The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. The bowl season schedule allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl.
Baylor Bears Prospects
*Wide receiver Jalen Hurd is being held out of this game with a knee injury. He also has experience at running back dating back to his days at Tennessee. Hurd’s projected draft range is a sixth-round pick to an undrafted free agent.
Patrick Lawrence, OT
He is one of the few draft prospects on Baylor with all of the turmoil that has happened with the athletic program. Lawrence has started over the last three seasons for Baylor at tackle. He was playing back when Baylor’s offense was really playing well, with good experience pass blocking and run blocking.
He has decent size for an offensive tackle at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds. He’ll have to test well to get drafted even in the later rounds of the NFL Draft.
Projected draft range: Sixth round-undrafted free agent
Connor Martin, K
Martin had a great 2017 season, but has struggled this year. In his career, Martin has made 71 of 76 extra points and 34 of 46 field goals. This season he is hitting on 63.6% of his field goal attempts and has missed four extra points.
Since he is a junior, Martin should return to Baylor for his senior season to improve his draft stock. If he comes out, he’ll have to fight for every opportunity.
Projected draft range: Undrafted free agent
Vanderbilt Commodores Prospects
*Linebacker Charles Wright is questionable for this game with a leg injury that has only allowed him to play in five games this season. Wright will need to be cleared medically before his true draft status can be known, but as of now, he will likely be an undrafted free agent.
Joejuan Williams, CB
Williams has been one of the best corners in the SEC this season and his draft status will reflect that. Over his time at Vanderbilt, he has logged 114 total tackles, six tackles for loss, four interceptions, 22 passes defended and one forced fumble. This season he has 56 total tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions and 10 passes defended.
Williams stands 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, which is great size for a corner. His length will allow him to disrupt bigger receivers in the NFL.
Projected draft range: Fourth round-sixth round
Kyle Shurmur, QB
Shurmur has been one of the best Vanderbilt quarterbacks of all time and will likely be drafted at some point in the 2019 NFL Draft. As a Commodore, he has passed for 8,579 yards, 63 touchdowns and 29 interceptions on 57.4% completion. He continually improved throughout his career and this season threw for 2,844 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions on 64% completion.
He has a good build to play quarterback at the next level at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. Shurmur also has grown up with the sport, as his dad is the current head coach of the Giants Pat Shurmur. He has played well despite not having the greatest talent around him, especially in comparison to some of the SEC defenses he has faced.
Projected draft range: Fourth round-seventh round
LaDarius Wiley, S
Wiley has been a three-year starter for Vanderbilt at safety. For his career, he has 251 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 2 sacks, two interceptions, 10 passes defended, three fumble recoveries and seven forced fumbles. In 2018, he has 78 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, two passes defended and four forced fumbles.
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Wiley has solid size for an NFL safety.
Projected draft range: Fifth round-seventh round
Make sure to check out our college football page for more updates and rankings.
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