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 Mexico Bowl.
Nate Brooks (Photo by wholehogsports.com)
Nate Brooks, CB
Brooks is one of the most experienced players in this game, as he has received playing time since his freshman season. At North Texas he has totaled 187 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 18 passes defended, one fumble recovery, and three forced fumbles. This season he has played his best yet with 61 total tackles, three tackles for loss, five interceptions, nine passes defended, one fumble recovery and one fumble forced.
At 6-foot and 180 pounds, Brooks has decent size for the NFL at his position. He will have a chance to get drafted in the later rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Projected draft range: Sixth round-undrafted free agent
E.J. Ejiya, LB
One of the best tacklers in college football the last two seasons is E.J. Ejiya. Ejiya has a career stat line of 264 total tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. This season he has 113 total tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
He has solid size at 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds and could get a shot to be drafted.
Projected draft range: Seventh round-undrafted free agent
Roderick Young, DT
The Mean Green have a quality defensive tackle in Roderick Young. He has 129 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one pass defended and one fumble recovery in his career. In 2018, Young has 26 total tackle, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and one pass defended.
Young is 6-foot-1 and 298 pounds, which is good for a defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme.
Projected draft range: Undrafted free agent
Dax Raymond, TE
It’s not often that a tight end from a group of five school leaves early for the NFL, but Dax Raymond has already declared for the NFL Draft. He has also been invited to the Senior Bowl, despite only being a junior. In three seasons, he has 70 receptions, 863 yards and three touchdowns. He has only played in nine games recording, 25 receptions, 335 yards and two touchdowns.
He stands 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, which is good enough for an NFL tight end. Being invited to the Senior Bowl is a huge boost to his draft stock.
Projected draft range: Fifth round-seventh round
Quin Ficklin (Photo by hjsports.com)
Quin Ficklin, C
Ficklin is a former fullback at BYU, who found a nice new role as a center with Utah State. In each of his two seasons playing for Utah State, he has received All-Mountain West honors. He has been the leader of the offensive line for the 2018 season.
He is undersized at 6-foot-2 and 300-pounds, but he makes up for that with his athleticism. If a team believes they can continue his development, he could be taken in the later rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Projected draft range: Sixth round-undrafted free agent
Roman Andrus, G
Andrus is another player who transferred in from BYU and played defensive line for the Cougars. In his time at Utah State, he has played both tackle and guard. His, and the rest of the line’s blocking, has allowed the Aggies to have a great offense this season.
He is 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, which is good size for a guard, but a little bit small for a tackle. Andrus probably fits in better as a guard anyways in the NFL, making him a player worthy of draft consideration.
Projected draft range: Sixth round-undrafted free agent
Jontrell Rocquemore, S
Rocquemore has burst back onto the scene in 2018 after only being able to play six games in 2017. At Utah State he has 149 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), three passes defended, one fumble recovered and one forced fumble. In his senior season, 69 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The safety has good enough size for the NBA at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds. He also has return experience, which only helps his chances of making an NFL roster.
Projected draft range: Undrafted free agent
Make sure to check out our college football page for more updates and rankings.
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