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ESPN Analyst- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Coached in four professional football leagues
- Graduated from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall
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ESPN Staff Writer- National recruiting analyst and analyst for ESPNU
- More than a decade of college and pro coaching experience.
- Graduated from Indiana and Nebraska-Omaha
The 2020 NFL draft is here. Some football players have displayed elite talent since high school and will continue to celebrate their strengths on draft night.
Defensive end Chase Young, likely one of the first three selections, was among the top three defensive end prospects in the high school Class of 2017. Others, such as 2017 five-stars DeAngelo Gibbs and No. 2 DE Robert Beal Jr., haven't developed as we'd projected.
Arguably, the more intriguing prospects are the ones who exceeded our expectations. Here are six such players -- low- to no-star recruits -- who are now projected to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa Hawkeyes
2020 ESPN NFL draft rank: 14 overall (No. 3 OT)
2017 ESPN 300 rank: Unranked (No. 56 OT)
Wirfs was a high three-star prospect in the 2017 class, and while his promising physical tools and upside were evident, his adjustment to Power 5 football was quicker than expected. An in-state product, Wirfs seemed to be a bit of big fish in a small pond, relying on his blend of size, strength and physicality to get the job done in high school without fully maximizing his natural talents or sharpening technique.
Once arriving at Iowa, like many great players, Wirfs adjusted well, contributing as a true freshman and ultimately starting over 30 games. Along the way, he improved not only technique, but also his agility throughout his time with the Hawkeyes.
Relive some of former Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk's greatest plays as he hurdles his way into a group of elite prospects for the upcoming NFL draft.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State Sun Devils
2020 ESPN NFL draft rank: No. 20 overall (No. 5 WR)
2016 ESPN 300 rank: Unranked
Everybody in 2016 missed on the three-star prospect as a two-way star out of Nevada. He landed at Sierra College and eventually transferred to Arizona State as part of Herm Edwards' first recruiting class. After two stellar campaigns (65 catches in 2019) and a breakout performance against Oregon (seven catches, 161 yards) last fall, Aiyuk has steadily risen up everybody's board.
He has developed into a complete package with size, ball skills, speed and premier skills as a route runner. Looking at his high school film, it's difficult to understand how he was overlooked. Even so, Arizona State was his only Power 5 offer out of junior college.
Check out highlights from former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love, a first-round prospect in this year's NFL draft.
QB Jordan Love, Utah State Aggies
2020 ESPN NFL draft rank: 21 overall (No. 3 QB)
2016 ESPN 300 rank: Unranked (No. 62 QB)
Full disclosure, we are surprised we even graded Love a three-star prospect coming out of high school, considering Utah State was his one and only offer. His player evaluation was quite positive, yet there were 61 dual-threat quarterbacks ranked above him in the Class of 2016.
Regardless, Love is a prime example of being a late bloomer and what the value of redshirting can provide. He wasn't forced to play as a freshman and became a productive three-year starter. Despite his high turnover number this past fall, there is a lot to be excited about with his upside and high ceiling for development. He's also older, more mature and more experienced compared to some prospects who enter college, play right away and declare early.
Check out highlights from former Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray, a top prospect in the upcoming NFL draft.
LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma Sooners
2020 ESPN NFL draft rank: No. 25 overall (No. 2 ILB)
2017 ESPN 300 rank: Unranked (No. 45 OLB)
A three-year starter at Oklahoma, Murray quickly utilized his work ethic to become a valuable contributor and has developed into one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2020 NFL draft. Since being ranked a three-star prospect, he has become more explosive and naturally added size and strength.
Although he still flashes some of the same areas of improvement, such as overrunning plays or taking on blockers, he has ultimately proved to be a versatile, high-motored and very productive player. Time has shown that Murray's impressive measurables alone should have initially warranted a high ranking in 2017.
Check out some of the highlights of former Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland's college career.
OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State Broncos
2020 ESPN NFL draft rank: No. 33 overall (No. 5 OT)
2016 ESPN 300 rank: Unranked (No. 62 DT)
Boise State has cultivated a lot of success identifying and developing overlooked prospects. Cleveland fits that mold, having had limited FBS offers coming out of high school as a solid, three-star prospect but ultimately becoming a likely Day 2 pick with first-round potential.
Cleveland has a big body with outstanding mobility, and we liked the upside he displayed in the trenches. He was projected as a defensive tackle, but we also saw the promise as an offensive lineman, where the Broncos smartly utilized him. Among the top-rated prospects in Boise State's Class of 2016, we thought Cleveland possessed the physical tools to be a productive FBS player, but he still exceeded not only our expectations, but, frankly, many others'.
Check out highlights from former Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun, a top prospect in the upcoming NFL draft.
OLB Zack Baun, Wisconsin Badgers
2020 ESPN NFL draft rank: No. 39 overall (No. 2 OLB)
2015 ESPN 300 rank: Unranked (No. 23 OLB)
How often do you see a high school QB develop into a first-round draft choice at linebacker? Wisconsin is a development program that proved its worth with Baun, a former three-star prospect. We liked what we saw on film: a raw QB and developmental passer with a high upside. We gave him a solid Power 5 grade of 78 and noted his potential for transitioning to another position.
Baun broke out last fall, notching 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, and is a versatile, front-seven defender who is smart and heady. His strong football instincts might have originated from his days playing quarterback.