It's never too early (or too late) to talk about the NFL Draft, so as we enter June — why not talk about 2018?
In this instance, we're focusing on the talent-rich AAC.
Top 2018 NFL Draft Prospects by Conference
SEC East | SEC West | ACC | Big Ten | Pac-12 | Big 12 | AAC | MAC | FCS
The site NFLDraftScout.com ranks 2018 prospects by position, even this early — though the site has not assigned an overall ranking just yet. So we take each player's position ranking and compared it to what happened late last month to give a ballpark of where a guy might land next year. It's not scientific, but it gives you an idea.
For example, Memphis' Anthony Miller is rated the No. 15 wide receiver in the 2018 NFL Draft class (please note we're not including underclassmen yet, as nobody will officially declare until after the season). In the April 2017 NFL Draft, the No. 15 WR was selected No. 110 overall, a fourth-rounder.
So let's take a look at the AAC's 2018 prospects and where they might end up in the draft (again, all projections are using NFLDraftScout.com). Rankings used were as of May 28.
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HIGHEST AAC PROSPECTS
DEATRICK NICHOLS, CB – SOUTH FLORIDA
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 2nd round (rated No. 7 CB by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 118 tackles, 8 INTs, 11 TFLs
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SEAN CHANDLER, CB – TEMPLE
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 2nd round (rated No. 8 CB by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 186 tackles, 7 INTs, 19 passes defensed, 12 TFLs
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FOLORUNSO FATUKASI, DT – CONNECTICUT
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 3rd round (rated No. 6 DT by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 125 tackles, 10 sacks, 4 forced fumbles
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So how about the rest of the 2018 AAC prospects, where would they fall in?
| RD | PLAYER | SCHOOL | POS | HGT | WGT | 40 |
| 4 | Anthony Miller | Memphis | WR | 5/11 | 190 | 4.53 |
| 4 | Quinton Flowers | South Florida | QB | 6/1 | 210 | 4.57 |
| 4 | Deadrin Senat | South Florida | DT | 6/1 | 305 | 5.12 |
| 5 | Linell Bonner | Houston | WR | 6/1 | 202 | 4.55 |
| 6 | Luke Carrezola | Connecticut | DE | 6/2 | 258 | 4.87 |
| 6 | Jamar Summers | Connecticut | FS | 6/1 | 185 | 4.44 |
| 7 | Justin Lawler | Southern Methodist | DE | 6/4 | 251 | 4.84 |
| 7 | D'Angelo Brewer | Tulsa | RB | 5/9 | 185 | 4.52 |
| 7 | Parry Nickerson | Tulane | CB | 5/11 | 182 | 4.46 |