Kiper & McShay: Six of CFB's most underrated NFL draft prospects

ESPN NFL draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay each pick three underrated prospects for next year's draft. These are the guys whom they have ranked higher than in other analysts' rankings.

They also pick out 2019 prospects rising up draft boards and give their picks for under-the-radar prospects to keep an eye on, the College Football Playoff and CFB MVP.

Picking most underrated prospects

Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

Bush's instincts continue to improve. He has some really good range at linebacker, showing quickness when dropping into coverage and occasionally flashing pass-rush ability. His biggest knock is size, as he's just 5-foot-11 and 233 pounds, but he makes up for it with speed and athleticism. That's part of the reason he's managed 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss this season, along with 49 tackles in eight games. Bush compares well to Lavonte David and Eric Kendricks in his off-the-line play, and if he keeps playing at this level, I wouldn't be surprised if he's a top-50 pick next April. -- McShay

Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky

Could we get some pub for the other Josh Allen? With eight sacks and 12.5 total tackles for loss this season, he's one of college football's best pass-rushers. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Allen can bend the edge as well as any player in this class. He is going to be a really good 3-4 outside linebacker, and he's trending toward Day 1 next April. -- Kiper

Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

At 6-foot-5, 334 pounds, Taylor is massive. He lacks length but displays good quickness, often riding faster rushers past the quarterback when he's able to get his hands on them. He shows some pop but needs to work on his angles and play with better body control when coming to the second level. Taylor is finally living up to his potential, and he could be taken in the first two rounds in the 2019 draft. -- McShay

Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame

Love is underrated because of his size -- he's only 5-foot-11. But he could be a No. 1 corner at the next level, and he keeps getting better and better. He has 12 pass breakups and an interception in 2018. He had three picks last season, when he started every game. Love is also a good tackler, which is going to be important for his overall evaluation. It wouldn't shock me if he's one of the top corners off the board in Round 1. -- Kiper

Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama

Smith has adequate size at 6-foot-4, 241 pounds, but very good speed and athleticism. Back in early October, he went for 123 yards against Arkansas to get onto the radar, and after a five-catch performance at Tennessee this past weekend, his third consecutive game with a touchdown, Smith is making first-round noise. He will be a tough matchup in the NFL, especially when in multiple-TE sets. -- McShay

Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt

No tight end has emerged as the clear-cut No. 1 guy for 2019. Why can't it be Pinkney? At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, the fourth-year junior has taken on a bigger role this season, catching 25 passes with three touchdowns while averaging 15.7 yards per reception. He's not afraid to block, either. Pinkney isn't likely to be a first-round pick unless he overperforms in testing at the combine, but I like him as a Day 2 pick who could play early in the NFL. -- Kiper

Prospects on the rise

These are the 2019 NFL draft prospects moving up boards:

JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford

Stanford snapped a two-game losing streak with a victory at Arizona State, thanks in part to Arcega-Whiteside's seven-catch, 91-yard performance that included his ninth touchdown of the season. It's no surprise he has 37 receptions this season, hauling in 15 over the past two games -- he is a big target at 6-foot-3, 221 pounds. The redshirt junior is a natural pass-catcher and shows above-average top-end speed in the vertical game. The explosiveness isn't off the charts, but he creates separation with physicality and savviness in his route-running. -- McShay

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Costello launches 28-yard TD

Stanford QB K.J. Costello finds a wide-open JJ Arcega-Whiteside for a 28-yard touchdown to give the Cardinal a 13-6 lead.

Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State

I already moved up Simmons' teammate Montez Sweat, and now Simmons is going to jump a few spots. One thing that really impressed me in Saturday's loss to LSU was his hand usage. He knows how to disengage blockers and find the football. He showed good effort. Simmons is explosive from the interior, even if he doesn't get sacks; he has 9.5 tackles for loss this season. He is a powerful player who could play in a 4-3 or 3-4 front. Now, Simmons will have to answer to NFL teams about his 2016 arrest, and so let's see what comes out of that. But on the field, he's a first-round talent. -- Kiper

Almost famous under-the-radar prospects

Keep an eye on these potential Day 2 or Day 3 picks:

Chase Hansen, LB, Utah

The Utes moved Hansen from safety to a roving linebacker spot this season, and he shows up everywhere on tape. He has natural instincts as a playmaker. Hansen leads the team in tackles with 63, including 14 for loss, and he has four sacks and two interceptions. He's an impressive athlete with an undersized 6-foot-3, 216-pound frame. He might have to play strong safety in the NFL, but I could see him playing nickel linebacker, too. Hansen is a likely Day 3 pick at this point, but he could move up with a strong combine. -- Kiper

David Blough, QB, Purdue

Blough made himself known Saturday with a huge 49-20 upset of Ohio State, completing 58.1 percent of his passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns. He's an undersized quarterback at 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, but he's accurate and fearless. The senior has a strong 13-to-2 TD-INT ratio this season and shows the ability to be mobile when necessary. Blough does come with a concerning injury history, though, including a season-ending right-ankle dislocation last year and a 2015 head injury, but he could work into late-round consideration. -- McShay

College Football's Most Valuable Players

These aren't our picks for the Heisman Trophy winner. These are the MVPs of CFB.

Kiper's top three:

1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama: Just four more touchdown passes and another Bama blowout Saturday night. Tagovailoa is up to 25 TD passes -- and zero interceptions. If he keeps doing this, he's a lock for the Heisman.

2. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: Murray has 30 total touchdowns and just three interceptions ... and he's going under the radar? Oklahoma has a 29.4 percent chance of making the College Football Playoff, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.

3. Devin White, LB, LSU: Dwayne Haskins drops off -- though he's still in the Heisman race -- and White, my No. 3 overall prospect for 2019, enters. He's just a fantastic linebacker with every-down ability. He has to miss the first half of the game against Alabama on Nov. 3 because of a second-half targeting call against Mississippi State.

McShay's top three:

1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama: Tagovailoa's 97.5 Total QBR is by far the highest through eight weeks of the season in the 15 years the number has been tracked, according to ESPN Stats & Information data. Bryce Petty's 94.6 at Baylor back in 2013 is second.

2. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: Murray helped get Oklahoma back in the win column with a 52-27 victory against TCU, throwing four touchdown passes and 213 yards.

3. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson: He's coming off his least productive game yet, but still had three rushing touchdowns, bringing the season total to 14. From scrimmage, the sophomore has 847 yards and 15 scores this season.

If the College Football Playoff started today ...

Kiper's top four teams:

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Notre Dame
4. LSU

McShay's top four teams:

1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. LSU
4. Notre Dame