The 2016 college football season is now in full swing, but that won't stop fans from looking ahead to the 2017 NFL Draft. With that, Mel Kiper of ESPN continues to be the most famous name in the punditry, and he released a new big board this week.
While it is certainly worth monitoring throughout the campaign, a single name jumped to the forefront on this edition, as Michigan hybrid athlete Jabrill Peppers made a significant impression on Kiper in the first two games of the campaign:
Coach Jim Harbaugh raves about Peppers, who might be the most versatile player in college football. I had Peppers just outside the top 10 in my last Big Board, but I had to move him up. At 6-0 and 210 pounds, he plays safety, corner and outside linebacker — he had a sack off the edge vs. Hawaii — and is even a dynamic returner. Could he become a Deone Bucannon at the next level? I expect him to test off the charts at the NFL combine. He has been the most impressive player on my Big Board so far this season.
There is no question that Peppers has been outstanding in blowout wins against Hawaii and Central Florida, even if his lack of traditional statistics has led to some trolling. Pegging down a position for the multi-talented current linebacker is perhaps the biggest concern, but Bucannon is a nice comparison and it is safe to think that Peppers could absolutely excel in the NFL at safety given his athleticism and cover skills.
Mel Kiper isn't always glowing when it comes to talent but he certainly appears to enjoy the work of Jabrill Peppers.
