The NFL Draft is now roughly a month-and-a-half away, and following the NFL Combine we are ready to rank the potential prospects from the realm of D2 Football.
Below you will find a big board ranking the D2 prospects in terms of their draft potential, breaking them into the following categories: sure pick, potential pick and priority free agent. Each category will be separated into their own sections, and then pieced together to form our overall big board of the best prospects from D2 at a later date before the Draft.
Being as we still have roughly six weeks until the Draft gets underway, keep checking back to see further progress on the big board as players make a bigger scene during the pro day schedule, and some other names find their way into the draft process.
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PROSBA: Cappa, Harrison Tear Up The Combine
PROSBA: Shepherd Locks In His Status As Day Two Pick
MOCK DRAFT: 5.0 | FULL DRAFT ORDER
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| NO | PLAYER | POS | COLLEGE | PROJECTED RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan Shepherd | DL | Fort Hays St | 2-3 |
| 2 | Alex Cappa | OL | Humboldt St | 3-4 |
| 3 | Desmond Harrison | OL | West Georgia | 5-6 |
After each of these three former superstars from D2 had excellent showings in Indy for the Combine, there is no doubt that as of this moment each will be drafted, possibly all of them going by the end of the second day in Dallas.
To see how these three future NFL players each did at the combine, you can find links to profiles above. Make sure to get some major studying in on these studs, cause they might be soon suiting up for your favorite NFL team.
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| NO | PLAYER | POS | COLLEGE | PROJECTED RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Martin | DL/FB | Slippery Rock | 6-PFA |
| 2 | Zach Sieler | DL | Ferris State | 7-PFA |
| 3 | Max Redfield | DB | Indiana (PA) | 7-PFA |
These three players are exactly as we described them: potential draft picks. Redfield was the only one of the trio to be invited to the NFL Combine, but had a poor showing as he still shakes off a dislocated hip that ended his season with the Crimson Hawks just under half-a-year ago. Off-field issues and a dismissal from Notre Dame will also hinder his possible draft status.
Martin was the biggest snub from the Combine among D2 players as he deserved the chance to show his talents as the all-time leading sack master across all of NCAA football. But his potential move to fullback is also under further examination and testing in Indy would have possibly helped increase his stock there.
Sieler left school early to enter the draft but there has been little buzz on the former Bulldog. A five-tech who will line up in the middle of 3-4 defenses or inside for 4-3 alignments, he could shine at his pro day and become a late flyer for teams to see as a project for the future with practice squad potential.
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| NO | PLAYER | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ian Park | OL | Slippery Rock |
| 2 | Nick Keizer | TE | Grand Valley State |
| 3 | Ja'Quan Gardner | RB | Humboldt State |
| 4 | Shaq Roland | WR | West Georgia |
| 5 | Trenton Cannon | RB | Virginia State |
| 6 | Marcus Jones | DB | NW Missouri State |
| 7 | Luis Perez | QB | Texas A&M-Commerce |
| 8 | Damon Gibson | TE | MSU Moorhead |
| 9 | JT Luper | WR | Central Oklahoma |
| 10 | Jalen Tolliver | WR | Arkansas-Monticello |
These 10 players could possibly hear their name called as a few from this category did last year for the 2017 Draft, but more than likely will be able to choose their professional destinations. A big group of offensive players dominates the list, with a group of pass-catchers all potentially looking to catch on as Keelan Cole did with the Jaguars this past offseason.
The most interesting case here is reigning Harlon Hill Trophy winner Luis Perez. A quarterback that didn't start playing the position until he got into college, Perez has great athleticism for the position and can make some good throws downfield. It is rare to see D2 quarterbacks stay there as they transition to pro ball. but we could see one finally stick this year.
A lineman and a corner make up the rest of our rankings, with one a former D1 player at Northwestern (Park) who could catch on somewhere with his previous pedigree. Jones will be a potential diamond in the rough as well, with his size — 6-foot,178 pounds — giving him the right pedigree and physical tools to be a slot corner and potential special teams ace.
