It's not even fair: Ridiculous high school highlights of the SEC’s first-round NFL Draft picks
With 12 picks in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the SEC tied its 2013 and the ACC’s 2006 draft record for most first-round picks by a single conference.
While this isn’t always the case, many of the SEC’s first-round picks were dominant high school prospects. They came to college with big expectations, and they did not disappoint.
Now that they have accomplished their dreams of playing in the NFL, we thought it would be fun to look back at their highlight type coming out of high school.
Enjoy!
No. 1 overall pick – Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Garrett came out of high school as the No. 2 overall prospect in the Class of 2014, and he quickly emerged as one of the best pass rushers in college football. He’s thrived on every level.
No. 4 overall pick – Leonard Fournette, LSU
The only player rated higher than Garrett in the Class of 2014 was Fournette. Viewed as a transcendent prospect, Fournette was virtually unstoppable at times for the Tigers when he wasn’t injured.
No. 6 overall pick – Jamal Adams, LSU
Unlike the previous two entries, Adams wasn’t at the very top of the 2014 class. That’s about the only negative that could be said about this former 5-star prospect who was rated No. 31 by the 247Sports Composite Ranking.
No. 14 overall pick – Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Barnett was the first former 4-star prospect taken from the SEC in this year’s NFL Draft. In the Class of 2014, Barnett was rated just the No. 13 strongside defensive end prospect and the No. 206 overall recruit.
No. 16 overall pick – Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
Very few expected Humphrey to be the first player taken from Alabama in this draft, but he certainly looked the part of a first-round pick as a recruit. Humphrey was the No. 12 overall prospect in 2014 and the No. 3 corner.
No. 17 overall pick – Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Allen was the first four-year player taken from the SEC in the first round. A 5-star prospect in the Class of 2013, Allen was the No. 3 outside linebacker and the No. 16 overall recruit. He was doing his Superman dive even back then.
No. 19 overall pick – O.J. Howard, Alabama
Howard joined Allen as a 5-star prospect in Alabama’s 2013 class. The versatile tight end was rated the No. 19 overall recruit coming out of high school and the top player at his position.
No. 21 overall pick – Jarrad Davis, Florida
Out of all of the players listed thus far, Davis did the most to improve his stock in college. Listed as just a 3-star prospect coming out of high school, Davis barely cracked the top 500 prospect in the Class of 2013.
No. 22 overall pick – Charles Harris, Missouri
For anyone who likes to point out the flaws in recruiting services, Harris is a perfect example. He was rated only a 2-star prospect in the Class of 2013 and the No. 118 weakside defensive end before becoming a nightmare off the edge at Missouri.
No. 23 overall pick – Evan Engram, Ole Miss
Engram emerged as one of the top tight ends in the country at Ole Miss, but he arrived in Oxford as a 3-star prospect and the No. 81 prospect coming out of the state of Georgia in the 2013 class.
No. 27 overall pick – Tre’Davious White, LSU
The third player taken from LSU in the first round, White didn’t arrive in Baton Rouge with nearly as much hype as Adams or Fournette. He was the No. 1 prospect from Louisiana for the Class of 2013, however, and a 4-star recruit.
No. 31 overall pick – Reuben Foster, Alabama
One of the top prospects in the Class of 2013, Foster fell in the first round largely because of injury concerns. A 5-star recruit, Foster was rated the top inside linebacker and the No. 7 overall prospect coming out of high school.