Five College Prospects Set for a Big Future

The NCAA College Football season has now reached its mid-point, and as the countdown to Bowl season continues, the real focus for all college prospects will turn towards the 2016 NFL Draft. Ohio State will be looking to defend their 2016 Championship in early January - the Buckeyes head the markets and are highly fancied to retain their crown. It will be far from easy for the squad to repeat, as several other high-profile schools such as, Alabama, LSU and the unique offensive setup at Baylor could have a big say in where the BCS Championship arrives in 2016.

For the players themselves, this is the crucial time in their fledgling careers as the NFL scouts are busy searching over the length and breadth of the nation looking for the next Tom Brady, or the future Adrian Peterson. In this article we will look at five players who could turn out to be future stars at the next level.

Franchise quarterback?

The quarterback position is the most crucial role of every NFL team - all clubs are after a 'franchise quarterback', as success is virtually impossible without one. California QB Jared Goff is currently showing the potential to be a force in the future when his chance at the next level appears. Goff, at 6'4" and 210lbs has lead the Golden Bears into the Top 25-ranked teams for the first time since 2009 - with the unhelpful aid of a porous offensive line that has often limited the junior's real abilities. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers was the last high-profile QB to play for Cal, but Goff is expected to make his own mark when the time comes.

Tremendous athlete

NFL scouts are likely to go crazy at the phenomenal skillset of defensive back, Jalen Ramsey of Florida State. Ramsey is a tremendous athlete - capable of running 10.50 for 100 meters, along with 7.59m for the long jump that ranked him 2nd overall among NCAA Division 1 players back in 2013. The junior player not only has the athletic attributes, but also the football skills to match. In his freshman days, he was the first player to start at CB since the days of Deion Sanders, and If Ramsey ends up being half as successful as the aforementioned great, then a fine NFL career awaits.

Impressive haul

The days of running-backs taking the highest draft picks seem to be a thing of the past, but Ezekiel Elliott from Ohio State could redress the balance somewhat. Elliot not only ended last season with the BCS Championship, but took MVP honours to boot with an impressive haul of 246 yards on 36 carries with four touchdowns. Elliot is on for even better seasonal statistics this season and is a potential candidate for the Heisman Trophy. He has prototypical size and speed for the NFL, and is an almost certain first-round pick.

Physical size

You may have thought the mould was broken when J.J Watt arrived on the NFL scene, but defensive end Joey Bosa - again from Ohio State - could be Watt 2.0. The first thing that strikes with Bosa is his physical size for his age, At 6'5" and 275lbs, he already has what it takes strength-wise to succeed at the next level without bulking-up in the gym. Bosa recorded 13 1/2 sacks and 21 tackles for loss during the Buckeyes' championship run last season. He had one small blot on his copybook by being suspended for his team in the opening game of this campaign for a violation of athletic department policy. That issue will not detract NFL teams from drafting Bosahowever.

Hit or bust

One of the risk/reward picks of the 2016 NFL Draft could lie with wide receiver Laquon Treadwell from Mississippi. Treadwell suffered a devastating leg injury last season that broke his tibia and dislocated his ankle. Thankfully, the junior player is back and fit this season - and currently has 49 receptions for 654 yards in seven games with four touchdowns. Treadwell is not the biggest receiver at 6'2" and 210 lbs, but his physical nature offers him the ability to dominate his defensive opponent. Treadwell is similar in style to Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant, who could be a gamble worth taking next April.