2017-18 CFB SEASON / '18 NFL DRAFT

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Vita Vea - DL - Huskies

Washington redshirt junior DL Vita Vea will forego his final season of eligibility to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Following the Huskies' loss to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, Vea told the Seattle Times he would be entering the draft. He made that announcement officially on Monday via an Instagram post. The 6-foot-5, 332-pounder is a force as a run-stopper and offers elite raw athleticism, albeit tinged with occasional consistency questions. Vea ranks as Walter Football's No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in college and has upside toward a top-10 selection for the spring.
Source: Vita Vea on Twitter

Jan 1 - 11:11 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Sony Michel - RB - Bulldogs

Georgia senior RB Sony Michel rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries while catching four passes for 41 yards and an additional score in Monday's 54-48 double-overtime win over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

In what was showstopper of a game to begin the College Football Playoff, Michel had several huge runs, including a thrilling 75-yard scoring dash near the beginning of the second quarter. He would later put in a 38-yard touchdown run just before the game flipped to the fourth quarter. The game would not be decided until Michel raced in for 27-yard score in double-overtime. His lone demerit came when he coughed up the ball for a scoop-and-score touchdown in the fourth quarter. Georgia showed fantastic resolve to bounce back from that miscue. Michel (5'11/208) ends his career at Georgia having rushed for 3,515 yards and 33 touchdowns, plus 64 catches for 621 yards and six scores. He possesses an excellent blend of speed and quickness and a late Day 1 selection for the NFL Draft is not out of the question.

Jan 1 - 9:23 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Nick Chubb - RB - Bulldogs

Georgia senior RB Nick Chubb rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in Monday's 54-48 double-overtime win over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

Chubb (5'10/228) was an absolutely punishing runner throughout, no more evidently than on his 50-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. On the play, he fought off at least two would-be tacklers near the line of scrimmage and then turned on the afterburners to chug into the end zone to get Georgia going after they fell behind 31-17 through the first two quarters of the game. He would also score the overtime-forcing touchdown with under a minute remaining, angling in from two yards out after taking the direct snap out of the wild cat. Chubb finishes his senior season in Athens having rushed for 1,320 yards and 15 touchdowns. He topped 1,000 yards in three of four seasons at Georgia, with only his injury-shortened 2015 campaign landing under that mark. A bruiser of a back (as OU can attest to), Chubb also has more than enough speed for NFL purposes and profiles as a probable first-round selection.

Jan 1 - 9:43 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Baker Mayfield - QB - Sooners

Oklahoma redshirt senior QB Baker Mayfield completed 23-of-35 passes for 287 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while catching a two-yard trick-play score in Monday's 54-48 double-overtime loss to Georgia in the Rose Bowl.

Mayfield wasn't perfect -- several of his throws sailed high, including one which was picked -- but rallied Oklahoma after they fell behind 38-31 in the fourth, knotting the score with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dimitri Flowers with just under nine minutes remaining in the game. OU would take the lead on a scoop-and-score fumble recovery just over a minute later before Georgia, themselves, came roaring back to force overtime in the final minute of regulation. The two teams traded field goals in the first overtime, but Sooners K Austin Seibert was blocked on his attempt to lead off double overtime, with Sony Michel ending the game shortly thereafter via a 27-yard touchdown bolt. Mayfield did not come away with a national championship during his time in Normon, but ended his career with a Heisman Trophy for his work this season. While slightly undersized, the redshirt senior has a real chance to land on Day 1 in the spring draft.

Jan 1 - 9:32 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Derrius Guice - RB - Tigers

LSU junior Derrius Guice rushed for 98 yards on 21 carries and also caught two touchdowns in a 21-17 loss to Notre Dame on Monday in the Citrus Bowl.

Guice just missed a third receiving touchdown near the end of the game, coming down on essentially the one-inch line to set up what could have been the game-winning field goal. It wasn't. Guice looked like a first-round pick against the Irish on Monday, and assuming he enters the draft, that's what he likely will be with his ability to make plays as a receiver and ball-carrier. He could easily end up being a top 20 selection come spring.

Jan 1 - 4:37 PM


Derrius Guice - RB - Tigers

Following Monday's Citrus Bowl loss to Notre Dame, LSU junior RB Derrius Guice said that he would have a discussion with HC Ed Orgeron before he makes an NFL Draft decision.

Guice (5'11/216) put in 98 yards with a pair of receiving touchdowns during the Citrus Bowl defeat. Following the game, he deflected somewhat on the NFL Draft, saying that he had been focusing mostly on bowl preparation over the past month. If the junior standout does declare -- as is widely expected -- he's a potential top-15 selection. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the No. 3 draft-eligible running back out there, trailing only Penn State's Saquon Barkley and Stanford's Bryce Love.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Jan 1 - 8:03 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Kerryon Johnson - RB - Tigers

Following Monday's Peach Bowl loss to UCF, Auburn junior RB Kerryon Johnson said that he has no timetable for making his decision as to an NFL Draft declaration.

Johnson (6'0/195) posted 71 yards and a touchdown rushing during Monday's loss. He'll discuss the NFL Draft with friends, family and coaches before he makes a decision. NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah has comped the junior to Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell, noting that the two backs share a similar patience in waiting for their blocks to line up before making their moves downfield. He could see interest as early as the second round of the draft should he declare.
Source: Christina Chambers on Twitter

Jan 1 - 6:28 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Quenton Nelson - G - Fighting Irish

Notre Dame redshirt junior G Quenton Nelson will forego his final season of eligibility to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Nelson (6'5/315) announced his draft intentions following Monday's win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Adept in both run and pass blocking, he's arguably the top guard in the draft class. While it's somewhat rare for guards to land in the first half of the first round, the Notre Dame standout has a strong chance of being swept off the board within the first 15 picks come the spring. One NFL executive told MMQB's Albert Breer near the end of December that Nelson is a better prospect coming out of college than current Cowboys G Zack Martin, who was selected 16th overall by the Cowboys during the 2014 NFL Draft.
Source: Pete Sampson on Twitter

Jan 1 - 6:46 PM

[ChrisPozz]

NFL Draft rumors: Sam Darnold might stay at USC; teams love Baker Mayfield

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-rumors-quarterbacks-sam-darnold-baker-mayfield-josh-rosen/k2o3vl3ntwmv130v4xuwokguq

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

NFL Draft rumors: Sam Darnold might stay at USC; teams love Baker Mayfield

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-rumors-quarterbacks-sam-darnold-baker-mayfield-josh-rosen/k2o3vl3ntwmv130v4xuwokguq

Pozz,

What was the issue with GM Rick Smith and coach Bill O'Brien? Which of the two advocated to bring Brock Osweiler, and which one wanted Deshaun and advocated to trading up for him? That's one team I really don't follow much at all.

[ChrisPozz]

NFL Draft rumors: Sam Darnold might stay at USC; teams love Baker Mayfield

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-rumors-quarterbacks-sam-darnold-baker-mayfield-josh-rosen/k2o3vl3ntwmv130v4xuwokguq

Pozz,

What was the issue with GM Rick Smith and coach Bill O'Brien? Which of the two advocated to bring Brock Osweiler, and which one wanted Deshaun and advocated to trading up for him? That's one team I really don't follow much at all.

Exact issue(s)? Don't know at this point. What seems to be the general consensus SO FAR among the best Houston writers I KNOW OF is that they never had the strongest relationship and negative mutual feelings were going on for a long time and it got in the way of the day-to-day operations.

Contractually, Rick Smith was the off-season additions/draft guy and O'Brien was the guy who had control of the 53 and all that.

For me, a lot of the time the story is in where those mesh points are at in any relationship because it's almost impossible to have a clear divide in any front office-coaching marriage. They almost always have to spill over into each person's side a little bit, and with their relationship, it was always hard for me personally to see all the things that spilled over onto each other's side because neither man talked a ton about it in the media. You could tell, however, that Smith was an active GM in regards to the draft stuff, though.

Both men deserve credit/blame for the Osweiler and Watson stuff but contractually it's Smith that is the offseason/draft guy and O'Brien is the 53 guy. But the devil is in the details of where those mesh points are because that would tell you how much Smith liked Osweiler/Watson and how much O'Brien liked Osweiler/Watson and anything that might have altered the decision based on the conversations the men had with each other, or maybe the lack of conversations they had with each other.

On Watson first. Smith will get credit for it for the most part I think. He had the draft power and it was always said that it was his move and hand that went in making the deal to go get him. He also went well out of his way to make it to some of Watson's first with the organization when he was originally scheduled to miss it. Like I said before as well. Smith has always been a relatively active GM in regards to the draft stuff and has developed strong feelings for different guys even before the stuff with the coach comes up.

On Osweiler. Harder for me to get into. Smith being as active as he is and having the contract power he could've vetoed anything with Osweiler if he really wanted to. How much of a fan O'Brien might have been and what he really thought the upside was there? I don't know that. O'Brien is usually one of the better, more reasoned, and level-headed guys in the league in terms of not getting too far ahead of oneself so even if he was OK with taking Osweiler on, I have little to no doubt that he knew about where the Osweiler upside was and what the best case scenario probably was for him.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

NFL Draft rumors: Sam Darnold might stay at USC; teams love Baker Mayfield

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-rumors-quarterbacks-sam-darnold-baker-mayfield-josh-rosen/k2o3vl3ntwmv130v4xuwokguq

Pozz,

What was the issue with GM Rick Smith and coach Bill O'Brien? Which of the two advocated to bring Brock Osweiler, and which one wanted Deshaun and advocated to trading up for him? That's one team I really don't follow much at all.

Exact issue(s)? Don't know at this point. What seems to be the general consensus SO FAR among the best Houston writers I KNOW OF is that they never had the strongest relationship and negative mutual feelings were going on for a long time and it got in the way of the day-to-day operations.

Contractually, Rick Smith was the off-season additions/draft guy and O'Brien was the guy who had control of the 53 and all that.

For me, a lot of the time the story is in where those mesh points are at in any relationship because it's almost impossible to have a clear divide in any front office-coaching marriage. They almost always have to spill over into each person's side a little bit, and with their relationship, it was always hard for me personally to see all the things that spilled over onto each other's side because neither man talked a ton about it in the media. You could tell, however, that Smith was an active GM in regards to the draft stuff, though.

Both men deserve credit/blame for the Osweiler and Watson stuff but contractually it's Smith that is the offseason/draft guy and O'Brien is the 53 guy. But the devil is in the details of where those mesh points are because that would tell you how much Smith liked Osweiler/Watson and how much O'Brien liked Osweiler/Watson and anything that might have altered the decision based on the conversations the men had with each other, or maybe the lack of conversations they had with each other.

On Watson first. Smith will get credit for it for the most part I think. He had the draft power and it was always said that it was his move and hand that went in making the deal to go get him. He also went well out of his way to make it to some of Watson's first with the organization when he was originally scheduled to miss it. Like I said before as well. Smith has always been a relatively active GM in regards to the draft stuff and has developed strong feelings for different guys even before the stuff with the coach comes up.

On Osweiler. Harder for me to get into. Smith being as active as he is and having the contract power he could've vetoed anything with Osweiler if he really wanted to. How much of a fan O'Brien might have been and what he really thought the upside was there? I don't know that. O'Brien is usually one of the better, more reasoned, and level-headed guys in the league in terms of not getting too far ahead of oneself so even if he was OK with taking Osweiler on, I have little to no doubt that he knew about where the Osweiler upside was and what the best case scenario probably was for him.

Thanks a lot Pozz. Believe it or not, this write up was very helpful for an outsider who wants a summary of what has occurred in that building these last couple year; and also get a clearer understanding of the dynamics of their relationship.

[NinerSickness]

Quenton Nelson - G - Fighting Irish

Notre Dame redshirt junior G Quenton Nelson will forego his final season of eligibility to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Nelson (6'5/315) announced his draft intentions following Monday's win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Adept in both run and pass blocking, he's arguably the top guard in the draft class. While it's somewhat rare for guards to land in the first half of the first round, the Notre Dame standout has a strong chance of being swept off the board within the first 15 picks come the spring. One NFL executive told MMQB's Albert Breer near the end of December that Nelson is a better prospect coming out of college than current Cowboys G Zack Martin, who was selected 16th overall by the Cowboys during the 2014 NFL Draft.
Source: Pete Sampson on Twitter

Jan 1 - 6:46 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Ronald Jones II - RB - Trojans

Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline hears from "multiple sources" that USC junior RB Ronald Jones II will enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Pauline writes that Jones will begin training for the NFL Combine in the coming days. The 6-foot, 200-pounder is one of our favorites beyond the obvious like Saquon Barkley. He's deceptively strong and a true breakaway threat -- three of Jones' runs this season went for more than 50 yards. The junior rushed for 1,550 yards (5.9 YPC) and 19 touchdowns for the 2017 campaign. Draft Analyst hits up Jones with a second-round grade.
Source: Draft Analyst

Jan 2 - 9:24 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Kerryon Johnson - RB - Tigers

Auburn junior RB Kerryon Johnson will forego his final season of eligibility to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Johnson, the SEC's reigning Offensive Player of the Year finished the 2017 season rushing for 1,391 yards (4.9 YPC) and 18 touchdowns. The 6-foot, 195-pounder is a patient runner who is skilled at setting up his blocks before cutting upfield. Health has often been a question with Johnson, especially last year, when a hamstring injury hampered him at times, but he took on 103 more carries this season and showed out well with the extra work. A strong evaluation process could engender interest for late in the first round.
Source: Kerryon Johnson on Twitter

Jan 2 - 9:18 PM

[Ray_Dogg]

I stopped watching the Rose Bowl gm after early 3rd Qtr for other reasons but I am stunned that Georgia came back and beat Oklahoma.... Riley had that offense going and the playcalling was killing the bulldogs... Idk how defensively they came through cuz they were lost and beaten left n right. Offensively, the run game was destroying the Sooners. Nothing changed there.

Maybe, just maybe... considering it was a tie game going to double OT... that FG at the end of the first was the momentum changer after all?

Smith, Carter and the Georgia D took it to another level.

[NinerSickness]

Quenton Nelson - G - Fighting Irish

Notre Dame redshirt junior G Quenton Nelson will forego his final season of eligibility to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Nelson (6'5/315) announced his draft intentions following Monday's win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Adept in both run and pass blocking, he's arguably the top guard in the draft class. While it's somewhat rare for guards to land in the first half of the first round, the Notre Dame standout has a strong chance of being swept off the board within the first 15 picks come the spring. One NFL executive told MMQB's Albert Breer near the end of December that Nelson is a better prospect coming out of college than current Cowboys G Zack Martin, who was selected 16th overall by the Cowboys during the 2014 NFL Draft.
Source: Pete Sampson on Twitter

Jan 1 - 6:46 PM

Read on Twitter

GET HEEEEEEEEEEEEM!!!!

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Mason Rudolph - QB - Cowboys

Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline passes along that Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph is training with former program QB Zac Robinson.

"The hope is that Robinson will ease Rudolph’s transition from the spread offense he commanded at Oklahoma State to the NFL passing offense employed at the Senior Bowl," Pauline writes. Robinson was a seventh-round selection in the 2010 draft. He was a Senior Bowl participant that year. Setting aside what Rudolph might do on the field during SB practices, Pauline believes that he will impress in interviews with interested squads.
Source: Draft Analyst

Jan 3 - 2:05 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Quenton Nelson - G - Fighting Irish

Read on Twitter

GET HEEEEEEEEEEEEM!!!!

Damn, that's a beastly move right there!

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Rodney Anderson - RB - Sooners

Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley said that he does not believe redshirt sophomore RB Rodney Anderson will declare for the NFL Draft.

Riley said that he has not had any conversations with Anderson regarding the draft. That does not mean that the 6-foot-1, 204-pounder is a lock to return to Norman, but at the very least, it's not a topic that's been broached. The redshirt sophomore went out in high style this season, rolling for 202 yards and two scores on the ground during Monday's wild double-overtime Rose Bowl loss to Georgia. For the campaign as a whole, he rushed for 1,162 yards and 13 touchdowns, with six 100-yard efforts in his final eight games.
Source: Bob Przybylo on Twitter

Jan 3 - 1:52 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Rodney Anderson - RB - Sooners

Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley said that he does not believe redshirt sophomore RB Rodney Anderson will declare for the NFL Draft.

Riley said that he has not had any conversations with Anderson regarding the draft. That does not mean that the 6-foot-1, 204-pounder is a lock to return to Norman, but at the very least, it's not a topic that's been broached. The redshirt sophomore went out in high style this season, rolling for 202 yards and two scores on the ground during Monday's wild double-overtime Rose Bowl loss to Georgia. For the campaign as a whole, he rushed for 1,162 yards and 13 touchdowns, with six 100-yard efforts in his final eight games.
Source: Bob Przybylo on Twitter

Jan 3 - 1:52 PM