While everyone is supposed to wear green on St. Patrick's Day, a handful of NFL draft prospects are dealing with the green look on a daily basis. College Football 24/7 takes a look at the greenest players available in the 2015 NFL Draft. These are raw, less-experienced players who will need the most work in terms of technique and have a steep learning curve at the next level, but could also give their team a huge payoff.
1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
Where else to start on a list of green prospects than with a guy with green in his name? Plenty of people questioned whether Green-Beckham, a former Missouri star who transferred to Oklahoma, should have stayed in college another year to rebuild his off-field reputation. But the season he lost while sitting out the season at Oklahoma last year shouldn't be overlooked.
A potential first-round pick with a massive frame (6-5, 237 pounds), Green-Beckham hasn't played a down since 2013, and that's the only college season he had as a true No. 1 target. As a freshman in 2012, he caught just 28 passes. NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock alluded to Green-Beckham's lack of polish with this comment before the NFL Scouting Combine: "I watched every target to him in 2013, and he has no idea what he's doing, but he changes games." Meanwhile, NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks delved into the shortcomings in Green-Beckham's technique at OU's pro day.
While Green-Beckham's size and athleticism could be all he needs to make a significant impact as an NFL rookie, expect him to be a much better player in subsequent years.
2. Cam Erving, OL, Florida State
If Erving, the anchor of the Florida State offensive line, were being drafted as a left tackle, he wouldn't be listed here. But after playing five impressive games at center at the end of his senior season, NFL scouts see him as a center prospect at the pro level. So do NFL Media analysts Daniel Jeremiah, who ranked him as a center on his Top 50 list, and Mike Mayock, who sees Pro Bowl potential from Erving as a center.
While Erving has a strong and versatile profile as a draft prospect, the center position in the NFL will take a significant adjustment. As Erving has noted himself, things happen faster in the interior.
3. Jordan Phillips, DL, Oklahoma
Phillips, a nose guard prospect from Oklahoma, enters the NFL with just one full season as a college starter under his belt. He redshirted at OU in 2011, so he had four years in the program. But there is no substitute for game experience. Before the 2014 season, he was a little-used reserve in 2012, and back surgery ended his season early in 2013. Like Green-Beckham, Phillips will need some time to develop from a technique standpoint.
4. T.J. Clemmings, OL, Pittsburgh
Clemmings has everything NFL scouts look for from an athletic standpoint, but he was a defensive lineman for the first three years of his college career. His 26 starts at left tackle for the Panthers isn't a small sample, but his struggles during Senior Bowl practice week exposed just how far he has to go.
5. Nick Marshall, CB, Auburn
After playing quarterback at Auburn, Marshall isn't only changing positions, he's changing sides of the ball. That's an incredible challenge, one that College Football 24/7 has chronicled for more than a month. A brilliant athlete with a wide variety of skills, Marshall practiced at cornerback at the Senior Bowl and could also end up at safety at the next level. He was even asked to return punts at Auburn's pro day.
6. Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
A career tight end until last year, Funchess (6-5, 230 pounds) made the switch to wide receiver and posted a solid year with 62 catches for Michigan. But getting open against NFL cornerbacks, particularly against press coverage, which isn't very common at the college level, is going to be a new challenge.
7. Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
There isn't any question Hunter is a pro-caliber athlete -- he ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at 6-5 and 250 pounds at the combine -- but his production at the college level didn't quite match up (1.5 sacks last year), and his instincts are lacking.
8. Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma
Bell is making a very difficult conversion from quarterback to tight end, and understandably, he proved to be raw in playing the position for the first time last year at Oklahoma. He's physical and fearless -- two traits that might not be expected from a former quarterback -- but has a lot to learn. Another raw prospect making the same transition: Arkansas' A.J. Derby.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
