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Seven prospects most ready to take on the NFL after bowl season
Editor's note: Bowl season is the end of the road for many college players. The lucky ones will have a shot to play in the NFL. Here are seven prospects who are the most ready to take on the NFL challenge after bowl season.
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AMARI COOPER, WR, ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
It’s tough to find holes in the game of a player who owns all of Alabama’s receiving records. Cooper is the most pro-ready prospect at the most pro-ready school in all of college football, and while he’s not as explosive as Tide alumni Julio Jones, he has just as much big-play ability. It’ll be fun to watch him go head-to-head against Doran Grant, the Buckeyes’ talented cornerback, in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. He should win more of those matchups than he loses.
DUKE JOHNSON, RB, MIAMI HURRICANES
Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville likened the Hurricanes' back to two all-time greats: Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Johnson tore up Tuberville’s Bearcats, but that high praise is a little off. Instead, compare him to another former Miami great -- Frank Gore. Both players prefer power-running styles, but like Gore, Johnson is patient enough to wait for developing blocks before lowering his pads. Johnson declared for the NFL draft after Miami lost to South Carolina in the Independence Bowl.
CAMERON ERVING, OT/C, FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Truth be told, Erving would’ve been a top-20 pick if he declared last season instead of returning to Tallahassee. But the tackle returned only to have the ‘Noles need him to shift inside at center, and now, he’s pro-ready at two positions. He’ll have his hands full against an athletic Oregon defense in the Rose Bowl, but he’s too skilled to let Jimbo Fisher down.
A.J. CANN, OG, SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Cann will remind some of Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper. He shouldn’t; while both men played in the Carolinas, Cann is insanely sound from a technique standpoint. He’s such a violent blocker that at times this season, Steve Spurrier’s running game basically followed Cann’s lead. NFL scouts love measurables, and Cann fits the NFL profile quite well.
MELVIN GORDON, RB, WISCONSIN BADGERS
Gordon is the best hope to break the NFL’s cold streak with first-round running backs. He’s a Jamaal Charles clone -- a dynamic runner in the open field who’s just as dangerous running patterns out of the backfield. And he’ll have pro scouts drooling over both skill sets if he runs wild on Auburn’s spotty defense in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.
BERNARDRICK McKINNEY, ILB, MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
The “Psycho Defense” down in Starkville confounded the SEC and helped Mississippi State to an Orange Bowl berth. McKinney was the heart and soul of that unit who made all the defensive calls and was responsible for any defensive audible. Scouts will come for McKinney’s leadership and stay for his massive frame; at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he can thump with the NFL’s biggest right away.
RANDY GREGORY, DE, NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Gregory has earned comparisons to Jevon Kearse for his freakish athleticism. NFL scouts are freaking out about how “bendy” Gregory is; he has the uncanny ability to dip his hips low, squeeze into tight spaces around blockers and make tackles look foolish. He'll be a high pick in the NFL draft and contribute immediately next fall.
