The USC Trojans will play Penn State in a game of storied powers in the 2017 Rose Bowl. Both teams have been great at producing NFL talent. There may not be as many prospects as they are used to, but there are some good ones to watch out for. Here are the top prospects in the Rose Bowl:
USC Trojans
Adoree’ Jackson, CB
Projected Draft Range: First round
Jackson almost qualified for the Olympics in track, so speed is one of his main assets. He can keep up with any receiver. His ball skills are great . Jackson is the closest thing to Deion Sanders as he even slows down to bait quarterbacks to throw passes and then speeds up to pick them off. His added value comes in the return game and as a situational offensive player.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
Projected Draft Range: First round-second round
Smith-Schuster has good size at six feet two inches tall and 220 pounds. His production wasn’t as good as it should have been this season, but quarterback Sam Darnold had to get his feet wet at the collegiate level. One thing he needs to improve for the NFL is his route running.
Chad Wheeler, OG
Projected Draft Range: Fourth round-sixth round
Wheeler fits the prototypical size of a guard in the NFL at six feet six inches and 310 pounds. His run blocking is good and his pass blocking is average. Wheeler’s athletic ability and mobility will be questioned and he needs to prove he has those traits at the NFL combine and the Rose Bowl.
Zach Banner, OT
Projected Draft Range: Fourth round-sixth round
Banner has the necessary athletic ability to plat in the NFL. He formerly played basketball at USC and has also proven that he is athletic on the football field. He also has elite size at six feet nine inches tall. Banner has the making of a good left tackle, but still needs to develop his blocking to have his talent match his size.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Chris Godwin, WR
Projected Draft Range: Fourth round-sixth round
Godwin is a junior who may elect to stay in school, but will get drafted if he decides to leave Penn State. He has decent size to be an outside receiver at six feet one inch tall. His production is mostly shown by his ability to catch touchdown passes, with nine on the season. Other than scoring touchdowns Godwin is more of a possession receiver with a yards per catch average of 13.
Brandon Bell, LB
Projected Draft Range: Sixth round-undrafted free agent
Bell is a tackling machine when healthy. He had 18 total tackles against Ohio State and was one of the main reasons they won. He has good range and seems to always take down ball carriers once he reaches them. Bell is a good blitzer with four sacks in 13 games.
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