaleb Eulls (6-4, 295 pounds), Mississippi State defensive tackle
After starting on Mississippi State's defensive line in every game the last four years, Eulls turned heads at the Senior Bowl in Mobile last month.

"He's done very good," Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line coach Todd Wash told InsideMSUsports.com last month.  "... You could see during our 1-on-1 drills and pods that he plays with real good pad level and hand placement."

Eulls stopped a student holding a gun on his school bus during high school.

[jbcarol]

Bryan Fischer @BryanDFischer  ·  56 minutes ago

Florida OT D.J. Humphries said the draft advisory board told him to go back to school but he had a gut feeling to go.

[jbcarol]

Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB  ·  4 hours ago
Asked Michael Dyer what was the low point in a very up-and-down college career: "Having to leave Auburn. I'd always wanted to be there."

[jbcarol]

Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB  ·  8 hours ago
Dorian Green Beckham said he loved the #OU coaching staff and will have his pro day there March 11.

Dorian Green Beckham on how he explains his off-field issues to NFL ppl: "All the decisions I made I wish I could take back"

[jbcarol]

Charean Williams        ✔ @NFLCharean

OT Cedric Ogbuehi said insurance policy A&M got him will pay him the difference between his projected draft status last year and this year.
5:04 PM - 19 Feb 2015

[jbcarol]

Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB  ·  2 hours ago
#UGA's Chris Conley, one of the most impressive people in Indy, just clocked an unofficial 4.35 40. Great time for him.

[jbcarol]

Marc Weiszer @marcweiszer  ·  35 minutes ago
Chris Conley broad jump of 11 feet 7 inches, tied for best since '03, per Rich Eisen. Vertical jump 45 inches, tied for 3rd best since '03.

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  52 minutes ago
Wrapping up Gabe Wright's up-and-down performance at NFL Combine http://s.al.com/0MxirDf

Gabe Wright, like his good buddy Angelo Blackson, played a little against type at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week.

Wright, who dropped down to 285 pounds last summer to play both defensive tackle and defensive end for an Auburn team that needed help on the edge, is back up to 300 pounds to handle the pounding at tackle, the position he'll likely play exclusively in the NFL.

With the added weight, Wright pounded out 34 reps on the bench press, good for second among the 55 defensive linemen in attendance and trailing only five players at the entire Combine overall.

On the other hand, Wright wasn't as quick as some may have expected. Wright's 5.07 ranked 10th among the 23 defensive tackles who ran the 40-yard dash. A bigger man now, Wright really struggled in the jumps, which scouts usually use to test a player's explosiveness; he was near the bottom in both the vertical and the broad jumps.

Wright's been slotted as Mel Kiper's No. 8 defensive tackle in the draft, and both the ESPN and NFL rankings have the former Auburn captain at No. 9.

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  4 hours ago

SEC morning links http://es.pn/1Lxn1B9

Combine updates: UGa WR Chris Conley, UK's Bud Dupree, Gurley, State's defensive players, Shane Ray, Mike Dyer, and Sammie Coates ...

[jbcarol]

Edgar Thompson @osgators  ·  4 hours ago

Former #Gators star @TheDanteFowler6 rises as high as No. 2 in post-combine NFL mock drafts: http://bit.ly/1MOFg6I 

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  2 hours ago

SEC players who helped NFL draft stock http://es.pn/1JIrjbi

Justin Coleman, CB, Tennessee

Chris Conley, WR, Georgia

Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

Senquez Golson, CB, Ole Miss

Mitch Morse, OG, Missouri

Jermaine Whitehead, S, Auburn

[jbcarol]

Lawrence Barreca @BarrecaAdvocate  ·  2 hours ago

ESPN's Todd McShay has Jalen Collins being picked at No. 22 overall (Steelers) and La'el Collins going at No. 29 overall (Colts). #LSU

[jbcarol]

Todd McShay @McShay13  ·  Feb 26
Per @jasonvida -Only 3 times in modern draft that fewer than 3 QBs taken in top-100 picks: '94, '88, '85. Will the 2015 class be the 4th?

[jbcarol]

Todd McShay @McShay13  ·  2 hours ago

Shane Ray needs a good pro day workout to lock down a spot in top 20, says @KevinW_ESPN...

[jbcarol]

Mike Mayock's 2015 NFL Draft position rankings 2.0

Wide receiver
1. Kevin White, West Virginia
2. Amari Cooper, Alabama
T-5. Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri
Fall: Green-Beckham (4)

Interior offensive linemen
4. A.J. Cann, South Carolina

Offensive tackle
1. La'el Collins, LSU
T-5. D.J. Humphries, Florida
T-5. Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
Rise: Collins (3)

Edge rusher
1. Dante Fowler, Jr., Florida
2. Shane Ray, Missouri
5. Bud Dupree, Kentucky
Rise: Ray (3)

Linebacker
4. "Chuck" Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
Fall: McKinney (2)

Cornerback
2. Jalen Collins, LSU
Rise: Collins (3)

Safety
1. Landon Collins, Alabama

[jbcarol]

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/when_is_pro_day_for_every_sec.html#1

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  2 hours ago

One of the all-time good guys to visit w/ at A&M, Malcome Kennedy, at pro day today on campus:

[JackJohnson]

Was not allowed to attend pro day at Miss St and will hold one at his HS.  Happens more then we think and this is a kid that was a starter and a big time talent


https://mobile.twitter.com/BWonStateBeat/status/572589874580103168

[Biggus Piggus]

So why do you keep a player from attending a pro day?

[JackJohnson]

So why do you keep a player from attending a pro day?

Apparently Cox was due to a suspension at the end of last season according to NFL website

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000476380/article/2015-nfl-draft-what-we-learned-from-wednesdays-pro-days

In terms of why- I don't know.  Why kick a player off the team, why remove them from the program, etc.  clearly players like cox and TQ had done something bad enough to warrant not being a part of their football teams/programs

[12247]

Things of this nature I hope are laid out when the player (HIRES IN) to start his career so he will know exactly what is expected of him from day one through the last day he attends the university at the end of his career.  I realize that humans should know to behave but we do not know much if any of the circumstances surrounding this event.

I fully understand that any football related event is and should be under the head coach.  He should be in charge.  And that brings up another thing.  Because Pro Day is under the HC, one should expect to learn of the stats of their beloved Hog Players.  It is usually common knowledge offered right up.  I personally don't much care but many do.  I wish the MAN in charge and making those tough decisions would see to it that stats get posted or explain why not, being he's in charge.  That isn't a hell of a lot to expect.

[jbcarol]

Hugh Kellenberger @HKellenbergerCL  ·  2 hours ago

Among the notable former Rebels expected to participate at pro day: Senquez Golson, Cody Prewitt, Bo Wallace and Serderius Bryant.

Also Nick Brassell, who was at Ole Miss' pro day last year as well and has not played in a college football game since 2012.

DT Shackelford just did 33 reps on the bench press (225 pounds).