The NFL combine is less than 10 days away. More than 300 of the nation's top college football prospects will cram into Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to showcase their talents for NFL scouts, coaches, general managers, and talent evaluators (here's the full list of 2017 NFL Combine Participants).
There will be plenty of ACC talent on display in Indy, but which players need to make a statement?
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5. DeAngelo Brown, DT, Louisville
With Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson dominating Louisville football conversation in 2016, the Cardinals' defense was often overlooked.
Right now, the 6-foot-1, 317-pound defensive linemen is pegged as a 5th round talent, but his stock could rise with a strong Combine performance. He's shown explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and the ability to penetrate on the line. The speed and lifting drills at the combine could help Brown improve his draft stock immensely.
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4. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami
There was a time where Kaaya was viewed as the top quarterback prospect of this year's class. The Miami signal caller had an impressive season with 3,532 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions but CBS Sports lists Kaaya as the 5th best QB option with a third round grade.
"One general manager of a playoff team that is very skilled at quarterback evaluation said they had Kaaya has a fifth round pick," Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com said. They feel he has no mobility, can't throw well under pressure, and while his arm is decent, he doesn't blow them away." Kaaya needs a strong combine outing or he's in jeopardy of slipping on draft boards.
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3. Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson
Gallman gets consistently overlooked when discussing NFL prospects out of Clemson. The Tigers' premier back rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons and was a key component in Clemson's postseason success.
Gallman is listed as the No. 8 running back heading into the NFL Combine, but I could see scouts and execs getting enamored with his skill set. He's big, but shifty enough to make defenders miss, while still thriving as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.
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2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Surprised to see Watson's name on the list? You shouldn't be. We are talking about a player who feels he's good enough to be the No. 1 overall pick. His coach Dabo Swinney compared passing on him to the Portland Trailblaziers passing on Michael Jordan. There will certainly be conversations behind closed doors about making Watson the first quarterback off the board.
NFL teams haven't had a chance to evaluate the former Tigers star since the national title game. He skipped the Senior Bowl and talent evaluators will be breaking down Watson's skill set with a fine comb at the NFL Combine. They may be basic workouts, but we've seen the Combine elevate the status of players in the past. Watson just needs to give teams a reason to take a flyer on him.
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1. Jerod Evans, QB, Virginia Tech
Almost everyone in Blacksburg was shocked when Evans decided to declare for the NFL Draft after just one season as the quarterback for Virginia Tech. The JUCO transfer had a great season, but consistently struggled with accuracy, particularly on the deep ball.
"Evans looks more like a a top high school prospect, with his arm strength and speed, than a draft prospect," said Justis Mosqueda of Bleacher Report. "Early on, he should be nothing more than a third string passer, though he does have starting quarterback traits."
Most NFL Draft experts have echoed Mosqueda's thoughts. Evans has a long way to go to prove he is capable of playing at the next level, making a strong Combine performance even more critical.