Mel Kiper's 15 best non-QB prospects in attendance
McShay just went through the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, so we asked ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. to break down the
other top prospects in Mobile, starting with a small-school guy who just made
his latest Big Board:
10. Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
Team: South |
Uniform number: 93
There has been a buzz about the 6-6 Davenport, who had 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2017. He's a quick-twitch pass-rusher who put up big numbers and made offensive linemen look silly in Conference USA. Can he do it against better competition in Mobile? He just debuted at No. 14 overall in
my first mock draft.
-- Kiper
11. Brian O'Neill, OT, Pittsburgh
Team: North |
Uniform number: 70
Can O'Neill be dominant at the Senior Bowl the way he was down the stretch in 2017? Probably not. He's going to have to get a few reps against Davenport and other guys on this list. But I think he could show enough to go in the top 20 of the first round in April. A former tight end, he kept his athleticism as he put on the weight to move to tackle. At 6-6, 290, he could play on the left or right side.
-- Kiper
12. Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Team: South |
Uniform number: 86
Goedert could be the first tight end picked in April. I have him ranked No. 2 at the position right now. It's a big step up from the FCS to the Senior Bowl, but the 6-5, 260-pounder has the frame and production to stand out. He reminds me of Eagles pass-catcher
Zach Ertz.
-- Kiper
13. Uchenna Nwosu, OLB, USC
Team: South |
Uniform number: 42
Nwosu is probably going to be a 3-4 outside linebacker, and he shows good burst off the edge. He's not really big -- 6-2, 240 -- but he had a knack for making plays in the backfield in 2017, with 9.5 sacks. He's also extremely active in batting down passes, which shows his awareness that if he can't get to the quarterback, he can at least affect the play. Let's see how advanced his pass-rush moves are in Mobile.
-- Kiper
14. Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
Team: North |
Uniform number: 66
More than 100 tackles? From an interior defensive lineman? Yeah, Phillips had a great season with seven sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. And he wears No. 66. That's a strong number for a defensive tackle. Phillips isn't a plugger -- he's listed at only 255 pounds -- but he can get to ball carriers in a hurry. I want to see what his true weight is in Mobile.
-- Kiper
15. Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State
Team: North |
Uniform number: 59
Playing in a rotation with potential 2018 first-round pick
Sam Hubbard and likely mid-round pick
Jalyn Holmes -- plus possible 2019 first-round pick
Nick Bosa -- Lewis gets a little lost in the shuffle. But there's a chance he could be picked near the top of Round 2, and he has a chance to prove himself in Mobile. At 6-4, 265, he's best suited to be a 4-3 end. He ran a little hot and cold in 2017 but finished the season strong with 3.5 tackles for loss in his final three games.
-- Kiper
16. Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
Team: South |
Uniform number: 20
Penny didn't get the publicity of Stanford running back
Bryce Love this season, but it was Penny who led the FBS in total rushing yards (2,248) and yards per game (172.9). He also had 23 rushing touchdowns. Could he be a mid-round steal like
Kareem Hunt, who had a great 2018 Senior Bowl week, was last year? I think Penny could go in the second round, though he doesn't have the all-around game of Hunt. Penny is going to test well.
-- Kiper
17. Austin Corbett, C/G, Nevada
Team: South |
Uniform number: 73
I moved Corbett up to my No. 2-ranked guard, over another guard who will be at the Senior Bowl and who's in my honorable mention below. Corbett, a four-year starter, has played both left and right tackle for the Wolf Pack, but I think he'll kick inside to guard at 6-4, 305. NFL teams like him on the interior, either at guard or center.
-- Kiper
18. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
Team: North |
Uniform number: 31
I wrote during the season that Okoronkwo is a tough evaluation because of his size; he's listed at 6-1, 240, which is below average for a pass-rushing outside linebacker. But he can really rush the passer, and he's relentless. He had eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2017. He's going to have to play in a 3-4 defense -- he's not a guy who could play end in a 4-3. But if he has a good week of practice, I could see him going early on Day 2 of the draft.
-- Kiper
19. Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
Team: North |
Uniform number: 88
Gesicki was my top-ranked tight end before the season, and now he's at No. 3. He's a prototypical modern-day tight end with great size (6-6, 250) and skills as a pass-catcher (14 touchdowns over the past two seasons) who needs to become a better blocker at the point of attack. But there's value in big targets who can move out to the slot and become mismatches against safeties.
-- Kiper
Honorable mention:
- 20. Jalyn Holmes, DE, Ohio State: Holmes didn't put up huge numbers in a talented Buckeyes rotation, but he's super talented. -- Kiper
- 21. Will Hernandez, G, UTEP: Hernandez is a mauler who is my No. 3-ranked guard. -- Kiper
- 22. Ian Thomas, TE, Indiana: He averaged 15 yards per catch for the Hoosiers and is a big target at 6-5, 245. -- Kiper
- 23. Jaylon Samuels, H-back, NC State: He's a fun player to watch who should get some reps at tight end. -- Kiper
- 24. Johnny Townsend, P, Florida: Townsend is the best punter in this class. -- Kiper
