Draft analyst touts Michigan C Ruiz, UCF WR Davis as under-the-radar prospects

How many thought Washington’s Kaleb McGary would be drafted ahead of more-heralded offensive tackles like Greg Little of Ole Miss or Cody Ford of Oklahoma last year? Or that Temple’s Rock Ya-Sin and Central Michigan’s Sean Murphy-Bunting would be drafted ahead of Clemson’s Trayvon Mullen or LSU’s Greedy Williams?

And yet, McGary was drafted in the first round by Atlanta with the second-to-last pick, and Ya-Sin (34) and Murphy-Bunting (39) were drafted higher in the second round than several more prominent cornerbacks.

Looking ahead to the 2020 NFL draft, who could be the next under-the-radar prospects who wind up going in the first round or early in the second?

Tony Pauline, Draft Analyst and Insider for Pro Football Network, identified two possible names.

“Cesar Ruiz/C Michigan, whom I’m told is leaning toward entering the draft,” Pauline said in an email interview with Fanspeak.

Ruiz has since declared for the draft.

Pauline had one more name to add to the list:

“Gabe Davis/WR Central Florida, who has already declared for the draft,” Pauline told Fanspeak.

All Glory To The Most High 🤲🏾 LOVE 💙 pic.twitter.com/DG0S3bVI51

— Cesar Ruiz 🐻🗡 (@_OverCees) January 3, 2020

Pauline has been a Ruiz supporter all season. He had the 6-foot-4, 319 pound junior going in the first round of his November mock draft and listed Ruiz as a “riser” back in an October report, calling the center “athletic, strong and tough as nails.”

Likewise, Pauline has also been high on Davis all season, tabbing him as a late first-rounder like Ruiz in his November first-round mock draft. Pauline called Davis “(a) tall, sure-handed wideout” whose size makes him a red-zone threat and who is “sneaky fast.”

Davis (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) finished with 72 catches for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He also gained 334 yards after catch while breaking 10 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus., which named Davis First-Team All-ACC.

“It didn’t matter which route, where on the field or, even at the beginning stages, which quarterback was throwing him the ball, Davis simply impressed all year long,” PFF said.