Ranking SEC's Top 25 prospects for the 2021 NFL Draft
Death, taxes and the SEC dominating the NFL Draft on a yearly basis. Those are the only 3 certainties in life.
When the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around next April, the SEC once again is sure to be well-represented in Round 1 and beyond. There are dozens of draftable players in the conference, but we’re focusing on the best of the best.
Which 25 SEC players are the best draft prospects (Note: Not best players, per se, but guys the NFL will be looking at this fall)? There are sure to be some surprises. Heck, if we had put Joe Burrow on a Top-25 most-draftable players list heading into the 2019 season, y’all would have called us crazy. But we all know how that fairy-tale season played out, with Burrow rising all the way to the No. 1 overall pick.
Who are the best bets to hear their names called early in the 2021 NFL Draft? Here are our top 25 prospects:
25. KJ Costello, QB, Mississippi State
Costello has a huge opportunity heading into the 2020 season. He’ll have 1 year to prove he belongs in the NFL by working with Air Raid guru Mike Leach. Leach’s offense has gained more credibility over the years at the pro level as teams spread the field and air it out more. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew II’s success in 2019 also didn’t hurt. If Costello has a big year, he should be a mid-to-late-round draft pick.
24. Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
Yes, another quarterback right off the bat. Trask is perhaps the top returning quarterback in the SEC this year, but he still has some work to do to rise up NFL Draft boards. If he looks better than he did in 2019, he could be one of the draft’s biggest risers over the course of the season.
23. Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU
Vincent is one of the best slot corners in the nation. He and Derek Stingley Jr. (who isn’t eligible for the 2021 NFL Draft) are a great tandem and feed off each other. Vincent even snagged 4 interceptions in 2019. With the rise in spread schemes in the pro, slot corners are becoming more valuable. Vincent will hear his name called at some point next April.
Lowest passer rating when targeted in the slot among returning CBs:
1. Shawn Shamburger, Tenn – 61.6
2. Kary Vincent Jr, LSU – 64.5
3. Jevon Holland, Oregon – 65.2 pic.twitter.com/9CgRI3HqMv— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 5, 2020
22. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Horn has yet to record an interception at South Carolina, but he does have 17 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles in his 2 years in garnet and black. Quarterbacks simply don’t look his way often. He has the potential to truly develop into a lockdown corner this fall, and NFL teams will be watching closely.
21. Marco Wilson, CB, Florida
Wilson isn’t afraid to come up and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. His play recognition is excellent:
Excellent recognition and tackle by Florida CB Marco Wilson. pic.twitter.com/YebiKMins7
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) November 16, 2019
He made 2.5 tackles for a loss last year and also snagged 3 interceptions. We’ll see how he fares with a bigger role this fall, but he has the talent to be a late-Day 2 pick.
20. Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
Mukuamu is a couple of spots higher than his South Carolina teammate (Horn) on this list because of his size. NFL scouts will love his 6-4, 200-pound frame. In 2019, Mukuamu had 59 tackles, 4 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown) and 9 pass breakups. If he can do that again in 2020, he’ll shoot up draft boards. He won’t have Jake Fromm to pick on this year, though.
19. Drake Jackson, OL, Kentucky
Jackson is an absolute beast on the Wildcats’ interior offensive line. He was a huge part of the success Kentucky had running the ball with WR-turned-QB Lynn Bowden Jr. in 2019. If he leads another great line performance this year, a rise into the Round 2-Round 3 conversation isn’t out of the question.
18. Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia
It’s strange to have Newman ranked this high when he might not even be the Bulldogs’ starter in 2020 now that JT Daniels has immediate eligibility. However, I think Newman will win the job and, as long as he stays healthy, put up strong numbers as a passer and a runner. If he starts all year, he’s a potential Round 1 quarterback, behind the draft darlings like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.
17. Richard LeCounte III, S, Georgia
LeCounte really came into his own last year, recording 61 tackles (4.5 for a loss), 4 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles. He has a nose for the ball, and that’s exactly what NFL teams want from safeties. He’ll be a leader in the Georgia secondary this year once again and will look to prove he’s the best safety in the conference.
16. Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
Another defensive back? You’d better believe it. With the NFL becoming a pass-happy league, receivers and defensive backs are more valuable than ever. Like Horn at South Carolina, Stokes has yet to record a college interception, but he has broken up 18 passes in 2 years. He doesn’t allow receivers to separate and can make plays down the field:
Eric Stokes (Georgia CB #27) looks pretty sticky in coverage so far and seems pretty consistent in getting a hand on the ball. pic.twitter.com/NvMk0ZxDPC
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) August 1, 2020
Or on crossing routes:
Trying to watch Trey Smith from Tennessee and Eric Stokes continues to standout. Pretty nice job by Eric Stokes (Georgia CB 27) getting in the hip pocket of the WR and to get a hand on the ball to breakup the pass. He looks pretty fluid. pic.twitter.com/iLl21LJHor
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) August 1, 2020
Or even behind the line of scrimmage:
Well, hello, Eric Stokes. I like this dude from Georgia! pic.twitter.com/5pVk9ibj1Y
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) August 1, 2020
He’ll become a much bigger name this year if he continues to play like that.
15. Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
Williams made a huge leap between his freshman and sophomore seasons, just like he made a huge leap to haul in this pass:
#Auburn stays alive bc Seth Williams is a freak pic.twitter.com/QrGVmdbkTk
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 26, 2019
He went from 26 catches for 534 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2018 to 59 grabs for 830 yards and 6 scores in 2019. With QB Bo Nix coming back this fall, he should continue to develop the chemistry that led to this game-winning touchdown in Week 1 last year:
Auburn's Seth Williams called game in Wk 1 last season😤pic.twitter.com/fvYlWrZfX9
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) May 23, 2020
14. Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
Marshall was a bit overlooked in last year’s high-powered LSU offense. Fellow receivers Justin Jefferson (a 1st-round 2020 draft pick) and Ja’Marr Chase (more on him later) overshadowed him with their record-setting campaigns. In fact, Marshall finished 5th on the team in receptions with 46 (behind Jefferson, Chase, Thaddeus Moss and Clyde Edwards-Helaire).
But Marshall will get his chance to make a name for himself alongside Chase this fall. We’ll see if he can continue to be a touchdown machine. Thirteen of his 46 catches went for touchdowns, including this one in the title game:
CLASE DE ENVÍO de Joe Burrow, cuando salió de su brazo juré que lo volaba. Vaya manera de bajar ese balón de Terrace Marshall. #GeauxTigers amplía su ventaja a 17 puntos, luce complicado para #ALLIN
Clemson 25-42 LSU#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/qboxyzF4DK
— Joshúa Maya (@PlaysOfTheWeek) January 14, 2020
He has late-first-round potential if he can continue to shine in a larger role this fall.
13. Trey Smith, OL, Tennessee
Smith would be much higher on this list under normal circumstances, but his past issues with blood clots will have NFL teams concerned. There’s no concern about him on gameday, though, as he can often be found mauling defensive linemen and linebackers. He’s a first-round talent, but we’ll see where he goes in April’s draft.
12. Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
Barmore is a monster who could easily work his way into the Round 1 discussion in the 2021 draft. Look at him simply overpower this Michigan lineman and shove him into the quarterback to disrupt the play:
Dear lord is that Christian Barmore in there?!
Against LG Ben Bredeson. Got under his pads after going for the rip move and just walked him back into QB!
Barmore doesn’t need to ‘Get on a 1/2 Man’ to win. He can walk the full man completely backwards… Powerful/explosive dude pic.twitter.com/EFESqDes6F
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) August 1, 2020
That Michigan lineman is Ben Bredeson, whom the Baltimore Ravens took in Round 4 of the 2020 NFL Draft. Yeah, Barmore is probably just about ready for the NFL.
11. Tyler Shelvin, DL, LSU
I gave Shelvin a slight edge over Barmore because of his experience. However, he’ll need to take on a bigger role for the Tigers’ defense after so much talent left for the NFL. If he can drop the extra weight coach Ed Orgeron wants him to drop, he could be in for a big year in 2020.
10. Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
Campbell is another Georgia cornerback I really like. I give him the edge over Stokes for now, but he’ll need to stay healthy this fall to keep this position. He’s a lockdown corner when he’s at full-strength, and teams are going to find it very difficult to pass against him, Stokes and LeCounte this year.
9. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Harris is another guy who could be higher, but the NFL doesn’t value running backs as much as it used to. Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne (among others) absolutely have first-round talent, but only 1 running back (LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire) went in Round 1 in 2020, and he didn’t hear his name called until the last pick in the round. The Alabama star has plenty of talent. We’ll see if he can put together another huge year and make it impossible for a team not to take him on Day 1.
8. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Pitts is probably the top tight end in the 2021 class. It’s either Pitts or Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth. They’re both deep threats, but Pitts has the slight edge:
Most 15+ yard catches among returning power-5 TEs in 2019:
1. Kyle Pitts, Florida – 20
2. Pat Freiermuth, Penn State – 18 pic.twitter.com/jzMU0wJWgO— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 23, 2020
Pitts is probably the better overall receiver, though. He looks so smooth when he goes out wide and runs routes:
Kyle Pitts always looking fluid in space pic.twitter.com/mFvWm2r1YF
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) August 1, 2020
His hands are second to none in the tight end ranks, also:
Another player on our FQSEC list is @kylepitts__ @GatorsUpdate @GatorDave_SEC @GatorsFB
Big mismatch for defenses, not to mention his size. Losing the productivity they lost on offense, Pitts will be a factor in the offense more.
— FQSEC (@FifthQuarterSEC) August 2, 2020
He has chemistry with Florida QB Kyle Trask now, too, so I expect a huge year from him as the Gators try to overtake Georgia in the SEC East.
7. Nick Bolton, LB, Mizzou
Bolton is no longer a secret in Columbia. After Cale Garrett went down with an injury last year, Bolton stepped up in a huge way. Now, he’s being talked about as a potential first-round pick, and that’s very fitting. He’s an absolute monster against the run:
Most run-stops among returning SEC defenders:
1. Nick Bolton, Missouri – 45
2. Ernest Jones, SC – 33
3. K.J. Britt, Auburn – 33(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/y9lVNaye5s
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 8, 2020
His pre-snap recognition is strong and then he’s athletic enough to shed blockers and find the ball:
Another kid on the rise 2020.@_nickbolton2 @MizzouSportsPod @FQMizzou @SidelinesMizzou @MizzouFootball
— FQSEC (@FifthQuarterSEC) August 2, 2020
Nick Bolton #32, Mizzou LB…
Bom jogador…pic.twitter.com/OPSqwM9eyH
— Washington State Cougars BR (@CougarsBr) July 27, 2020
Mizzou LB Nick Bolton, surely is a preseason All SEC selection..
#32 here..
Idk how i missed this during the season.. but I was working night shift, didn't get to see many live games last year. pic.twitter.com/mE8A4HsbgQ
— matt daniel (@VolsPix) July 30, 2020
He’s also strong in coverage. He had 2 interceptions last year, returning 1 for a touchdown. Additionally, he broke up an impressive 7 pass attempts. He’s a do-it-all linebacker and is finally getting the credit he deserves.
6. Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Moses missed the entire 2019 season with a knee injury, but if he had gone out for the 2020 draft, there’s a decent chance he still would have been a first-round pick. That’s how talented the speedy 6-3, 230-pound linebacker. He had 86 tackles (10 for loss) and 3.5 sacks in 2018. If he can show he hasn’t lost a step this season, I expect he’ll be one of the first linebackers off the board in April.
5. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Jerry Jeudy (a first-round 2020 pick) led the Alabama offense in catches with 77 last year. But it was Smith, not Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III (another 2020 first-rounder) or Jaylen Waddle, who led the team in yards and touchdowns. Smith had a fantastic 2019 campaign, recording 68 catches for 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns. Following a year like that, it’s a bit surprising that he came back for his senior year, but the Tide will be glad to have him.
The recipient of the famous 2nd-and-26 pass in the 2017 title game has only gotten better as time has gone on. He also has the honor of being one of the only receivers to get the best of LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.:
Thinking about that time Devonta Smith COOKED Derek Stingley Jr…. pic.twitter.com/ekvbrB2yDK
— William Galloway (@Wm_Galloway) June 23, 2020
Waddle and Smith will battle it out to be the first Tide receiver drafted in 2021. Speaking of Waddle …
4. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
I’m giving Waddle the slight edge over Smith because of his 2019 Iron Bowl performance. That was a game Mac Jones started, and with Jones as the likely successor to Tua Tagovailoa this fall, I’m excited for what Waddle can do. His speed is elite and he can take any ball that finds its way into his hands to the end zone:
Jaylen Waddle probably ran for this touchdown faster than the time it took to type out this tweet. pic.twitter.com/sQr2SrCBlL
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 30, 2019
He also brings some added versatility as a return man, even if he almost gets his head ripped off in the process:
I’m a huge fan of Jaylen Waddle. @TideTalkSports @NoHuddleBama @Bama_Hammer @D1__JW
— FQSEC (@FifthQuarterSEC) July 28, 2020
NFL teams will love all the ways Waddle can impact a game. You can’t go wrong with either him or Smith, though.
3. Alex Leatherwood, OL, Alabama
I’m really high on Leatherwood. I think he could be a Week 1 starter in the NFL this year. Instead, he opted to come back to Alabama for his senior season, which should only help him improve his draft stock.
After serving as Alabama’s left tackle last year, he’ll likely stay in that position this year. This year, it’ll take on new importance, though. He wasn’t blocking Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side last year, as Tua is a left-handed thrower. Both Mac Jones and Bryce Young are right-handed quarterbacks, though. At least Leatherwood won’t have to change his footwork to cover the blind side this fall.
I think he could be the second offensive lineman off the board in 2021 if all goes well (behind Oregon’s Penei Sewell).
2. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Heading into the 2020 season, there are 3 cornerbacks who could be the first guy at that position off the board in the 2021 draft — Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley, Ohio State’s Shaun Wade and Surtain. Farley has already opted out of the 2020 season, but all 3 of those guys should still be first-round picks in April.
Surtain has a knack for making the big play. Last year, he recorded 42 tackles, snagged 2 interceptions, defended 8 passes and even forced 3 fumbles. At 6-2 and 205 pounds, he also has the athleticism and body type NFL teams will want to see in a potential top-10 pick at cornerback.
With Farley sitting out (a completely understandable and acceptable decision given the global pandemic), Wade and Surtain have a chance to jump him on many draft boards. If Alabama’s defense stays healthier than it did in 2019, Surtain could stand out even more.
1. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Chase is the No. 1 draft prospect from the SEC and it isn’t particularly close. No, he won’t have Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow throwing him the ball this fall, but the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner should still put up huge numbers.
Chase is by far the best deep threat of any receiver returning to the college ranks in 2020:
Ja'Marr Chase: Best deep-threat in College Football pic.twitter.com/DuSwcjdnJM
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 24, 2020
He’s also dominant in multiple positions. He can line up on the outside and make plays, but as good as he is out there, he might be even better in the slot:
The highest-graded pass-catcher at each alignment pic.twitter.com/0wlXX6b9bD
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 29, 2020
He’s so good at going up and making plays over defensive backs:
Y’all, Ja’Marr Chase is that dude… pic.twitter.com/1o4ZFIdKIT
— Fantasy Frawd (@fantasyfrawd) August 2, 2020
The entire 2019 season was great for Ja'Marr Chase (LSU WR 1) but if you're looking for a game to see exactly what kind of WR he is, then watch his game vs. Vanderbilt. Looks fluid when getting out towards the sideline & upfield + great body control when bringing this one down. pic.twitter.com/0yHcteSw6W
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) August 2, 2020
Ja’Marr Chase using a “forearm pull” to get rid of the shoulder contact by Clemson CB AJ Terrell. Allows Chase to hold his redline and track the ball over his shoulder mostly free of contact (note: this is really good coverage) pic.twitter.com/zPop0V1aa1
— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) January 14, 2020
Everything about Chase’s game is elite. I’d be shocked if he didn’t go in the top 10 picks in April’s draft. He should be the first receiver off the board.
Tyson Campbell? I doubt it.
A healthy Tyson is better against the run and has equal if not better measurables than Stokes. Before his turf toe injury last year he was playing the best ball of his career.
I see both points but I’m gonna lean with JTF on this one just because I think Campbell can play really well but he’s been oft injured and there’s a chance he might get eclipsed by some other names on the roster this year. But you are right, when he was on last year, he was really good and he didn’t get a lot of recognition for it. Still I think top 10 prospect in the SC ahead of LeCounte and Stokes might be a bit of a stretch.
I’d put Lecounte at the top of the trio TBH.
I think the onl reason I’d put Stokes at the top is because the NFL values a lockdown corner much more than they value a Safety. If we are grading them as who is best at their position though, it’s LeCounte by a bit.
Waddle and Chase are going to make big money in the NFL
Don’t know that Mukuamu will be a corner in the NFL; strong safety maybe. Vincent and Pitts should be ranked higher on the list. And Leatherwood may be the second SEC player off the board.
I think he’d be a really good Corner in a cover 3 scheme a la Richard Sherman.
Burrow had all the intangibles. Football IQ, pocket presence, elusiveness, ability to read defenses and diagnose coverages, ability to see the entire field, drive to succeed, you name it, he had it. Watching those clips of Chase reminded me that he didn’t have the best arm. We saw the jump balls all year, plays where the receiver had his man beat and had to come back for the ball and jump for it. I’m not complaining. Burrow was a great QB. Just saying, Brennan has the better arm. If Brennan’s intangibles can even approach Burrow’s, look out. But I realize that may be asking too much.
Having the better arm doesn’t make you a better QB. Jacob Eason has a 5 star arm but was a subpar QB
When you see a QB hitting a WR in stride it’s usually because the play was drawn up with specific timing to work that way. When Burrow was running around and working on his own time, it doesn’t always work that way. A lot of Receivers will tell you that they prefer those jump balls and balls they can wait on instead of the passes they have to catch by the fingertips on a full sprint.
True. Catching a deep ball over the shoulder is maybe the toughest catch in football because extending your arms slows you down, so you have to learn to reach for the ball at the very last instant.
That’s what a lot of people don’t seem to understand. Most of those types of throws aren’t thrown to the player–they’re thrown to a pre-determined spot and it’s on the receiver to get to that spot. When those are incomplete a lot of times it’s more on the receiver than the QB.
Brennan is literally no where near Burrow even with a million years of football experience hed be no where near Burrow
In no world is Tyson Campbell a lockdown corner.
I too echo the sentiment that Tyson Campbell is not a lockdown cb, and was often a liability (though he was better when healthy his sophomore year)
That being said, I do agree with his position on this chart because he has the physical attributes and if he had the skill/IQ of stokes, he could potentially be the first DB off the board. But..he doesn’t…so..he won’t
He misses some of the quick change of direction that stokes plays with. Stokes is just a beat faster to react to a WRs moves. Campbell has the long speed and did a bit better about not panicking on deep balls but in the NFL, you have to have a little more of what Stokes has.
I can agree with you, I also think while Tyson has deep ball recovery speed, he doesn’t have that agility (at least on the field) to recover on his slow reactions. Which I think is what gets him in trouble a lot.
There’s just something about Stoke’s presence that makes me like lean towards him being a better DB at least at the moment.
I agree and Stokes’ speed is often overlooked. He may be every bit as fast as Campbell and Stokes is 6 foot tall even though he seems a bit smaller.
Darian Kinnard should be on this list. He’ll be a first or second rounder as a junior.
I don’t disagree with you, because I don’t have any idea who Darian Kinnard is, but who would you put out in place of him? Who is better than him? You said first or SECOND, so who would he be ahead of on someone’s overall prospect board.
Consensus has been he’s the best prospect on the team, so at least higher than Drake at 19. Personally I see him at 16 after Seth Williams, and I’d bump KJ.
Did some research, and as far as overall prospects, most places I see have him behind the 5th best OL prospect in the SEC at best (these lists shuffle drake and him around after some other players). Because of his position, I can see him get picked up before some of these guys on the list but….
He’s not top 50 overall on a lot of big boards atm, so I’m not sure where to put him here? Costello, when healthy, has looked amazing and he has the Frame. Corrects his mechanics and have a good year, I’m willing to be a month of mortgage he goes ahead of a lot of people on this list.
I’m not saying Kinnard isn’t a top 25 prospect in the SEC i just don’t know who I’d honestly put him ahead, if we ignore needs/importance of positions.
No Rakeem Boyd? What is he, like 26 or 27 on this list?
He’s nothing special. Just a run of the mill SEC running back who gets a butt-ton of carries.
I think Boyd is pretty special and will be good in the NFL as a home run hitter but RBs are dime a dozen in the NFL and there’s a reason they don’t get picked very high.
I agree he’s certainly an upper-tier SEC RB, but he’s not a Najee, D’andre, or Clyde, if that makes sense.
I think we would see him that way if he were on Bama, UGA, or LSU
Tisk tisk just like last year not near enough tigers on this list. Tootles nerds
Nick Bolton is not the 7th best draft prospect in the SEC.
Why not? Last year was 1st team SEC, 3rd team all American, 2019 top graded LB in coverage in the nation and SEC’s leading tackler.
Ok, I concede.
You’re absolutely right!
He should definitely be top FIVE!!
;)
Jamie Newman will be the day 1 starter if we have a football season.
Azeez Ojulari should take Tyson Campbell’s spot on this list. He has a great mix of playing well against the run and the pass. No real weakness in his game.
Newman sucks
KJ Britt is being overlooked so badly it’s ridiculous. He’s got that nastiness all great LBs play with.