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http://espn.go.com/college-football...ollege-football-players-steal-scene-game-film
It's an annual tradition at this point: While studying tape to evaluate prospects for the upcoming draft, a handful of players who are not part of the draft class catch your eye.
It sometimes takes discipline to not continue to watch them -- that's how much certain non-eligible players leap off the tape. This past year was no different. Here's a list of the top scene-stealers to watch in 2016.
Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis
Davis jumped off the screen to the point that he was a distraction trying to study the 2016 draft class. He is an explosive athlete who has sideline-to-sideline range and an internal GPS for the football. Although he needs to add bulk and improve his point-of-attack skills, Davis is a name we'll hear a lot next fall as a prospect. "Space" linebackers such as Davis are coveted in today's NFL.
Although former coach Will Muschamp struggled to figure out the offense during his tenure, he left the shelves stocked with defensive talent for Jim McElwain. After having five defensive players drafted in April, including two first-round picks, the Gators should have another strong class for 2017. The class is headlined by Davis but also includes cornerback Jalen Tabor, safety Marcus Maye and defensive end Bryan Cox.
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley
Ohio State had plenty of prospects to study, as they had six defensive players drafted in 2016, including three top-20 picks. But it was Barkley who stole the show when watching the Buckeyes' defense against Penn State, as he gashed them for 194 yards on 26 carries. The freshman's combination of power, agility and burst for a 220-pound runner was impressive, but his competitiveness and strength while finishing runs really jumped off the tape.
There will be no shortage of talent returning at running back in the college football landscape in 2016. LSU's Leonard Fournette and Florida State's Dalvin Cook get a lot of national attention -- and for good reason. Fans, however, need to keep an out for Barkley, who set the school's record for rushing by a freshman with 1,076 yards in 2015.
Arkansas defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr.
Wise came on strong at midseason and tallied eight sacks over his final eight games. He initially popped off the tape against Alabama and continued to flash against Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) and LSU. He is a long-levered and disruptive pass-rusher who has active hands, quality bend and the ability to convert speed to power. Wise should be on scouts' radar next year, as he has the measureables and skill set to potentially develop into a top-40 type of prospect.
Texas cornerback Davante Davis
Davis will be a true sophomore to keep an eye out for in 2016. He showed up while studying former teammate and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and also while watching Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds, Davis is a long, athletic and rangy cornerback who is a physical and reliable tackler. Most impressive, though, were the instincts and awareness he showed as a first-year player.
Davis and fellow teammate Malik Jefferson, another extremely talented young player, are part of coach Charlie Strong's first full recruiting class at Texas and should have even bigger impacts in their second seasons, as Strong continues to try to replenish that talent in Austin and get the Longhorns back in postseason play for the first time under his watch.
Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson
Anderson is a prime example of just how strong the Tide's front was in 2015. A player who would likely have started for 95 percent of programs across the country, Anderson was on the field for just 15-to-20 snaps per game. But the reserve made the most of his reps, and his tape against Michigan State in the playoff really shined. From standing up offensive tackle Jack Conklin and anchoring against the run to pressuring quarterback Connor Cook and consistently giving second effort, Anderson had his fingerprints on the group's dominating performance despite his limited snaps.
Although there are returning players along that front seven who might be drafted ahead of Anderson in 2017 -- defensive end Jonathan Allen, who might be the best interior pass-rusher we studied last fall, pass-rusher Tim Williams and insider linebacker Reuben Foster -- he is an under-the-radar prospect who could have a breakout year as he increases to more of a full-time role.
Other notables
USC RB Ronald Jones II
Michigan State DT Malik McDowell
Clemson DT Christian Wilkins
Ohio State ILB Raekwon McMillan
Stanford DT Solomon Thomas
Auburn CB Carlton Davis
Vanderbilt OLB Zach Cunningham
North Carolina WR Mack Hollins
Oklahoma CB Jordan Thomas
Kansas State DE Jordan Willis
Miami (Fla.) RB Mark Walton
http://espn.go.com/college-football...ollege-football-players-steal-scene-game-film
It's an annual tradition at this point: While studying tape to evaluate prospects for the upcoming draft, a handful of players who are not part of the draft class catch your eye.
It sometimes takes discipline to not continue to watch them -- that's how much certain non-eligible players leap off the tape. This past year was no different. Here's a list of the top scene-stealers to watch in 2016.
Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis
Davis jumped off the screen to the point that he was a distraction trying to study the 2016 draft class. He is an explosive athlete who has sideline-to-sideline range and an internal GPS for the football. Although he needs to add bulk and improve his point-of-attack skills, Davis is a name we'll hear a lot next fall as a prospect. "Space" linebackers such as Davis are coveted in today's NFL.
Although former coach Will Muschamp struggled to figure out the offense during his tenure, he left the shelves stocked with defensive talent for Jim McElwain. After having five defensive players drafted in April, including two first-round picks, the Gators should have another strong class for 2017. The class is headlined by Davis but also includes cornerback Jalen Tabor, safety Marcus Maye and defensive end Bryan Cox.
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley
Ohio State had plenty of prospects to study, as they had six defensive players drafted in 2016, including three top-20 picks. But it was Barkley who stole the show when watching the Buckeyes' defense against Penn State, as he gashed them for 194 yards on 26 carries. The freshman's combination of power, agility and burst for a 220-pound runner was impressive, but his competitiveness and strength while finishing runs really jumped off the tape.
There will be no shortage of talent returning at running back in the college football landscape in 2016. LSU's Leonard Fournette and Florida State's Dalvin Cook get a lot of national attention -- and for good reason. Fans, however, need to keep an out for Barkley, who set the school's record for rushing by a freshman with 1,076 yards in 2015.
Arkansas defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr.
Wise came on strong at midseason and tallied eight sacks over his final eight games. He initially popped off the tape against Alabama and continued to flash against Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) and LSU. He is a long-levered and disruptive pass-rusher who has active hands, quality bend and the ability to convert speed to power. Wise should be on scouts' radar next year, as he has the measureables and skill set to potentially develop into a top-40 type of prospect.
Texas cornerback Davante Davis
Davis will be a true sophomore to keep an eye out for in 2016. He showed up while studying former teammate and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and also while watching Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds, Davis is a long, athletic and rangy cornerback who is a physical and reliable tackler. Most impressive, though, were the instincts and awareness he showed as a first-year player.
Davis and fellow teammate Malik Jefferson, another extremely talented young player, are part of coach Charlie Strong's first full recruiting class at Texas and should have even bigger impacts in their second seasons, as Strong continues to try to replenish that talent in Austin and get the Longhorns back in postseason play for the first time under his watch.
Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson
Anderson is a prime example of just how strong the Tide's front was in 2015. A player who would likely have started for 95 percent of programs across the country, Anderson was on the field for just 15-to-20 snaps per game. But the reserve made the most of his reps, and his tape against Michigan State in the playoff really shined. From standing up offensive tackle Jack Conklin and anchoring against the run to pressuring quarterback Connor Cook and consistently giving second effort, Anderson had his fingerprints on the group's dominating performance despite his limited snaps.
Although there are returning players along that front seven who might be drafted ahead of Anderson in 2017 -- defensive end Jonathan Allen, who might be the best interior pass-rusher we studied last fall, pass-rusher Tim Williams and insider linebacker Reuben Foster -- he is an under-the-radar prospect who could have a breakout year as he increases to more of a full-time role.
Other notables
USC RB Ronald Jones II
Michigan State DT Malik McDowell
Clemson DT Christian Wilkins
Ohio State ILB Raekwon McMillan
Stanford DT Solomon Thomas
Auburn CB Carlton Davis
Vanderbilt OLB Zach Cunningham
North Carolina WR Mack Hollins
Oklahoma CB Jordan Thomas
Kansas State DE Jordan Willis
Miami (Fla.) RB Mark Walton
