There may or may not be a college football season in 2020.
However, the 2021 NFL draft will still go down in April, and the defending national champion LSU Tigers will be represented.
Now that September has arrived, ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his Big Board of his top 25 prospects for the 2021 draft.
LSU led the list with a total of three selections, with Ja’Marr Chase topping the list at No. 4.
Chase, a 6-foot-1 wide receiver who recently opted out of the 2020 season to prepare for the NFL draft, won the Biletnikoff Award in 2019 after catching 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.
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Here’s a look at Kiper’s assessment of Chase.
“We won’t see Chase this season, as he opted out and will train for the draft, but he has two full seasons of awesome film that NFL teams can study. Chase, who caught 84 passes last season, leading the FBS with 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns, makes everything look easy. He’s stellar after the catch, breaking tackles and running away from defenders. As I mentioned in May, Chase dominated first-round pick A.J. Terrell in the national title game, catching nine passes for 221 yards and two TDs. He’s a terrific prospect.”
The next Tiger on the list is senior linebacker Jabril Cox at No. 15.
Cox, a 6-foot-4, 231-pound linebacker, transferred to LSU from North Dakota State. He was a two-time FCS All-American at North Dakota State.
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Kiper is also excited about Cox stepping up to play against SEC competition.
“There has been a lot of buzz about Cox over the past few months, as the former North Dakota State linebacker transferred to LSU after winning three FCS national titles and starting 38 games for the Bison. He had 258 total tackles, six interceptions and 14 sacks over three seasons, two of which he was named an FCS All-American. Now, Cox will join Ed Orgeron’s defense, and I expect him to make an instant impact. He’s a classic run-and-hit linebacker who tackles well in space and could play inside or outside. I want to see more of him in coverage against SEC offensive weapons, though. Cox is a fun defender to watch.”
Finally, Kiper has defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin rounding out his top 25 Big Board at No. 25.
Shelvin, at 6-foot-3, 346 pounds, was expected to have a major impact in the middle of Bo Pelini’s defense this fall, but he followed Chase’s lead in opting out and begin preparations for the draft.
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Shelvin is a classic run-stuffing nose tackle in the vein of Haloti Ngata and Vita Vea. With a massive frame, he eats up blockers, allowing linebackers to get free and make tackles. He’s not going to give you much as a pass-rusher, but he has a role in the NFL, even if it won’t be for every team. Remember: Vea went No. 12 overall in 2018. It takes only one team to like you, and Shelvin is clearly the top nose tackle in the 2021 class.
Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence was ranked No. 1 on Kiper’s Big Board, with Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 2 and Ohio State’s Justin Fields at No. 3.
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