The Rose Bowl is a College Football Playoff game, which means the best of the best are playing. Many of these players will go onto the next level eventually and have their impact felt. Here are the top NFL Draft prospects in the 2018 Rose Bowl:
Georgia Bulldogs
Roquan Smith, LB
Smith is the most complete linebacker in the 2018 NFL Draft class and is the leader of the Georgia defense. The past two years he has produced a lot, but this year he took his game to a whole new level. He has 113 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
He is 6’1″ and 225 pounds which is good enough size to play inside linebacker. He could play in any system that is thrown out there in the NFL. Smith will be the first inside linebacker to be selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Projected draft range: 1st round-2nd round
Trenton Thompson, DT
Thompson doesn’t have many stats, but the good play of a defensive tackle doesn’t always show up in the stat line. He has 33 total tackles and three tackles for loss. The lack of production is a little concerning, but he does a good job with gap integrity and stopping the run.
At 6’4″ and 295 pounds, Thompson is a perfect fit as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme. Defensive tackles don’t usually go high in the draft, but should be selected on day two.
Projected draft range: 2nd round-3rd round
Nick Chubb, RB
Chubb is one of the best running backs in SEC history. He has battled injuries, split carries and played against tough competition and has still produced. In his career he has 4,599 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns for the Bulldogs. He isn’t the best running back in the class, but has some of the best production.
He is 5’10” and 225 pounds which is good enough for the NFL. Day two of the NFL Draft is likely when Chubb will hear his name called.
Projected draft range: 2nd round-4th round
Other Georgia prospects:Â RB Sony Michel (3rd round-5th round), TE Jeb Blazevich (7th round-undrafted free agent), OL Isaiah Wynn (2nd round-4th round), LB Lorenzo Carter (2nd round-4th round), LB Davin Bellamy (4th round-6th round), LB Reggie Carter (7th round-undrafted free agent), CB DeAndre Baker (4th round-6th round), S Dominick Sanders (4th round-6th round)
Oklahoma SoonersÂ
Baker Mayfield, QB
Mayfield is the best player in college football as the Heisman Trophy winner. That doesn’t always translate into a good pro prospect, but he has done about everything to prove that he can make it in the NFL. In his career, he has 14,320 passing yards, 129 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
Size is a big issue with Mayfield, as he is 6’1″ and 225 pounds. This doesn’t mean he can’t be successful, but NFL executives want prospects to meet their measurables.
Projected draft range: 1st round-2nd round
Orlando Brown, OT
Brown has a lot of experience blocking for a very explosive offense. It has afforded him the opportunity to get a lot of reps run blocking or pass blocking. He has NFL bloodlines, as his dad played in the NFL. Brown hasn’t shown the greatest mobility, but is still a good prospect.
At 6’8″ and 345 pounds, not many tackles are bigger than Brown. NFL teams will try to take Brown because of his size and try to mold him into a player for their system.
Projected draft range: 1st round-2nd round
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE/OLB
Okoronkwo is a good pass rushing prospect and one of the few players from Oklahoma’s defense that can make it to the next level. In his Oklahoma career, he has 157 total tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. That is impressive given that he has only had two years of solid playing time.
He is a little undersized at 6’1″ and 241 pounds, but has production. He will need to show good speed rushing skills in order to move up draft boards.
Projected draft range: 2nd round-4th round
Other notable Oklahoma prospects:Â TE Mark Andrews (2nd round-4th round), CB Jordan Thomas (4th round-6th round), S Steven Parker (6th round-undrafted free agent)