5. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame 6-4, 248 (2)
Why He’s Here On The List: Pass rushers with his ability and game-changing skills are rare. Forget about him against the run – anything he can do against the power teams are going to be gravy – but when he’s closing on a quarterback or a play, it’s over.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Is his leg okay? He wasn’t having an amazing year before suffering a broken leg, but he was explosive at times. His draft stock is totally and completely going to be based on his potential to get into the backfield, but he has to be healthy.
Bottom Line: He’s not going to be for everyone. There will be problems against the tougher running teams, and he’s not quite big enough to be a true end. When he was on – he took over the Virginia game by himself – he showed off the upside to be a devastating NFL playmaker. He might be a one-trick guy, but it’s an amazing trick.