New York Giants: Small School Talent, Big Potential

Every year a player or two emerges from the draft without much fanfare or notoriety.  Players like WR-Victor Cruz (undrafted) QB-Kurt Warner (undrafted), QB-Warren Moon (undrafted) TE-Antonio Gates (undrafted) DT-John Randle (undrafted) RB-Terrell Davis (6^th round), TE-Shannon Sharpe (7^th round), QB-Tom Brady (6^th round). I can go on and on, you get the point.

With this in mind, I have put together my top 10 (Offense) list of possible small school talent with big draft potential. This list can be debatable as I’m sure many will have a prospect in mind that I might have missed. So without further ado my top 10 diamonds in the rough prospects for the 2015 draft.

Offense

1.        QB-Quinn Epperly   6’3/220 (Princeton): Solid season for the Senior QB as he completed 68% of his passes (2,137 yards/25 TD’s) with only 3 INTS. Epperly also displayed his running ability (570 yards/18 TD’s).
   
   
2.        RB-David Johnson 6’3/225 (Northern Iowa): Combination of size and speed (4.5) and  very capable as a receiver.
   
   
3.         OT-Cole Manhart 6’6/300 (Nebraska-Kearney): Manhart is big and strong with a mean streak. Also displayed versatility playing H-back at times.
   
   
4.        WR-Tre McBride 6’2/205 (William & Mary): Good size to go along with speed (4.4). McBride is also equally a threat on kick returns with a 27.5 per return.
   
   
5.        TE-MyCole Pruitt 6’3/250 (Southern Illinois): Not considered a big TE in today’s NFL, but Pruitt is an excellent blocker, both as a TE and a HB. He has also showed he can catch the ball with 48 receptions.
   
   
6.        RB-Zach Zenner 6’0/220 (South Dakota State): A RB with three straight seasons with 2,000+ yards should be considered. Zenner is also a very capable receiver.
   
   
7.        RB-Thomas Rawls 5’10/217 (Central Michigan):  Compact frame and strength. Workhorse mentality.
   
   
8.        QB-Bryan Bennett 6’3/205 (Southeastern Louisiana): Transferred from Oregon once Marcus Mariota arrived. Bennett displayed a strong arm (3,165 yards/21 TD’s) and also rushed for 1,046 yards with 16 TD’s.
   
   
9.        TE-Eric Tomlinson 6’7/270 (UTEP): Excellent blocker, an ideal #2 TE for an NFL team that likes to run. Many scouts see Tomlinson eventually becoming an OT in the NFL.
   
   
10.        WR-Titus Davis 6’2/190 (Central Michigan):  Davis averaged 15.6 yards every time he caught the ball. A combination of size and speed (4.49); Davis should be selected somewhere between rounds 5-7 on day 2.

Final Thoughts:

What makes the NFL one of the most intriguing sports on draft day is the possibility of an unknown prospect emerging into a Pro Bowler or even a future Hall of Famer.