[h=1]EDGE | Derek Rivers | Youngstown State[/h] A late call-up to the Senior Bowl after a stellar performance at the Shrine Game practices, Rivers has the frame of an NFL edge defender and displayed the skill set to match. He was dominant against lower-level competition, but proved in a small sample size he can hang with top talent.
[h=1]EDGE | Tarell Basham | Ohio[/h] Western Michigan’s Corey Davis gets most of he MACtion attention in this class, but watching Basham is some of the most fun I’ve had doing film work this year. He’s physical, explosive and dominant as both a pass-rusher and a run defender. His versatility will only improve his value at the next level.
[h=1]DL | Tanzel Smart | Tulane[/h] I was high on Smart heading into the 2016 season, and he didn’t disappoint as a senior, racking up 15 tackles for loss and four sacks. Undersized but explosive, Smart has a nonstop motor and knows how to use his lack of height to his advantage when it comes to getting leverage on his opponents.
[h=1]DL | Larry Ogunjobi | Charlotte[/h] Another pleasant surprise at this year’s Senior Bowl practices, Ogunjobi was a four-year starter for the upstart 49ers program. His numbers over that stretch were eye-popping (49 tackles for loss, led the team every year), and he flashed that disruptive ability against some of the nation’s best prospects in Mobile.
[h=1]LB | Elijah Lee | Kansas State[/h] Arguably the most surprising Combine snub, Lee is the kind of athletic, instinctive linebacker 4-3 teams are always looking for on the outside. He’ll miss the chance to show his skill in Indy, but his film and pro day should speak for themselves, and whoever grabs him in the middle rounds will be thrilled with the return on their investment.
[h=1]LB | Paul Magloire | Arizona[/h] Just like Lee, Magloire had no business missing out on the Combine. His film and production show a player worthy of being invited to the league’s gigantic job interview, but Magloire will have to wait until his pro day to put his skills on display for league representatives.
[h=1]CB | Jeremy Cutrer | Middle Tennessee State[/h] I drove the hype train for Kevin Byard last year, a fellow Blue Raider DB who should have gotten a Combine invite, then tore up his pro day and went halfway through Day 2. Cutrer is that guy this year. His combination of height, athleticism and length is what NFL teams are looking for, and his passion and competitiveness are even more rare traits.
[h=1]CB | Fabian Moreau | UCLA[/h] A foot injury cost him most of the 2015 season and derailed his draft stock, but NFL teams would do well not to forget about Moreau. A former running back with a thick frame and great athletic ability, Moreau is a feisty, physical cover man who can bring the hammer in run support.
[h=1]CB | Corn Elder | Miami (FL)[/h] If you’re looking for a slot corner who plays much bigger than his size, Elder is your man. He has a lot of the same traits that made Vernon Hargreaves a first-round pick in 2016, but consistency has been the biggest issue. He’s got the athleticism and confidence to be a quality NFL starter at a position that continues to increase in value.
[h=1]S | Xavier Woods | Louisiana Tech[/h] John Johnson (Boston College) and Lorenzo Jerome (St. Francis) aren’t really underrated anymore after their impressive all-star performances, so I’ll start with Woods, who has an NFL frame and a well-rounded skill set. Listed at 5-11, 219 pounds, Woods was a tackling machine in the box who also tallied five interceptions, six pass breakups and three sacks in 2016.
[h=1]S | David Jones | Richmond[/h] Injuries limited Jones to just four games in 2016, but he still managed to snag a pair of interceptions after leading the FCS with nine picks in 2015 (tying the NCAA single-game record with four against Albany). Listed at 6-3, 210 pounds, Jones is a raw prospect who has struggled to stay healthy, but if he’s at 100 percent, he could be a huge steal on Day 3.
