NFL Draft Prospects of the Week for Week 8

This week’s top performing NFL prospects were a current LSU Tiger in quarterback Jayden Daniels and a former LSU tiger in cornerback Eli Ricks. Both had their best games of the season, helping their teams to wins and drawing attention as legitimate NFL Draft prospects.

JAYDEN DANIELS

Jayden Daniels and the LSU tigers were facing down an undefeated Ole Miss team on Saturday, but the fourth year quarterback was completely unswayed. Daniels threw for 248 yards and two scores while rushing for over 120 yards and three touchdowns. He accounted for all but one of LSU’s six touchdowns against the Rebels.

Daniels’ performance passing the ball was not flashy, but he ran the offense extremely efficiently. Even as the Tigers went down 17-3 early in the game, Daniels’ calmness leading LSU was crucial in their massive comeback and eventual 45-20 win.

Jayden Daniels is enjoying his best season of college ball at SLU after transferring from ASU after three disappointing years. The fourth year passer is completing almost 70% of his passes, has thrown 12 touchdowns, ran for nine more and has only thrown a single interception. His quick passing, big arm and dangerous mobility are surely enough to make him a very good college quarterback, but he deserves some attention as a potential NFL passer as well.

ELI RICKS

Defensively, no player performed better than Eli Ricks this weekend. The Alabama cornerback and LSU transfer locked down Mississippi State’s offense. He batted down four passes while starving his coverage assignments of any yardage. His impressive game helped Alabama bounce back from their loss at Tennessee and beat the Bulldogs 30-6.

Eli Ricks has barely been in Alabama’s lineup this year, for whatever reason. However, after the Volunteers shredded Alabama’s secondary last week, Nick Saban needed to make some changes. It’s early on, but the 6’2” Eli Ricks has the size and athleticism to make big changes in the Tide’s defense.

Ricks was once a promising talent at LSU, but left after an injury-shortened sophomore season. With Ricks healthy and confident, we could see a huge second half of the season from the former Freshman All-American.