With Week 1 of the college football season just around the corner, here’s a look at prospects who are currently considered potential first-round picks but whose draft stock could be significantly influenced by their play in the coming year.
- 2024 NFL Draft Guide
- 2024 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | iOL | DL | EDGE | LB | S | CB
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft: First Round Picks & Predictions
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
2024 NFL Draft: 12 First-Round Prospects with the Most to Prove
Michael Hall Jr. (DL – Ohio State)
In my latest mock, Hall came off the board at #12 overall and could easily end up as one of the best three techniques in the class. However, last season he started just five games, none after the Penn State game in week nine, and totaled just 266 snaps on the year. Emerging from Ohio State’s deep defensive line rotation is a must if he wants to go high.
Maason Smith (DL – LSU)
Smith’s clearly one of the most talented prospects in this year’s class, which is why I had him coming off the board in the first round of my latest mock draft (#17 overall). However, that’s more of a projection-based pick at this point, as he was more of a rotational player as a freshman and ended up tearing his ACL eight snaps into the season opener in 2022.
Tyleik Williams (DL – Ohio State)
Essentially, Williams is in the same boat as Michael Hall Jr. They both played well when they were on the field but never really made it past Taron Vincent and Ty Hamilton on the depth chart. Now that Vincent is in the NFL, there should be more snaps for both of these two to show what they can do in a relatively deep, competitive defensive line group.
Notice any prospects I missed? Feel free to let me know on Twitter @draftexaminer!
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