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Every spring, draft experts seek to compare the newest batch of NFL prospects to current superstars.
Obviously, comparing a 21- or 22-year-old to an All-Pro or future Hall of Famer is unrealistic. Most colleges star has a lot of work to do in order to get to that level. But comparisons provide a way to describe a player’s talent in a manner others can understand.
Besides, it’s also a lot of fun.
Many of the SEC’s biggest stars will be back in 2016, so it might be fun to make a few comparisons between the conference’s best players and NFL stars.
Leonard Fournette, LSU: Not enough can be said about the season Fournette put together as a sophomore in 2015. He downright dominated, rushing for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns in 12 games. Standing 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, he has a unique combination of size and speed.
Many analysts have compared him to Bo Jackson. As for modern-day players, Adrian Peterson and/or Marshawn Lynch come to mind. Each feature the same type of rare combination in size and speed.
And Fournette doesn’t have the fumbling problem Peterson does.
Nick Chubb, Georgia: Chubb also has size and speed, but unlike Fournette, Chubb relies more on wearing down defenses over the course of the game and deceptive speed rather than flat-out breakaway speed.
Chubb is similar to a younger Frank Gore. Both backs are workhorses. Chubb had 219 carries as a freshman in 2014. In his 11-year NFL career, Gore has seven seasons with at least 250 rushing attempts.
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: The junior is long and athletic enough to play several different defensive positions. No matter where he lines up, though, his best attribute is rushing the passer.
Garrett recorded 11.0 sacks as a freshman, Jadeveon Clowney’s freshman record set at South Carolina. In 2015, Garrett had 11.5 sacks. He also has 32.0 tackles for a loss in two seasons at Texas A&M.
At 6-foot-5, 262 pounds and blessed with blazing speed, Clowney is probably the best NFL comparison to Garrett at this point. Garrett has some very special talent.
Calvin Ridley, Alabama: Ridley doesn’t have incredible speed, however, he is very quick. He can shake defenders, make sharp cuts to lose tacklers and is great after the catch.
That sounds like Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown, who just re-wrote the Steelers record book. Brown had 136 catches, 1,834 yards and 10 TDs in 2015.
As a freshman, Ridley had 89 catches, 1,045 yards and 7 TDs this season.
Derek Barnett, Tennessee: Unlike the previous names on this list, Barnett isn’t really a highlight reel player. He just accumulates massive stats.
The Volunteers defensive has 142 total tackles, including 33.0 for loss and 19.0 sacks in two seasons. He probably has a higher ceiling than Charles Johnson, but he reminds fans of the former Georgia star, who plays for the Carolina Panthers.
Johnson missed seven games this season, but the Panthers defense, which led the NFL in takeaways, is better with him in the lineup. Johnson recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2012 and has three seasons with at least 10 sacks.
In his nine-year NFL career, Johnson has 63.5 sacks.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
