2015 NFL Draft: Rashad Greene Bails Out FSU
By Erik Lambert
Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Rashad Greene (80) tries to get past Auburn Tigers defensive back Ryan White (19) during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Several prominent college names and a few surprises got their 2015 NFL draft stock off the ground. Who were they?
Greene rescues Jameis Winston and Florida State from upset
More than a few scouts were fawning over Kelvin Benjamin, the 6’5″ monstrous receiver who came out of Florida State after winning the national championship. However, a couple pockets of resistance stated Benjamin wasn’t even the best receiver on his team, let alone of the 2014 draft. That honor went to Rashad Greene, who chose to stay in college another year. He may not be the freak of nature Benjamin is in terms of size, but he showed why he is a so valued by single-handedly rescuing FSU from disaster against Oklahoma State. His 203 receiving yards and a touchdown bailed out quarterback Jameis Winston who was inconsistent all day and allowed the Seminoles to escape 37-31.
Shawn Oakman and Kurtis Drummond key strong defensive efforts
Defense is a alive and well in the pros, so such players will have a prominent impact on the 2015 NFL draft. Among some of the favorites since the beginning of last season is Michigan State safety Kurtis Drummond. The free safety was an unheralded key to the Spartans defense that finished #1 overall in 2013 and put a stamp on his quest for greater recognition by intercepting a pass in his first game this season. One of the bigger surprises of week one was Shawn Oakman. The massive 6’9″ defensive lineman was practically unstoppable for Baylor, disrupting everything SMU tried to run and finishing with two sacks. The Bears went on to a shutout victory.
Ty Montgomery does a bit of everything for Stanford
There never seems to be anything flashy about the way Stanford goes about its business. It just overpowers opponents with good all-around team effort from offense and defense. In an easy tuneup victory against UC Davis though the bulk of their success came from the man talents of wide receiver Ty Montgomery. He led all receivers in the game with 77 yards and a touchdown which started the scoring but also flashed his versatility by returning two punts for 74 yards and another touchdown. If there is one thing pro scouts love it’s a player who does more than one thing well and Montgomery, at 6’2″ has the desirable traits of a future pro receiver.