Ohio State vs. Clemson Fiesta Bowl: 2020 NFL Draft prospects to watch
Shaun Wade, Cornerback, Ohio State
I have mocked Shaun Wade in the first round of a lot of my mock drafts that I have done so far this year. Playing with Okudah and another corner that we will get to very shortly, Wade has seen a ton of time in the slot at Ohio State. A spot that is very important in today’s NFL.
Towards the end of the first round, you get to teams that have very talented and well-rounded rosters already that may be looking for a guy that they could move around a little bit and could make an impact wherever he is asked to fill in. That is something that Wade should be able to do very well at the next level.
Wade is a perfect fit for a nickel corner, who has the potential to become a solid boundary corner as well with time if asked to do so. Playing inside near the box, Wade can be a force in the run game and as a blitzer.
He has 26 total tackles on the year, four for loss and two sacks. Also with two forced fumbles, an interception and seven pass breakups, Wade has shown that he can be a playmaker no matter where he lines up.
Wade is still dealing with an injury that held him out of the Michigan game for Ohio State, but he was able to go in the Big Ten Championship Game and I’d expect to see him out there on Saturday night. If he is able to play at a high level and help bring the scorching Clemson offense to a halt, Wade could do himself some favors and end up hearing his name called on night one of the 2020 NFL Draft.
A.J. Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson
A.J. Terrell has the ability to stay glued to his receiver in man coverage like few other in the 2020 NFL Draft. He is very effective at the line of scrimmage, able to press and use his quick footwork and fluid hips to stay right in the hip pocket of the receiver.
While not the most effective in the run game and a little undisciplined with his eyes in zone, Terrell should be able to stay right with any Ohio State receiver that he lines up against. The Buckeyes score a lot of their passing touchdowns on plays where the receivers simply beat their man deep, but that will be tough to do against Terrell in man coverage.
If Terrell can add some more play strength to his frame and work on his zone skills this offseason, he has first-round potential. He has the basics down for a corner, and can now work on developing his game further and taking himself to the next level.
Damon Arnette, Cornerback, Ohio State
Watching Ohio State games, Damon Arnette can sometimes be very frustrating. Play after play Arnette is exactly where he needs to be and making plays. But every now and again he gets beat and looks silly, making you question his potential at the next level.
Arnette returned for his senior season at Ohio State this season. Actually his fifth with the program, Arnette has a ton of valuable experience and is a very smart player. He makes great pre and post-snap reads and can get where he needs to be the majority of the time.
However, there is a reason that Arnette didn’t leave for the draft last season and why he is the third-ranked corner on his team. He just isn’t quite as athletically gifted as some of the other corners in the 2020 NFL Draft class. If for whatever reason Arnette makes a wrong read and gets out of position, it’s unlikely that he will recover and make up the ground to prevent a big play.
Arnette has sound technique, but still is not the quickest or fastest player on the field. He uses his football IQ to put himself in the right position, and that works the majority of the time. But the times that it doesn’t is what is putting a cap on his ceiling as a prospect and may be what Trevor Lawrence, Dabo Swinney and the Clemson offense will try to exploit Saturday night.
If Arnette proves that he can stay with guys like Higgins and still make plays, his draft stock could certainly rise by the time it is all said and done.
K’Von Wallace, Safety, Clemson
Despite his rather small stature, K’Von Wallace plays a large role in the Clemson secondary. He often wears many hats for the Tigers, filling in at nickel corner, free and strong safety. He is solid in man-to-man coverage but has his limitations when contending with bigger targets over the middle of the field.
Stemming from days as a two-way player, Wallace has great ball skills and can track and jump on a ball with the best of them. He has two interceptions this year, including a pick-six, and has at least one pick in each of his four seasons at Clemson. He has 58 tackles and eight passes defended, showing his versatility.
Wallace will be instrumental in stopping the Ohio State targets that come his direction. Whether he lines up across from them in man or he is free to make a play on anyone that crosses his face, Wallace can break up the best of passes. The Tigers will hope that Simmons and company can stop Dobbins before he gets back to Wallace, but he could find himself in a position to make a last-chance tackle to stop a game-changing score.
Jordan Fuller, Safety, Ohio State
Another sort of do-it-all safety, Jordan Fuller tends to live around the line of scrimmage but is certainly capable of dropping into a zone in the middle of the field or covering a receiver man-to-man in the slot.
Fuller is a great athlete with great instincts, similar to a linebacker at times. He can jump running lanes and passing lanes alike, proving to be a playmaker for the Buckeye defense. He has totaled 200 tackles in his last three seasons and four pass breakups in each of his last two years as a Buckeye.
Although is tackle total is down from an incredible 2018 season of 81 total, Fuller is still a dependable, versatile player that can fill in multiple areas sufficiently. He will have to help bring down Etienne in run support and man the middle of the field while is top corner prospect teammates lock down everything on the outside.