NFL Draft 2018: Updated ranking of the top 32 draft prospects entering Week 8
Malik Jefferson
OLB, Texas
The rivalry game between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners was another classic between the two. For Malik Jefferson, it was another week of productivity and him stacking good performances on top of the other.
Consistency has always been the one thing that has been wanted from him and he’s putting it all together this year for the Longhorns. In the tough loss, Jefferson finished with 11 tackles and a sack. Add in the fact it came against a stout Oklahoma offensive line and it’s even more impressive.
Those numbers each week are starting to become common for the outside linebacker and that productivity is going to make him sought after. Add in the fact he has a motor that doesn’t quit and his prospects are even more favorable.
He’s had plenty of weeks where he puts up big stats and then maybe falls back the week after. That hasn’t been the case at all this year. He’s putting up big plays and making life tough for the best quarterbacks in the NCAA.
Sam Hubbard
DE, Ohio State
The Ohio State defense didn’t give the Nebraska Cornhuskers time to breathe this past week. Sam Hubbard had a day that doesn’t jump out on the stat sheet, but he played as pivotal of a role up front in the huge win.
Often times in these big defensive performances, a defensive lineman’s stats might not jump off the page while everyone else has theirs inflated a bit. Case in point, Hubbard made some nice plays to force some runs outside.
This allowed the defense to roll up the Nebraska running game for no gain or minimal yardage. Making the little moves for the rest of the defense to thrive is part of what makes him so special as a defender.
The focus and attention to technique make him one of the best in the nation at what he does. He’ll still get his stats as well, but he does what’s best for the team. Big defensive performances start with selfless plays from guys like him up front.