When ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first Mock Draft this week, there were a few notable names missing. One certainly was LSU RB Derrius Guice, as other analysts have a first-round projection on Guice.

Kiper only has one RB being drafted in the first round: Penn State’s Saquon Barkley. Guice, USC’s Ronald Jones II and UGA’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are others who could potentially get some first-round buzz leading into the NFL Draft.

However, for now, only Barkley is projected in the top 32 picks, but that could change following the NFL Combine.

While speaking on a conference call this week and answering a question specific to the Detroit Lions, Kiper gave a potential round where we could see Guice drafted.

They got to get a top-flight running back. There’s not one to take at that point. In the second round you could look at Sony Michel certainly from Georgia. You could in the second round, if you want second or third round look at Derrius Guice (from LSU). Ronald Jones from USC is another one that could go in the second-round mix.

There’s no denying how talented Guice is, and he’s meant everything to LSU and is a great ambassador for the program. Teams know exactly what they’re getting on- and off-the-field (no trouble). He’s no doubt one of the most complete players in the draft.

This week, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller reported that Guice is running the 40 in the mid-4.4s at a whopping 221 pounds. That’s a big man moving.

Could Guice sneak into the first round later this spring?