National Football League

NFL Draft 2017: 5 Best Prospects in MAC Championship Game

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:03 p.m. ET

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Western Michigan and Ohio square off in the MAC Championship Game on Friday night. Here’s a look at the best 2017 NFL Draft prospects from the contest.

The overall talent on the rosters may not be that of the Big Ten or SEC, but the MAC Championship Game on Friday will have plenty of players for NFL Draft fans to keep a close eye on.

After a perfect 12-0 regular season, the Western Michigan Broncos will face the Ohio Bobcats for the conference title. It’s been a storybook season for the former, a program that went 1-11 just three years ago. Now they are favored in the MAC title game and are ripe with names that will be read during the 2017 NFL Draft.

Though Western Michigan won’t be playing for a national championship this season due to their strength of schedule, the Broncos have talent throughout the roster that will be seen on Sundays. These players can be seen at every level and will be dispersed throughout all three days of April’s 2017 NFL Draft. Ohio (8-4) has two players that have a good chance to be selected on the third day of the draft as well.

However, all of these players have a chance to improve their stocks on Friday night during the MAC Championship Game. After all, the big national stage is one of the biggest things that these games afford the young athletes. Subsequently, here are the five best 2017 NFL Draft prospects that will be playing on Friday night in the MAC title game.

Sep 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Ohio Bobcats safety Nathan Carpenter (35) and linebacker Blair Brown (33) tackle Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Rodney Smith (24) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

5. Blair Brown, ILB — Ohio

Inside linebacker Blair Brown is a senior who, at 6-1, 240 pounds, has collected 4.5 sacks, with two of them coming against Buffalo in early November. Three times this season, Brown had double-digit tackles in a game, those coming against Texas State, Eastern Michigan and of course Buffalo.

Andrew Gillis of The Post quoted Ohio defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow in an article in mid-November about Brown:

“He’s very physical, he blows up plays at the line of scrimmage,” defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow said. “Really against the run game, that’s what you need. That was our whole goal going into the year, to get better against the run. We’ve done that.”

Coming into a game like this one on Friday night, fans and scouts alike will get a first-hand look of just how good Brown had become as a run-stopper. Though Western Michigan boasts a fierce passing attack, they have a balanced offense that features a talented running back in Jarvion Franklin. Brown coming up to stop big plays from Franklin will be pivotal to Ohio’s success.

There’s a chance that Brown goes undrafted in April, but a big performance starting the MAC Championship Game could start to turn some heads and eyes on the linebacker. He’ll need to play his best game of the year, but he has that opportunity with the conference title on the line.

Oct 10, 2015; Athens, OH, USA; Miami (Oh) Redhawks quarterback Billy Bahl (5) looks to pass while under pressure from Ohio Bobcats defensive lineman Tarell Basham (93) in the first half at Peden Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

4. Tarell Basham, DE — Ohio

Bobcats defensive end Tarell Basham will probably be going up against Western Michigan tackle Taylor Moton, another player featured on this list, throughout the night on Friday., If that is the case, there’s no question that will be the singular one-on-one matchup to watch all game.

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Standing at 6-4 and weighing in at 262 pounds, Basham has done damage to the opposing quarterback this season. The Ohio defensive end has collected 10 sacks, having a sack in eight games. Against Tennessee in early September, he totaled five tackles (three solo), two sacks and one forced fumble. That’s been by far the biggest stage that Basham has played on prior to Friday night.

Going up against a quality offensive tackle prospect in Moton, we’ll get a good look at what Basham is capable of. Yes, it’s a one-game sample size that you can’t read too much into. However, it’s pitting a fringe prospect against quality competition on a big stage. That’s what a player like Basham needs to really put himself on the map in the eyes of scouts.

Though it is unsure just what he’ll accomplish at the next level, that will eventually come, but the senior should be exciting to watch with the MAC title on the line.

Sep 3, 2016; Evanston, IL, USA; Western Michigan Broncos quarterback Zach Terrell (11) drops back to pass against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Zach Terrell, QB — Western Michigan

Western Michigan’s Zach Terrell will be seen a lot this Friday as he’ll be under center for the Broncos. Though it is unlikely Terrell is drafted late on Day 3 of the 2017 NFL Draft, it’s hard to leave unimpressed with his production throughout his senior season.

The 6-2, 204-pound quarterback is very accurate with his passes, completing 71.7 percent of his throws. He’s completed 228 passes this season, throwing for over 3,000 yards (3,086). Maybe most impressive isn’t even his 30 touchdown passes, but rather that he’s thrown just one interception on 318 attempts this season. Regardless of competition, that kind of efficiency is simply remarkable. That said, the senior doesn’t have the strongest arm and clearly lacks prototypical size for the position at the NFL level.

Though Terrell is widely viewed as a Day 3 prospect at best, his accuracy could prove to be a selling point for NFL teams. He has other opportunities at the combine and Senior Bowl games to showcase that. However, watch for Terrell and see just what he can do on the national stage on Friday night in the MAC title game. This game is most likely another tryout for NFL scouts as he nears the end of his collegiate career.

Nov 18, 2015; DeKalb, IL, USA; A detailed view of the Western Michigan Broncos helmet before the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Huskie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

2. Taylor Moton, OT — Western Michigan

The Broncos have one of the best offensive tackles in the 2017 NFL Draft in Taylor Moton and he’s wholly deserving of his vaulted consideration. Moton is a 6-5, 328-pound tackle that keeps the Western Michigan offense, the fourth-highest scoring unit in the country, humming.

Chris Hummer of 247sports.com described the strength and physical attributes Moton possesses in a recent article:

“A 6-foot-5, 328-pound senior right tackle, Moton is projected as an early-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s strong in the way only kids from the Rust Belt can be. His max squat is 570 pounds and he throws up 400 pounds on the bench press with ease.”

That is real-deal NFL strength Moton has and, if a team wants to wait on a tackle, they could be getting a steal in a player like Moton. Though he may not boast the pedigree of a guy like Alabama’s Cam Robinson or even Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk, he has the functional strength and body of work to prove that he has the makings of a quality NFL tackle on the edge of a line

As state previously, Moton will be matched up with arguably the best player on a stout Ohio defense in the MAC Championship Game. While Basham may be a threat on Friday, Moton really needs to dominate to keep his draft-stock rising. As is the case with many players in this game, level of competition is the biggest detraction from their stock currently. Thus, consistent levels of dominance are pivotal.

Sep 4, 2015; Kalamazoo, MI, USA; Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis (84) runs though the tackle of Michigan State Spartans linebacker Darien Harris (45) during the 2nd half of a game at Waldo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

1. Corey Davis, WR — Western Michigan

At 6-3, 213 pounds, Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis is far and away the best player that will be on the field in the MAC Championship Game. Though he plays for a smaller school, he has legitimate NFL size to be a true No. 1, but also possesses the speed to be elite in other aspects as well.

Throughout his career, the Broncos star has been a major part of head coach P.J. Fleck taking the team from 1-11 to 12-0 in such a short time. The receiver has been there throughout and has been making plays from the start. He can go up in traffic and come down with the ball given his size. However, he can also simply turn on the jets either on a deep route or in space following a short throw to break open big plays.

And if you’re curious about his level of production, in the final regular-season game of his career, Davis became the FBS all-time leader in receiving yards as he surpassed the previous mark of 5,005 yards with an 81-yard performance against Toledo. What’s more, he’s averaged had multiple touchdowns in six games in 2016 to also go with a 272-yard, three-score performance against Ball State in early November.

By most accounts, Davis is one of the five best receivers in the 2017 NFL Draft class. However, with strong showings in the MAC Championship Game, Western Michigan’s bowl game, and going forward, he could well play himself into being a firm first-rounder and as one of the three best at the position. He’s that talented and that impressive.

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