2016 NFL Draft Picks to Watch: Jaylon Smith & Derrick Henry
By Jason McIntyre
We’ve been doing this for a few years now: Each Friday or early Saturday before the best college football games of the weekend begin, we’ll break down some players to watch with an eye on the 2016 NFL Draft. Yes, we already have a 2016 NFL Mock Draft.
Texas at Notre Dame, 7:30 pm, NBC
TEXAS:
None. That’s how big of an uphill climb the Longhorns have. In speaking with a front office member of an NFC team, I’m told there’s a very real chance that Texas will not have a player drafted in 2016. It would be the 2nd time that’s happened to the Longhorns in three years. Charlie Strong has some young talent, but the upperclassmen leave something to be desired.
NOTRE DAME:
Jaylon Smith, Junior LB: The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker might be one of the best at his position in the country. He played like a 1st round pick last year, and the only question is how high he’ll go. He led the team in tackles (111), tackles for loss (9.0), and was tied for first in sacks (3.5). Speed, power, always seems to be around the football and sort of reminds me of a more polished Alec Ogletree (St. Louis Rams, by way of Georgia)
Sheldon Day, Senior DT: 6-1, 286: There’s some disagreement on Day’s future prospects. ESPN’s Todd McShay has him as a late-round pick because he’s light to play tackle in the NFL and he’s had injuries. Day is technically sound in every aspect of the game, disruptive as hell and had 7.5 tackles for loss last season. You know who else was 6-foot-1, 285-ish and scouts were torn on? Aaron Donald. He went 13th in 2014 and was a monster with the Rams last season. Day’s not quite in his class, but there’s no telling what he’ll do at the Combine. Right now, I have him as an early-round pick, possibly sneaking in the the 1st round.
Wisconsin vs Alabama, 8 pm, ABC
ALABAMA:
A’Shawn Robinson, Junior DT: The Tide will have a formidable defense once again, but it isn’t projected to be in the same class as Saban’s previous incarnations. Robinson though, is expected to be dominant, and he comes into the season projected as a 1st round pick. The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder will be going against a strong Wisconsin offensive line, and the individual matchup to watch in this game will be Robinson vs. Voltz.
Derrick Henry, Junior RB: Runs like an absolute beast, and might be a better NFL prospect than Eddie Lacy, who is off to a great start in Green Bay. Henry is a chiseled 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, and is a deep Heisman sleeper. One has to wonder: if Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley – two very different backs than Henry – are successful as NFL rookies, will that help nudge Henry into the 1st round? It wouldn’t surprise me if he went in the late 20s.
Corey Clement, Junior, RB: Latest in a long line of brilliant Badger running backs … in college. Ron Dayne, James White, Monte Ball, Michael Bennett … have any of them lived up to the hype in the NFL? Perhaps Melvin Gordon can. Clement (5-foot-11, 220 pounds), averaged 6.5 yards a carry last year and rushed for nine TDs. He had four 100-yard games (Illinois, Rutgers, Bowling Green and Auburn) while backing up Gordon. If he comes out early, he’ll be drafted, with a range right now of anywhere from the 3rd-5th round.
Dan Voltz, Redshirt Junior, C: He’s on the short list in the mix for the Rimington Trophy. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Voltz will be starting for the third straight year. Two prominent Badgers centers were taken early the last few years (Peter Konz in 2012, Travis Frederick in 2013). Nothing like an early-season resume builder than going head-to-head against Robinson.