NFL Draft: Diamonds in the Rough

Anyone can get lucky and draft a Pro Bowler in the first round. But it takes an ability to find "diamonds in the rough" in the middle and late rounds to stick as a scout in the NFL. Below is a list of players who, for whatever reason, haven't yet received the attention their physical abilities warrant. Some starred at a level or two, or more, below the Power Five conferences, just like Kareem Hunt (Toledo) and Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington) -- both prominently featured in this article a year ago -- did prior to leading NFL rookies in rushing and receiving yards, respectively, last season. Others played at relative FBS powerhouses, but injuries, suspension or talent ahead of them on the depth chart kept them relatively overshadowed. All are hoping to join a list of past sleepers highlighted in this annual article that have gone on to enjoy success in the NFL, a list that includes Chargers' Combine-snub-turned-rookie-standout linebacker Jatavis Brown (Akron, 2016), Cardinals' running back David Johnson (Northern Iowa, 2015), Ravens' stout nose guard Brandon Williams (Missouri Southern State, 2013), Colts' speedy wideout T.Y. Hilton (Florida International, 2012) and Rams' cornerback Trumaine Johnson (Montana, 2012). One player is featured per position with five others listed alphabetically who deserve honorable mention. In keeping with the true sleeper theme, at least one player per position was not invited to the 2018 Scouting Combine. These players are noted with an asterisk. QUARTERBACKS Quinton Flowers, South Florida, 5-10, 214, 4.64 No player on this list better personifies the Diamond in the Rough theme than Flowers, who overcame his parents passing away early in his life to blossom into a record-breaking dual-threat quarterback for the Bulls, only for critics to suggest his only chance for NFL success would be at running back. Flowers, who completed passes at a higher clip (57.7 percent) than potential No. 1 overall pick Josh Allen (56.2 percent) over his career, left South Florida with 37 school records and a 29-9 won-loss record, throwing three times as many touchdowns (71) as interceptions (23) while rushing for 3,612 yards and 41 scores. Given his height and sporadic accuracy, Flowers is not a fit for everyone, but his resiliency, arm strength and improvisational playing style could give him a chance to surprise in the right scheme. Five other quarterbacks to consider: 1. Kyle Lauletta, Richmond, 6-3, 222, 4.81 2. Chase Litton, Marshall, 6-5, 230, 4.90 3. Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan, 6-3, 213, 5.06* 4. Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech, 6-3, 220, 4.88 5. Mike White, Western Kentucky, 6-5, 224, 5.07 RUNNING BACKS Chase Edmunds, Fordham, 5-9, 205, 4.55 FCS players need to dominate to get the attention of scouts, and that is precisely what Edmunds did in the Patriot League, rushing for 5,862 yards and 67 touchdowns over his career. A series of leg injuries in 2017 robbed Edmunds of the opportunity to challenge the all-time rushing records, but he was the picture of consistency over his first three seasons, winning the Jerry Rice Award as the top FCS freshman in 2014 with 1,838 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns and leading the division with an average of 163.5 yards per game during a record-breaking junior campaign. While slightly smaller than ideal, Fordham sports a compact, well-built frame and is a natural runner with the vision, agility and burst to elude, projecting as a quality change-of-pace back in the NFL. Five other running backs to consider: 1. Lavon Coleman, Washington, 5-11, 215, 4.65 2. Justin Jackson, Northwestern, 6-0, 199, 4.50 3. Phillip Lindsay, Colorado, 5-7, 184, 4.43* 4. Ryan Nall, Oregon State, 6-2, 232, 4.58 5. Ito Smith, Southern Mississippi, 5-9, 201, 4.50* TIGHT ENDS Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State, 6-5, 256, 4.81 Goedert fell through the recruiting cracks after playing nine-man football in high school, drawing only one scholarship offer (from D-II Northern State in South Dakota) and instead opting to walk on at SDSU. He gained nearly 50 pounds of muscle there while maintaining excellent body control and speed, earning All-American honors in each of the past two seasons and an invitation to the Senior Bowl. A legitimate seam threat with soft hands and a prototypical frame, Goedert is in contention to be the first tight end selected this year. Five other tight ends to consider: 1. Jordan Akins, Central Florida, 6-3, 249, 4.93 2. Will Dissly, Washington, 6-4, 262, 4.87 3. Garrett Hudson, Richmond, 6-4, 244, 4.60* 4. David Wells, San Diego State, 6-6, 256, 4.75 5. Deon Yelder, Western Kentucky, 6-3, 256, 4.86* WIDE RECEIVERS Antonio Callaway, Florida, 5-11, 200, 4.41 A Freshman All-American for the Gators in 2015, Callaway can hardly be characterized as a traditional sleeper, but the top 64 talent has fallen a bit off the radar after his suspension for the 2017 season. Callaway's character needs plenty of investigating after three incident-filled years in Gainesville, but it won't take scouts long to acknowledge his rare athleticism. Scouts, in fact, could see shades of another former Diamond in the Rough -- Chiefs' Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill -- as both possess the elusiveness and acceleration to offer big-play potential as a receiver, runner and returner. Five other wide receivers to consider: 1. Dylan Cantrell, Texas Tech, 6-3, 226, 4.59 2. Darren Carrington II, Utah, 6-2, 199, 4.49 3. Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa, 6-2, 210, 4.47* 4. Quadree Henderson, Pittsburgh, 5-8, 192, 4.50 5. Trey Quinn, Southern Methodist, 5-11, 203, 4.55 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T, 6-8, 305, 5.37 Every prospect in this article boasts some kind of crazy statistic, but no one's is more impressive than Parker, who didn't allow a sack while starting all 48 games of his career. Parker quieted any concerns scouts may have had about his level of competition with a stellar week at the Senior Bowl, showing light feet and ideal arm length (35 3/8 inches), as well as more finishing power and aggression than he showed on tape. Five other offensive linemen to consider: 1. Matt Gono, Wesley, 6-4, 319, 5.36* 2. Colby Gossett, Appalachian State, 6-5, 311, 5.20 3. Jeromy Irwin, Colorado, 6-5, 306, 5.35* 4. Skyler Phillips, Idaho State, 6-3, 318, 5.09 5. Dakoda Shepley, University of British Columbia, 6-4, 305, 5.05* EDGE RUSHERS Justin Lawler, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 264, 4.84* NFL scouts typecast prospects every bit as often as Hollywood directors pigeonhole actors, which might explain why Lawler was not invited to the Combine in a weak year for pass rushers despite posting impressive career statistics, including 40.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks (including 9.5 in 2017) and six blocked kicks. While perhaps lacking an ideal frame and explosiveness, Lawler is simply a good football player, already possessing the technique and instincts that will help him make an NFL roster. Five other edge rushers to consider: 1. Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, Toledo, 6-2, 248, 4.83 2. Ade Aruna, Tulane, 6-5, 262, 4.60 3. John Franklin-Myer, Stephen F. Austin, 6-4, 283, 4.75 4. Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State, 6-2, 254, 4.76 5. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers, 6-5, 253, 4.65 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State, 6-4, 315, 5.09 With all due respect to Josh Allen (Wyoming) and Brandon Parker (North Carolina A&T), the small schooler who had scouts buzzing the most at the Senior Bowl was Shepherd, a native of Canada who began his college career six years ago as a 205-pound linebacker. He spent two years away from the game working odd jobs and them seemingly every minute since then in the weight room, becoming one of the more powerful run-stuffers in the draft, with a top 75 draft pick possible. Five other defensive linemen to consider: 1. Folorunso Fatukaski, Connecticut, 6-4, 318, 5.29 2. Poona Ford, Texas, 6-0, 306, 4.97* 3. P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, 6-0, 308, 5.06* 4. James Looney, California, 6-3, 287, 4.89 5. Bilal Nichols, Delaware, 6-4, 306, 4.95 OFF-BALL LINEBACKERS Frank Ginda, San Jose State, 6-0, 235, 4.70* After leading the country and setting a Mountain West record with 173 tackles last season (including 94 solos), Ginda was shockingly left off the Combine invitation list. That fact created an unusually packed house at the San Jose State Pro Day on March 24 with 28 teams reportedly attending the workout, mostly to see Ginda. The junior linebacker proved taller and faster than expected at the workout, which occurred one week after he was involved in a hit-and-run accident that left he (and his girlfriend) requiring medical assistance. While Ginda's lack of ideal length and speed could limit him to run-stuffing and special teams duties in the NFL, scouts can't help but appreciate heat-seeking missiles who are committed to their craft. Five other off-ball linebackers to consider: 1. Genard Avery, Memphis, 6-0, 248, 4.59 2. DJ Calhoun, Arizona State, 5-11, 242, 4.89* 3. Tegray Scales, Indiana, 6-0, 230, 4.77 4. Azeem Victor, Washington, 6-1, 240, 4.72 5. Fred Warner, BYU, 6-3, 236, 4.64 CORNERBACKS Taron Johnson, Weber State, 5-11, 192, 4.50 It isn't often that a player with just one offer out of high school winds up becoming a four-year starter, conference MVP and Senior Bowl invitee, but that is the case with Johnson, a scrappy cover corner who is Weber State's career leader with 41 passes broken up in 45 games. Johnson's lack of ideal bulk could push him inside to nickel corner, but that could be a blessing in disguise as he possesses the quickness, instincts and physicality needed for success there. Five other cornerbacks to consider: 1. Danny Johnson, Southern, 5-9, 181, 4.44 2. Kameron Kelly, San Diego State, 6-2, 204, 4.66 3. Parry Nickerson, Tulane, 5-10, 182, 4.32 4. Darius Phillips, Western Michigan, 5-10, 193, 4.54 5. Arrion Springs, Oregon, 5-11, 205, 4.49* SAFETIES Siran Neal, Jacksonville State, 6-0, 206, 4.56 The modern-day safety is a combination of linebacker and cornerback, which suits Neal perfectly given that he played all three positions at Jacksonville State. Neal earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and Combine after graduating to cornerback from nickel linebacker in 2017, recording 11 pass breakups. After a solid week in Mobile and showing better straight-line speed than expected, Neal could remain outside at cornerback in a press-heavy scheme. His frame, instincts and physicality also make him an intriguing match at safety, where he first cracked the starting lineup for the Gamecocks in 2015. Five other safeties to consider: 1. Troy Apke, Penn State, 6-0, 200, 4.34 2. Dane Cruikshank, Arizona, 6-1, 209, 4.41 3. Trayvon Henderson, Hawaii, 6-0, 208, 4.58* 4. Cole Reyes, North Dakota, 6-1, 214, 4.58* 5. Tracy Walker, Louisiana, 6-1, 206, 4.51