The first week of the college football season brought with it some exciting matchups, potential breakout stars and of course, may have seen some prospects for the 2018 NFL draft launch their draft stock, after just one performance.
Each week, we'll give you a list of draft board risers, who improved their 2018 NFL draft stock with their performance from the weekend prior.
CB Jordan Wyatt, SMU
SMU CB Jordan Wyatt is a speedy cover player who backed up an impressive 2016 season with a strong performance against Stephen F. Austin. Wyatt had two pass-rushing snaps against the Lumberjacks and made them both count as he earned a sack on one and a hurry on the other. Wyatt saw four passes enter his coverage area against Stephen F. Austin allowing three catches for only 18 yards with only three of those yards after the catch. Wyatt also intercepted one pass while the passer rating when throwing into Wyatt’s coverage was 43.8.
WR Deontay Burnett, USC
USC WR Deontay Burnett was one of our breakout candidates this season as he was Sam Darold’s favorite target late in 2016 and throughout the spring. Burnett opened the season catching a team-high 7-of-8 targets for 142 yards against a talented Western Michigan secondary. 75 of those yards came after the catch and Burnett caught passes against four different coverage defenders. Look for Burnett to continue to be Darnold’s “go-to-guy” and start to pad his touchdown stats as well.
ED Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
Washington State DI Hercules Mata’afa might only be 250-pounds but all he does is win as a pass-rusher. Last season, Mata’afa’s pass-rushing productivity rating of 11.8 ranked No. 3 among all FBS interior defensive linemen. Mata’afa was able to keep his momentum going into 2017 as he had two sacks, two hits and three hurries on only 14 pass-rush snaps in the season-opener against Montana State. NFL teams likely won’t want to use him as a 250-pound defensive tackle – like he is being deployed at Washington State – but Mata’afa has been a consistent pass-rush performer wherever he lines up.
CB Mazzi Wilkins, USF
USF CB Mazzi Wilkins has seen backup snaps at USF for the past two seasons but has been outstanding in coverage in his first two career starts this season. Through two games, Wilkins has been thrown at 14 times and has only allowed two receptions and has collected two interceptions. Wilkins’ one-for-you-one-for-me production levels can’t continue but he’s also broken up two passes as well and the passer rating when throwing into his coverage area is 0.0.
CB Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
Isaiah Oliver didn’t see full-time reps in the Buffaloes’ defense last season due to their incredible depth but he still flashed when he was on the field. Oliver made our 2016 All-Pac-12 team as a special teamer not only for his return ability but for his kick coverage and tackling ability as well. Now that three Colorado defensive backs were selected in the 2017 NFL draft it has cleared the way for Oliver to shine in a starting cornerback role in Boulder. Oliver was targeted 14 times in the 2017 season-opener against Colorado State and only surrendered five catches for 61 yards. It must be noted that Oliver’s coverage numbers were aided when a long pass he surrendered to Michael Gallup was called back for a questionable offensive pass interference penalty. In the matchup of future NFL draft prospects between Gallup and Oliver, Oliver arguably won the battle as out of the 10 targeted passes, only four catches were allowed for 52 yards and no touchdowns. Oliver was exceptional throughout the game and CSU QB Nick Stevens had a passer rating of 50.0 when throwing into Oliver’s coverage. Oliver is 6-foot, so he has the height that NFL teams are looking for and is an incredible track athlete who is hard to beat vertically. Oliver displayed both traits in breaking up a deep pass intended for Gallup in the end zone. He broke up four passes in total against the rival Rams. It’s a small sample size but so far he is living up to Steve Palazzolo’s breakout billing for 2017.
TE Caleb Wilson, UCLA
The highest-graded UCLA Bruin in their epic comeback victory over Texas A&M wasn’t QB Josh Rosen but rather TE Caleb Wilson. Wilson only played 189 snaps in all of 2016 but already played 84 snaps in the 2017 season. Wilson collected a nice grade as a run blocker but was deadly as a pass-catcher. He displayed great hands and crisp route-running as he caught 15 of his 17 targets against the Aggies’ defense for an eye-popping 208 yards. Wilson caught passes against seven different coverage defenders and also provided 74 yards after the catch. Rosen’s passer rating when targeting Wilson was 117.6. Expect to see a lot more from the Rosen/Wilson combination going forward.
HB John Kelly, Tennessee
Alvin Kamara’s 375 offensive snaps have left to go to the New Orleans Saints which has created an opportunity for John Kelly. The 52 snaps Kelly saw against Georgia Tech in Week 1 represented the most playing time he’s had in any game up to this point in his career. Kelly didn’t disappoint as he carried the ball 18 times for 127 yards and four touchdowns. He also created 77 yards after contact and forced an incredible seven missed tackles as a runner. Kelly also added five catches on six targets for 35 yards with 33 yards coming after the catch.
Other notables:
QB Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson has played in 26 career games before this season started, but he never had a game like he did in Week 1 against Nevada. Thorson completed 28 of his 38 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Thorson was highly effective to the middle of the field at the intermediate and deep levels – completing 6-of-8 passes for two touchdowns on passes targeted between the numbers and at least 10 yards downfield. Is this the beginning of a breakout season for Thorson?
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