2014 NFL Draft: Prospects Continuing to Shoot Up Draft Boards

The 2014 NFL draft has a ton of talent, and while the competition at certain positions is fierce, there are a number of prospects that are continuing to shoot up draft boards around the country.

According to Dane Brugler from CBSSports.com, a record 98 underclassmen declared for the NFL draft this season. Compared to the 73 that set the record last year, those 98 underclassmen help explain why this draft class is so deep.

With the NFL draft set to take place in May, let's take a look at some of the hottest names around the country right now as the prospects prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine.


Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida

From a relatively unknown quarterback at Central Florida to a potential No. 1 pick, Blake Bortles has come a long way over the past couple of months.

The junior quarterback out of UCF started to get on the map as a potential first-round pick before the Fiesta Bowl, where he could be taking on the Baylor Bears. Scouts were going to see if Bortles could play well against tougher competition, and he didn't disappoint. Bortles finished with 301 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while leading the Knights to a tough 52-42 win.

Blake Bortles Season Stats
Year  Comp % YPA  TD INT Rating
2013 67.8  9.37  25 9 163.4
2012 62.9         7.67  25 7 144.5
2011 68.2         8.71    6 3 153.9

The big reason Bortles is in the mix as the No. 1 overall pick is his prototypical size for a pocket passer. His 6'4'', 230-pound frame is mixed with some impressive mobility that helps him either climb the pocket or roll out to extend plays and give receivers more time to get open. Mentally, Bortles has a high football IQ with excellent vision down the field to make the right read.

While he doesn't have the strongest arm in the draft class, Bortles makes up for it with his athleticism and accuracy. His footwork isn't clean, but with his size and intangibles, Bortles has a chance to be a franchise quarterback, which is why sites like CBS Sports have him mocked as going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans.


Dee Ford, DE, Auburn

There are a number of athletic pass-rushers in this draft class, but none have helped themselves as much recently as Auburn's Dee Ford.

The numbers from the 2013 season are pretty impressive for Ford. He finished the year with just 29 tackles, but he had 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks along with 17 quarterback hurries. Those numbers helped him earn All-SEC honors for the season.

While at Auburn, Ford has added a lot of weight to his frame, but it hasn't forced him to sacrifice explosiveness. He has a nice jump off of the snap that has the burst to burn by blockers and get to the passer, along with the work ethic to not give up on plays.

Ford played on the line in college, but given the fact that he's just 6'2'' and 240 pounds, NFL teams may want to move him to outside linebacker even if goes to a team with a 3-4 defensive scheme. However, the good news is that he still dropped into coverage with some regularity in college, so the transition might not be too difficult for Ford.

The biggest reasons Ford has shot up draft boards are the two sacks he racked up against Florida State in the BCS championship and an impressive week at Senior Bowl, recording another two sacks in the game. If Ford can continue to make noise at the combine, he could help solidify his status as a possible first-round pick.


Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

Auburn's Ford wasn't the only prospect to generate a ton of buzz at the senior bowl. Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald made a lot of noise as well, and it's not hard to see why. Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller had this to say about Donald while he watched him in Mobile, Alabama.

Matt wasn't joking when he said all Donald did during the 2013 season was dominate. In 13 games, Donald racked up an impressive 59 total tackles, 28.5 for loss, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and three pass deflections. Coming from a defensive tackle, those numbers are incredible.

As those stats suggest, Donald thrives at producing interior pressure on the quarterback, which can be much more disruptive for some passers than pressure from the outside. Donald is so fast off of the snap that he usually has an instant advantage on opposing offensive lineman as soon as the play begins.

While Donald isn't the tallest prospect, his frame does help him get under opponents' pads and produce a very impressive bull rush on his way into the backfield. However, that 6'1'', 288-pound frame could hurt his effectiveness in the NFL, much like Ford.

However, when going against some of the best talent in college football at the Senior Bowl, Donald made a very positive impression on the scouts watching. The stage will get a little bigger in Indianapolis during the combine, and if Donald can continue to shine, he could be a solid pick later in the first round.

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5 Most Overhyped Prospects in 2014 NFL Draft

Every year, writers and other media personalities like to latch onto a handful of players and hype them non-stop. Whether it's due to immense college success or a great story, these players end up becoming huge names before they are even drafted.
The end result is players not only having to prove themselves much more than they had to originally, but players ending up drafted higher than they might have been. Two years ago, Robert Griffin III's hype became so great that he almost overtook Andrew Luck for the first overall pick in the eyes of some, including Merril Hoge, despite Luck essentially being a sure thing.
There are several players in a similar situation this year, players who have been so highly regarded that their reputations and names are being looked at before all else.
These players are all talented, and I would be happy to have any on my team. They are still more hyped than they should be, and these five players have such hype that it may be doing a disservice to their careers.
Begin Slideshow » « Prev 2 of 7 Next » 5. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
Khalil Mack has rocketed up draft boards all season long, and he has continued that trend even after the season has ended. I have firmly been on his bandwagon since the Ohio State game to open the season, and I see him as a future star in the league.
Why is he on here, then? We are all used to small-school prospects being diamonds in the rough since they aren't seen as often, but that has shifted in recent years.
Now, because he was a small-school prospect in Buffalo, it seems that he is being overvalued and his lack of competition is being cast completely aside. Yes, he was dominant against Ohio State, but that's one game, and he had few opportunities like that over four seasons.
On the one hand, it's nice that Mack's skill set is being looked at rather than being dismissed due to not playing tough competition, but going too far the other way would just be detrimental to a player who may need a bit of time to adjust to the NFL.
The big man out of Notre Dame was a huge name leading up to this season. That has trailed off somewhat, yet he remains a high first-round projection.
Tuitt had 12 sacks his sophomore year, and 7.5 his junior year despite dealing with a sports hernia. Playing for Notre Dame has gotten him a bit of extra visibility as well.
While he does not have the media hype of others on this list, he has been a huge name in scouting circles, drawing comparisons to Richard Seymour. Though he has a great combination of size and speed, he's somewhat of a tweener. He does not have the elite pass-rushing ability to be a great 4-3 defensive end, and while he is a good run defender, he is not going to put up big-time numbers in the NFL.
That's fine since that's not the kind of player he is, but it means that there is a high possibility of fans being disappointed if he doesn't put up those numbers, which is not really fair to him.
A year ago, nobody outside of SEC fans knew who Greg Robinson was.
A year later, he is not only being touted as a first-round pick, but he has gone from a hidden gem to someone who has rocketed up draft boards.
At this point, he has risen too quickly.
He went from being underrated to overrated seemingly overnight. CBS Sports' Rob Rang has Robinson third overall in his latest big board.
While Rang notes his upside and physicality, he also notes a major issue: "Auburn's reliance on the running game, however, has given Robinson few opportunities in pass protection, meaning he could struggle initially in this role."
If Robinson has only been able to develop one part of his game, then being touted as a potential top-10 pick is a stretch at this point. A tackle selected that high should be able to flourish immediately, and that may not be the case with Robinson, even though his other attributes appear sound.
Jadeveon Clowney has gone from being the top high school prospect to a possible first overall draft pick after a dominant career at South Carolina.
His stats were great to start off. While they took a dip this past season, it was the result of being double-teamed nonstop, as even in the SEC teams struggled to hold him off. He still looks like the best defensive end to come out of college in some time.
Rather than being a sure thing, as one would expect from a top pick, Clowney is this year's biggest boom-or-bust candidate, in my opinion. Yes, his ceiling is through the roof and he could become a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he could just as easily flame out if his work ethic slips.
There are a slew of great players on the front seven in this year's draft class, yet Clowney is the only one who seems to get noticed outside of draft circles. It makes sense given his ability, but he's not a sure thing.
Everybody has an opinion on Johnny Manziel. Some love him, some hate him, and even those who are not sports fans at least know the name.
Does he live up to the hype?
For that to be the case, he would have to be a sure thing, and suffice to say, he's not. Even with Russell Wilson winning a Super Bowl, Manziel's height will remain a concern, and if he is in an offense not suited to his strengths, that could be an issue.
Breitbart asked if Manziel was the next Tim Tebow, and on the surface it's a valid comparison. In fact, this may be an understatement.
Tebow was a great college athlete who was accepted as a reach in the first round. Manziel, however, could easily go first overall, even though he may not be the best quarterback in the draft. Winning a Heisman, having a huge bowl comeback, and having no problem being in the spotlight will have that effect.

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National Signing Day 2014: Uncommitted 5-Star Prospects and Stories to Watch

For college football fans, national signing day is one of the most crucial moments of the year, and the 2014 edition of the event has the focus on the uncommitted 5-star prospects and the top storylines to watch.

With top stars like Adoree' Jackson and Rashaan Evans yet to finalize which college they will attend, fans of college football will be focused on where each lands Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Here is a list of the remaining 5-star prospects yet to sign a commitment letter and the top stories to watch on national signing day.

Remaining Uncommitted 5-Star Prospects Name Position High School Top Interests Adoree' Jackson CB Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.) Florida, USC Rashaan Evans OLB Auburn (Auburn, Ala.) Auburn Malachi Dupre WR John Curtis (New Orleans, La.) LSU Lorenzo Carter DE Norcross (Norcross, Ga.) Georgia John Smith ATH Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) USC Ermon Lane WR Homestead (Homestead, Fla.) Florida State Solomon Thomas DE Coppell (Coppell, Texas) Stanford Damian Prince OT Bishop McNamara (District Heights, Md.) Florida Malik McDowell DE Southfield (Southfield, Mich.) Michigan State.
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