I spoke to an NFL scout last week who said he would likely give Clemson true freshman WR Sammy Watkins a first-round grade if Watkins were eligible for the 2012 draft. That's praise I rarely hear for a true freshman.
It got me thinking about some of the best freshman I've seen on tape this year, so I've decided to take a week off from focusing on 2012-eligible prospects to highlight some potential down-the-line NFL stars.
This is certainly not an all-encompassing list. It includes only the freshmen who have stood out most on the tapes I've studied this fall, both for college football prep and while evaluating eligible prospects for next year's draft. Let me know via Twitter (@McShay13) if I am missing the boat on some deserving candidates, and if there's overwhelming response for one or two players I will study their tape and respond with a draft blog post next week.
For now, here are the freshman who have caught my eye thus far:
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Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.- ESPN College Football and NFL Draft Analyst
- Joined ESPN in 2006
- Played quarterback in high school and was a backup QB for the University of Richmond.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Scouts Inc.
Todd McShay (left) is the director of college scouting for Scouts Inc. McShay, who played quarterback at Richmond, has been evaluating NFL prospects since 1998. Follow Todd on Twitter: @McShay13
Steve Muench (middle) played guard at Richmond and worked in the athletic department there and at Boston College before joining Scouts Inc. in 2002. Follow Steve on Twitter: @SteveMuenchESPN
Kevin Weidl (right) is a former quarterback for Indiana (Pa.) University who worked in the pro scouting department for the New York Jets before joining Scouts Inc. in 2007. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @Kevin_Weidl
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