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Top 10 NFL comps for college football seniors
With a year left at the NCAA level, some of the top seniors in the college game have already begun reminding us of some pros that have preceded them. All will have the attention of NFL scouts this fall as they look to prepare themselves for the pro ranks. But who might they resemble once they get there?
CFB 24/7 compares 10 seniors to current NFL players who play with a similar style and stature.
At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, there are bigger receivers in the NFL than Bryant. But none play bigger. The Cowboys star is the best in the business at using his body to shield the ball from his defender, and that's what made Williams Auburn's most reliable receiver -- even more so than third-round draft pick Sammie Coates. Williams (6-2, 224) is primed for a huge season as the No. 1 target for new quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
Oakman is quickly putting himself in a class by himself from an athleticism standpoint. But there's really no NFL defensive lineman other than Campbell (6-8, 300) who resembles the 6-9, 280-pound Baylor star in terms of physical stature. Campbell was a second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2008, and after a rookie season on the bench, he's delivered no fewer than six sacks in each of the last six years. If Oakman's place among the nation's top defenders holds through the season, he should fare even better in the 2016 draft.
Both of these quarterbacks see the entire field with a 6-4, 220-pound frame and can throw with velocity or touch as needed. Both have enough athleticism to move out of the pocket and buy another couple of seconds to throw, but neither is a rushing threat across the line of scrimmage. Cook had the better junior season at Michigan State (212 of 365, 3,214 yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs), but also had more offensive weapons with which to work. As a junior at Boston College in 2006, Ryan completed 263 of 427 for 2,942 yards, 15 TDs and 10 INTs.
Kalil was an imposing left tackle at USC in 2010, but not an especially heavy one at 6-7, 295 pounds. Athletic and long-armed, Kalil didn't allow a sack the entire season before declaring for the draft and was ideal as a pass protector for then-coach Lane Kiffin's offensive system. Decker has grown into his body more at 315 pounds, but has the same lean frame and towers over Big Ten opponents at 6-foot-8 and is also effective stifling pass rushers on the left side.
Reed can play nose guard, tackle or even defensive end in a 3-4 alignment, effectively handling any of those jobs with a brute strength and power that makes him tough to handle on pass plays, but impossible to stop on run downs. Sound familiar? That's Brockers' game, too, and his NFL draft scouting profile from the 2012 draft reads like a perfect description of Reed. Both command double teams and, while neither is a sack artist, they both shrink the pocket from the inside, which makes quarterbacks a lot less comfortable.
It's only fitting that the electrifying Boykin and his exceptional running skills draw a comparison to the most mobile quarterback in the NFL. As is typical for a college quarterback with his athleticism, Boykin doesn't hesitate to tuck the ball and do his damage on the ground when given the chance. Wilson, of course, scrambles more to throw. But if Boykin reaches the pros, he'll take on more of a sense of self-preservation in time. Size-wise, Boykin has the edge: he's listed at 6-2 (though that could be generous), while Wilson is 5-11.
Striker belies the assumption that short guys can't rush the passer off the edge, giving Oklahoma 15.5 sacks the last two years despite his six-foot stature. Think Vic Beasley, but even smaller. If Dumervil isn't Striker's inspiration, he should be. At just 5-11, he piled up a career-high 17 sacks last season in his eighth year in the league. He's closing in on 100 career sacks -- all from a guy whose height caused him to slip to the fourth round of the draft in 2006.
From the short pair (Striker and Dumervil) to the long one, Nicolas looks a lot like the former LSU star flying around the edge of the defense and chasing down ball carriers all over the field. They both do it with plenty of length, but not a lot of girth; Nicolas is 6-4, 236 pounds and looks more like a basketball player in uniform. Mingo, who hasn't lived up to expectations as the former No. 6 overall pick of the Cleveland Browns, has much the same look and skill set at 6-4, 240.
Neither Shepard nor Moss ever scared anyone with their size (both under six feet and under 200 pounds), but they both have the speed to get open on deeper routes and the quickness to get open on the shorter ones. They also could make tough, contested catches and played an aggressive style both before and after the reception. Moss' pro career could be coming to a close just as Shepard's gets started in 2016.
Mayo, the former Tennessee star, has played just six games each of the last two years. But he was a tackling machine over his first five years in the NFL and took on blocks between the tackles with plenty of thump. That's the way Ragland plays inside linebacker for the Crimson Tide, and he'll be the general of the unit this fall as a senior. Ragland finished last year with 95 stops, 10.5 for losses and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in his first year as a full-time starter. Mayo's first year as a starter at UT (2006) looked much the same: 83 tackles, 12.5 for losses.
