NFL Draft: Stock Watch

Rising

TY Hilton WR Florida International
We've heard of TY Hilton before the season, but he was more or less a late round pick due to his kick return skills. But his play this year has really impressed and he has shown the ability to possibly contribute to an NFL offense. At Louisville he was a one man wrecking crew. His 200+ yards single handily helped the Panthers win their first game against a BCS team. The key for Hilton is the 40 yard dash at the combine. If he can run in the 4.29-4.40 range he could easily be a Day 2 pick like Titus Young was last year.

Nate Potter OT Boise State
I've always been a big fan of Nate Potter's. He has good size, length, and quick feet. All things you like out of a left tackle. The one thing he does not have is that overall brute strength. Going into this season some people considered him to be a guard at the next level. However Potter has been great so far and against Georgia he showed he has what it takes to be a LT in the NFL. He'd be a perfect fit in a zone blocking scheme that utilizes his athletic ability.

Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama
Its not so much him showing improvement on talent, but more about him showing that he is back to 100% after a knee injury two years ago. Two years later, Hightower is back to the explosive player he use to be when everybody thought he was better than Rolando McClain. Hightower is a versatile linebacker who can play both inside and out. He should be in that late 1st round area come draft time.

Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
Michael Egnew was thought to be the only TE that was worth drafting early, but after four weeks of play Dwayne Allen is showing everybody that you can put him into that category too. Freshman WR Sammy Watkins has been the star, but Allen has been the security blanket for QB Tajh Boyd. In their win over FSU it was Allen who kept coming up with big time catches on 3rd downs to extend drives. Add in Allen's blocking skills and you have yourself an all around TE. Allen should be a Day 2 pick at the least.

Nick Toon WR Wisconsin
The person that has benefited the most from Russell Wilson coming to Wisconsin is Toon. Toon finally has a QB that is able to get him the ball and he is thriving. Toon isn't a speedster, but he knows how to position himself and he has great body control. With his size (6'2 220) he is a red zone beast. Look for Toon to rise up draft boards and now he finds himself in the Day 2 category.

Falling

Stephen Gilmore CB South Carolina

Gilmore was considered to be one of the top CBs in this class (behind Dre Kirkpatrick) and a mid 1st round pick. However the more and more I watch him, the less and less I think of him. Gilmore is very passive in coverage. He plays off the receiver quite a bit and isn't very active in the run game. He seems like a player that doesn't like contact. He has also struggled against bigger receivers in jump ball situations. Not something you want out of a 1st round CB. I wouldn't touch him in the first round if I were a NFL GM.

Cordy Glenn G Georgia
He has started since his freshman year. He is a guard prospect, but the Bulldogs have moved him to tackle to take advantage of their best lineman. Glenn was thought to be the next guard that went late in the 1st round. However matched up against the "supposedly smaller weaker" Boise State Broncos, Glenn was over matched and whipped. Not what you would want out of a 1st round pick. Right?

Donte Paige-Moss DE North Carolina
Paige-Moss was suppose to be on the next Tar Heel defensive lineman who go in the first round. He has the athletic ability to be a feared pass rusher off the edge. However he has just been non-existent this year. You would think with Quinton Coples on the other side that Paige-Moss would at least be able get after the QB without much attention his way. But he hasn't. DPM is still a talented player and will probably have to move to the rush linebacker spot in the 3-4, but he's falling past the likes of Brandon Jenkins and Devin Taylor.

Shayne Skov LB Stanford
This has nothing to do with Skov's talent, or lack of production. But all about an injury. Skov is out for the season with a knee injury. Skov is the best defensive player on the Stanford team and his play was elevating him into the early 2nd round category. Instead, look for Skov to return to Palo Alto for his senior year and hopefully he can get back to 100%.

Tank Carder LB TCU
After a great Rose Bowl performance against Wisconsin, everybody seemed to jump on the Tank Carder bandwagon. They raved about his range and tackling ability. However this season Carder hasn't matched what he did last year. He looks slow and his production is down. He is either going to have to kick it into gear or he'll be a late round pick.