Before underclassman had even declared draft eligible, Sports Illustrated ranked the top 5 Mountain West NFL prospects. Now that we actually know who the participants are and with the draft almost here, is my very own Top 10 prospects from Colorado State’s Mountain West Conference. For more information on the specific “Next Level Rams,” including personalized scouting reports and the latest draft news on all the prospects, visit our CSU Draft profiles page.
Now let’s dive in and see where the “Next Level Rams” rank against their conference counterparts.
1. Kamalei Correa, EDGE, Boise State
Correa is still raw and needs to develop a full-fledged pass rushing arsenal to be a consistent force in the NFL. Had a more productive 2014 season than he did 2015, but the kid has immense potential as a speed edge rusher, which is all the rage right now. Correa has great athletic tools and raw speed (watch him run down the Utah State back from 40 yards away), but what is most intriguing is his constant motor and intensity with which he plays. If a team is patient and develops him the right way in the right system, he could be a special player.
2. Kyle Fackrell, OLB, Utah State
The Fackrell we saw in 2015 is a versatile strong-side linebacker who can be trusted against the run, has some coverage ability and is a talented pass rusher with length. Put on his 2013 tape from before his ACL tear and you see an explosive pass rusher who looks an awful lot like Clay Matthews. If he can get back to having that extra half step in speed and show the maturity and development in his game that he did this season, he could be a high-level starter for many years.
3. Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State
What more can we say about Higgins that hasn’t already been said in our in-house scouting report or our other draft coverage? If he ran a 4.4 instead of a high 4.5 we’d be talking about a first end of the first-round type talent, with everything necessary to become a No. 1 receiver in the league. Without that speed, he’ll be a reliable playmaker as the second or third weapon in an aerial attack.
4. Darian Thompson, Safety, Boise State
Most educated Mountain West fans know that Thompson and not Correa was the Broncos most important defender last season (if not the last two seasons). But we’re also projecting these guys in the NFL, not just ranking who was best in college. Thompson has the size, is great closing downhill and can deliver the big hit. He’s not a great athlete but he has the skills be effective in coverage. The biggest concern is his instincts as he got exposed and made some big mistakes in conference play this season (both missed tackles and missed assignments in coverage). Has all the talent to be an NFL starter.
5. Nick Vigil, ILB, Utah State
Vigil has quietly been one of the Mountain West’s best defenders for a while now. A bit of an old-school backer who can thump against the run but also has some athletic ability to cover sideline to sideline. Has some impressive skills as a blitzer down the middle as well and might even work as a strong-side backer for a 4-3 alignment. A classic inside linebacker who won’t revolutionize the league, but will be a solid contributor for a long time.
6. Rees Odhiambo, OG, Boise State
The Broncos’ starting left tackle most likely projects as a guard in the league as his length and athletic testing just aren’t at the elite levels required for NFL standards. Still, he’s a versatile and mobile lineman who’d fit nicely in a zone-blocking scheme. Will need to be developed as he’s still raw and needs to play with more of an edge. Extremely talented nonetheless, with starter upside in the league.
7. Ian Seau, OLB/EDGE, Nevada
Nick Stevens and Nick Callender should remember Seau well, as he tore up the Rams O-line in the first half of this year’s bowl game (1-sack and 3-tackles for a loss). He was also named the NOVA Home Loans Defensive MVP. The late, great Junior Seau’s nephew has made a name for himself in the conference the last two seasons. He has a great first step, some agility and bend, combined with a growing repertoire of pass rushing moves. He’s not the biggest nor an elite athlete for NFL standards and might struggle to find a role on every down. At the very least, he should be a factor as a situational pass rusher with the possibility for more in the right scheme.
8. Tyler Ervin, RB, San Jose State
Ervin broke out into the national scene with a terrific performance at the Senior Bowl. Mountain West fans have been familiar with him for a while, as he’s been a playmaker in the return game, as a receiver and most importantly as a runner racking up 1,601 yards and 13 TDs on the ground this season. Ervin is the rare back in this class who possesses both short area quickness and long speed, but of course, he’s extremely undersized. He’ll make his way on an NFL field with his return ability while also being a receiver out the backfield. He’ll have to improve as a pass blocker or prove his ability to take the pounding as an NFL runner to have a consistent role in the league like many are prognosticating.
9. Eddie Yarbrough, DE, Wyoming
The Colorado kid (graduated from Grandview in Aurora) picked the wrong side of the border and it paid off for him, maybe not in the form of wins on the field but definitely in establishing himself as one of the conference’s best defensive lineman and a legitimate NFL prospect. Yarbrough is at his best against the run, where he’s strong and can set the edge. Deceptively athletic despite a bigger, compact build, he’s not an explosive pass rusher, but can beat you with strength, good technique and a nonstop motor.
10. Cory James, OLB, Colorado State
Another local product who has some intriguing upside to his game. James is viewed by scouts as a weak-side linebacker (our in-house scouting report agrees) and by media types as an undersized 3-4 pass rushing linebacker. He’s an athlete who has lots of experience, versatility and the athletic ability to both cover backs and tight ends while also showing defined pass rushing ability off the edge. His diverse skill set and athleticism should warrant an NFL shot, in an age where more and more undersized athletic backers are getting a chance.
Just missed the cut:
Hunter Sharp, WR, Utah State
Kevin Pierre-Louis, SS, Colorado State
Pearce Slater, RT, San Diego State
Deandre Elliott, CB, Colorado State
Kivon Cartwright, TE, Colorado State
Billy Freeman, TE, San Jose State
Lenny Jones, DE, Nevada
Ejiro Ederaine, ILB, Fresno State
Cleveland Wallace, CB, San Jose State
