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College Football Bowls 2016: 10 NFL Draft prospects who can help their stock

By John Buhler

Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Wayne Gallman (9) runs with the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first quarter of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Wayne Gallman (9) runs with the ball against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first quarter of the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Bucky Hodges (7) works out prior to the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Bucky Hodges (7) works out prior to the ACC Championship college football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Perhaps the one position group that has the most depth coming out of college this season is the tight ends. There are potentially three tight ends that could go in the first round and five that project as big-time playmakers in the NFL on Sunday.

Alabama’s O.J. Howard and Michigan’s Jake Butt seem like locks to go in the first round. Clemson’s Jordan Leggett and Ole Miss’ Evan Engram will be on your fantasy football teams for years to come. Now the other guy who falls in the middle of these five is redshirt junior Bucky Hodges at Virginia Tech.

Hodges is the No. 3 tight end on CBS‘ 2017 NFL Draft board. He projects as a second-round pick, but could climb to the back end of the first round with a great bowl game performance against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Belk Bowl.

Bret Bielema’s Hogs defense loves to give up points. Seeing Arkansas and Virginia Tech play in Charlotte will be interesting, but this is a game where Hodges can assert himself as a top-tier NFL tight end. He looks like a beast up the middle in a pro-style offense.

Hodges could choose to go back to Blacksburg for his redshirt junior season, but 2017 isn’t going to raise his NFL Draft stock as much as this upcoming bowl game against Arkansas could. If he explodes against the Razorbacks, Hodges could go in the first round. Howard and Butt will already be off the board, but Hodges would make three first-round tight ends in the 2017 NFL Draft.

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