2021 NFL Draft: Oklahoma’s Ronnie Perkins a polarizing prospect

One of the most intriguing prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft is Oklahoma defensive end, Ronnie Perkins. On one hand, you have a player who has been absolutely dominant on the field. On the other hand, you have a prospect who had to serve a six-game suspension over the last two years due to a failed drug test.

When Perkins is able to suit up he has been one of the best defensive ends in college football. In just six games this year he recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. This is not just a one-season wonder either, as Perkins put up solid production throughout his time in Norman. Overall he finished with 32 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks in just 33 games played.

Unfortunately, his biggest issue has been staying on the field which is sure to be a major concern for any NFL team. Perkins was suspended prior to last year’s Peach Bowl and five games of this season due to a failed drug test. This is not the type of thing NFL teams look lightly on and will definitely force him farther down the draft board than a player with his talent would normally drop.

When it comes down to where Perkins goes in the 2021 NFL Draft, he is going to have to go to a team that is willing to take a risk on a player’s background. I could see a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking a chance on Perkins early on day three as coach Bruce Arians has never shied away from players with character issues, and one of the areas the team needs to upgrade this season is defensive end.

2021 NFL Draft: Day two pass rusher

One of the best players who will likely go on the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft is Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. During his career at Wake Forest Basham has been one of the most productive defensive ends in college football.

In 2019 he finished the season with 18 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, and this past season he recorded five sacks in just six games. He has shown outstanding consistency as well as he had a streak of 23 straight games with a tackle for loss and has recorded at least one sack in 13 of his last 16 games.

In addition to posting strong numbers on the football field, he has also posted strong numbers in the weight room. This past August, Basham was named the second biggest freak in college football by Bruce Feldman for his impressive efforts in this area.

Some of his impressive numbers include bench pressing more than 400 pounds and squatting more than 700 pounds. In addition to these strong numbers, he also posts a 36-inch vertical jump and a 4.21 short shuttle time.

When it comes to how Basham will project to the NFL, he will likely earn a spot as a starting defensive end. He will also be a player who can help as both a pass rusher and run defender. When it comes to getting after the quarterback Basham shows nice quickness, a high motor, and the power to beat his opponent.

As a run defender, he shows outstanding discipline and the strength to hold up at the point of attack.

2021 NFL Draft running back rankings

This year’s crop of running backs has two players who should get plenty of late first-round attention in Najee Harris and Travis Etienne. There is also some good value in this class as players such as Trey Sermon, Michael Carter and Javonte Williams all could become solid starters at the next level.

If you are looking for a sleeper on day three take a look at  Brian Robinson and Demetric Felton.

Najee Harris, Alabama
Travis Etienne, Clemson
Michael Carter, North Carolina
Trey Sermon, Ohio State
Javonte Williams, North Carolina
Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
Demetric Felton, UCLA
Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
Larry Rountree III, Missouri
Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
Deon Jackson, Duke
Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas
Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette
Asim Rose, Kentucky
Ronnie Rivers, Fresno State
Otis Anderson, UCF
Caleb Huntley, Ball State
CJ Marable, Coastal Carolina
Spencer Brown, UAB
Greg McCrae, UCF
Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State
Marcus Williams Jr., Appalachian State

2021 NFL Draft: Sleeper of the week

Last week I named Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson the best value player of the 2020 NFL Draft, and the 2021 NFL Draft class also includes a running back that will go undrafted yet make an impact in the NFL. This year’s prospect is Ball State running back Caleb Huntley.

While 2020 was an extremely short season for Huntly playing in just three games he was able to rush for 437 yards and six touchdowns. He had a strong season in 2019 as well rushing for 1,275 yards and also rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2017. One area I would have liked to see him be more productive in though is the passing game as he only caught 20 passes during his four years at Ball State.

As a runner, he shows a nice short-area burst that allows him to get through the line of scrimmage in a hurry. He also displays outstanding balance. He routinely bounces off tacklers and does a great job of staying on his feet when faced with contact. He also has the size to be a good inside the tackles runner coming in at 229 pounds.

The reason he will likely go undrafted is because of his deficiencies in the passing game and lack of overall speed. He struggles in pass pro at times usually due to poor technique, and for someone his size, he should be better in this area. He also lacks the speed to be anything more than an in-between the tackles runner.

With that being said I could see him being a back who can rush for 200 to 300 yards a season and someone a team brings in on shortage situations.