I follow a few of the mock drafts online that I find have some credibility, are well-maintained and updated, and include decent-to-good rationale in terms of their projections. Tech will face some strong individual talent this upcoming season. Let's take a look at some of them starting with those projected as early picks in the 2016 NFL draft and followed by some projected as 1st rounders in the 2017 draft...otherwise, in no particular odor...
Ronnie Stanley, 6'5" 315#, OT, Notre Dame -- projected as a top 10 pick next spring and the first or second O-Lineman to come off the board.
Tyler Boyd, 6'2" 200#, WR, Pitt -- projected as a borderline top 10 pick and the first or second WR to come off the board next spring. This assumes he declares early and foregoes his senior year which would be 2016 as most expect he will.
Jalen Ramsey, 6'1" 202#, S, FSU -- this junior is a favorite for the Jim Thorpe Award and projects as the first safety to come off the board and only the second DB to come off the board behind Florida's Vernon Hargreaves...a likely top 15 pick overall.
Leonard Floyd, 6'4" 231#, DE/OLB, Cesspool -- this junior will go high in the draft with a solid 2015 season as you can never get enough outside fast pass rushers in the NFL...mid-to-late 1st round capability.
Kendall Fuller, 6'0" 196#, CD, Virginia Tech -- this junior comes from a family of Hokie D-Backs and guys who make it to the next level...the Hokies will be the best defense the Jackets will face most likely in 2015...late 1st round pick next spring with potential to move up into the top 10 with a solid season.
Jaylon Smith, 6'3" 240#, LB, Notre Dame -- this junior is expected to be a late 1st round pick next spring...2nd team AP All-American last year.
Keivarae Russell, 5'11" 196#, CB, Notre Dame -- the third Irish player projected in the 1st round next spring...he was part of an academic scandal investigation at ND but was given clearance by the NCAA to participate fully this season earlier this week...projected as a late 1st round pick next spring.
Nate Andrews, 6'0" 206#, S, FSU -- another talented FSU junior DB who projects to go early and be a late 1st round pick next spring...he had 10 tackles against the Jackets in the ACCCG last year.
Corey Robinson, 6'4" 215#, WR, Notre Dame -- this junior is currently a borderline 1st rounder with projection at very early 2nd round...4th Irish player projected in the top 33 picks in next spring's draft.
James Conner, 6'2" 240#, RB, Pitt -- the returning ACC Player of the Year and junior is projected as an early 2nd rounder and one of the first RB's taken in the draft (note, NFL teams don't draft RB's high as often anymore).
Landon Turner, 6'4" 325#, OT, North Carolina -- this guy has progressed nicely and is a preseason All-American by some services...projected as a mid 2nd round pick next spring currently...the Cheaters return a talented and experienced O-Line across the board with all 5 starters back.
Some projected for the 2017 NFL Draft...
Brad Kaaya, 6'4" 210#, QB, Miami -- this sophomore is currently projected as the overall #1 pick in the 2017 NFL draft...WOW!...quite a statement...long way off but it speaks to the potential seen in this young man.
Roderick Johnson, 6'7" 323#, OT, FSU -- this massive soph made practically every Freshman All-American team in the nation last year...projected as a top 10 pick.
Nick Chubb, 5'10" 220#, RB, Cesspool -- this soph is already garnering Heisman hype across the nation...currently projected as a late 1st rounder (again, NFL teams don't pick RB's really high much anymore).
Lorenzo Carter, 6'6" 242#, OLB, Cesspool -- this soph was rated by some as the top HS player in the nation and he didn't disappoint in his first year in Hell...projected as a late 1st rounder with a very high ceiling (as in, could eventually be up in the top overall pick discussion with strong soph and junior seasons).
Quin Blanding, 6'2" 205#, S, Virginia -- this soph made practically every Freshman All-American team last year...in the despair that is currently known as French Futbol in Charlottesville, this former 5-star high schooler out of the talent-rich Tidewater area of Virginy had an incredible freshman season in Hooville and is a shining light for D-Coord Jon Tenuta...projected as a late 1st rounder in 2017.
Ronnie Stanley, 6'5" 315#, OT, Notre Dame -- projected as a top 10 pick next spring and the first or second O-Lineman to come off the board.
Tyler Boyd, 6'2" 200#, WR, Pitt -- projected as a borderline top 10 pick and the first or second WR to come off the board next spring. This assumes he declares early and foregoes his senior year which would be 2016 as most expect he will.
Jalen Ramsey, 6'1" 202#, S, FSU -- this junior is a favorite for the Jim Thorpe Award and projects as the first safety to come off the board and only the second DB to come off the board behind Florida's Vernon Hargreaves...a likely top 15 pick overall.
Leonard Floyd, 6'4" 231#, DE/OLB, Cesspool -- this junior will go high in the draft with a solid 2015 season as you can never get enough outside fast pass rushers in the NFL...mid-to-late 1st round capability.
Kendall Fuller, 6'0" 196#, CD, Virginia Tech -- this junior comes from a family of Hokie D-Backs and guys who make it to the next level...the Hokies will be the best defense the Jackets will face most likely in 2015...late 1st round pick next spring with potential to move up into the top 10 with a solid season.
Jaylon Smith, 6'3" 240#, LB, Notre Dame -- this junior is expected to be a late 1st round pick next spring...2nd team AP All-American last year.
Keivarae Russell, 5'11" 196#, CB, Notre Dame -- the third Irish player projected in the 1st round next spring...he was part of an academic scandal investigation at ND but was given clearance by the NCAA to participate fully this season earlier this week...projected as a late 1st round pick next spring.
Nate Andrews, 6'0" 206#, S, FSU -- another talented FSU junior DB who projects to go early and be a late 1st round pick next spring...he had 10 tackles against the Jackets in the ACCCG last year.
Corey Robinson, 6'4" 215#, WR, Notre Dame -- this junior is currently a borderline 1st rounder with projection at very early 2nd round...4th Irish player projected in the top 33 picks in next spring's draft.
James Conner, 6'2" 240#, RB, Pitt -- the returning ACC Player of the Year and junior is projected as an early 2nd rounder and one of the first RB's taken in the draft (note, NFL teams don't draft RB's high as often anymore).
Landon Turner, 6'4" 325#, OT, North Carolina -- this guy has progressed nicely and is a preseason All-American by some services...projected as a mid 2nd round pick next spring currently...the Cheaters return a talented and experienced O-Line across the board with all 5 starters back.
Some projected for the 2017 NFL Draft...
Brad Kaaya, 6'4" 210#, QB, Miami -- this sophomore is currently projected as the overall #1 pick in the 2017 NFL draft...WOW!...quite a statement...long way off but it speaks to the potential seen in this young man.
Roderick Johnson, 6'7" 323#, OT, FSU -- this massive soph made practically every Freshman All-American team in the nation last year...projected as a top 10 pick.
Nick Chubb, 5'10" 220#, RB, Cesspool -- this soph is already garnering Heisman hype across the nation...currently projected as a late 1st rounder (again, NFL teams don't pick RB's really high much anymore).
Lorenzo Carter, 6'6" 242#, OLB, Cesspool -- this soph was rated by some as the top HS player in the nation and he didn't disappoint in his first year in Hell...projected as a late 1st rounder with a very high ceiling (as in, could eventually be up in the top overall pick discussion with strong soph and junior seasons).
Quin Blanding, 6'2" 205#, S, Virginia -- this soph made practically every Freshman All-American team last year...in the despair that is currently known as French Futbol in Charlottesville, this former 5-star high schooler out of the talent-rich Tidewater area of Virginy had an incredible freshman season in Hooville and is a shining light for D-Coord Jon Tenuta...projected as a late 1st rounder in 2017.
