2018 NFL Draft Prospects Who Must Step Up in Week 1

Chukwuma Okorafor (OT – Western Michigan) vs. USC

Western Michigan broke into the New Year’s Six last season, beginning the year 13-0 before falling to Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl. That team featured offensive stars quarterback Zach Terrell, wide receiver Corey Davis and right tackle Taylor Moton. All three of those players are gone, including Moton, the final pick of the second round in 2017.

USC Trojans Football

Moton was a top-five tackle prospect on many draft boards last year, but the Broncos have an even better prospect manning the left tackle position. Chukwuma Okorafor started all 14 games at left tackle last season, a year after starting every game on the right side. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound Okorafor will look to stabilize an offense with a lot of new faces.

That will be a challenge early on as Western Michigan faces a potential playoff team in USC to open the season. The Trojans are loaded with experience on the defensive side of the ball and will look to create pressure on redshirt sophomore quarterback Jon Wassink, who has yet to throw a pass in a collegiate game.

Defensive ends Rasheem Green and Malik Dorton as well as linebackers Porter Gustin and Uchenna Nwosu will look to feast on the inexperienced signal caller. USC is a big favorite in this game and it could get ugly early unless Okorafor and the offensive line can hold their own against what is expected to be an extremely aggressive Trojans defense. As a unit this will be the toughest test for Western Michigan’s offensive line. Even if the line as a whole struggles, Okorafor can improve his 2018 NFL Draft stock with a solid individual performance.