The MAC saw Western Michigan lay waste to the rest of the conference, so it is little surprise that the top NFL prospects come from that program. Corey Davis is one of the highest rated players to come out of the MAC in years and has a chance to be a star at the next level.
Even though Northern Illinois was terrible last season, the Huskies will see one player (possibly two) hear their names called on Saturday. They will struggle to find a player like Golladay again in the future.
Corey Davis, WR, Central Michigan: Arguably the best wide receiver in the draft, Davis has proven his worth versus the top of college football. Davis is a complete receiver that has star potential at the next level and looks like a safe bet to produce immediately. Davis is the best draft prospect since Eric Fisher went #1 overall in 2013.
Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan: A quality tackle that had a few consistency issues during his career, Moton could end up starting multiple years in the league. He stood his own versus Wisconsin and others, proving that just because he went to WMU doesn’t mean he is not talented enough for the next level.
Tarrell Basham, DE, Ohio: The 2016 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Basham saw his stock rise last fall after destroying Tennessee’s offensive line in a close loss to the Vols. Basham has to work on getting off the ball quicker, but he is lightning fast once he gets going and knows how to get to the passer.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo: Outside of Davis, Hunt has the most pure talent of this group. He can hit it inside and break the long run, but has injury issues and suspension issues that will be a red flag to teams. Hunt has a boatload of moves in his arsenal and could turn into a steal in the third round.
Kenny Golladay, WR, Northern Illinois: The path of Golladay from North Dakota and the FCS to a couple of impressive seasons at NIU is rare for a prospect to take. He produced at both programs and was one of the few great performers for a terrible Huskies team last fall. He has to polish his route running and strength, but can turn into a serviceable #3 and special teams contributor.
Levon Myers, OT, Northern Illinois: An athletic prospect, Myers is the type of player that could spend a year or two on the practice squad and eventually become a good backup at tackle. He could surprise, but backup and spot starter is probably his ceiling.
Michael Roberts, TE, Toledo: Physically, Roberts is a beast. He is 6-4 and 270 pounds with huge hands. He fits the mold of a possible starting tight end at some point in his career if he continues to work. Roberts had a tough upbringing and had to work himself eligible to play football by improving his grades, so he will never take anything for granted.
Jerome Lane, WR, Akron: It was a bit of a surprise to hear that Lane decided to leave early for the NFL. He has the measurables and looks bigger than 6-2, but he is incredibly raw. Lane spent only two years as a receiver in college and really needed another season to become a better player. He will get signed, cut, and signed again… probably a practice squad player that could eventually develop into a #3/#4 option after a few years.
Others that could hear their names called in the NFL Draft:
- Keion Adams, OLB, WMU
- Treyvon Hester, DT, Toledo
- Storm Norton, OT, Toledo
- Zach Terrell, QB, Western Michigan
- Cooper Rush, QB, Central Michigan
- Blair Brown, LB, Ohio
- Collin Buchanan, OL, Miami
- Joshua Posley, OL, Ball State
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