College Football Week 3: NFL Draft big board rankings
Derrick Nnadi
DT, Florida State
Nnadi is one of the standouts on a Florida State defensive line loaded with NFL prospects, and holds steady in the top 20 thanks to his solid performance in the season opener against Alabama.
Florida State’s game against Louisiana-Monroe was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma, so Nnadi did not get a chance to add to his draft resume. The senior defensive tackle was productive with six tackles against an always-stout Crimson Tide offensive line two weeks ago, helping his stock go up instantly.
With a dominant unit alongside him in the trenches last year, Nnadi emerged as a breakout force with 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and a forced fumble. That newfound production was a welcome development, as the former blue-chip recruit didn’t make many impact plays during his first two years in Tallahassee.
At 6-1 and 312 pounds, Nnadi can generate a lot of strength at the point of attack in the middle of a defensive line, and disrupts opposing run games by displacing offensive linemen. Nnadi doesn’t have the arm length that NFL teams really latch on to, but his well-rounded production against both the pass and rush will not be overlooked.
Irma also caused Florida State’s matchup with Miami to be moved back two weeks, so Nnadi and the Seminoles won’t be back until Sept. 23 against NC State.