2016 NFL Draft Picks to Watch: Robert Nkemdiche & Laquon Treadwell
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. We did cover Alabama in Week 1, but they have plenty of future pros to cover. Yes, we already have a 2016 NFL Mock Draft.
Auburn at LSU 3:30 pm, CBS.
AUBURN
Carl Lawson, redshirt sophomore DE: The team’s best pass rusher had a monster half against Louisville in the season opener, and then got hurt, and hasn’t played since. He may not be able to play against LSU, which would certainly be good news for the Tigers. In one half against Louisville, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Lawson had a sack and two tackles for loss and forced three QB hurries before suffering a hip flexor before halftime. He may have to add a little weight to be an every-down starter in the NFL, but right now he’s an early-round prospect.
D’haquille Williams, senior WR: He’s only got five receptions this season, and fellow senior Ricardo Louis is the #1 target (13 catches), but Williams is a high-profile pro prospect. He’s got ideal size – 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, and I see some Brandon Marshall when I watch him. Had 45 catches for 730 yards and five TDs last season but missed three games (he was suspended for the team’s Bowl Game). In last November’s clash with Alabama, Williams really blew up: seven catches, 121 yards. Has some minor red flags that NFL teams will certainly dive into.
LSU
Tre’Davious White, junior CB: Looking forward to see how White can hang with Williams, who is one of the better senior receivers in the country. White has returned punts in the past, but more importantly, LSU honored him by giving him the #18 jersey this season. He’s giving up some size (only 5-foot-11, 190 pounds) to Williams, but this is a great early season test for a cornerback who may or may not enter the 2016 draft. He won’t have the help of safety Jalen Mills, the Tigers senior safety who is out after fracturing his fibula in practice last month.
Mississippi at Alabama, 9:15, ESPN
MISSISSIPPI
Robert Nkemdiche, junior DT: A freak. A contender to be the #1 pick in the 2016 draft. At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, he’s catching passes. Monster inside, could probably play anywhere on the line if asked. Speed, power … this guy feels like a Top 5 lock, an impact player who will help an NFL team from the jump. Hoping he meets Alabama’s star RB Derrick Henry in the middle. Would it register an earthquake in Tuscaloosa?
Laquon Treadwell, junior WR: Coming off a nasty injury, he’s looked sharp so far this season. Then again, the entire Rebels team has, topping 70 against cupcakes each of the first two weeks. The Tide secondary did a decent job against him last year (five catches, 55 yards and a TD), but streaky Bo Wallace is gone, replaced by a better QB in Chad Kelly. Treadwell is a 1st round talent, and this feels like a great spot for a big game on the road in front a massive TV audience at night. Given the SEC pedigree and the high school hype, I watch him and think AJ Green and Julio Jones. He’s a bit shorter than they are, though (6-foot-2).
ALABAMA
Reggie Ragland, senior LB: Run-stopping linebacker is probably best suited to play on the inside in a 4-3, or in the middle of a 4-3. Such a great athlete, he started on the varsity basketball team in high school as an 8th grader. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound all-SEC player is a late 1st round pick/2nd round pick right now.
OJ Howard, junior TE: Physically, he looks like an early-round pick. At 6-foot-6, 240-pounds, he’s right out of tight end central casting. The production isn’t there yet, but that’s because of what the Tide do offensively. In 29 games, he has 38 catches. Once folks start to look at his blocking and route-running, I think the talk of him as a 1st round pick will heat up. Right now it appears his floor is 2nd round.