NFL Draft 2018: Updated ranking of the top 32 draft prospects entering Week 8
Mitch Hyatt
OT, Clemson
It was a night to forget for the Clemson Tigers on the road against the Syracuse Orange. Just about everything went wrong in the upset loss and it certainly wasn’t a night that is going to show up on highlight tape for anyone.
For Mitch Hyatt, he’s in a crowded class with plenty of tackles to choose from. That means that he’s going to need to be as standout as possible in a year that demands it from him each week of the season.
By now everyone knows that he needs to get stronger and doesn’t have the longest arms. The performances this year have been solid but nothing that has necessarily jumped out and made anyone think that he is the top tackle in the class either.
Right now, Clemson could use a strong rebound game and Hyatt can help that by keeping his side of the line clean as he typically does. Right now, no Clemson player is thinking about their individual performances as much as getting back on the winning side of things.
Arden Key
EDGE, LSU
After the LSU Tigers appeared to be at their lowest point of the season, they have rattled off two huge conference wins on the road over Florida and Auburn. Against a top-10 team on Saturday, the Tigers brought it.
As the Tigers round into shape finally, so does pass rushing product Arden Key. He’s finally starting to show off what people are expecting of him as he finally gets healthy. It was always going to take some games for him to get back into shape, but he looks well on his way.
Against Aubrun, Key was instrumental in a big defensive performance. He finished the game with six tackles, one sack and one and a half tackles for loss. Those are the numbers people are accustomed to seeing next to his name.
If LSU is turning their season around and is going to get on a roll here, it helps having Key find his footing this year. He’s still seen as a big pass rushing product heading into the NFL Draft and games like this prove it.