NFL Draft: Week 5 Prospect Stock Report

Oct 3, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs with the ball against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Ohio State defeats Indiana 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The second month of the season kicked off this past weekend and it did not disappoint. Four teams ranked in the top 10 lost, while the top two teams, Ohio State and Michigan State, barely squeaked by in Big Ten action. If this is any indication of how the rest of the season is going to play out, the selection committee may have to decide which two-loss teams will make the playoffs.

Not only were there several exciting games this week, but there were several standout performances as well. NFL Draft prospects on both sides of the ball had their stocks impacted by Saturday’s games. Here’s a look at which players are currently rising and falling on draft boards around the league.

Draft Stock Up: Offense

Ezekiel Elliott (RB – Ohio State)

Despite a couple of close calls, Ohio State is still undefeated this season. The Buckeyes were able to sneak past Indiana in their conference opener to move to 5-0 on the season. With Cardale Jones once again struggling, Urban Meyer did in the second half, what he should have been doing all season…feed Ezekiel Elliott.

The junior running back responded with touchdown runs of 55, 65 and 75 yards after halftime. For the game, he ran for 274 yards and scored three touchdowns on 23 carries. He also added two receptions for 12 yards. With so many injuries at the receiver position and a struggling quarterback, there’s no reason for Elliott not to touch the ball at least 25 times per game the rest of the way. He was the top-rated draft-eligible RB coming into the year, and has increased his stock by carrying the Buckeyes on his back early this season.

Demarcus Robinson (WR – Florida)

It wasn’t that long ago that Demarcus Robinson was demoted to third-string by new Florida head coach Jim McElwain for missing a team meal. Less than a month later, Robinson helped his team knock off the third-ranked Ole Miss Rebels.

Other than being in his coach’s doghouse, the biggest struggle for Robinson early in the season was making plays downfield. After averaging 15.3 yards per catch last year, his average was just 7.6 prior to the meeting with Ole Miss. In the upset, Robinson caught eight passes for 98 yards, an average of more than 12.2 yards per catch. His ability to stretch the field created opportunities underneath for teammates Brandon Powell and Kelvin Taylor. If he can continue to be more than just a receiver who catches screen passes, Robinson should hear his name called on day two of the draft.

Shock Linwood (RB – Baylor)

Despite playing for a pass-heavy team like Baylor, running back Shock Linwood has taken on a sizable role. The junior is well on his way to another 1,000-yard season after a 221-yard performance against Texas Tech.

Those 221 yards weren’t a result of Baylor slowing down because they had a big lead either. Linwood ran for 169 yards in the first half alone with 79 yards coming on a touchdown run on Baylor’s first drive of the game. Linwood runs with a solid combination of speed and power, displaying both against the Red Raiders.

One area in which Linwood must improve is as a receiver. Baylor doesn’t often look to the RB in the passing game so his hands and route-running remain question marks. He’s a better prospect than former sixth-round pick Lache Seastrunk, who he took over for at Baylor. If he declares for the 2016 NFL Draft, expect Linwood to be an early day three pick.

Jake Coker (QB – Alabama)

Despite a rocky start to the season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban appears to have settled on Jake Coker as the starting quarterback. Saban’s faith in Coker paid off this past weekend as the senior QB led his team to an upset win over Georgia.

Both Alabama and Georgia are run-first teams, but the rainy conditions meant the offenses would focus even more on the ground game. All the quarterbacks were expected to do was manage the game and make their opponent at least respect the pass. While Georgia’s Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey failed miserably, Coker excelled.

Not only did Coker manage the game, he allowed the Crimson Tide to maintain a balanced offense in adverse conditions. His 68.8 completion percentage was the highest he’s had since the season opener. He wasn’t just throwing screens and short crossing routes either. For the first time this season, Coker had success with the deep ball. On passes thrown at least 15 yards downfield, he was three-of-five for 119 yards and a score. More importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over.

With the SEC schedule just beginning, Coker needs to carry this momentum through the rest of the season to improve his team’s playoff chances as well as his draft stock.

Next: Draft Stock Up: Defense