Brugler: Early Top 12 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft
The 2019 NFL Draft is 11 months away, but now is when NFL scouts and evaluators lay the ground work for next year's class. Below is an early look at 12 top prospects on the NFL radar entering the college football season.
12. Trey Adams, OT, Washington (6-7, 320, 5.30, senior)
Adams was in the debate to be the first tackle drafted in the 2018 class before an ACL injury ended his 2017 season and brought him back to school for his senior year. If he returns to form and improves in areas, Adams will be one of the top senior prospects in the 2019 class.
11. A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss (6-1, 226, 4.53, junior)
Brown emerged as one of the SEC's best offensive skill players last season, posting 75 catches for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. Ole Miss juggled two quarterbacks last season (now-departed Shea Patterson and Jordan Ta'amu), but Brown's production didn't fall off.
10. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson (6-4, 265, 4.78, redshirt junior)
Ferrell is looking to follow the Bradley Chubb path to the NFL. Instead of leaving school early and being a likely mid-to-late first-round pick, Ferrell is returning to Clemson and can take a big leap up draft boards. Although not overwhelming in either category, Ferrell has an efficient mix of power and quickness, and his technical development will be the key to his draft grade.
9. Devin White, LB, LSU (6-1, 243, 4.76, junior)
Watching LSU's defense last season, it was impossible not to notice White, who finished with a team-high 133 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss. His combination of play speed and point-of-attack power are already on a NFL level.
8. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson (6-3, 310, 5.04, senior)
The top-rated senior entering the 2018 college football season, Wilkins, who has already graduated, surprised many by returning for his final season of eligibility. An athletic three-technique lineman, he moves differently than most 300-plus pounders with flexible hips and joints, staying balanced and chasing down ball-carriers.
7. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU (6-1, 189, 4.51, redshirt sophomore)
After redshirting in 2016, Williams made a splash in his first season on the field, leading the SEC with six interceptions. A tall, lanky player, he has a chance to cement his status as a top-tier prospect if he continues his development in 2018.
6. Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama (6-6, 309, 5.10, junior)
Davis, a physically-impressive player, mostly has played a supporting role in Nick Saban's front, but he is due for a breakout campaign this fall (even after leading the Tide with 8.5 sacks as a part-time starter in 2017). His mix of foot quickness, flexibility and raw power is a scary combination when used in unison.
5. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss (6-6, 328, 5.12, junior)
A former top recruit, Little impressed NFL scouts as a true freshman with his performance vs. Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick. If Little takes another step in his development as a junior, the debate will be who was the higher-graded Ole Miss tackle prospect: Little or Laremy Tunsil?
4. Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan (6-6, 291, 5.02, junior)
Gary, considered the No. 1 recruit in the 2016 class, has shown impressive flashes with his athleticism to win with his first step, either working the edge or prying his way through gaps. And he also shows the heavy hands to win the point of attack and track the football, disposing of road blocks and plugging running lanes.
3. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon (6-5, 236, 4.78, junior)
As long as he stays healthy, Herbert is on an exciting trajectory. He is a tall, strong-armed passer who worked hard to fill out his frame this offseason. Herbert is accurate, shows an understanding of touch and has all the traits that will make him the star attraction when scouts pass through Eugene this fall.
2. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State (6-4, 265, 4.67, junior)
With his muscular, flexible frame and tendency to routinely be in the face of quarterbacks, he looks like a carbon copy of his older brother Joey. The No. 97 jersey number doesn't hurt either. And like Joey, Nick has an advanced understanding of hand use at the top of his rush.
1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (6-3, 288, 4.95, junior)
Oliver, a rare five-star recruit to sign at a non-Power Five program, has more than lived up to the hype with his ability to be a one-man wrecking crew. He gives blockers fits with his sudden quickness and uncanny ability to unglue himself from contact. Oliver, who already declared for the 2019 NFL Draft, will hear plenty of Aaron Donald comparisons throughout the process.
