The small-school prospects that get drafted are just one of the things that keep the NFL Draft exciting. There's plenty to go around in 2017.
Welcome to that part of the 2017 NFL Draft when you say "who?" and "he played where?" Actually, that's not entirely true. More and more players are coming out from the small schools where they played their college football, and professional organizations now have more resources to find them.
That's the beauty of the NFL Draft.
If you're an avid follower of the NFL Draft ,then you'll know a lot of the names here which are in no set order (other than just to count down in list format). Or you might not. Regardless of where they went to school and if you recognize their names or not, each and every one of them could be familiar names every Sunday very soon. Some will need proper development, but could be future NFL studs.
Nov 19, 2016; Greenville, NC, USA; East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Zay Jones (7) runs after his first quarter catch against the Navy Midshipmen at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Navy defeated East Carolina 66-31. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
10. Zay Jones, WR – East Carolina
Isaiah "Zay" Jones has a great title next to his name: most career receptions in FBS history. He also has the record for most receptions in a season with 158, coming just last season. Ever since the Senior Bowl, Jones has taken his rising draft stock and ran with it. He had two touchdowns that didn't count in that game and only continued to solidify his hype with a strong NFL Combine.
Some will knock his records by saying he played against lesser competition. While maybe true, that's not a fair take. I'm a firm believe that the records he holds are more impressive beings that he had that type of production catching passes from the likes of Shane Carden, Philip Nelson and Blake Kemp.
I truly believe that Jones has the ability to push himself into talks as being the top receiver taken come April's NFL Draft. Between college production, a strong week at the Senior Bowl, impressive combine numbers and receiver-esque confidence, there's little reason not to believe he can quietly slip into the middle of the 1st round.
9. Forrest Lamp, G – Western Kentucky
It's seems as though offensive lineman coming out of small colleges are becoming a trend in the NFL. Two players that pop in mind that have recently came onto the scene are Terron Armstead and Ali Marpet from Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Hobart College, respectively.
Forrest Lamp is the next guy in line. The Western Kentucky product is projected to go in the first round after a collegiate career in which he was named a First Team All-Conference USA team two separate times. His stock skyrocketed against after an impressive performance against the Alabama Crimson Tide and continued to rise with strong showings at both the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine in Indianapolis and most recently his pro day.
Barring any setback Lamp will be a first-round selection in April. His name has been tied to the Miami Dolphins the most in recent weeks most recently by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
Laremy Tunsil's expected move to left tackle leaves an opening at guard, and Lamp is the best guard in the draft. He could also move over to right tackle or slide in to center, and his versatility is a plus. Though Lamp (6-4, 309) played in Conference USA, he has the traits to step in and play immediately next season.
After taking Laremy Tunsil in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the addition of Lamp would finally give quarterback Ryan Tannehill a great group of guys protecting him. Running back Jay Ajayi wouldn't be complaining either.
Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis (84) in action during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2017 Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers defeat the Broncos 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
8. Corey Davis, WR – Western Michigan
Although a small-school prospect, Corey Davis has been a popular name for months. Realistically he's been on teams' big boards for a couple years. After hauling in 67 catches for 941 in his freshman year at Western Michigan, Davis went on to have three consecutive 1,400+ receiving yard seasons en route to setting the FBS record for most receiving yards in a career. No matter the competition, that record alone says something about the caliber and potential he has at the next level.
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Davis could go anywhere from second overall to the San Francisco 49ers to 18th overall to the Tennessee Titans. The chance of him falling farther than 18th is there, though, as he's been unable to workout for any teams all offseason while nursing an ankle injury.
7. Adam Shaheen, TE – Ashland
Have you ever heard of Ashland University? I haven't. At least I hadn't until a little over a month ago. Chances are if you hadn't heard of Ashland then you've never heard of Adam Shaheen, either.
He originally began his career playing basketball for Pittsburgh-Johnstown before transferring to Ashland, a small DII school in Ohio. Since then, he put up monster numbers while looking like a man amongst boys while competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He finished the 2016 season with 57 catches, 867 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The NFL Combine certainly didn't hurt his draft stock. If anything it showed what people saw on tape; a big, fast (4.79-second 40) and strong (24 bench reps, tied for first among tight ends) athlete that has tons of NFL potential. The only reason why teams won't speak of Shaheen's name until the second round is the competition he played against. Regardless, he's made a name for himself and has great momentum leading up to the NFL Draft.
Nov 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Wyoming Cowboys running back Brian Hill (5) rushes for a touchdown during a game against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium. UNLV won the game in the third overtime period 69-66. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
6. Brian Hill, RB – Wyoming
There's a lot of running back talk this offseason thanks to the tape Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette have given us the past couple of seasons. Both are tabbed as 1st-round picks as is Tennessee's Alvin Kamara.
A guy not getting the attention he deserves this offseason is Brian Hill of Wyoming. While all eyes were on quarterback Josh Allen this past season, those eyes couldn't help but gravitate towards the 1,860 yards and 22 touchdowns Hill put up (both of which are Wyoming single-season records). The junior declared for the NFL Draft this past Winter, foregoing his senior season, which could've put Wyoming over the top with he and Allen running the the offense.
Hill's running style reminds many people, including myself, of Jay Ajayi. He's a physical runner that looks for contact and doesn't do a lot of dancing around in the backfield. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller first made the comparison back in November.
The Indianapolis Colts have shown interest in Hill within the past month. He could fill a similar role in Indianapolis as did Ajayi in Miami. Frank Gore is still a reliable running back, but with a year under his belt, Hill could be ready to take the reigns in 2018 for owner Jim Irsay. It's hard to imagine, given all the production in college, that he falls past Round 4 in April.
5. Robert Davis, WR – Georgia State
If you want durability at the wide receiver position just look at Georgia State's Robert Davis. Like Zay Jones, he enters the NFL with an FBS record to his name: most consecutive games with a reception (49). A starter the last two seasons he finished each as a First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference recipient.
The 6-3, 219-pound receiver is a diamond in the rough waiting that'll have his shot in the league. He ran under a 4.45-second 40 and had a 41-inch vertical at his pro day in which the Indianapolis Colts were one team in attendance. Davis also had one of the best broad jumps at the NFL Combine of all participants, coming in at 135 inches. Teams looking to add wide receiver depth later in the draft will certainly be targeting Davis.
Sep 24, 2016; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Charles Jones (24) is tackled by Missouri State Bears linebacker Dylan Cole (31) during first-quarter action at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
4. Dylan Cole, LB – Missouri State
A prospect that came out of nowhere just this last week is Dylan Cole. He's an FCS linebacker that put up FBS-esque numbers at Missouri State's pro day after not getting an invite to the NFL Combine. What kind of numbers did he put up? They'll blow your doors off.
.@dylancole31 had a monster Proday! Would have ranked number 1 or 2 among LB's at the NFL combine #TrainToWin @LorenLandow pic.twitter.com/ttAZ678RE3
— Landow Performance (@LandowPerform) March 22, 2017
Listed at 6-1, 240 pounds on Missouri State's website, to run a 4.50-second 40, jump 39 inches and put up 32 bench reps is unreal. His numbers match that of Jabrill Peppers in the 40 (Pepper ran a 4.46 at the Combine) and tie what Ndamukong Suh benched coming out of Nebraska. Last summer he bested 32 reps on the bench, putting up 36 in a video uploaded to his Twitter account.
Both the Cardinals and Dolphins have scheduled Cole for a private workout following his pro day. He'll get his chance in the NFL.
3. Julie'n Davenport, OL – Bucknell
Julie'n Davenport is on the verge of making history as he's expected to be the first player out of Bucknell drafted since 1969. You have to like his confidence coming out too; in the interview he did with Cincy Jungle's Rebecca Toback he said he wanted fans to know that, "This kid from Bucknell can ball, so hopefully you're not overlooking him. The best is yet to come."
You want that kind of confidence from a small-school prospect. Sometimes you don't truly know what you're getting out of a player until you put him up against top competition, which is what he faced at the Reese's Senior Bowl. That week, however, he ultimately didn't fare well as he struggled setting the edge. Regardless, with some professional coaching and possibly a change on the line, he could find a home in the NFL.
Nov 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Michael Walker (3) is tackled by Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
2. Obi Melifonwu, S – Connecticut
Safeties are always a fun position to keep a tab on, but even more so when safeties are built like linebackers with cornerback traits. Obi Melifonwu fits this build perfect. Standing at 6-4 and weighing in at over 220 pounds, Melifonwu wowed people at the NFL Combine when he clocked in at a 4.40-second 40-yard dash. What was even more impressive was his vertical and broad jump; Melifonwu bested the rest of those at the combine with his 44-inch vertical and 141-inch broad jump.
Connecticut's football program doesn't get in the spotlight much due to their success in the men and women's basketball programs. Regardless, they have quality players in the NFL, most recently with Byron Jones making headlines a couple years ago at the combine. Depending on team need Melifonwu could push himself into the first round. Otherwise, he's a lock to go on Day 2.
1. Larry Ogunjobi, DT – Charlotte
Larry Ogunjobi has come a long way. From being a 350-pound sophomore in high school who'd never played football to a projected secnd-round pick in the NFL Draft, Ogunjobi first stepped onto a football field his sophomore season in high school. Now, he's ranked as the fourth best defensive tackle available by CBS Sports in this years NFL Draft.
KC Kingdom's Ben Almquist put together a great report on Ogunjobi and his potential in the NFL. Kansas City has the 27th overall pick in this year's second round; he projects be a great replacement to Dontari Poe who, coincidentally, also came from a small school, Memphis.
