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Five Local Prospects That Should Interest Detroit Lions in 2015 NFL Draft

By Max DeMara

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When the Detroit Lions set out to make their selections during the 2015 NFL Draft, they will no doubt think nationally, but fortunately for the team, there are plenty of good reasons to think local.

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From the directional colleges to the University of Michigan and Michigan State University in between, there are several local prospects that could help fill out the Lions’ needs. The best news? Many should be available to the team when they pick in the middle to later rounds, meaning the opportunity for value will also be present.

Here’s five local names to remember with regard to the Lions this weekend.

1. Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan State. Detroit needs a runner, and has been linked to some of the top players early on. Should they choose to go in a different direction, though, a player like Langford could be a steal in the middle rounds. Armed with speed and a bruising style, Langford could be an ideal compliment to Joique Bell in an all-Michigan backfield. Langford had an insane run of 100 yard rushing contests, racking up 16 in a row against Big Ten competition to finish his career. He’s also a capable receiver out of the backfield, and can do most everything he’s asked. Is Langford the next LeVeon Bell? It’s possible.

2. Frank Clark, DE, Michigan. Considering the loss of George Johnson, the Lions probably want to add another defensive end, but they don’t have a massive need considering Devin Taylor and George Webster are still young. Clark, though he had his share of bad legal troubles at Michigan, could be a good buy low candidate in the later rounds to help add some depth if he has proven to mature with time. With the Wolverines, he was often the best talent on the defensive line, and racked up a solid 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2014 before being removed from the team.

3. Titus Davis, WR, Central Michigan. Five years ago, Antonio Brown rose from relative obscurity at Central Michigan to become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. In that same mold, Davis, another Chippewa, is looking to make his mark, and his statistics say that transition could be natural. A gaudy 18.9 yards per-catch led the NCAA, and other than that, Davis has been extremely productive grabbing 24 touchdown passes in his career. Davis could be a nice later round pick for a team that has spoken with plenty of wideouts during the pre-draft process.

4. Tony Lippett, WR, Michigan State. Another wide receiver prospect, Lippett is an interesting name to ponder because many evaluators believe that he can play cornerback at the next level as well, making him an intriguing combo platter. As a receiver, Lippett made his mark in a big way for the Spartans, catching 15 touchdowns while racking up 2,247 receiving yards. Though he might not be fast, Lippett is an imposing 6-2, meaning he is a definite jump-ball threat, and the type of player that could do plenty for either the offense or defense at the next level. For this reason, Lippett might command a late-round pick.

5. Marcus Rush, DE/OLB, Michigan State. An essential part of team building is finding the players who are willing to toil away on special teams. One such player could be Rush, a linebacker and defensive end hybrid who was extremely productive in a pass rushing and special teams role for the Spartans as a senior in 2014. Not only did Rush come up with 7.5 sacks, he might have made the play of the year for Michigan State when he blocked Baylor’s late field goal in the Cotton Bowl. That’s the type of heart the Lions could need to round out their roster, and lead Rush to be a steal in the late rounds or as an undrafted free agent.

Other Names to Watch: Desmond Martin, RB, Wayne State. Brennen Beyer, DE, Michigan.

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