2021 NFL Draft: 8 Prospects they Missed
In case you haven’t seen the articles that have been released, the NFL put out the list of 323 players they would have invited to the Combine if they were holding it this season. Because of the Pro Day format they are rolling with this year the list doesn’t really matter. While I'm not fully sure what their reasoning was for putting the list out, my guess is they did it for the common draft process follower. The people who like to check out the Combine and see some of the names so they have a point of reference when the draft rolls around. Well, with the list comes the follow-up articles of “I can’t believe they left that guy out.” And I’m here to provide you with eight names that I can’t believe they left off the list. Why eight? It’s my favorite number. I also made a rule for myself that I was not allowed to list more than one player from any position, taking away the temptation. I double and triple checked that these guys had all thrown their names into the 2021 draft ring and I’m about 97% sure they did. Side note: I have no idea if any of these guys were excluded due to any past violent altercations.
QB Brady White (Memphis): White had three very good statistical seasons at Memphis. He also led them to three straight bowl games and two AAC championship games during that span ending his career in Memphis having won about 71.8% of his games. He also has the height that teams look for at the position (currently listed at 6’3”, but we’ll see where he measures up at his Pro Day). When drafting a QB you are either selecting one in the first or second round in the hopes that you have your future face of the franchise, or you’re taking one later hoping that you have a diamond in the rough or a guy that can be a solid career backup. Diamonds in the rough beyond the first two rounds are difficult to find, so in reality you are really aiming for that backup you can count on when it comes down to it and I think White can be that guy.
RB CJ Marable (Coastal Carolina): Everyone who watched college football got to hear about and see that amazing season Coastal Carolina had. My question is, why is it then that one of their best players would be ignored by the people making this Combine list? Marable had over 1,100 total yards in each of his last two seasons. Given his trajectory during the diminished 2020 COVID season he would’ve had over 1,300 yards for the second straight year. That’s not all. Total yards aside, Marable tallied 69 receptions, 523 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving in the past two seasons combined. Teams LOVE Running Backs that can catch the ball. I don’t get why he was excluded, but as far as backs that are flying under the radar and could be had late in the draft go, Marable is at the top of the list.
WR Damonte Coxie (Memphis): Coxie played in two games in 2020 before announcing he was leaving the team to prepare for the draft. However, in his 2018 and 2019 seasons he averaged 1,225 yards and 8 touchdowns at 16.6 yards a catch. Those are rock solid numbers, but they’re even more impressive when you take into account his size (6’3”, 200 pounds pre-pro day measurements). Coxie is one of the top Receivers on my board right now and it baffles me that the NFL would forget to include him as an “invitee.” Especially since guys like Jhamon Ausbon (Texas A&M) and Racey McMath (LSU) did make their list.
Edge Darius Hodge (Marshall): Hodge’s size likely played into him being left off the list. He’s listed at 6’2”, 245, which is not really what you’re looking for from a pass rusher coming off the edge. But statistically he deserves some recognition. After playing a small role his freshman year he posted 41 tackles, 8.5 for loss and 7 sacks as a sophomore. Then, in his junior season, that would be this past one with all the covid restrictions, he put up 63 tackles, 9 for loss and 6.5 sacks in just 10 games. Had this been a normal year he would have had four more games to keep piling up the stats (four because a regular season is 12 games, but Marshall made their conference championship and a bowl game). It’ll be interesting to see where his measurements end up at his Pro Day.
DT Dion Novil (North Texas): This one shocked me and you’ll see why here in just a second, but first I want to point out the NFL has disrespected talented North Texas players in back to back seasons (Novil this year obviously, and Mason Fine last year). Now as to the shock: Novil’s listed size is 6’4”, 330 pounds. His body of work over the last three seasons- 2018 he had 34 tackles, 7 for loss and a half a sack, 2019 he had 61 tackles, 13 for loss and 3.5 sacks, and in the shortened 2020 season he had 37 tackles, 8 for loss and 2.5 sacks in just 8 games. You normally expect a man weighing in at 330 pounds to take on the basic run-stuffing Nose Tackle role, but Novil had 28 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in the last three seasons. I hope the Vikings have their eyes on him.
LB Antjuan Simmons (Michigan State): I got to see Simmons play one game this season (it’s kind of difficult to catch Michigan State games in New York). I was impressed. When the Spartans were on defense it seemed like Simmons’ name was being called constantly because he was flying around the field making plays. In 2019 he had 15 tackles for loss, in 2020 he was well on his way to hitting that mark again had he been able to play all 12 games (9 for loss in 7 games). I’m not too sure about his coverage skills (only 1 interception and 4 deflections in his career), but he definitely has the body type that you would associate more with that aspect of a Linebacker’s game (6’0”, 225 pounds). There’s potential with Simmons, someone will see that even if he’s not on the list.
CB Devin Taylor (Illinois State/Virginia Tech): First I want to address the fact that I have Illinois State and Virginia Tech listed for his colleges, as I’ve seen both listed for him in separate articles. Taylor started at Illinois State before transferring to Virginia Tech this past season. From here on out I will refer to his college as Virginia Tech since that is where he finished his career. Taylor has a ton of potential. Having Corners who are willing to tackle is a major plus in the pros, and Taylor is a willing tackler. He also averaged 19.5 pass deflections and 4 interceptions in his final two seasons at Illinois State. In the 9 games he played for Virginia Tech he only posted 2 picks and 4 deflections, so there is room to grow against better competition, but that’s still nothing to scoff at. He also has good size, listed at 6’1”, 200 pounds on Illinois State’s website. I don’t understand how a player like Devin Taylor, who has shown so much promise through his play on the field, can be left off the list while guys like D.J. Daniel and Mark Webb of Georgia make the list with minimal production to their names.
S Reed Blankenship (Mid Tennessee State): I kind of get why Blankenship was left off the list, but there were Safeties who were statistically worse that made it, so I also don’t get it. Tackling is not a problem for the Blue Raider who had 107 tackles in his best season back in 2018 (he also had 4 interceptions and 7 deflections). He suffered a broken leg in 2019 which limited him to 7 games, but still managed 58 total tackles, 2 picks and 4 deflections. The weird 2020 season brought a mixed bag where he only played 9 games (not due to injury) and managed 76 total tackles, but also had no interceptions and only 1 deflection. It’s easy to wonder if his play falling off is a sign of what’s to come when he gets to the pros, but that 2018 season leaves hope for his future.
