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 2019 National Championship Game.
*Stats are from the regular season. Excerpts taken from Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl articles.
Clemson Tigers Prospects
Clelin Ferrell, DE
Ferrell is one of the many talented defensive linemen on Clemson. He is the most effective pass rusher and will likely be drafted early in the 2019 NFL Draft. For his career, 158 total tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 26 sacks, four passes defended and four forced fumbles. This season he has led the team with 10.5 sacks.
He is 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, which is good size for an NFL defensive end. Getting drafted in the top five picks is not out of the question for Ferrell.
Projected draft range: Top 20 pick
Christian Wilkins, DT
Wilkins has been making plays on Clemson’s defense for years, but has stayed at Clemson when he could’ve already been in the pros. He has 187 total tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 15 passes defended, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. This season he has 46 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two passes defended, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Wilkins is a solid size. His interior pass rushing and constant production will get him drafted in the first round.
Projected draft range: First round
Dexter Lawrence, DT
Lawrence was a highly-touted recruit who fits right into the talent along the Clemson defensive front. In his time at Clemson he has 131 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one sack, four passes defended three fumble recoveries and one fumble forced. This season he has tallied, 36 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, three passes defended and one fumble recovery.
He has tremendous size at 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds. While Lawrence may not be drafted as highly as the two listed ahead of him on this list, but he could still be a first-round pick.
Projected draft range: First round-second round
*Lawrence will not play in this game after a failed drug test.
Other Clemson Tigers draft prospects: DE Austin Bryant (First round-third round), LB Tre Lemar (Second round-third round), S Isaiah Simmons (Second round-fourth round), OT Mitch Hyatt (Second round-fourth round), LB Kendall Joseph (Third round-fifth round), CB Trayvon Mullen (Third round-fifth round), CB Mark Fields (Fourth round-sixth round), WR Hunter Renfrow (Fifth round-seventh round), S Tanner Muse (Sixth round-undrafted free agent)
Alabama Crimson Tide Prospects
*Cornerback Trevon Diggs is out for this game with an injury. He is a projected first to second round pick.
Quinnen Williams, DL
Williams has already risen very high on a lot of draft boards for his play this season and is now in play to be selected in the first few picks of the 2019 NFL Draft. The redshirt sophomore has 86 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and one pass defended in his two seasons at Alabama. In 2018, he has tallied 66 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, eight sacks and one pass defended.
He has good size at 6-foot-4 and 289 pounds. His athleticism will allow him to play multiple positions in a few different schemes. If he declares for the draft, he will be one of the first names off the board.
Projected draft range: Top 10 pick
Raekwon Davis, DL
Davis was more hyped up to start the season, but has still played well and warrants heavy consideration to be an early round draft pick. He has 125 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in his time at Alabama. This season he has 52 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
His measurables might be the most intriguing thing about Davis. He stands 6-foot-7 and 319 pounds, which is excellent for his NFL career. He should be taken in the first round.
Projected draft range: First round-second round
Deionte Thompson, S
Thompson is a junior that only has one year of starting experience, but he has played well enough to draw attention from NFL personnel. As a member of the Crimson Tide, Thompson has 104 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 6 passes defended, one fumble recovery and three forced fumbles. In his first season as a starter, he has 70 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, five passes defended, one fumble recovery and three fumbles forced.
At 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds, he has good size for a safety, although he’ll need to add some weight to his frame. Thompson should be the first safety off the board in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Projected draft range: First round-second round
Other Alabama Crimson Tide Prospects: OT Jonah Williams (first-second round), LB Mack Wilson (first-second round), TE Irv Smith Jr. (first-second round), DT Isaiah Buggs (second-third round), RB Damien Harris (second-third round), LB Anfernee Jennings (second-fourth round), RB Josh Jacobs (third-fourth round), LB Terrell Lewis (third-fourth round), C/G Ross Pierschbacher (third-fifth round), LB Christian Miller (fourth-sixth round), G Lester Cotton (fifth-seventh round)
Make sure to check out our college football page for more updates and rankings.
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