It may not be a surprise to some, but it sounds like the 2016 NFL Draft will feature a couple of top collegiate players who have yet to confirm their jump to the professional ranks. Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright are both expected to make the jump to the NFL after the current NCAA season, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, who cites "pretty open talk" in the NFL agent community.
Stanley's expected commitment is especially big for the league. While he's considered a senior by the university, Stanley is actually a red shirt junior in terms of eligibility. Had the big Irish blocker declared for the 2015 NFL Draft he'd likely have been the top offensive lineman off the board. A right tackle in 2013, Stanley made the jump last season to the left side in replacement of first-rounder and current Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin. Stanley more than held his own last year and, despite the loss of Malik Zaire and the difficulties of the entire Irish offense this season, has performed very well again for Notre Dame.
And despite Martin's early NFL success, the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Stanley may actually have a brighter professional future and a higher eventual draft slot. He's got the requisite size and he's especially dominant in pass blocking, which is a coveted skill for tackles in the NFL, though he has struggled a bit in the run game. If he can improve that area of his play and his ability to block out in space, he could be a top-10 pick in 2016.
As for Wright, he's struggled this season, thanks to a knee injury, to follow up his nearly historical performance in 2014 with a similar 2015 campaign. He entered the year as the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year after collecting 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 14 sacks for the Wildcats last year. The only knock on Wright is a big one - he's more of a football player than athlete, which could either be a boon to his draft status or a serious hindrance depending on the coach that selects him and the system in which he plays.
"Wright is a good, not great athlete and when you see the production that he posts, it is a clear indication of the type of instincts and competitiveness he brings to the table. He's a great leader on the field and leads by example at all times," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote of Wright earlier this season.
Wright's appeared in two games for Arizona this season, posting just eight tackles on the season. If he does indeed enter the draft, his stock will no doubt suffer a serious hit barring a much improved second half of the year.
