With football season approaching it’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of practice reports, scrimmages and preseason games. The hollow, empty feeling of football-less February is mercifully long gone, so it’s with an eye toward getting a leg up next February that it’s time to take stock of the NFL draft prospects for current Wisconsin Badgers.
As the first of a four part series, I’ll take a peek at how the defensive skill positions project to the next level:
Photo Credit: JSOnline.comName: Chris Borland
Position: LB
Vitals: 5-11, 248 lbs, RS Senior
Talent Ceiling: Sam Mills, Saints (formerly)
Talent Floor: Brian Rolle, Steelers
Why He’s Here: Ultra productive with a knack for big plays, Borland has fought through size criticisms to become an elite college linebacker for the Wisconsin Badgers. The consummate leader and playmaker, there isn’t a team in college football that wouldn’t want Borland lining up for them.
Scouting Report: What Borland lacks in size he makes up for with intelligence and tenacity. Even as a true freshman, Borland showed advanced pass rushing skills and play anticipation. Although not the fastest, he’s constantly around the ball, and although not the strongest, he’s the most reliable tackler on the Badgers. After moving inside, he’s shown the ability to defend the pass adequately and excels as the quarterback of the defense. Still, issues with his size will do nothing but intensify as he tries to jump to the next level.
This Season He Must: Not miss a beat switching from the 4-3 to the 3-4. If he continues to make plays, he’ll slowly creep up draft boards to the middle rounds. Combine numbers and interviews will be more important to him than most.
If The Draft Was Today: 5th Round
Projected Draft Position: 4th Round
Photo Credit: JSOnline.com
Name: Dezmen Southward
Position: S
Vitals: 6-2, 214 lbs, RS Senior
Talent Ceiling: Sherrod Martin, Panthers
Talent Floor: MD Jennings, Packers
Why He’s Here: Through only 17 career starts, Southward has been solid playing the back half of the field. Still, with only one career interception for Wisconsin he has not made enough impact plays to warrant major NFL consideration. As the only member of the Badgers’ defensive secondary with meaningful experience, he’ll certainly get that consideration if the defense remains a top-3 Big Ten defense.
Scouting Report: With his ideal build and athleticism, Southward has the raw tools to play on any football field. He’s fast enough to run with wide receivers, and physical enough to make plays at the line of scrimmage. His hands and ball skills leave something to be desired, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him switch to strong safety in the NFL. Nonetheless, he has yet to max out his potential, and his best football is still in front of him.
This Season He Must: Show the instincts and strength to cover NFL caliber TEs, shed NFL caliber blocks, and tackle NFL caliber RBs.
If The Draft Was Today: 7th Round/UDFA
Projected Draft Position: 6th Round
Photo Credit: FoxSportsWisconsin.comName: Brendan Kelly
Position: DE/OLB
Vitals: 6-6, 250 lbs, RS Senior
Talent Ceiling: Aaron Kampman, Packers/Jaguars (formerly)
Talent Floor: One of many collegiate DE/OLB tweeners that can’t make the jump
Why He’s Here: Even though to this point Kelly’s career has been riddled with injuries and inconsistent playing time, his athleticism and natural ability to get to the passer should be showcased with the switch to 3-4 OLB. If he has decent production, NFL scouts will take notice.
Scouting Report: With an ideal build and underrated athleticism, Brendan Kelly has been productive whenever he’s been on the field. He has a natural knack for getting to the passer, and can set the edge well in the run game. This year is a golden opportunity to get past a collegiate career filled with unfulfilled potential and take his game to the next level.
This Season He Must: Stay on the field, first and foremost. Then he must show that he can still get to the QB from a two-point stance and that he has the athleticism to cover short zones.
If The Draft Was Today: UDFA
Projected Draft Position: UDFA
Conclusion: While I fully expect all three prospects to have a productive season for the Badgers, NFL scouts won’t be drooling over their raw measurables. Assuming he maintains his level of play, Borland should see his draft stock improve modestly as teams are exposed to his impressive leadership characteristics and personality. While both Southward and Kelly aren’t currently on many radars, both will have the opportunity to play themselves into serious consideration. Given his raw athleticism, Southward especially could see his draft stock skyrocket with a big season. Overall, it’s a group of fantastic college football players with questions about their ability to jump to the next level.
What do you think of these Wisconsin defensive players and their NFL Draft stocks? Let me know by commenting below.
Ian Culver is the newest writer to The Sports Bank community and brings a vast knowledge of Wisconsin Sports and marketing. In fact, Culver spends a ton of his free time putting together scouting reports on any athlete to join one of the state’s professional teams. You can follow him on twitter @mushroomcloudmf.