Tag: Tyler Shelvin

Mel Kiper features 3 LSU football players in preseason Big Board

Kiper had a trio of LSU football players featured in his preseason Big Board.

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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LSU DL Tyler Shelvin opting out of 2020 college football season

LSU defensive line prospect Tyler Shelvin is opting out of the 2020 college football season and will prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft

Another top prospect is choosing not to play for the LSU Tigers this fall.

Tyler Shelvin, one of the top defensive linemen in the country, is opting out of the 2020 college football season, per multiple reports:

Listed at 6-3, 346 pounds, Shelvin is a massive mountain of a man who consistently commands double-teams. He’s got impressive explosiveness and athleticism for his frame, with all of the strength and power you’d expect.

He’s widely considered a potential first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He joins wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive back Kary Vincent Jr. as some of LSU’s big-name prospects who are opting out and getting a head start on their preparations for next year’s draft.

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Report: LSU DT Tyler Shelvin opting out of 2020 season

Shelvin won’t be taking the field for the Tigers this year.

LSU football lost another one of its key pieces Monday, when defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin reportedly made the decision to opt out of the 2020 season.

This comes on the heels of the news that star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase would be opting out as well to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Shelvin was every bit a player to watch for LSU this year, projected by many to play a significant role within Bo Pelini’s defense and then become a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

He saw action in 14 games with 13 starts in 2019, finishing out the season with 39 tackles and three tackles for loss.

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With his decision to forgo the upcoming college football season, Shelvin becomes the fourth LSU Tiger to opt out, joining Chase, cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. and defensive end Neil Farrell.

Farrell is the only player out of that group who said he plans to return to the program in 2021, while others will prepare to find their landing spot at the NFL level.

LSU is set to open the football season against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sept. 26 in Tiger Stadium.

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Two LSU Tigers come off the board in first round of Draft Wire mock draft

When the Draft Wire’s Jacob Infante released his latest mock draft, there were two Tigers off the board within the first 32 picks.

The LSU Tigers had a record-setting draft this year, with 14 former players finding their NFL landing spots in the event.

In 2020, it’s quite possible the team as a whole could take a step back with all LSU has lost between the roster and the coaching staff after winning the national championship over Clemson back in January.

But the Tigers still return a host of talent, and should be expected to have some notable names taking their careers to the professional level when April comes around.

When the Draft Wire’s Jacob Infante released his latest mock draft, there were two Tigers off the board within the first 32 picks.

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Infante pinned wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase as the first selection to come out of LSU, with the Carolina Panthers taking him at No. 6 overall.

Here’s what he had to say about the pick.

“The Panthers could very well take a quarterback in next year’s draft if Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t live up to the hype. However, there could be fantastic value available for them in this scenario in the form of Biletnikoff winner Chase. A fluid, physical receiver with superb ball skills and value after the catch, reuniting him with Panthers offensive coordinator and former LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady would be a match made in heaven.”

Defensive lineman Tyler Shelvin followed Chase at No. 29 overall, headed to the New Orleans Saints.

“It’s tough to project what the Saints might do in next year’s draft since they have talented players essentially everywhere on their roster. While taking a big-bodied, run-stuffing defensive tackle with limited pass-rushing value might not be the sexiest pick in the world, a massive interior defender like Shelvin could help further improve New Orleans’ run defense.”

It will be interesting to see how closely these projections ultimately align with reality, but if Chase and Shelvin live up to the expectations set for them this year, both players should be off the board sooner rather than later.

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Saints use their first-round pick on an LSU prospect in 2021 mock draft

The New Orleans Saints selected LSU Tigers prospect Tyler Shelvin, a top nose tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft class, in the latest mock draft.

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There’s a big overlap in fans of the New Orleans Saints and the LSU Tigers, the college football powerhouse in their backyard. But the Saints haven’t picked up many playmakers from their neighbors up the river, leading many fans to wonder when they’re going to start. Sure, the Saints have taken fliers on late-round draft picks like Will Clapp and the occasional undrafted rookie (Adrian Magee, Travin Dural among them), but it’s been years since they invested a premium selection in some homegrown talent.

If the latest 2021 NFL mock draft holds true, it might happen in a big way next summer. The Saints were connected to LSU prospect Tyler Shelvin, an underclassman looking to take his game to the next level in 2020. Here’s the thought behind the pick from Jacob Infante over at Draft Wire:

It’s tough to project what the Saints might do in next year’s draft since they have talented players essentially everywhere on their roster. While taking a big-bodied, run-stuffing defensive tackle with limited pass-rushing value might not be the sexiest pick in the world, a massive interior defender like Shelvin could help further improve New Orleans’ run defense.

Shelvin fits the textbook definition of a big body (listed at 6-foot-3 and 346 pounds) committed to stopping the run, often tasked with occupying multiple blockers for the Tigers. He’s graded out very well in that role by Pro Football Focus, where he is the highest-rated nose tackle in the country ahead of the 2020 season.

Conversely, he doesn’t have the skills yet to play all three downs in the NFL. PFF’s snap-by-snap charting had Shelvin with only six pressures on more than 300 pass rushes last year, which just isn’t good enough for the pro game’s standards. Hopefully he can show a lot of improvement in his upcoming junior year.

So why would the Saints use their first-round pick on such a limited defender? They have their other starting defensive tackle spot locked down with David Onyemata (who inked a three-year contract extension earlier this offseason), though Sheldon Rankins and Shy Tuttle will push for snaps in the rotation.

Malcom Brown has been a very underrated nose tackle for the Saints and did a lot to help maintain their stout run defense last season, but he’ll be a free agent after the 2021 season and the Saints could free up $5 million by releasing him next summer. If the salary cap takes a big fall expected, they’ll have to pinch every penny they can just to field a team.

There’s some logic to the Saints drafting a quality nose tackle highly, and their roster is so deep that they have the luxury of picking just about any position. But they might be better served waiting for a later round to add someone who would be a part-time player even beyond his rookie year.

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Pair of LSU football players selected in Draft Wire’s latest 2021 mock draft

When Luke Easterling of Draft Wire released his latest mock draft, he had two Tigers being taken in the first round.

The 2020 college football season may not be underway for LSU just yet, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft.

LSU set the bar high back in April, with 16 players drafted to NFL teams and another six players signed as undrafted free agents.

The Tigers may not quite replicate that success in next year’s events, but the team still has no shortage of talent it’ll be sending off to the next level after this season.

When Luke Easterling of Draft Wire released his latest mock draft, he had two Tigers being taken in the first round.

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Easterling had the Miami Dolphins selecting LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase at No. 4 overall, and the New England Patriots taking defensive lineman Tyler Shelvin at No. 26 overall.

There are high expectations for both players in 2020, as LSU heads into the season doubted yet again after losing so much talent within both the roster and the coaching staff this offseason.

Chase, last year’s winner of the Biletnikoff Award, finished the season with 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Between 2018 and 2019, Shelvin has recorded 48 tackles, 15 solo, 1.5 sacks and two passes defensed. He was also Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded run-defender in the Southeastern Conference.

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