Sep 7, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Braxton Miller (1) spins away from Virginia Tech Hokies defensive tackle Corey Marshall (96) while running with the ball enroute to score a touchdown in the third quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
With Ohio State’s 42-24 victory over Virginia Tech, the first week of the college football season has come to a close and the NFL Draft draws closer. There were plenty of solid performances, but injuries to potential early-round picks dominated the headlines. While evaluating NFL Draft prospects solely on their performances in one game – especially the first game of the season – would be an overreaction, it is important to note which prospects are trending in one direction or another and how injuries could affect a player’s performance.
Stat sheets never tell the whole story when it comes to evaluating draft prospects, and that’s especially true in Week 1, as many of the top teams in the country schedule much weaker opponents as a tune up. New Florida State QB Everett Golson is a prime example. The Notre Dame transfer completed 76 percent of his passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns. More importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over. The problem is, this performance came against a Texas State defense that allowed the second most passing yards per game in the Sun Belt Conference last season. Don’t forget, Golson was soaring up draft boards early last season after scoring 11 touchdowns and throwing zero interceptions through three games. By season’s end, he was backing up Malik Zaire.
So whose stock is on the rise? Who is in danger of sliding? And which injuries could have an impact on the draft? Here’s a recap of Week 1 in college football from an NFL Draft perspective.
Next: Offense: Stock Up