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College Football Week 3: NFL Draft big board rankings

By Nathaniel Reeves

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans scrambles with the football during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans scrambles with the football during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 09: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals breaks away from the North Carolina Tar Heels defense for a touchdown during the game at Kenan Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 47-35. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC – SEPTEMBER 09: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals breaks away from the North Carolina Tar Heels defense for a touchdown during the game at Kenan Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 47-35. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Lamar Jackson

QB, Louisville

With yet another highlight-reel performance, Jackson is continuing to make the case that his skill set can transfer over to the NFL.

Jackson piled up 525 yards of offense and six total touchdowns in Louisville’s 47-35 road win over North Carolina. A 43-yard scamper in the early second half showcased Jackson’s deadly ability in the open field, and he’s already over 1,000 yards for the season.

Jackson’s numbers as a sophomore in 2016 were nearly impossible to believe, as the Heisman Trophy winner put up over 5,000 yards of total offense with 51 touchdowns to nine interceptions. A late-season swoon may have hurt Jackson’s numbers a little, but he still made electrifying plays behind an awful offensive line and put up nearly 500 yards in Louisville’s hard-fought win over Purdue to open the season.

No offensive player in college football is more explosive than Jackson, and his outstanding arm strength and touch on deep passes will interest teams at the next level. Jackson size at just 6-3, 200 pounds and some issues with accuracy on shorter passes will likely keep him from being the top quarterback prospect in this class, but NFL scouts will see the upside of Michael Vick in his prime.

Next week will be arguably the toughest test of Jackson’s college career, as he faces a Clemson defensive line loaded with NFL-caliber talent.

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