2021 NFL Draft Weekly Risers: Week 11 Edition

1: Kyle Trask, QB Florida. 

Kyle Trask has had a phenomenal start to his senior campaign, but it was his week 6 prime time performance against Arkansas that I really feel showed everyone that he’s a legitimate NFL prospect. Throwing for 356 yards and 6 touchdowns, Kyle Trask looked like he could do no wrong Saturday night. Trask looked like an NFL level quarterback. His ball placement was on point, especially on a touchdown pass to Justin Shorter and on another deep pass to Trevon Grimes. Trask was making tight window NFL throws all night. He showed great poise throughout the night, and never seemed to lose his composure. Now accepting his invitation to the Senior Bowl, look for Kyle Trask’s name to further rise into first-round conversation.

2: Zaven Collins, LB Tulsa

Saturday night felt like the coming-out party for Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. Collins had 6 tackles, including 2 for a loss, alongside the game-sealing interception in the upset win over SMU. You watch Collins play this year and you just can’t help but be impressed. The redshirt junior is massive at 6’4 260, and yet can make plays all over the field with his athleticism. He has tremendous versatility, I’ve seen him both drop back into coverage and rush the passer. He has 3 interceptions already this year to go alongside 2 forced fumbles. He’s big, athletic, and causes turnovers: what’s not to love about Zaven Collins?! Collins officially has me on notice after Saturday night. 

3: Javonte Williams, RB North Carolina

Going into this year there was a clear big 3 at running back, with Travis Etienne, Najee Harris, and Chuba Hubbard all eligible this year. Ladies and gentlemen: it is now a big 4. Javonte Williams is having a heck of a breakout junior season for the Tar Heels, now leading college football with 15 rushing touchdowns. He has hit 100+ yards in both of his last two games, and it has taken him less than 15 attempts each game. At 5’10 220 Williams possesses a scary combination of size, power, and speed. He is almost impossible to tackle, whether he’s making a man miss or breaking the tackle. Javonte Williams is quickly rising up running back rankings, the question is how high will he keep rising?

4: Elijah Moore, WR Ole Miss

Elijah Moore is playing like the best receiver in college football, and it’s time we start giving him his due. Currently, the junior leads the NCAA with 1,054 yards receiving. He also has 8 touchdowns. As a defense you have to know where he is at all times, he’s just so fast and shifty. He is a special mover in the open field, with or without the ball in his hands. Coming off of a 13 catch 225 yard performance against South Carolina, a performance that followed a 238 yard 3 touchdown performance against Vanderbilt, you can expect Elijah Moore to shoot up draft boards very soon. 

5: Justin Fields, QB Ohio State

Alright just hear this one out. You may wonder how exactly the #2 quarterback can be on this list, here’s why. For most of the offseason, a lot of people doubted Justin Fields. There was a lot of hate his way after Ohio State’s loss last year to Clemson in the College Football playoffs. There was a lot of speculation that he might not even be the #2 quarterback in this class, some proposing Trey Lance being better. Then there was the hype that Zach Wilson from BYU might possibly be better too. And then Justin Fields finally played this year. Justin Fields has been the best player in college football this year and it might not even be close. In 3 games Fields has: 11 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and an 86% completion percentage. The crazy part is the film is honestly even more impressive than the raw stats. Fields look like a franchise quarterback out there, and even if Ohio State didn’t have a game this week, I just had to talk about Fields. He’s improved so much in the pocket. With his accuracy, pocket presence, and mobility, he just looks like such a complete quarterback right now. We’ll see how the rest of the season goes, but Justin Fields at the moment doesn’t look like a consolation prize for whoever picks 2nd overall: he looks like THE prize.

Stats from ESPN.com and NCAA.com

Writer

-By: Jacob Keppen