Five NFL Draft Prospects to Watch for Detroit Lions fans
By Jeff Risdon
Which NFL Draft prospects to monitor as you watch college football week three.
The Detroit Lions will have scouts at several college football games on week three of the collegiate slate. Through various sources I have confirmation the Lions will be represented at the following games:
- Michigan State at Notre Dame
- Ohio State at Oklahoma
- USC at Stanford
- Mississippi State at LSU
Here are some NFL Draft prospects from those games I believe will interest the Detroit Lions scouts in attendance.
Demetrious Cox, S, Michigan State
Cox is a senior captain who has played both cornerback and safety at Michigan State. NFL scouts I’ve talked with like the 6’1”, 197-pound Pennsylvania native more as a safety, and that’s what he’s playing against Notre Dame’s impressive passing attack.
Consistency has been an issue for Cox. He’ll play great for a few series in a row but then get lost on a play or two, or gamble and guess wrong in coverage. Irish QB Deshone Kizer is good enough to exploit any lapses. Cox can help his NFL Draft stock by tackling well in South Bend.
Charles Walker, DT, Oklahoma
If the Lions are looking to bolster the defensive line and pass rush in the first round, Oklahoma’s Charles Walker is definitely a candidate. Here’s an example of his handiwork:
Walker is a more dynamic pass rusher than A’Shawn Robinson, though he has yet to record his first sack in 2016 after 6 (with 19 QB pressures) last year. The junior is already widely expected to declare for the 2017 NFL Draft. You’ll see Walker coming off the board in the 10-25 overall range in upcoming mock drafts.
Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State
The linebacker with the Wu-Tang name swarms to the football with the best of ‘em. McMillan physically resembles Tahir Whitehead and could join him in the Lions linebacking corps.
Oklahoma features two future NFL backs in thumping Samaje Perine and nifty Joe Mixon, so McMillan will face a serious challenge of the diversity of his skills. The Sooners use Mixon much in the way the Lions deployed Theo Riddick in the opener, but he’s faster than Riddick. If McMillan can contain OU’s dynamic duo, his NFL Draft stock should thrive.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
The Lions currently carry just four wideouts on the active roster. Anquan Boldin is at the end of his illustrious career and Andre Roberts is more of a return specialist than receiver.
In short, the Lions will definitely be looking at wide receiver in the 2017 NFL Draft. And JuJu Smith-Schuster will remind Detroit scouts of Boldin thanks to plays like this…
JuJu Smith-Schuster lays the boom! 💪🏾https://t.co/TPcfX9eIgX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 10, 2016
He’s had a rough start to the season with longtime QB Cody Kessler now a Cleveland Browns backup. In fact, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller just called him the “most overrated prospect in college football.”
Even so, the wideout has strength, good hands and developmental upside for what appears to be a middle-round pick.
Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
White nearly declared for the NFL Draft last year but opted for another year in Baton Rouge. He’s an assertive corner with great ball skills at 6’ and 197. As a cover man he’s worthy of a second or third-round pick, but he gets a bump for his special teams work. Behold one of the craziest punt returns you’ll ever witness:
The Lions definitely need more talent in the cornerback mix, and an electrifying return man is a nice bonus.