As anyone who follows the NFL Draft knows positive or negative momentum can play a big role in determining where a player is ultimately chosen. The following is a look at some prospects who have that buzz at the moment as well as some who do not. Please be sure to keep in mind that this is not a replacement or an update to the positional rankings or mock draft. For example, a player could be #1 on this list but that might only mean he has gone from a 7th round pick to a 5th rounder or an undrafted free agent to a late round possibility. So without further adieu, here are the senior prospects with the most helium:
Updated: September 28, 2011
1. Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
With star freshman Jadevon Clowney joining the South Carolina Gamecocks, senior Melvin Ingram seemed to be the forgotten man on the defense. A former running back in high school who made the move to linebacker and eventually defensive end in college, the 6’2 and 276 pound Ingram will bring a wide ranging skill set to some creative organization. Head Coach Steve Spurrier has used Ingram as a base defensive end but he is usually moved inside on passing downs to upgrade the pass rush. This versatility will likely be viewed as a positive in the eyes of NFL teams and Ingram is moving up draft boards. Ingram had another huge game against Vanderbilt, racking up two sacks in a big win. Ingram also scored a touchdown for the third week in a row, recovering a fumble in the end zone. With Ingram continuing to produce big plays against high-quality SEC competition, he could push his way into the top three rounds before all is said and done.
2. Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State
Weeden will turn 28-years-old this season as a senior for the Cowboys. With age comes experience as an athlete though, both in Minor League Baseball and college football. Weeden had plenty of problems going through progressions and reading defenses as a junior, but he has taken a big step forward this year and is becoming a legitimate pro prospect. Of course having a stud like Justin Blackon to throw to at wideout doesn’t hurt, but Weeden has looked very poised, has improved his accuracy and is going a better job of looking off defenders. Weeden was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week following a huge win against Texas A&M, where Weeden put his development on displays by slinging the rock for 438 yards and 2 scores with no turnovers on the day. Weeden picked apart the Aggie secondary and kept his eyes down the field, even under pressure. Weeden's stock continues to rise within scouting circles but he could turn out to be one of this year's most polarizing prospects due to concerns about the system he plays in as well as his advanced age.
3. Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson
Clemson has been on a roll so far this season, winning games in which they are the underdogs and doing so in incredible fashion. Though their dynamic offense gets much of the credit, the Tigers defense and captain Brandon Thompson have played a critical role in the teams success. The Clemson program has produced a number of top prospects along the defensive line over the years, most recently Da’Quan Bowers and Jarvis Jenkins who were both drafted in the second round in April. Thompson is a classic penetrating three-technique defensive tackle for an even front. At 310 pounds, Thompson has the leverage and power to penetrate and wreck havoc on opposing quarterbacks and running backs. This past week in an upset win over Florida State, Thompson only had half a sack but was in the backfield constantly and applied a lot of pressure. In the run game, Thompson closed holes and allowed other playmakers on his team to make tackles. Thompson was already considered by most to be the country's top senior defensive tackle prospect and a potential first round stock. However, Thompson's play so far this season is only cementing that lofty status.
4. Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina
Jones is the next in a recent string of top Tar Heel wideouts who have the raw physical ability but need polish in order to reach their full potential in the NFL. Hakeem Nicks and Greg Little have shown that teams are willing to use early picks on prospects like that. Jones has the frame at 6’4 and 225 pounds to be a gigantic mismatch at the next level against what are usually much smaller cornerbacks. Not many can fight with Jones at the line of scrimmage and stop him from breaking the jam. Though Jones needs to keep working on route running and consistency with his hands, the mismatch he provides allows offensive coordinators to get creative. In a near victory over Georgia Tech, Jones had 7 receptions for 85 yards and as the first option in the North Carolina passing attack Jones continues to rack up yardage. For the season Jones already has four touchdowns, confirming his abilities as a prime red zone target. Jones doesn't get a lot of national press, but he is undoubtedly an extremely intriguing prospect who could come off the board earlier than most expect.
5. Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
Though the Vanderbilt program is often overlooked in the talent-rich SEC, the Commodores have been producing plenty of pro talent in recent years such as Jay Cutler, Earl Bennett and Jonathan Goff. Casey Hayward may be next in line and has the statistics to back it up after finishing last season with 6 interceptions, 11 passes defended, and 70 total tackles. Hayward is already on pace to match or surpass that productivity this year for a sneaky good defense. Hayward’s fundamentals are part of what makes him such a great player as he is able to stay low and smooth in his backpedal while reading receivers well. Hayward can also change direction quickly and does a nice job of wrapping up when tackling, showing impressive physicality versus bigger wideouts. All that was showcased against South Carolina this past week as Hayward was matched up against a potential Top 10 overall pick in Alshon Jeffrey. Hayward not only held Jeffrey to just 2 catches for 34 yards, but he also recorded two interceptions on the day. Hayward isn't flashy, but he gets the job done and could at the very least be a quality nickle or dime corner in the NFL.
6. Audie Cole, LB, North Carolina State
Audie Cole made the move from the strongside to the middle this offseason for the Wolfpack and has had great early success at the new position. Cole’s most intriguing attribute is his ability to read offenses and react as the play develops. Though Cole doesn’t display superior speed, quickness or change of direction abilities, he does shows good technique and appears to be a prototypical thumper in the middle. Cole is underrated as a prospect right now and could ultimately carry a mid-round grade similar to that of former teammate Nate Irving. As an added bonus, Cole is also capable of excelling on special teams which will only up his value. This past week against Cincinnati, Cole racked up 14 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two tackles for a loss. Cole was often used in run-blitzing situations and that stopped the Bearcats offense in their tracks. Though Cole doesn’t have great pass coverage skills, he did cover the tight end on a few plays and did an admirable job. Despite a lack of press around the country, it's time to start taking notice of Audie Cole, because pro scouts certainly are.
7. Chris Rainey, RB, Florida
Following a disappointing year and the loss of star coach Urban Meyer, the Gators were faced with a number of major question marks heading into this season. One area where the Gators had plenty of raw talent was running back, where seniors Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey had showcased elite speed and pass catching ability. Rainey, specifically, competes with the Florida track team and was an All-American as a freshman. Rainey utilizes many of those same skills on the football field. Though he is not built to handle a huge workload at just 5’9 and 178 pounds, Rainey is extremely dangerous when the ball is in his hands. Rainey picked up right where he left off last week, with his third consecutive 100 yard game. The Kentucky defense didn’t seem able to stop Rainey on the ground and after the damage was done he was pulled in the second half because the game was a blowout. Rainey is beginning to look more and more like a football player who also happened to run track, not the other way around, which along with his rare timed speed will no doubt excite teams on Draft Day.
8. B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State
Michigan State had an incredible run last year, taking home a share of the Big Ten Title and showcasing plenty of pro talent for the 2012 NFL Draft. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is one of the nation's top senior quarterbacks and his main target is B.J. Cunningham, who could wind up being selected before his teammate. Cunningham is a strong, big bodied wideout, checking in at 6’2 and 215 pounds and often leaping above defenders to make key catches. Cunningham also has incredible body control which allows him to make tiptoe catches along the sidelines and turn uncatchable balls into big gains. Over the last two weeks Cunningham has 15 catches for 225 yards, helping lead the Spartans to wins against Central Michigan and a one point loss to Notre Dame. Cunningham is definitely on the NFL's radar and could be a solid contributor at the next level as a mid to late rounder.
9. Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati
Though Cincinnati is not a high profile team nationally, Wolfe is a pro-quality pass rusher from the interior of the Bearcats defense and has been a real difference maker for the squad. Wolfe comes in at 6’5 and 300 pounds, with the versatility to play both a 4-3 undertackle position or a 3-4 defensive end position. Wolfe also shows a real knack for getting into the backfield and causing problems for opposing quarterbacks. The leverage Wolfe creates presents a big problem offensive linemen and he routinely gets under their pads and uses a variety of moves to get past them into the backfield. Wolfe has showcased these skills throughout the season so far, racking up four sacks from a position that usually isn’t built for producing eye-popping numbers. As an added bonus Wolfe also has 5.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles on the year.
10. Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Badgers look like a complete team on both offense and defense. One of the reasons the Badgers could be in the national title hunt is the addition of former North Carolina State QB Russell Wilson, who transferred to Madison for his senior season. Wilson is a dual-threat quarterback who has the mobility to scramble out of the pocket to keep a play alive and throw on the run. This benefit will have some NFL teams licking their chops to develop him into a solid back-up quarterback and maybe even more. Wilson arm strength is more than adequate and though his technique leaves much to be desired he has been very good in game situations. Wilson played another pitch and catch game against South Dakota, amassing 345 yards and 3 touchdowns before the starters were rested for most of the second half. So far on the year Wilson is completing 75.8% of his attempts and has a 218.38 QB rating, which is second in the country behind only Robert Griffin of Baylor. Though the Big Ten schedule will prove to be more challenging, Wilson's stock is currently on the rise.
The Not-So-Hot List
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
Last season, Texas A&M was poised to have a top quarterback prospect in Jerrod Johnson, a senior who was supposed to lead the team to a Big 12 title. Johnson struggled mightily, which led to back-up quarterback Ryan Tannehill getting his chance to play. Tannehill lit it up for the Aggies and is now a top prospect himself. Tannehill was converted to wide receiver as a freshman and played that position his first two years on Texas A&M. As a junior Tannehill was converted back to quarterback and is now in position to be a second day pick in the NFL Draft. With weapons like WR Jeff Fuller and RB Cyrus Gray at his disposal, Tannehill was poised to pick right up where he left off last season. However, Tannehill hit his first road block of the year against Oklahoma State. Tannehill underthrew numerous passes and was picked off three times, including a key interception on a potential game winning drive in the fourth quarter. On the day Tannehill completed less than 60% of his passes and technique went out the window when pressured. This was obviously just one game, but it was a high-profile matchup and Tannehill was clearly outperformed by counterpart Brandon Weeden and that certainly won't help his draft stock.
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With star freshman Jadevon Clowney joining the South Carolina Gamecocks, senior Melvin Ingram seemed to be the forgotten man on the defense. A former running back in high school who made the move to linebacker and eventually defensive end in college, the 6’2 and 276 pound Ingram will bring a wide ranging skill set to some creative organization. Head Coach Steve Spurrier has used Ingram as a base defensive end but he is usually moved inside on passing downs to upgrade the pass rush. This versatility will likely be viewed as a positive in the eyes of NFL teams and Ingram is moving up draft boards. Ingram had another huge game against Vanderbilt, racking up two sacks in a big win. Ingram also scored a touchdown for the third week in a row, recovering a fumble in the end zone. With Ingram continuing to produce big plays against high-quality SEC competition, he could push his way into the top three rounds before all is said and done.
Weeden will turn 28-years-old this season as a senior for the Cowboys. With age comes experience as an athlete though, both in Minor League Baseball and college football. Weeden had plenty of problems going through progressions and reading defenses as a junior, but he has taken a big step forward this year and is becoming a legitimate pro prospect. Of course having a stud like Justin Blackon to throw to at wideout doesn’t hurt, but Weeden has looked very poised, has improved his accuracy and is going a better job of looking off defenders. Weeden was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week following a huge win against Texas A&M, where Weeden put his development on displays by slinging the rock for 438 yards and 2 scores with no turnovers on the day. Weeden picked apart the Aggie secondary and kept his eyes down the field, even under pressure. Weeden's stock continues to rise within scouting circles but he could turn out to be one of this year's most polarizing prospects due to concerns about the system he plays in as well as his advanced age.
Clemson has been on a roll so far this season, winning games in which they are the underdogs and doing so in incredible fashion. Though their dynamic offense gets much of the credit, the Tigers defense and captain Brandon Thompson have played a critical role in the teams success. The Clemson program has produced a number of top prospects along the defensive line over the years, most recently Da’Quan Bowers and Jarvis Jenkins who were both drafted in the second round in April. Thompson is a classic penetrating three-technique defensive tackle for an even front. At 310 pounds, Thompson has the leverage and power to penetrate and wreck havoc on opposing quarterbacks and running backs. This past week in an upset win over Florida State, Thompson only had half a sack but was in the backfield constantly and applied a lot of pressure. In the run game, Thompson closed holes and allowed other playmakers on his team to make tackles. Thompson was already considered by most to be the country's top senior defensive tackle prospect and a potential first round stock. However, Thompson's play so far this season is only cementing that lofty status.
Jones is the next in a recent string of top Tar Heel wideouts who have the raw physical ability but need polish in order to reach their full potential in the NFL. Hakeem Nicks and Greg Little have shown that teams are willing to use early picks on prospects like that. Jones has the frame at 6’4 and 225 pounds to be a gigantic mismatch at the next level against what are usually much smaller cornerbacks. Not many can fight with Jones at the line of scrimmage and stop him from breaking the jam. Though Jones needs to keep working on route running and consistency with his hands, the mismatch he provides allows offensive coordinators to get creative. In a near victory over Georgia Tech, Jones had 7 receptions for 85 yards and as the first option in the North Carolina passing attack Jones continues to rack up yardage. For the season Jones already has four touchdowns, confirming his abilities as a prime red zone target. Jones doesn't get a lot of national press, but he is undoubtedly an extremely intriguing prospect who could come off the board earlier than most expect.
Though the Vanderbilt program is often overlooked in the talent-rich SEC, the Commodores have been producing plenty of pro talent in recent years such as Jay Cutler, Earl Bennett and Jonathan Goff. Casey Hayward may be next in line and has the statistics to back it up after finishing last season with 6 interceptions, 11 passes defended, and 70 total tackles. Hayward is already on pace to match or surpass that productivity this year for a sneaky good defense. Hayward’s fundamentals are part of what makes him such a great player as he is able to stay low and smooth in his backpedal while reading receivers well. Hayward can also change direction quickly and does a nice job of wrapping up when tackling, showing impressive physicality versus bigger wideouts. All that was showcased against South Carolina this past week as Hayward was matched up against a potential Top 10 overall pick in Alshon Jeffrey. Hayward not only held Jeffrey to just 2 catches for 34 yards, but he also recorded two interceptions on the day. Hayward isn't flashy, but he gets the job done and could at the very least be a quality nickle or dime corner in the NFL.
Audie Cole made the move from the strongside to the middle this offseason for the Wolfpack and has had great early success at the new position. Cole’s most intriguing attribute is his ability to read offenses and react as the play develops. Though Cole doesn’t display superior speed, quickness or change of direction abilities, he does shows good technique and appears to be a prototypical thumper in the middle. Cole is underrated as a prospect right now and could ultimately carry a mid-round grade similar to that of former teammate Nate Irving. As an added bonus, Cole is also capable of excelling on special teams which will only up his value. This past week against Cincinnati, Cole racked up 14 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two tackles for a loss. Cole was often used in run-blitzing situations and that stopped the Bearcats offense in their tracks. Though Cole doesn’t have great pass coverage skills, he did cover the tight end on a few plays and did an admirable job. Despite a lack of press around the country, it's time to start taking notice of Audie Cole, because pro scouts certainly are.
Following a disappointing year and the loss of star coach Urban Meyer, the Gators were faced with a number of major question marks heading into this season. One area where the Gators had plenty of raw talent was running back, where seniors Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey had showcased elite speed and pass catching ability. Rainey, specifically, competes with the Florida track team and was an All-American as a freshman. Rainey utilizes many of those same skills on the football field. Though he is not built to handle a huge workload at just 5’9 and 178 pounds, Rainey is extremely dangerous when the ball is in his hands. Rainey picked up right where he left off last week, with his third consecutive 100 yard game. The Kentucky defense didn’t seem able to stop Rainey on the ground and after the damage was done he was pulled in the second half because the game was a blowout. Rainey is beginning to look more and more like a football player who also happened to run track, not the other way around, which along with his rare timed speed will no doubt excite teams on Draft Day.
Michigan State had an incredible run last year, taking home a share of the Big Ten Title and showcasing plenty of pro talent for the 2012 NFL Draft. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is one of the nation's top senior quarterbacks and his main target is B.J. Cunningham, who could wind up being selected before his teammate. Cunningham is a strong, big bodied wideout, checking in at 6’2 and 215 pounds and often leaping above defenders to make key catches. Cunningham also has incredible body control which allows him to make tiptoe catches along the sidelines and turn uncatchable balls into big gains. Over the last two weeks Cunningham has 15 catches for 225 yards, helping lead the Spartans to wins against Central Michigan and a one point loss to Notre Dame. Cunningham is definitely on the NFL's radar and could be a solid contributor at the next level as a mid to late rounder.
Though Cincinnati is not a high profile team nationally, Wolfe is a pro-quality pass rusher from the interior of the Bearcats defense and has been a real difference maker for the squad. Wolfe comes in at 6’5 and 300 pounds, with the versatility to play both a 4-3 undertackle position or a 3-4 defensive end position. Wolfe also shows a real knack for getting into the backfield and causing problems for opposing quarterbacks. The leverage Wolfe creates presents a big problem offensive linemen and he routinely gets under their pads and uses a variety of moves to get past them into the backfield. Wolfe has showcased these skills throughout the season so far, racking up four sacks from a position that usually isn’t built for producing eye-popping numbers. As an added bonus Wolfe also has 5.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles on the year.
The Wisconsin Badgers look like a complete team on both offense and defense. One of the reasons the Badgers could be in the national title hunt is the addition of former North Carolina State QB Russell Wilson, who transferred to Madison for his senior season. Wilson is a dual-threat quarterback who has the mobility to scramble out of the pocket to keep a play alive and throw on the run. This benefit will have some NFL teams licking their chops to develop him into a solid back-up quarterback and maybe even more. Wilson arm strength is more than adequate and though his technique leaves much to be desired he has been very good in game situations. Wilson played another pitch and catch game against South Dakota, amassing 345 yards and 3 touchdowns before the starters were rested for most of the second half. So far on the year Wilson is completing 75.8% of his attempts and has a 218.38 QB rating, which is second in the country behind only Robert Griffin of Baylor. Though the Big Ten schedule will prove to be more challenging, Wilson's stock is currently on the rise.
Last season, Texas A&M was poised to have a top quarterback prospect in Jerrod Johnson, a senior who was supposed to lead the team to a Big 12 title. Johnson struggled mightily, which led to back-up quarterback Ryan Tannehill getting his chance to play. Tannehill lit it up for the Aggies and is now a top prospect himself. Tannehill was converted to wide receiver as a freshman and played that position his first two years on Texas A&M. As a junior Tannehill was converted back to quarterback and is now in position to be a second day pick in the NFL Draft. With weapons like WR Jeff Fuller and RB Cyrus Gray at his disposal, Tannehill was poised to pick right up where he left off last season. However, Tannehill hit his first road block of the year against Oklahoma State. Tannehill underthrew numerous passes and was picked off three times, including a key interception on a potential game winning drive in the fourth quarter. On the day Tannehill completed less than 60% of his passes and technique went out the window when pressured. This was obviously just one game, but it was a high-profile matchup and Tannehill was clearly outperformed by counterpart Brandon Weeden and that certainly won't help his draft stock.