Daniel Jeremiah regularly delivers a topical list of college football's best players. This week he takes a look at five players building momentum for the 2014 NFL Draft at the Senior Bowl.
Auburn DE Dee Ford
I really liked Ford when I studied him on tape, and I wasn't disappointed when I attended the BCS title game. He was unblockable on that night, using a combination of speed and power to harass Jameis Winston throughout the game. Ford has continued to build on that momentum during the early portion of Senior Bowl week. He has been the most explosive edge rusher by a wide margin. He explodes off the line of scrimmage and his dip/rip move is nasty.
Colorado State C Weston Richburg
Richburg was a pleasant surprise when I studied him on tape. He's been even better during practices this week. He has very quick feet, a strong punch and great balance. He can anchor down versus power, and he's athletic enough to adjust on the move. Last year, Cal center Brian Schwenke elevated his draft stock with a solid week in Mobile, and Richburg has followed in his footsteps.
Northern Illinois S Jimmie Ward
Ward has been the most athletic safety during the first two days of practice. He's shown the ability to mirror wide receivers in the one-on-one drills. He has very quick feet, and he's fluid when he opens up his hips. I wish he were bigger (he checked in at 5-10 3/8, 191 pounds), but his versatility to play off the hash or in the slot will be very attractive to NFL teams.
Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald
Donald turned heads during the first day of one-on-one drills. He had two explosive wins versus Baylor OG Cyril Richardson. He used his quickness to beat the flat-footed Richardson on the first rep and then powered right through him on the second rep. His get-off burst is impressive and his play on the field has evoked more than a few comparisons to Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins. The measurables of Donald and Atkins are almost identical.
Fresno State QB Derek Carr
The throwing conditions have been less than ideal this week. The wind gusts have been an issue for all six quarterbacks, but Carr has managed to slightly separate himself from the pack. He has a compact delivery, throws on time and is able to cut through the wind with a very tight spiral. I've been very impressed by his ability to throw on the move. Also, he scored some points with evaluators by spending extra time working with his receivers following the end of practice.
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