Jake Rigdon

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Notre Dame edge rushers Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara remain on scouts’ radars

Khalid Kareem and Julian Okwara entered the 2019 season as highly rated edge-rushing prospects. The only question by many analysts was how high in the first round the Notre Dame duo would go. But injuries and other factors set in, and now it’s possible that neither one is among the first 32 players selected in…

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Detroit with four first-rounders? Four QBs drafted within the first five picks?! Here’s how that can happen

Detroit is on the verge of becoming “draft rich.” Like, Jeff Bezos “draft rich.” It all depends on what Washington does with the No. 2 overall pick. The Redskins have been linked to Ohio State defensive end Chase Young ever since the draft order was set. However, rumors persist that Washington and new head coach…

Oklahoma State CB A.J. Green improves 40 time at school’s Pro Day

After recording one of the slowest 40-yard dash times among participating cornerbacks at the Combine, Oklahoma State’s A.J. Green needed a big day at his school’s Pro Day. He accomplished that goal on Tuesday. While Green’s 40-time is disputed, he nonetheless recorded a faster 40 and improved in most testing areas, according to Sports Illustrated’s…

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Why isn’t Tennessee Edge Darrell Taylor a higher-rated NFL draft prospect?

One SEC pass rusher is 6-foot-4, 267 pounds and had 8 or more sacks each of the past two seasons while avoiding major injury. The other SEC pass rusher is 6-foot-3, 254 pounds and had a combined 9.5 sacks in three seasons, one of which was cut short due to a serious injury. And yet,…

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Scouts ‘excited by upside’ of Kansas OL Hakeem Adeniji

At 6-foot-4, 302 pounds, he has good, not great, size for the offensive line. He can play four positions along the line, the exception being at center. And he didn’t come from a big school but has held his own against more-heralded competition. Kansas offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji might just be the most “Bill Belichick-type…

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Combine snub Oluwole Betiku Jr. impresses at Illinois Pro Day

Illinois edge Oluwole Betiku Jr. was a surprise omission from the Combine, but he made up for it during his school’s Pro Day earlier this week. Pro Days are ongoing and will last through April. Alabama’s April 9 Pro Day is believed to be the last one scheduled before the NFL Draft, April 23-25. Click…

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Recent analytical mock drafts full of surprises

Most mock drafts start out with a player ranking system that largely goes by the best-to-lowest ranked player, with team needs and sometimes trades taken into account. That’s why you’ll tend to see quarterbacks ranked so highly. For example, Utah State’s Jordan Love is likely more of a Day 2 type of talent, but he’s…

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Ross Blacklock follows in former TCU teammate’s footsteps as a late-rising NFL draft prospect

For a conference often criticized for its overall lack of defense, the Big 12 has at least three defensive tackles that are pushing for Day 1 consideration. The fastest riser – at least currently – among them is TCU’s Ross Blacklock, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound junior who missed all of 2018 with an Achilles tear. Blacklock…

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Reports: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa takes next step, ready for workouts

Tua is back. The star Alabama quarterback has been medically cleared for all football activity, according to various media reports. His recent four-month scan on his fractured and dislocated hip came back clear on Monday, according to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge. Tagovailoa is expected to start going through the normal QB drills while training in Nashville…

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The other A.J. Green, Lamar Jackson hoping to improve 40 times at upcoming Pro Days

It’s do-over time, as colleges are holding Pro Days at their respective campuses. Two big cornerbacks in particular are likely trying to improve their 40-yard dash times, as both Oklahoma State’s A.J. Green and Nebraska’s Lamar Jackson ran a 4.62 and a 4.58, respectively, at the Combine. At 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, Green’s time was among…

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