#5 – Virginia LB Micah Kiser
The 2018 draft class is expected to be loaded with talent at the linebacker position. Only three linebackers crack this list, but Michigan’s Mike McCray, South Carolina State’s Darius Leonard, and Wisconsin’s Garret Dooley are all worth keeping an eye on.
The Cavaliers All-American middle linebacker was a tackling machine, racking up 393 tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 19 sacks, 12 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, and one interception over the last three seasons. Kiser became the second player in ACC history to lead the conference in tackles for three consecutive years, placing him alongside Carolina Panthers star linebacker Luke Kuechly
Kiper lists the 6-foot-2, 240-pound prospect as the fourth best inside linebacker in this year’s draft class. While there are some concerns with Kiser in pass coverage, the Virginia linebacker will look to put those notions to rest this week.
#4 – Oregon OT Tyrell Crosby
The Giants have needs at both right and left tackle this offseason and have to make a decision on Ereck Flowers’ fifth-year option as well.
West Georgia’s Desmond Harrison, Western Michigan’s Chukwuma Okorafor, and Mississippi State’s Martinas Rankin were three of the top offensive tackle prospects expected to participate in the Senior Bowl, but all three have since removed themselves from the All-Star event.
The Ducks 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2017. Crosby was the conference’s top pass blocking tackle, according to Pro Football Focus.
2017's best pass blocking tackles in the Pac-12. pic.twitter.com/C7sho9tzLJ
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 12, 2017
Miller labels the Oregon offensive tackle as the “biggest faller” on his Big Board and lists him as the eighth best prospect at his position.
#3 – Pittsburgh OT Brian O’Neill
O’Neill has been skyrocketing up draft analysts’ Big Boards since the end of the college football season. Kiper didn’t even include the Panthers 6-foot-6, 290-pound left tackle on his original prospect rankings, but ESPN’s lead draft analyst now has him labeled at the 21st overall prospect on his most recent Big Board.
Kiper notes that O’Neill’s “versatility is a plus” as he can play both left and right tackle or guard at the next level if necessary.
O’Neill started all 12 games at left tackle in his redshirt junior season after starting 13 games at right tackle in 2016. He earned first-team All-ACC honors and will surely be on Big Blue’s radar throughout the draft process.
#2 – Wyoming QB Josh Allen
Surprise, surprise, two quarterbacks top the list. Wyoming’s 6-foot-5, 233-pound quarterback was Kiper’s No. 1 overall pick in his first mock draft and the top quarterback on his Big Board.
Allen did not put up impressive numbers in the Mountain West Conference and struggled against Power Five programs in 2017. He completed just 56.3 percent of his passes for 1,812 yards and threw 16 touchdowns to six interceptions in 11 games.
Draft analysts question whether the talent surrounding the Cowboys quarterback impacted his numbers, and the Senior Bowl will be the perfect test to see how he compares on a level playing field.
#1 – Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield
Mayfield and Allen should be considered 1A and 1B for Senior Bowl prospects for Big Blue. Both are expected to be first-round selections.
Miller and Kiper both have the Heisman winner listed as the fourth best quarterback in this year’s draft class, placing him behind Allen, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen.
The Sooners 6-foot-1, 220-pound quarterback has both the first and second best single-season passer efficiency ratings in FBS history. The two-time walk-on quarterback completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 14,607 yards and threw 131 touchdowns to 30 interceptions during his collegiate career.
Mayfield’s measurements and whether he can play in the NFL have been one of the biggest draft storylines since Oklahoma’s elimination from the College Football Playoff. The Sooners quarterback has a track record of proving doubters wrong and will look to continue that trend at the next level.