Top NFL Draft Riser: Florida State DE Cornellius Carradine Shooting Up Boards

Sep 10, 2011; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Cornellius Carradine (91) puts pressure on Charleston Southern Buccaneers quarterback Malcom Dixon (15) during the first half at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE

As the years progress, one thing I’ve noticed about the NFL Draft is that throughout the course of the season, some player whom no one has really heard of is always going to bust through the brick wall between him and the NFL draft boards, and completely blow everyone away. I’m not going to say Cornellius Carradine has done that in 2012, but the Florida State defensive end has had a phenomenal senior season in place of the injured Brandon Jenkins.

Last year, Carradine had eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in spot duty to go along with 38 tackles. Already in 2012, he has 36 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and seven sacks. He’s also forced a fumble, but more importantly, he’s risen his NFL Draft status from mid-late round pick to potential first round pick.

Carradine has excellent overall size at 6’5″ 265 pounds, and is an aggressive player who has risen from the ranks of top JUCO prospect just two years ago, to a potential top NFL prospect at his position in 2012. Obviously, he’s still a bit raw, but that hasn’t stopped teams from using prime time picks on players like Jason Pierre-Paul and Bruce Irvin the last few years, former Junior College prospects who shot up boards with a big senior/junior season and showing flashes of elite pass rushing ability.

That could be Carradine this year, so start keeping tabs on this kid.