Fans might campaign for ‘Tank for Tua’
USA TODAY takes a look at the top 10 prospects for the 2020 NFL draft, at least as things stand now.
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama, junior
Expect to see “Tank for Tua” campaigns emerging from multiple fan bases. The Heisman Trophy runner-up will engender hype comparable to Kyler Murray, though the two are stylistically divergent. Like Murray, however, Tagovailoa will be scrutinized for his height, though Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said in March that the quarterback measured in at just over 6-0 and 230 pounds. Tagovailoa might have to display a quicker trigger in the NFL. He has grown accustomed to holding the ball and extending plays.
QB Justin Herbert, Oregon, senior
Tagovailoa is more of a household name than his West Coast counterpart, but Herbert could easily end up the first quarterback drafted. In fact, he likely would have been squarely in the mix to be a top-10 selection last week had he not elected to return to Oregon for his senior year, a move that caught many by surprise. Listed at 6-6 and 233 pounds, Herbert might draw comparisons with Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz given his build, rocket arm and penchant for threading throws on the run. Teams will want to see more consistency in his accuracy and decision-making, particularly in the face of pressure, after he completed just 59.3% of his passes last year.
RB Travis Etienne, Clemson, junior
The NFL world will have to wait until at least 2021 for Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence and WR Justyn Ross despite the two turning heads as freshmen. Still, it was Etienne who was named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year for averaging a ridiculous 8.1 yards per carry and tallying 26 total touchdowns. Bulking up has been a priority for the 5-10 running back in the offseason, and he said in April that he hoped to play the season at 210 pounds while maintaining his breakaway speed.
WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama, junior
The Crimson Tide have a strong claim for college football’s best troika of pass catchers with Henry Ruggs III and Devonta Smith joining Jeudy. The Biletnikoff Award winner, however, is the most proven and dangerous of the three. Regardless of his recorded time, Jeudy shows a distinct knack for breaking away from defensive backs as a route runner and with the ball in his hands.
WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado
In one of college football’s best star turns of 2018, Shenault emerged as a doit-all dynamo for the Buffaloes, recording 86 catches for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns while adding five more scores as a wildcat quarterback. The 6-2, 220-pound target did it despite missing three games with a toe injury for which he would later need surgery.
OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia, junior
Much of the Bulldogs’ offensive success has started up front, where Thomas has been a vital contributor for the last two seasons. The 6-5, 320-pounder was a standout at right tackle as a freshman before flipping to the left side last year to take over for Isaiah Wynn, who joined fellow Bulldog Sony Michel as one of the Patriots’ two first-round draft picks in 2018.
DE Chase Young, Ohio State, junior
Nick Bosa’s season-ending core muscle injury forced Chase Young into an even more crucial role for the Buckeyes last season, and the sophomore delivered with 101⁄2 sacks. Now with Bosa off to the NFL, Young stands poised to follow in his footsteps as an early firstround pick. At 6-5 and 265 pounds, Young has impressive size for a player with his burst off the edge.
DT Derrick Brown, Auburn, senior
Staying for his senior year might result in a significant boost for Brown in his draft position. The 6-5, 318-pounder is now the clear front-runner to be the first defensive tackle taken in 2020 (though Alabama’s Raekwon Davis also is back).
CB C.J. Henderson, Florida, junior
The collection of cornerbacks who could be available in 2020 features several intriguing talents, including Alabama’s Trevon Diggs (brother of Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs) and Virginia’s Bryce Hall, both of whom would have earned first-round attention had they declared this year. What might end up setting Henderson apart from the pack, however, is a rare package of athleticism. At 6-1 and 191 pounds, he has the highly desired size and length for the position while also showing the closing speed to make plays on a number of throws.
S Grant Delpit, LSU, junior
In a secondary that also featured another unanimous All-American in cornerback Greedy Williams, a secondround selection of the Browns, Delpit still stood out as the clear star. The 6-3, 203-pound playmaker recorded five interceptions and five sacks last season, proving himself to be a force both in coverage and as a blitzer.