Draft Countdown continues to prepare you for the 2024 NFL Draft season with our conference prospect preview series. Today, I look at the top prospects from the Group of 5. While the vast majority of the draftees will come from the Power Five conferences (for as long as they last), you will still find dozens of players selected from the Group of 5.
TOP GROUP OF 5 PROSPECTS
PRAISE AMAEWHULE, EDGE, UTEP
The Miners haven’t had many players selected in the draft recently. Guard Will Hernandez was the last prospect taken, way back in 2018. Amaewhule should end that streak this year. He is fast off of the edge and closes quickly. Amaewhule has 16 sacks in his career with 30 TFLs. He also gets his mitts on the ball a ton. Entering his sixth collegiate season, I expect him to have his best year to date.
JASON HENDERSON, LB, OLD DOMINION
Not unlike running backs, off-ball linebackers have seen their value decrease over the years. However, rarely do you see a player with the instincts for the position, at such a young age, like Monarchs’ LB Jason Henderson. The 6’1″ 220-pound phenom recorded 78 tackles as a true freshman. Henderson upped that to 186 tackles in his second year at ODU. Will he continue to produce at a high level? Will Henderson even enter the 2024 NFL Draft? These are fun questions to get answers to this season.
DONTE KENT, CB, CENTRAL MICHIGAN
CMU has sent several players into the NFL Draft over the last decade. Donte Kent should be the next. He is a little undersized at 5’11” and 185 pounds. He makes up for his lack of length with exceptional ball skills. Kent has two career interceptions and a whopping 30 career pass breakups. He is one of the best defensive backs in the Group of 5.
FRANK GORE JR, RB, SOUTHERN MISS
The expectations for FGJ were high when he started his career. He is exceeded those at USM. Gore has rushed for over 2800 yards during his Golden Eagles career. I witnessed in person when he set the single-game bowl record for rushing yards during the 2022 Lending Tree Bowl. Against Rice, he ran for 329 yards. Gore is a multi-dimensional runner who has some special teams ability.Â
MALACHI CORLEY, WR, WESTERN KENTUCKY
Corley could be a sneaky top-100 wide receiver in this class. His production in the WKU offense has been off the charts. In the last two seasons, Corley has caught 180 balls for 2051 yards and 18 touchdowns. He and Austin Reed are a tremendous combination in CUSA.Â
HONORABLE MENTION
Austin Reed, QB, Western Kentucky, Richard Jibunor, LB, Troy
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWNS
BIG 12 – ACC – BIG TEN – SEC – PAC 12