Boise State vs. Georgia and LSU vs. Oregon: Future NFL Players to Watch
By Jason McIntyre
Boise State
Kellen Moore, senior QB: Likely will go down as one of the winningest QBs in college football history. Best senior QB in the country. Ruthlessly efficient as a junior, but he lost his top two receivers to the NFL. Doesn’t project as a great pro, and some people think he won’t even get drafted (he’s only 5-foot-11). I can see him as the No. 3 QB on an NFL team that runs the West Coast offense.
Doug Martin, senior RB: Short but tough runner (5-9, 215) with nice hands out of the backfield. Scored 15 TDs as a sophomore, then rang up 1,280 yards rushing as a junior. I wouldn’t be surprised if he approached 2,000 all purpose yards as a senior. A poor man’s Mark Ingram? Martin can squat 530 pounds, and I think he could garner 3rd round consideration (maybe 2nd?) if his 4.41 40-time can be improved a bit.
Billy Winn, senior DE: The Broncos’ strength this year will be its front seven. Winn, at 6-3, 295 pounds, is the player to watch. Will be interesting to see how a Georgia line with maybe three pro prospects (Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones, Kwame Geathers) handles Winn, who could be a first-round talent (more likely 2nd) in 2012.
GEORGIA
Aaron Murray, redshirt sophomore QB: Impressive 2010 campaign (61 % completions, 3,049 yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs), but his offensive line is weaker, and he’s lost AJ Green to the NFL. Murray’s only 6-foot-1, which is shorter than the scouts love (though Drew Brees is only 6-foot). Might just end up being a very, very good college QB who never amounts to much in the pros … like other Georgia QBs (Mike Bobo, Eric Zeier, David Greene). I’d say he’s got a ceiling of being a 2nd-3rd round pick in 2013.
Brandon Boykin, senior CB: Sick athlete, confident and full of swagger, and very fast. Will be interesting to see if he matches up with Tyler Shoemaker, Boise State’s top returning receiver. Likely a mid-round pick in the 2012 draft.
Tavarres King, junior WR: Third-leading receiver on the team as a sophomore becomes the top target of Murray. At 6-1, 190, he’s a speedy deep threat who could have a very good season if the Bulldogs’ much-hyped running game (starring freshman Isaiah Crowell) pans out.
Orson Charles, junior TE: Friend of Nevin Shapiro is supposed to be one of the best at his position in college football. I think he’ll have a big game against Boise because Murray will be under duress and not have much time to look downfield. He’s 6-3, 240 and should be a mid-round pick in 2013.
LSU
(I’ve left Russell Shepard off this list due to his suspension, but he’s a future NFL pick)
Morris Claiborne, junior, CB: One outlet has Claiborne as the 4th best player in the SEC. A dangerous returner and cover man, he’s also blazing fast. A converted receiver, Claiborne probably is a 1st or 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft. Not sure he’d go that high if he came out in 2012.
Rueben Randle, junior WR: High school superstar was a 5-star recruit and had a good sophomore year (33 catches, three TDs), but should be the No. 1 target with Shepard suspended. At 6-foot-4, they say he’s got some AJ Green/Julio Jones in him, but I haven’t seen it yet. Potential is there to be a high-round draft pick, but can he do it catching passes from Lee or Jefferson?
Barkevious Mingo, redshirt sophomore DE: You may know him as a guy with a fantastic name, but at 6-foot-5, 240-pounds, he’s a menacing defensive end. He only weighed 220 last year, but bulked up by 20 pounds. Curious to see what he’s like when he adds 25 more pounds – which is what he’ll need to do to become an NFL DE. Won’t be an NFL draft pick until 2013 or 2014.
* Unscientific number.
** Yes, joke away.