The NFL is built upon what college football provides. Every year, there’s a focus on incoming rookies and players who are going to make an impact for their new teams, but where did those players come from? What did they look like as underclassmen in college? How productive were they? The goal of this article is to help provide analysis that will improve readers ability to identify NFL players who are still in college. Each week, there will be four players evaluated and given an NFL projected draft position based on their current historical indicators.
There are many tidbits and clues the NFL leaves behind pertaining to what they’re looking for in an NFL Draft prospect. The basic strength, speed and athleticism are factors in building a skill position player, but it’s clear there’s more to it than that. When reviewing the NFL Draft over the last two decades, there’s statistical trends and traits NFL teams look for before selecting players as well. This article, which highlights players not yet draft eligible, will highlight those factors.
THE PROSPECTS
Max Borghi (RB, Washington State)
Now that RB James Williams is off to the NFL, there’s some exciting potential for production left behind for Borghi. Borghi finished off his Freshman season with 740 yards from scrimmage on 125 touches (72 rushing attempts, 53 receptions). Of course, the Washington State offense is always going to be pass-heavy, so rushing attempts will be scarce, but it’s probably better that Borghi isn’t going to be slammed into the line 200 or more times in a given season considering his size (Listed at 5 foot 10 and 195 pounds). Borghi profiles as a prospect that will be prolific on passing downs, and can follow his blocks very well on rushing attempts. Borghi relies on his quickness and vision to move the ball upfield, which he did successfully in 2018. While there isn’t elite athleticism in this skillset, it doesn’t appear to be something that would hold Borghi back from succeeding as a third down back in the NFL.
PROJECTED DRAFT ROUND: Third/Fourth Round – Borghi could be more than just a third-down weapon in the NFL, but he may have to prove that rather than be instantly handed a big opportunity. Athletic testing and how he finishes out his final two years at Washington State production-wise will be enormous (obviously).
Similar Prospect(s): Bilal Powell
Zack Moss (RB, Utah)
Moss has a tough profile to hone in on. First of all, he’s been productive. In his three seasons at Utah, Moss has accumulated 2,948 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns. This includes a big 2017 season where he had 1,416 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. Moss was careening towards a career season through nine games in 2018, averaging 127.3 yards from scrimmage per game, but unfortunately was lost for the season with a knee injury. Before the injury, Moss was a prospect many were getting excited about for the 2019 class, but after some deliberation, he decided to come back for his senior season. All indications are that Moss will be able to make it back and a workhorse role will be waiting for him when he returns. Still, the injury will ding his draft stock, along with him being a senior and playing for a non-power-five school, there’s a big hill to climb. Moss has a solid frame (5 foot 10 and 215 pounds), has displayed versatility in the receiving game and has power between the tackles.
PROJECTED DRAFT ROUND: Fourth/Fifth Round – While Moss does have some redeeming qualities, the draft process is unlikely to treat him well considering the conference he plays in and the major injury.
Similar Prospect(s): Jamaal Williams
Rashod Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
Bateman ran down the field like a Gazelle in his Freshman season, accumulating 51 receptions, 704 receiving yards and six TDs in an offense that, quite frankly, created a very high degree of difficulty to accomplish that. The quarterback play was below average at best, and Bateman had to produce as the second option. Nevertheless, he did. Bateman is listed at 6 foot 2 and 200 pounds, and will very likely be able to add significant bulk by the time he leaves. There were multiple plays where defenders could not stay with him after the reception, and he displayed quite a few exciting plays from a ball skills perspective. Most of the shine goes to teammate Tyler Johnson, and he’ll most certainly be the top option in the receiving game again in 2019, but don’t be surprised if Bateman ends up becoming the better prospect, and gets drafted earlier. We’ll probably have to wait until 2020 to see Bateman in a featured role, but everything displayed in 2018 would indicate he can eventually handle it.
PROJECTED DRAFT ROUND: Second/Third Round – Bateman’s skill set appears to have everything. Freshman production at a power five school, a head coach known for featuring his best weapon in the passing game, and multiple plays displaying talent after the catch and ball skills.
Similar Prospect(s): Brian Robiskie, Rueben Randle
Chuba Hubbard (RB, Oklahoma State)
The sky’s the limit for Hubbard in Oklahoma State’s offense. The pass-heavy offense won’t be slowing down anytime soon with WR Tylan Wallace and company on the outside, and there will continue to be many open lanes for Hubbard to run through. With Justice Hill in town, it was always going to be tough for Hubbard to emerge, and it was. After red-shirting his Freshman season, Hubbard took the reins (slightly) in his red-shirt Freshman season, accumulating 146 touches and 969 yards from scrimmage. On his 22 receptions, Hubbard averaged 10.4 yards per reception and made a plethora of exciting plays. Of course, in just ten games Hill accumulated 171. Now that Hill is off to Baltimore, Hubbard will truly be unleashed in 2019. Hubbard is listed at 6 foot 1 and 205 pounds, and will likely need to gain weight to fill out his currently slender frame. For those that don’t remember, Melvin Gordon looked VERY similar early on in his Wisconsin career before gaining around ten pounds in his final season (which he brought to the NFL). In terms of NFL potential, Hubbard has a lot of that and is in a very optimal situation to create production that can boost him into the early round conversation.
PROJECTED DRAFT ROUND: Second/Third Round – Hubbard has the potential to burst into the top three rounds of the NFL draft. While he doesn’t appear to have elite athleticism (though very good), his size (if he can add bulk) and skill as a receiver will have NFL teams very excited for his future.
Similar Prospect(s): Charles Sims, Kenyan Drake
