Despite a loss, two Mississippi State defenders were big winners when it comes to the NFL Draft.
There were plenty of intriguing matchups for NFL Draft fans this weekend. The headliner was clearly Alabama vs. Mississippi State that game was loaded with NFL talent on both sides of the ball and did not disappoint those watching for draft implications.
5. David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State – Stock down
Iowa State has at least two serious NFL draft prospects in running back David Montgomery and wide receiver Hakeem Butler. Neither had their expected big day this weekend against the Baylor Bears. It was Montgomery with the more lackluster performance. Baylor entered the game ranked as one of the nation’s worst rushing defense giving up 5.4 yards per carry but Montgomery just couldn’t get going, finishing with 11 carries for 53 yards. Regardless of the stats, the biggest disappointment came when Montgomery was ejected after throwing a punch in the third quarter after a brawl broke out. He apologized immediately after the game, but it wasn’t a good look.
4. Juan Thornhill, DB, Virginia – Stock up
Sometimes it’s hard to find prospects until someone else points them out. That is the case with Juan Thornhill of Virginia and TheDraftNetwork’s Joe Marino. He’s discussed Thornhill at length and this week I finally caught on. It was a great week for the top-50 prospect who could be the second safety taken in the 2019 NFL Draft. The converted corner had 13 tackles and another interception to give him five on the season. Thornhill now has five interceptions and five pass break-ups on the season. He’s the leader of a talented Cavalier secondary.
3. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR, Oklahoma – Stock up
Quarterback Kyler Murray is a Heisman candidate but will not be an NFL prospect due to his budding baseball career so the biggest name for NFL Draft fans on the Sooners offense is Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Against Oklahoma State, Brown had eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. The speedster will face size questions at the next level, being listed at only 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds, but his expected 40 times will squash that. Brown will be an interesting name to watch in what is shaping up to be a strong wide receiver class.
2. Ryan Finley, QB, North Carolina State – Stock down
Ryan Finley is having his name mentioned in many early mock drafts as a potential first round pick, but I just don’t see it. In the loss to Wake Forest, Finley went 35 of 52 for 374 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The biggest issue came when he attempted the final Hail Mary that came up shy of the end zone. One reason Finley is being touted as a high pick is his arm strength. That was clearly a myth because he could not even reach the end zone from 50 yards out. The hype for Finley is strictly due to the weak quarterback crop in 2019.
1. Montez Sweat/ Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State – Stock up
The Tide rolled through the Bulldogs on the scoreboard but it was the talented defensive line prospects that stole the show. Despite the outcome, edge rusher Montez Sweat and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons stood out and solidified themselves as top-15 picks. Sweat did not register a sack but was living in the Tide’s backfield and is a big reason they got to Tua Tagovailoa four times. Simmons were the interior presence that gave Alabama’s guards and centers fits. Against their best competition all season, the two Bulldogs proved they are special talents and should hear their names called early in the 2019 NFL draft.