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 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
*Defensive tackle Gerald Willis is out for this game with a hand injury, but is projected to be drafted between the second and fourth rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Joe Jackson (Photo from twitter.com)
Joe Jackson, DE
Jackson has shown off his good pass-rushing skills over the last three seasons at Miami. In his career, he has 129 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. This season he has tallied 47 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
He has great size for a defensive end at 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds. Most years he would be a highly-coveted prospect, but this draft is filled with great defensive linemen. He is a junior that could go back to Miami for a year.
Projected draft range: Second round-fourth round
Shaquille Quarterman, LB
Miami has a great linebacker in Quarterman, who has started since his first game. As a Hurricane, he has logged 243 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. This season he has 76 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks.
He has decent height at 6-foot-1, but a good size at 240 pounds. As a junior, Quarterman could also return to Coral Gables for another season.
Projected draft range: Third round-fifth round
Jaquan Johnson, S
The last two seasons have been great for Johnson. For his four seasons at Miami, Johnson has 239 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven interceptions, seven passes defended, three fumble recoveries and six fumbles forced. This season he has 79 total tackles, one pass defended, one interception and two forced fumbles in 10 games.
Johnson will have to fit in as a free safety at 5–foot-10 and 190 pounds. His play has declined this season, but he still has solid draft stock.
Projected draft range: Third round-fifth round
Michael Pinckney, LB
Pinckney is another talented junior linebacker for Miami. He has 198 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three interceptions and six passes defended in his career. In 2018, Pinckney has accrued 69 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and two passes defended.
At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Pinckney isn’t the biggest linebacker, so he’ll have to prove he is more mobile than other linebackers.
Projected draft range: Fourth round-sixth round
Michael Jackson, CB
Jackson has stepped up big time over the last two seasons. For his career, Jackson has 93 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions and 10 passes defended. This year, he has 38 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and five passes defended.
He is 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, which is good size for a corner. His play has dipped in 2018 and his draft stock has too as a result.
Projected draft range: Fourth round-sixth round
*Nose Tackle Olive Sagapolu is out after having season-ending arm surgery. He is projected to be an undrafted free agent.
David Edwards, OT
Wisconsin usually has good offensive linemen and this year is no different. Edwards made several All-American teams as a freshman and made All-Big Ten second team this season. He has plenty of good experience in run blocking, as Johnathan Taylor has had two great years running behind him.
He has good size for an NFL offensive tackle at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds. Edwards has two years of eligibility left, but has good draft stock this year.
Projected draft range: Second round-fourth round
Michael Deiter (Photo by madison.com)
Michael Deiter, OG
Teams looking for a talented lineman that has experience playing almost anywhere, should look no further than Deiter. He has been starting since 2015 and has several accolades and honors to his name. He likley best fits on an NFL line at guard and that’s where he played this season.
Deiter looks like an NFL offensive lineman at 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds. After the best season of his career, Deiter is ready for the NFL.
Projected draft range: Second round-fourth round
T.J. Edwards, LB
Edwards is one of the most accomplished linebackers in college football over his four seasons. At Wisconsin, he has 357 total tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine interceptions and 15 passes defended. As a senior, Edwards picked up 103 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and two passes defended.
He is 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds, which is good enough for the pros.
Projected draft range: Second round-Fourth round
Ryan Connelly, LB
Connelly is one of three draftable Wisconsin linebackers. As a Badger, he has totaled 251 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions and five passes defended. This season he has 89 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks.
At 6-foot-3 and 237 pounds, Connelly will fit right in as a linebacker.
Projected draft range: Third round-fifth round
D’Cota Dixon, S
Dixon is a safety that seems to have been at Wisconsin for years. In his time at Wisconsin, Dixon has 179 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five interceptions and 11 passes defended. He has only played in nine games this season because of an injury and has tallied 43 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and three passes defended.
He is likely going to play free safety because he is 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds.
Projected draft range: Fourth round-sixth round
Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB
Another good linebacker the Badgers have is Andrew Van Ginkel, who has played two seasons at Wisconsin. He has 90 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11 interceptions and five passes defended in his career. This season he has 51 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
He has decent size at 6-foot-4, but will need to add to his frame to fight off blockers at the next level.
Projected draft range: Fourth round-sixth round
Make sure to check out our college football page for more updates and rankings.
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