A few weeks ago, we reached out to NFL personnel executives to find out which college football players had boosted their NFL draft stock the most so far this season. Now, we're going in the other direction, finding out which players haven't lived up to the preseason hype.
While keeping in mind that the draft stock of players can change with each week, I asked five NFL personnel executives to select a player who has been the most disappointing prospect to watch on tape this season.
Executive 1: Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
"Had a lot of production and a big reputation, but he looks like a late-round guy to me on tape."
Executive 2: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
"I really like his combination of size and speed, but he has very inconsistent hands. I'm a little disappointed after really studying him."
Executive 3: Cedric Reed, DE, Texas
"He had a lot of production as a junior, but he's just not making a lot of plays this year."
Executive 4: Reed
"I went and watched him live, and he didn't do anything to get me excited."
Executive 5: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
"I love his instincts and ball skills, but his lack of size and speed has been a real issue this year."
Verdict: That's two votes for Texas' Reed, and then one vote apiece for three players from teams currently in the thick of the race for the College Football Playoff.
Conclusion: There are still plenty of games left for these players to change the minds of NFL evaluators. These players will also have opportunities in the pre-draft process (whether it's this year or next year for Coates, the lone underclassman on the list) -- with all-star games, the NFL Scouting Combine, team interviews and pro days -- to rebuild their reputations with scouts.
Follow Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter @MoveTheSticks.
