Week 12 of the college football season had some great play as the draft eligible players showcased themselves for the NFL Draft. In this edition of Stock Up, Stock Down & Names to Watch, I will dig into the games I watched and prospects who made an impact or lagged behind. These are only taken from the games I watched for Draft Countdown, but we will discuss even more prospects on our Podcast. If you want to see where I think players are in terms of their overall stock, head over to my Rankings, and if you want more specifics, sent me a tweet @ShanePHallam
Stock up
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
It is still amazing that Kincaid came back from injury as quickly as he did. Immediately, he became the Utes and QB Cam Rising’s biggest weapon. In a tight game against Oregon, Kincaid flashed his athleticism and savviness settling into holes in the zone and being an easy target. With 11 catches for 99 yards, Kincaid was the primary target and showed what his role can be in the NFL. An athletic TE who can block, but also is dangerous after the catch. He could end up in the Top 50 of the draft when all is said and done.
Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
A scare last week left Brown’s availability in question, but another big week against a top college defense in Michigan. Running for 140 yards and 2 TDs along with 3 catches against a stout Wolverine front, Brown showed his explosiveness and ability to carry a full load. The big, fast bruiser is a rare potential bellcow NFL RB. As long as teams aren’t scared away by the workload, workouts should move Brown up boards.
Jalen Redmond, DL, Oklahoma
Redmond didn’t have a huge stat sheet game, but he was a big reason for the Sooners victory against Oklahoma State. Not only did Redmond have a huge sack deep in the backfield, but he got consistent pressure through the middle of the defense, breaking down the Cowboys plays. With such a quick get off the line of scrimmage, interior linemen struggle against the power and athleticism combination Redmond brings to the table.
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
Witherspoon has turned plenty of heads this season with top notch play in the Big Ten, and the Michigan game was no different. Cycling through various WRs of the Wolverine group, Witherspoon was a lock down defender, breaking up multiple passes. With a fluid backpedal and smooth hip movement, he transitioned with receivers flawlessly. Witherspoon also showed his toughness tackling well in the run game and on screen passes for 1.5 TFL. A big riser this year, Witerspoon will have a shot at moving up even more when he goes to Mobile for the Senior Bowl.
Stock Down
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Injuries potentially derail draft stock yet again. Corum was a Heisman contender for the undefeated Wolverines emerging as a physical runner with the speed and quickness to make defenders pay. He was ramping up in the Illini game when he suffered a knee injury that could be costly. Though we don’t know the extent yet, it will require a deep medical analysis if Corum still declares for the draft.
Names To Know
Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
Williams is not a flashy player, but a tough downhill run stuffer who is extremely savvy. Against SMU, He flashed why he got a Senior Bowl invite and could be a contributor at the NFL level. Williams weeded through traffic well and was in on numerous plays with 8 tackles. He also forced a key fumble in the game. Showing off some coverage skills as well, the versatility should bode well to be an early Day 3 pick.
Kris Thornton, WR, James Madison
Thornton has had an excellent year, almost out of nowhere for the new FBS team in the Dukes. A former VMI player who transferred to JMU a few years back, Thornton has great speed and hands. He was covered well by Georgia Southern, but still came through with two TDs utilizing his after the catch ability. Perhaps more important for the NFL, Thornton also got to showcase some return ability on a kickoff, which could be a role for him at the next level.
Follow Shane for more @ShanePHallam and see his work here