The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. Bowl scheduling allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the 2020 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Draft Prospects
K.J. Costello, QB
Costello started his college career at Stanford before playing this season at Mississippi State. Over his career, he has passed for 7,434 yards, 55 touchdowns and 29 interceptions on 64.1 percent completion. This season has been rough, as Costello has 1,283 yards, six touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 64.1 percent completion in six games played.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Costello has the prototypical size of an NFL quarterback. Unfortunately this down year at Mississippi State will hurt his draft stock. There is still a possibility he gets drafted if someone falls in love with his tape from Stanford, but it will be very late in the draft.
Projected Draft Range: Sixth Round Pick-Undrafted Free Agent
Erroll Thompson, LB
Thompson has been a mainstay on the Mississippi State defense for the last four seasons. In his career, he has 303 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. For the 2020 season, Thompson has totaled 86 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
He stands 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, which gives him solid size for a linebacker. Thompson has been good against the run in his career, but has been shaky against the pass. For that reason, he will likely be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Projected Draft Range: Sixth Round Pick-Undrafted Free Agent
Other Draft Prospects
* Running back Kylin Hill has opted out for this game. He is a projected mid-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
DL Jaden Crumedy (6th-UFA), DL Marquiss Spencer (UFA)
Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Draft Prospects
Tyarise Stevenson, DL
Stevenson has been one of Tulsa’s best players over the last four seasons. Although he doesn’t amass a lot of stats as an interior defensive lineman, Stevenson has 82 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in his career. This season, he has 16 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
He has tremendous size at 6-foot-3 and 351 pounds. With that size he is a perfect candidate to play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme, where he can take on multiple blockers and free up other players to make plays. He is a projected late round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Fourth Round Pick-Sixth Round Pick
Zach Smith, QB
Smith is a very experienced quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft class after starting his career at Baylor before finishing with Tulsa. He has 7,877 passing yards, 52 touchdowns and 32 interceptions on 56.4 percent completion. This season, he has passed for 1,601 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 55.8 percent completion.
He has solid size for an NFL quarterback at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds. Smith’s accuracy issues will hold him back from being drafted very early in the 2021 NFL Draft. He will likely be drafted very late or be an undrafted free agent.
Projected Draft Range: Sixth Round Pick-Undrafted Free Agent
Other Draft Prospects
*Linebacker Zaven Collins has opted out of this game. He is a projected first to third round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
CB Allie Green IV (6th-UFA)
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