Brock Huard’s superlatives for first-round NFL Draft prospects
Apr 28, 2016, 10:10 AM | Updated: Oct 28, 2024, 1:08 pm
With the start of the 2016 NFL Draft hours away, Brock Huard made his picks for the superlatives of this year’s first-round class. Here are his picks for the players who could be available at the Seahawks’ No. 26 pick.
Most athletically dynamic prospect: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
“(UCLA’s) Myles Jack is right behind him. If Myles Jack did not have a knee (injury) that people are wavering on a little bit … those two linebackers, who are kind of that quasi-safety linebacker that both run sub-4.5 (40-yard dashes), are two of the most athletically dynamic in the first.”
Most unquestioned love for football: Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
“Tore his knee on a Tuesday; I was in that building Thursday night, and guys were still sobbing. The first coach was in tears when I met with him Friday because of what the game means to Karl Joseph and, ultimately, what Karl Joseph meant to the game and his team at West Virginia.”
Bigger upside or risk? Noah Spence, LB, Eastern Kentucky or Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
Upside goes to Nkemdiche because “he has the highest ceiling; he is the biggest freak athletically in this entire draft. I think Noah Spence has just as big, maybe even bigger bust rate and here’s why: He missed time. Ecstasy was more important to him than football. Yeah, maybe there was a motor question at times with Nkemdiche against softer competition; maybe he didn’t play everything at 100 million RPMs. Noah Spence chose drugs time and time again at Ohio State to the point that he was kicked off the team. To me, when you have missed time collegiately by your decisions, you’ve got a bigger bust rate.”
Most undervalued: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
“People will focus on 4.65 40-yard dash, which probably at the combine would have been low 4.7’s. He can’t run, horrific leg injury, doesn’t separate, not a great system at Ole Miss, but he would probably be No. 2 on the love for football … He is so smart, he is so physical. You watched him in the Sugar Bowl dominating people. He dominates and creates separation in unique and different ways, not just speed and a twitch.”
Biggest sleeper: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
“He is a lot like Russell Okung, and not just because they come from a very similar background – from Africa to Oklahoma State to kind of a newbie to football. His arms, length, strength, was defensive player of the year in the Big 12 conference, and you’re just not hearing his name for a guy who is so prototypical in a bunch of ways. I don’t think football comes easy; I don’t think he is the fastest learner, but the folks in Stillwater will tell you that the imprint and impact he had on a very average team (was a big reason they made it to the Sugar Bowl).”
Best QB in three years: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
“Went 32-4 as a starter at Michigan State; he broke all of those records. Was big in big games. He does not have a bazooka, big deal. He does not have 65 percent accuracy – well, (Michigan State is) not a high percentage spread team and they had very poor receivers around him last year. All he did was win, multiple times … I think he has a chance in the right fit to be a very productive player.”