2018 NFL Draft: Week 4 Prospect Stock Report
Stock Down: Defense
Oren Burks (ILB – Vanderbilt): The entire Vanderbilt roster saw their stock slip following a 59-0 loss to Alabama. The Commodores were overwhelmed from the start and no one on the team stepped up to make even the smallest positive impact. One of the better prospects on the team, inside linebacker Oren Burks, had an especially rough day.
Vanderbilt Commodores Football
Burks has stepped out of former teammate Zach Cunningham’s shadow this season and played well the first three weeks. Coming off perhaps the best game of his college career in week three against Kansas State, a lot was expected out of Burks against the Crimson Tide. The result however was disappointing as the Vanderbilt defense couldn’t contain the Alabama rushing attack.
Damien Harris led the way as Alabama ran for 496 yards, many of which came right between the tackles. Burks was unable to match speed or power with the Alabama backs, allowing several rushing attempts to reach the third level of the defense. Burks will be tested once again in week six when Georgia comes to town, led by running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.
Harold Landry (DE – Boston College): For the second consecutive week Harold Landry struggled against the run. He’s one of the top pass rushers in the country, but his 2018 NFL Draft stock will continue to slip unless he improves as a run defender.
What makes Landry’s struggles against the run even more of a concern is the fact that he’s not lining up across from elite offensive linemen. In the week three contest against Notre Dame, he primarily stayed at left defensive end, lining up across from right tackle Tommy Kraemer rather than left tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Quenton Nelson. The same was true against Clemson in week four as he avoided left tackle Mitch Hyatt for much of the game.
With Bradley Chubb improving his stock this season and Arden Key nearing 100 percent, Landry’s stock is slipping. He’s now clearly behind those two edge rushers on the big board and is in danger of slipping to the bottom of round one.