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2017 NFL Draft Prospects Who Must Step Up in Week 8

By Shawn Spencer

Oct 17, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) encourages the fans to make more noise during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) encourages the fans to make more noise during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NFL Draft Dawuane Smoot
Oct 3, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive end Dawuane Smoot (91) sacks Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (4) at Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Illini won 14 – 13. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /

Dawuane Smoot (DE – Illinois) vs. Michigan

Head coach Lovie Smith clearly needs time to make Illinois competitive in the Big Ten, however this can’t be the start he was hoping for.

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His team is 2-4 overall and currently tied for last in the Big Ten West. One bright spot has been the play of the defense, specifically defensive end Dawuane Smoot.

Smoot enters this weekend’s contest against Michigan as the Big Ten’s leader in tackles for a loss per game in conference play. He’s not a typical edge rusher who attacks the quarterback every play, he’s very disciplined and has been more productive against the run than the pass.

Smoot is the top prospect from Illinois and can enhance his stock with a solid outing against the Wolverines.

With a good finish to the season, he could find himself in the first-round discussion by the time the 2017 NFL Draft rolls around.

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