Gator Hoskins
Gator Hoskins from Marshall did it all for the Thundering Herd last season. His athleticism allowed him to always be on the field while on offense, whether it be as a fullback or as a tight end. Although he didn't record as many receptions or receiving yards as other Tight Ends, Hoskins was the leader within his position in touchdown receptions. His 13 touchdowns this year were a product of his ability of having red-zone awareness, or being able to find holes in the red-zone that can lead to easy touchdowns. NFL teams love tight ends with this ability, especially on 3rd down. So why is Hoskins not projected very high in the draft? Part of the reason is because he is from a small school; as will some of the players on this list. Small schools get less exposure which leads to people not being aware of him. Another reason why he isn't projected very high is because he isn't totally fit for a specific position in the NFL. He could play Tight End, but standing at 6'2, Hoskins would be considered very short for that position. That reason is possibly why NFL teams may try him out as a Fullback, where his 244 pounds can be utilized very well. All in all, Hoskins is a safe, low-risk pick in the late-rounds that can outperform others drafted ahead of him.
Shaquil Barrett
Shaquil Barrett of Colorado State is projected to be a late 7th-rounder by CBSsports.com, but I myself would easily spend a 4th-round pick on this guy. The only thing restricting him from being a mid-round draft pick is his size. At 6'2 and 260 pounds, Barrett is a huge Outside Linebacker. He also doesn't have ideal NFL size and lacks good strength which at times can limit his play. With all of his physical features aside, Barrett is a great linebacker. He has great play recognition along with his ability to adjust which makes him a very instinctive linebacker. Along with being very instinctive, he is very aggressive on the point of attack and also sets the edge very well. He also played well against top-tier NCAA teams. Against Alabama, he was accounted for 1.5 sacks against a top Offensive Tackle in Cyrus Kouandjio. As long as Barrett gets in better NFL-shape, he can certainly be a steal for the team that gets him.
Jerick McKinnon
The Georgia Southern athlete started 5 games at Quarterback and 4 games at Running Back this year. At the 2014 NFL Draft Combine, he worked out with the Running Back group and was a top-performer in all categories for the group. He's also monster in the weight room; he can bench press twice his body weight and can squat three times his body weight. On the field, he can change direction quickly and accelerate fluently, which along with his quickness, can help him strive in the NFL. McKinnon is also a complete team player, filling any role needed whether it be Quarterback, Running Back, or on Special Teams. His only weakness is his lack of experience as a traditional Running Back, which is something he can easily improve on during training camp and the preseason. A team could possibly draft him as early as the 4th round, but McKinnon can have the impact of a 1st rounder in a few years.
Dion Bailey
A projected 4th round pick, I can see Dion Bailey as a possible All-Pro after a few years of experience at the safety position. After starting 2 years at linebacker and 1 year as a safety at USC, Bailey recorded an impressive 222 tackles in his career. Dion is an unselfish player, he will take out blockers to set up a teammate for a tackle. Being a former linebacker, he's really well at reading plays quickly, tackling technique, and having on-field awareness. These are great qualities to look for in an NFL safety, especially with the way safeties are currently tackling in the NFL. CBSSports.com compares him to All-Pro Safety Eric Weddle from the San Diego Chargers, which isn't a bad comparison at all. If you're a team who lacks a tough, play making, and aggressive safety, this is the perfect player for you.
Jacob Pedersen
There is no doubt that NFL teams love Tight Ends from the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers currently have 5 Tight Ends in the NFL which includes Owen Daniels (Texans), Garrett Graham (Texans), Jake Byrne (Chargers), Lance Kendricks (Rams), and Travis Beckum (Seahawks). Pedersen is a great blocker in the Badgers running offense, he helped James White and Melvin Gordon each earned 1,000 yards rushing this year. During his sophomore year in 2011, he was one of Russell Wilson's favorite receivers, catching a superb 8 touchdown passes. In 2012 and 2013, his touchdown receptions went down from his sophomore year, mainly due to lackluster Quarterback play. But in 2013, Pedersen bounced back with a 551 yards on 39 receptions, an average of 14.1 yards per catch. I believe that if Pedersen is matched up with an elite NFL Quarterback, he can make quite an impact on that team. If he isn't even drafted, I still expect Pedersen to be on an NFL 53-man roster by the first regular season game.
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