National Championship Game: Top 2021 NFL Draft prospects from Alabama, Ohio State

Patrick Surtain II, Alabama, cornerback

During the Rose Bowl, one of the commentators asked Brian Kelly about Patrick Surtain II to which the Notre Dame head coach said he’s just too good and they won’t be throwing to his side of the field. No matter how much Surtain bated the opposing receiver, Ian Book never threw to Surtain’s side of the field. Surtain is proof that numbers alone do not tell the entire story. Surtain’s tape tells more of the story.

Kelly might have been the only coach all season that was bold enough to express how the offense would not throw toward Surtain. Other coaches around the SEC and college football were certainly thinking what Kelly said. Teams rarely threw the football Surtain’s direction.

The son of former NFL cornerback Patrick Surtain, Sr., the younger Surtain is a true shut-down cornerback. Though Surtain does not have elite speed or twitch, Surtain can cover larger receivers in press man and is effective in zone coverage, though not his forte.

Shaun Wade, Ohio State, cornerback

Wade, Surtain and Jaycee Horn from South Carolina are in a three-way battle to be the first cornerback taken in the draft. Wade has three advantages over both Surtain and Horn. First, Wade has better ball skills. Wade can be a bit of a gambler; the Indiana game is a perfect example. Wade had a pick-six and gave up a long touchdown pass. That said, Wade does not miss many interceptions.

Wade likely runs better than both Surtain or Horn at the combine. Not only does Wade have great top-end speed, but the Ohio State corner also plays fast and is more of a twitch athlete than either Horn or Surtain. Wade is the more versatile of the defensive backs, having defended the slot and played safety.

Wade is also the least polished. That could be looked at from one of two perspectives. Wade might need some time before becoming a full-time starter at the next level. Another way to spin it is Surtain and Horn are close to their ceiling as players, and Wade has lots of room to grow.

Najee Harris, Alabama, running back

If Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry was faster and a better receiver out of the backfield, he’d been Najee Harris. With such a deep running back draft last season, Harris decided to come back and hone some specific skills. Harris made the right decision. Harris is the best all-around running back in this draft with a dangerous combination of size and speed.

Though Harris does not possess the top speed of Travis Etienne, the Clemson back cannot match Harris’s brute strength and explosion through the hole. Harris has proved to be an asset as a receiver out of the backfield and is the best blocker among running backs in this draft. Harris’s biggest improvement was as a runner, however.

Early in his career, Harris looked for the home run too often, bouncing plays wide instead of taking the three or four-yard gain. Harris has improved his vision and looks to deliver punishment to defenders and has become a better closer.

Running backs don’t go in the first round at the same rate as they did in the past but Harris is the exception and could be the first back taken toward the middle-end of the first.

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