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.
RB Bryce Love, Stanford
Steve Palazzolo identified Bryce Love as his breakout candidate for running back in his preseason positional overview. Love has rewarded Palazzolo’s prediction by breaking out in a massive way as he is currently leading the nation in rushing with 786 yards and is averaging 10.8 yards per carry with five TDs. Love is averaging 5.03 yards per carry after contact and has forced 27 missed tackles as a runner. Iowa State’s David Montgomery (189.9) is the only running back with at least 50 carries to have a higher elusive rating than Love’s 181.0 thus far this season. Love is a threat to score every time he touches the ball and already has 13 carries of 15 or more yards on the season with ties him at No. 1 with San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny.
TE Jaylen Samuels, NC State
Jaylen Samuels is a Swiss-Army knife player for the North Carolina State offense. The Wolfpack lines Samuels up at tight end, in the slot, in the back field and out wide. Samuels doesn’t exactly fit any traditional offensive skill prospect template as he is only 5-fott-11, 220-pounds and likely runs a 40-yard dash in the 4.6-4.7 range. Samuels next-level position might not be clear-cut but wherever he lines up, he produces and has graded positively both as a ball-carrier and as a pass-catcher. As a runner, Samuels has generated 43 yards after contact, four touchdowns and three missed tackles on 14 carries. In the pass game, Samuels has caught 36-of-41 targets for 279 yards and three touchdowns, including 192 yards after the catch and forcing four missed tackles as a receiver. Samuels isn’t as explosive as a Ty Montgomery but he is equally at home in the backfield and as a receiver just like Montgomery.
DI Jalen Jelks, Oregon
Jalen Jelks has been one of the Ducks’ defenders to thrive in the scheme of new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. Jelks has the length to play multiple positions and has largely split his time between DE and DT but has even seen a handful of snaps at OLB. Jelks has been stout as a run defender and currently leads all 3-4 defensive ends – who have played at least 40 run defense snaps – with a 14.5 run stop percentage. More importantly, Jelks has generated three sacks, four hits, eight hurries and one batted pass on his 130 pass-rush snaps. No 3-4 DE with at least 75 pass-rushing snaps has a higher pass rushing productivity than the 9.8 mark posted by Jelks.
WR Cam Phillips, Virginia Tech
Cam Phillips has been Mr. Reliable for the Hokies’ offense for four years now but he is absolutely destroying his 2017 campaign. Phillips has 34 catches on 45 targets for 523 yards and five touchdowns through four games this season. Phillips has also contributed 144 yards after the catch and forced three missed tackles. Throughout his career, Phillips has shown an ability to be productive outside and in the slot and that versatility is in high demand on Sundays.
CB M.J. Stewart, North Carolina
Stewart’s ability to play both in the slot as well as outside corner is very attractive to NFL teams. Stewart has been solid in coverage this season – outside of one long touchdown play against Louisville. Stewart has allowed 12 catches on 21 targets for 187 yards and that one touchdown but 75 of those yards came on the aforementioned TD catch in the Louisville game. Stewart has broken up two passes so far on the season but is still looking for his first interception since 2015. Stewart is also a very productive blitzer for the Tar Heels and so far in 2017 he has generated two sacks, two QB hits, one hurry and one batted pass on his 10 pass-rush snaps.
Edge Chase Winovich, Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines possess a front-seven that is littered with NFL-caliber talent and therefore it is hard for a player to even make the field let alone make an impact. The play of edge Chase Winovich thus far for the Wolverines has been hard to ignore. Winovich has six sacks, five QB hits and six hurries on his 127 pass-rushing snaps. Winovich’s six sacks on the year already equals his 2016 totals, proving that his promotion to starting duty was the right move. Winovich’s pass rushing productivity rating of 11.8, ranks No. 12 among FBS 4-3 defensive ends with at least 75 pass-rushing snaps for the season.
OT Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
Tyrell Crosby’s 2016 season was cut short with a Week 3 foot injury but he has been a highly effective both as a run blocker and a pass protector in 2017 showing that his injury is behind him. Crosby has yet to surrender a sack or hit and has only yielded one pressure on his 137 pass-blocking snaps. Crosby’s pass blocking efficiency rating of 99.4 ranks No. 3 among all FBS tackles with at least 100 pass blocking snaps. Crosby has been equally impressive as a run blocker in 2017 and his 89.6 run blocking grade ranks No. 5 among all FBS offensive tackles.
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