NPAR | 11
NFL DRAFT
PREDICTIONS
Written by: Joe Drake
NPAR Correspondent
It’s that time of year again, everyone! The
NFL regular season may still be a few months
away, but the second most exciting day in
football is just around the corner. What am I
talking about? The NFL Draft, obviously.
NFL Draft day creates just as much buzz, if
not more, than most events during the actual
season. Why? Because a good draft pick it
can completely change the direction of an
NFL franchise. Look at how Tom Brady has
shaped the last decade and a half for New
England. On the other side, getting drafted is
absolutely life changing for a young athlete.
With all that said, I’m going to profile some
of the best football players headed to the NFL
Draft from Florida schools. There are great
athletes from Florida State to Miami and ev-
erywhere in between. First off, I’ll give you the
my take on two of Florida’s best: Dalvin Cook
and David Njoku. Let’s get to it.
Dalvin Cook, Running Back, Florida State
Seminoles
Statistically, Dalvin Cook is the best running
back in Florida State history. He racked up
more rushing yards than the legendary War-
rick Dunn, and he did it in fewer
seasons. That’s impressive. Cook is a very
solid all-around back who should be able to
step in for a team right away and play all four
downs. The often-overlooked skill that sets
Cook apart from some other backs in the
draft is his ability to pass block, which is an
absolute must for running backs in today’s
pass-dominated league. While he’s not going
to be challenging any offensive lineman any
time soon, Cook has proved that he’s capable
enough to handle the job. Look for him to go
in the middle of the first round.
David Njoku, Tight End, Miami Hurricanes
Njoku might surprise a few of you because
he was never really a standout at Miami,
but don’t let that fool you. This guy has huge
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potential for the next level. First of all, he’s got elite physical
tools that will make him extremely difficult to cover down-
field. At 6’4” and 245lbs, he’ll be too big for defensive backs
to contend with, but way too fast for linebackers to run
with. (And we haven’t even talked about his terrific leaping
ability.) He didn’t get the chance to show off his skills on a
regular basis for the Hurricanes, and it didn’t help that his
QB suffered from accuracy issues. Nevertheless, NFL teams
will recognize his talent and will know exactly how to utilize
his skill set. Njoku has all the talent and tools to be a big
time player in the NFL. You should expect to see him come
off the board before the end of the first round.
Players to Watch
Keep an eye on University of Florida corners Teez Tabor
and Quincy Wilson, as well as linebacker, Jarrad Davis, and
defensive tackle, Caleb Brantley. Miami’s quarterback, Brad
Kaaya, will likely have his name called in the early rounds.
Florida State’s DeMarcus Walker will certainly be selected,
as well. UCF has a few players with draft potential, including
cornerback Shaquill Griffin.
That does it for the biggest names to watch for from your
favorite Florida schools. As always, make sure you watch
on draft day to see who else makes the cut and has their
dreams come true!