Another NFL Draft has passed with plenty of discussion as to who made the right moves, reaches and gambles. More than 25 players that were once high school prospects from Texas were drafted by NFL teams, but many of the highest picks weren’t of the four- or five-star variety. Here is a look at the players that surprised with their draft position and forecast for those that should outplay it.
MORE NFL DRAFT: Grades for each first-round pick | Prospects weigh in on who they would have picked at No. 1
LIVED UP TO THE HYPE
Williams hit the scene as a tight end prospect and finished his high school career as a punishing right tackle that played his way into the 2014 Rivals250. By the end of his time at Texas, he was the Longhorns’ best and most important offensive lineman, and could have been a major difference-maker for Texas last season had he not missed most of the year with a knee injury. Prior to the draft, he impressed NFL teams by showing that he’s progressed nicely with his recovery and displayed the sort of athleticism and versatility that made him such an impressive prospect heading into his college years. Getting drafted by the Cowboys and joining an offensive line group that has been among the best in the NFL for the past several seasons should give him the opportunity to continue realizing his potential as a top football talent.
Jones’ story - both on the field and in his personal life - has been colored with its share of adversity. While he was always ranked as an elite talent in high school, when given opportunities in big moments to show he had another level to take his talent, something often just felt as though it didn’t click. Even though he proved to be a productive and eye-catching talent at USC, he didn't wow in his pre-draft workouts. He was one of the more sympathetic figures in the draft pool, after losing his father to a heart condition, but as far as his football career is concerned, he should have every opportunity to shine in Tampa Bay. On the field, it’s hard to argue with his production as he finished his career as a Trojan with a 1,550-yard season.
SURPRISED US
While it feels as though Mayfield had been making plays forever at Oklahoma, it would be easy to forget that he was a two-time walk-on as a three-star prospect coming out of high school if television broadcasters didn’t remind audiences ad nauseam. Still, the fact that he ended up being the first overall pick in the draft flies in the face of conventional wisdom when it comes to the typical NFL quarterback prospect. He’s not tall and doesn’t have an overly-strong arm, but he is a playmaker and brings plenty of moxie. Considering the personnel moves the Browns have made on offense, once he gets on the field, he’ll have some tools to work with so he could very well keep on surprising if he’s able to lift a downtrodden franchise to respectability.
Davenport came to UTSA with just two offers as a high school prospect. During that time, he was a long and lean player whose calling card was his hustle, but he was able to bulk up and turn himself into a menacing defensive end in college. He hit the ground running as a freshman for the Roadrunners and finished with 8.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles-for-loss in his senior season. The Saints' defense was once one of the league’s punching bags, but has found some toughness over the past few seasons and adding a player such as Davenport, who has made a name for himself on determination, should continue to help build that reputation.
Franklin-Myers has been overlooked almost every step of the way. Even though he had great size for a high school prospect, he played for a school that never won a game in his entire time there. The lack of success was likely one of the main culprits in college coaches and recruiting analysts alike not taking a harder look at him. Potential still seems to be the most attractive thing about Franklin-Myers as a football prospect, as he saw his production swing up-and-down during his time at Stephen F. Austin, but the Los Angeles Rams are one of the grittier defenses in the NFL and he’ll be given the tools to succeed as a fourth-round pick.
PLAYERS WHO WILL OUT-PERFORM THEIR DRAFT STATUS
By the end of his high school career, Okoronkwo was still just a three-star prospect, but during his time at Oklahoma, became one of the most identifiable talents on the Sooners' defense. The Houston-area product was an important personality in OU's recruiting efforts in Texas and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him continue to be a positive locker room presence in the NFL. He is joining a defensive unit that should be able to take advantage of his strengths.
Elliott was the most dynamic player in the Longhorns' secondary this past season, and even though there were some critiques about his stiffness and use of his athleticism, as a sixth-round pick headed to a secondary with a tradition such as that of Baltimore, he has a chance to be one of the steals. Elliott was a four-star prospect coming out of high school, and might have been expected to get more time on the field than he ultimately did at Texas, but after a season filled with big hits and game-changing moments, he showed that he has value as a NFL talent.
Watts came to Texas A&M as a Rivals250 prospect and got significant time on the field during all four of his years as an Aggie. Although there were concerns about his decisions and technique as a tackler, he showed in his sophomore season that he’s capable of clearing the field when he puts his mind to it, and by his senior season, was making more plays in pass coverage. A fourth-round pick is excellent value for Watts, who will have an excellent mentor in Eric Berry waiting for him in Kansas City to help him clean up some of the blind spots in his game.
