The sports world is devolving into its normal "all draft, all day" mode now that baseball has started. Not wanting to be left out, I thought I would jump in and look at MAC prospects.
It is really tough to make the NFL from the MAC. You can be an absolutely great MAC player, and not even get a sniff in the NFL. Choosing examples is so easy there's no point.
Based on ESPN rankings, here are MAC players projected as draft-worthy, with their rank at their position.
#3 Joe Staley, OT from CMU. Looking late first round, based on their projection. Is a converted TE, but they seem to really like him at tackle in the NFL.
#5 Doug Free, OT from NIU. First day pick. Dominant in the MAC.
#6 Andy Alleman, OG from Akron. ESPN says his stock is "soaring" and could be a first day pick.
#14 Garrett Wolfe, NIU. Early second day.
#16 I was most surprised to see Dan Bazuin ranked as 16th as his position. I thought the hype was that he was going in the first round, but now, it looks like he will go in the second day. Apparently he had a bad senior year--never mind that he was injured and his brother died before the season started.
Possible picks
Drew Mormino, C, from Central Michigan. Late pick, if at all.
Luke Getsy, QB, Akron
Chad Upshaw, TE, Buffalo (This is Gene Upshaw's son).
Andrew Wellock, K, EMU
Ryne Robinson, WR, Miami
And that's it. 5 MAC players likely (perhaps as many as 10) to be drafted. Note a trend there? Yes, all the top 10 players are offensive lineman. Skill position play in the MAC is simply not up to the level we saw five years ago. Remember the MAC being the conference of QBs? Overall play in the MAC is down, but among skilled players, it is most down.
As a Falcon Blog, we pay passing tribute to Derrick Markray, our only player in danger of being drafted. Coach Brandon thinks he will be a UDFA and make an NFL roster.
Good read.
ReplyDeleteI think that you have a lot of it spot on.
I think the one thing you are not taking into account is the strength at the positions in this particular draft.
Staley will go in round one based more off of the week draft at T and then his own ability. His feet will make him sexy for teams looking for a LT.
Doug Free will be helped by a week draft at the T position.
Alleman I have heard is rising like you said.
Garrett Wolfe I think will go very low, 6th or 7th round. He is just too small.
Bazuin I think will be a quality NFL player..DE is the deepest it has been in years.
of the other 5 i would say that Ryne Robinson is the only otehr one that will be drafted and it will be in round 7th with a team taking a flyer.