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Respected NFL Draft analyst and NFL Network commentator Mike Mayock who spends more hours in the film room and on the practice field than most revealed his initial thoughts on several SEC players Monday including Alabama All-American Landon Collins, who he considers this year’s top safety prospect.
Mayock on Alabama S Landon Collins: Can play strong safety in base and also good enough vs. run to be a sub-package LB.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) February 16, 2015
Feared pass rushers from the SEC expected to flex their athleticism at the combine include Mizzou’s Shane Ray and Florida’s Dante Fowler, both early exits from their respective programs. Fowler led the Gators with 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks this season while Ray ran away with the league’s top defender award, piling up SEC-best TFL (22.5) and sack (13.0) totals.
High praise for Florida’s Dante Fowler from Mike Mayock, who he says is comparable to Chiefs’ star Justin Houston. — Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) February 16, 2015
LSU’s La’el Collins, a former consensus five-star recruit out of Baton Rouge who started his final 38 games at LSU, has the biggest upside of perhaps any right tackle in this year’s draft and is the most talented option at his position, according to Mayock.
Collins was a dominant, two-time All-SEC blocker for the Tigers and has more game experience than most draft hopefuls up front.
Mike Mayock calls @NFL_CFB ‘Path to the Draft’ featured player La’El Collins the best RT prospect in the 2015 NFL Draft. — Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) February 16, 2015
Heisman finalist Amari Cooper, a potential lottery pick, is a sure thing among wide receivers in his same talent class. Cooper set several school records at Alabama this season
Mayock: Amari Cooper has highest floor (safest pick) among Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker at WR. — Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) February 16, 2015
Fringe first-rounder Benardrick McKinney, an All-SEC tackling machine at Mississippi State and one of several Bulldogs who entered the draft a year early, has ideal inside linebacker size at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds.
Mike Mayock of http://t.co/37lSoMsPgo suggest Benardrick McKinney could be a second rounder. — Michael Bonner (@MikeBBonner) February 16, 2015
Mayock also mentioned that Auburn’s Sammie Coates is one of three receivers at the combine capable of challenging Chris Johnson’s record 4.24 time in the 40-yard dash. If Coates eclipses that mark, he’s a first-round lock.
Headlining Mayock’s individual position rankings are Collins, Fowler and Georgia running back Todd Gurley, who the draft analyst has rated the second-best option in the backfield behind Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon.
Other SEC running backs including Auburn’s Cameron Artis-Payne and Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon have second-day projections.
Mayock calls it a really good RB class. Possible Cowboys targets in rounds 3-4: T.J. Yeldon, David Cobb, Cameron Artis-Payne, David Johnson.
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 16, 2015
