Highlights from Minnesota, Oklahoma State, UCF and Oregon State Pro Days

With the Pro Day cycle wrapping up, let’s take a tour around the country to highlight some of the work on Thursday from top prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Minnesota

Rashod Bateman

Starting off up north, the name to watch is wide receiver Rashod Bateman. Touted for his production and impressive size, Bateman has been pushing into the Day 1 conversation for some time. With 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, Bateman has been a threat. However, his size was found to be a case of shrunken identity:

Oklahoma State

There are two guys from the Cowboys to take notice of: Chuba Hubbard and Tevin Jenkins.

Chuba Hubbard

Hailing from Canada, the 2019 First Team All-American running back and 2019 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year had an absurd 328 carries for 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns as that seasons FBS leader in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, 200-yard rushing games and all-purpose yards per game. His 2020 got off to a decent start, but with a final three games without going over 100 yards or scoring a SINGLE touchdown, his stock dropped as Najee Harris and Travis Etienne rose. Still, he will likely find himself a home on Day 2 that will allow him to thrive.

Tevin Jenkins

While Hubbard may have dropped on the board, one of the guys in front of him is one of the draft’s biggest risers. Tevin Jenkins has been a starter on the OKST O-Line since 2017 and has played both tackle spots and even guard. He has solid athleticism and mobility, while possessing the size NFL teams love. In the same bracket as VT’s Christian Darrisaw, behind the Penei Sewell’s and Rashawn Slater’s of the draft, Jenkins will likely hear his name called on Day 1.

Tylan Wallace

Lastly, we have Tylan Wallace. Ranking third among active FBS players with 2,512 career receiving yards and second with 20 career receiving touchdowns, Wallace has been in the spotlight since his breakout sophomore season in 2018 where he was a Biletnikoff Finalist. Standing just below 6 foot and weighing roughly 194 pounds, he’ll be a solid slot operator in the NFL and should be productive from the jump.

UCF

Next we head down to Central Florida with a pair of DBs in Richie Grant and Aaron Robinson.

Richie Grant

Grant is ranked as one of the better safeties in the draft after his productive career. Lining up all over the field (but primarily at free safety), Grant led the Knights in 2020 with 72 tackles, and added 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, a quarterback hurry, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries to go with two forced fumble, and six pass break-ups. Up there with TCU’s Trevon Moehrig, Grant will be a Day 2 pickup who could start right away as an overtop safety.

Aaron Robinson

A former Alabama transfer, the redshirt senior cornerback boosted his stock in 2019 with an All-AAC Second-Team selection. Then in 2020, he had a team leading seven pass breakups. Likely a Day 2 or 3 pick with impressive athleticism, Robinson has the chance to make an impact as a depth corner who can be worked into the lineup over time.

Oregon State

Ending off the road trip in Oregon, we take a look at one of BBV’s favorites in OLB Hamlicar Rashed Jr.

Hamlicar Rashed Jr.

A beast with a nose for getting in the backfield, Rashed is sixth in Oregon State’s career record book with 36 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks while also posting 143 tackles, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and seven pass deflections in his career. In 2019, he was named a First Team All-American after leading the nation with an Oregon State single season record 22.5 TFLs while tying third nationally with 16.5 sacks.

2020 saw his production dip a bit, but Rashad turned heads at his pro day today and has firmly set himself as a Day 2 pickup option for a team in need of EDGE help.