All 2016 NFL Draft Prospect Team – Conference Championship Game Addition

All 2016 NFL Draft Prospect Team – Conference Championship Game Addition

The goal of this article is to see if I can identify a team using only 2016 draft prospects that will be playing in a conference championship game today. The games that will be used are:

• Temple-Houston
• Florida-Alabama
• USC-Stanford
• Michigan State-Iowa
• North Carolina-Clemson

Offense

QB – Connor Cook Michigan State – I’m not the biggest Cook fan as I think his accuracy issues won’t improve in the NFL but he is athletic, big and strong. I think he’ll be drafted on day 2 with the only other QB drafted in this group in 2016 being Kevin Hogan on day 3. USC’s Cody Kessler has had the best college career but NFL teams won’t be enamored with either his arm or his athletic ability. The best QB prospect playing on the field today will be Clemson’s Deshaun Watson by a mile but Watson as a true sophomore will have to wait until next year.

RB Derrick Henry Alabama – Alabama’s season changed when the decision was made to give the ball to the 6’3 245 lb., Henry around 40 times per game. With Henry controlling down and distance, Alabama was able to morph into an offense that relied on Jacob Coker making short throws in optimum down and distance situations. Henry has better feet and wiggle than you would expect from a back his size. The only other option for me was Clemson’s hard running Wayne Gallman, a RS sophomore. The two best RB prospects playing might be Stanford do it all back: Christian McCaffrey, a true sophomore. USC’s freshman RB, Ronald Jones might be the most talented RB in all of college football. Alas, neither are eligible for this team.

Slot WR Ryan Switzer North Carolina – Switzer is the best player on an excellent Carolina receiving core with potentially 4 NFL prospects. Switzer is the sure-handed, small guy who is quick and fast and can contribute big time in the return game that New England seems to find regularly. He’ll probably be drafted on day 3 and be a very good player for the right offense for 8-10 years.

WR Aaron Burbridge Michigan State – Burbridge exploded this year as probably the best WR in the Big 10 that doesn’t get enough love. If you like guys with dominant hands and body control that win one on one battles Burbridge is your guy. Cook trusts him and will throw to him even when covered and not always accurately. Burbridge consistently rewards him for that trusts

WR Mack Hollins North Carolina – This second WR was had to choose. The best WR prospect on these teams is Clemson’s Mike Williams but I decided to eliminate him because he won’t play and the word is he is taking a medical redshirt and won’t declare. North Carolina’s Mack Hollins is a one-trick pony at the moment but it’s a heck of a trick (26 yards per catch and 8 TDs). I also considered Stanford’s hyped mega-sized but incredibly unproductive, Devon Cajuste as well as a couple of Tar Heels: Bug Howard and Quinshad Davis. In the end, I went with the more explosive Hollins. Florida’s Demarcus Robinson is probably the best WR of this group but he’s been suspended more often than Lindsay Lohan’s driver’s license.

OT Jack Conklin Michigan State & Kyle Murphy Stanford – Murphy probably kicks inside to OG in the NFL but he is a powerhouse with heavy hands headed to the Senior Bowl and for my mind he had to be on this team. Conklin will probably be the 1st offensive lineman drafted in this game but I’d like to see him finish much better and he is up and down in pass pro. NFL offensive line coaches are going to fall in love with the talent and the truth is he’s been a good player overall.

OG Landon Turner North Carolina & Josh Garrett Stanford – Turner is a big body who plays with an edge and competitiveness that you love from an offensive guard. He also moves better than a guy his size has any right too. Look for him to get some late first round love. I rate Garnett even higher because of his insane strength and ability to move bodies in the run game and his pass blocking in a phone booth is plus as well.

C Jack Allen Michigan State – This is a good year for centers and Allen might be the best of the bunch. He brings unusual strength and power for the position. His nasty attitude sinks into the rest of the Michigan State offensive line. When he was hurt earlier in the year, MSU noticeably missed his talent and tone setting. Iowa’s Austin Blythe is fighter and technically sound with a plus personality and definitely day 3 draft-able prospect. USC’s Max Tuerk might have taken the honors over Allen but his season was ended by a knee injury.

Defense

DE Johnathan Allen Alabama & Shaq Lawson Clemson – Both of these guys break the mold of little DEs in the 4-3. Both are in the 270-280 range with the athletic ability and quickness to stay at DE in a 4-3. Both are good defenders against the run and productive in the pass rush. It was hard leaving off Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun an athletic end who excels vs the run. Lawson  and Allen provide more in the pass rush and both are good run defenders as well. Both are also younger than Calhoun.

DT Johnathan Bullard Florida – Bullard is one of the best defensive prospects in this draft period in my opinion. He combines strength and insane first step quickness. He will be a star in the NFL as a 3 Tech DT. He will be a nightmare for defensive coordinators both in the pass rush and making splash plays vs the run.

DT Jarran Reed Alabama – This spot came down to a choice between Alabama’s Reed and A’Shawn Robinson also of Alabama. If you’re looking for splash plays and GIFs go with Robinson, a lot of NFL Defensive line coaches will agree with you. Robinson will almost certainly be the higher guy drafted. Robinson moves well for a guy his size but he’s also happy to hang out at the LOS while other guys make plays way too often. Given Alabama’s depth and rotation of defensive lineman, there is really no reason for him to not be balls to the wall productive. Since Robinson chooses to hold the LOS, I’ll take Reed who is better at doing that and still getting involved in the play. Reed is a poor man’s version of Vince Wilfork (he’s not close to as good but stay with me) in that he can hold the run and isn’t a zero in the pass rush.

LBs Reggie Ragland Alabama, Tyler Matakevich Temple, Blake Martinez Stanford – Ragland brings size, athletic ability and instincts that allow him to be an all-around LB. He’s the best player on a very talented Tide team and will be one of the 15 best players in the upcoming draft. Martinez has good size and is a good athlete if not as athletic as Ragland. He also brings good instincts in the run and pass game. Matakevich possesses easy movement in both the run and pass, is a great tackler and a great instinctive player. He’s faster than he’s given credit for. His size will limit him to a certain role in the NFL but he’ll be really good at that role and be a 10 year player. I know I cheated and took 3 MLBs but I really just took three good football players.

CBs Vernon Hargraves III Florida & MacKensie Alexander Clemson- VH3 is a ridiculously athletic player with all of great hip flexibility, top-end speed, great ball skills and a competitive fire that wants to win every 50/50 ball. The only concern is a tendency to get dinged because of his physical style. Alexander is built like a RB and he runs routes better than most WRs. He specializes in not letting the WR catch the ball. The only knocks on him are he’s not a great tackler (though he’s not a whiff machine either) and he doesn’t finish a lot of interceptions. Houston’s William Jackson has the height that is all the rage in the NFL at CB and the athletic ability to stay there. Alabama’s Cyrus Jones is a good player who’ll play on Sundays as well.

SS Su’a Cravens USC – Cravens bulked up some to play OLB but in my opinion he was better as a do it all SS in 2014. I hope that he slims down and moves back to safety. Last year, he was a SS who could cover big bodies in space, make splash hits versus the run and contribute as a blitzer. In 2015, in my opinion he was a tick worse at all of those except maybe blitzing.

FS Desmond King Iowa – If Cravens was a little cheat on the team, King is a flat out North Carolina-style, having someone else write your term paper, and turn it cheating. He plays CB at Iowa and he’s a good one. He’s good enough to play CB in the NFL but I think he’s a star if he’s moved to safety. His tackling, ball skills and instincts very much play up at FS, In my opinion. If you tell me I shouldn’t have cheated and should have taken Houston’s mighty-mite combo of Adrian McDonald and Travon Stewart, I wouldn’t argue. Both are really good players who will play on Sunday’s.

Predictions

Temple over Houston

Alabama over Florida

USC over Stanford

Clemson over North Carolina

Iowa over Michigan State

Final Four:

Clemson, Alabama, Iowa and Oklahoma

Heisman Trophy:

Derrick Henry