Ossai, Cook, Green, Sterns, Cosmi, Sweat, Coburn, Watson and Adeoye all have a decent to outside shot at being a late 1st rounder.
I don't follow drafts and what nearly as close as I used to, but I don't see a top 10-15 talent on this Texas roster right now. I know we have some good football players. And we have a few guys that COULD be a top 10-15 NFL pick, but that mostly lies within the player themselves.
@clob94 @speedstrength and some others could probably do a better job analyzing, but it's late and I'm bored. Most of this is sunshine pumping, but we need some positivity in these times.
In no particular order (except Ossai). These are "best-case scenario" thoughts.
1 - Joseph Ossai - he has the size and speed to be a game changer in the NFL. He needs to badly improve his tackling technique and his ability to read mesh and routes quicker. The latter come with experience. He absolutely dominated in the bowl game and had a terrific Sophomore season. He reminds me of Derrick Johnson so much. DJ was a slightly better playmaker at the same point in their college career, but I feel like Ossai is a slightly better athlete. I'm excited to see how this year turns out for him. If he progresses like DJ, he will be a top 15 NFL pick like DJ.
2 - Sam Cosmi - had a very good first year and took a step back this past year. He seemed to have gotten worse technique wise which is weird. He had a tendency to lose leverage and get out over his skis too often. His hips didn't seem as flexible this past year and was beat on double moves quite a bit. Maybe he was hurt? If he can progress to a better version of his Freshman year then he could be a late 2nd/early 3rd next year.
3 - Caden Sterns - he gets a lot of tackles, but he isn't a very good tackler IMO. He is very smart and athletic. Reminds me of Mike Huff! Huff was a terrific tackler and very smart. Sterns needs to stay healthy for an entire season. Tighten up the tackling technique and I see him as a late 1st/early 2nd round pick. If he anchors a D that is top 20 in the nation and Texas gets in the playoff, then I see him as a mid-late 1st rounder.
4. Cook/Green - I'll just put these guys together because they have similar builds and playing ability...although I think a healthy Cook is slightly better (or maybe it's Green haha, they're like twins out there). Both have the size and athletic ability. Both have the make-up speed and both had injuries to deal with their Soph. year. It comes down to shear will power and work ethic with these two. They can line up against anyone, but if they want to be elite, they have to put in elite work. Maybe they do, I have no idea. If they can stay healthy and if they are hungry to be in the NFL, then they could both be late 1st/early 2nd.
5. Sweat/Coburn - I'm so excited to see what these two can do in a 4 man front. It'll also be interesting to see if Coburn is the 2i/1 and Sweat the 3, or if these two just alternate that 2i/1 spot and wear out the opposing OL. Sweat is a monster. I wish I knew what he was doing in conditioning/WR. 6-4, 335. Hopefully he is working. Coburn is no little guy either...6-2, 350. I hope someone is watching his diet to keep him at playing weight (I'm sure they are). These dudes are pluggers man. 3 guys would have an extremely hard time blocking them. They both have a LONG way to go learning to wedge, fire hands, rip, etc. but the natural size and ability is there. I could see both being top 15 NFL picks if they produce the numbers. Gotta work though.
6 - Adeoye - I don't know enough to give any kind of analysis. Stats, size and speed wise he is a guy that could be a 1st or 2nd day pick in the NFL draft. He did have a very good Alamo Bowl.
7 - K. Watson - It is nice to have depth and competition in the secondary again! It was good times having Terrell Brown, Aaron Ross and Ced Griffin at corner back in the day. Plus Huff and the Griffin bros at safety. I feel like we are on the cusp of having that again. Watson was a very exciting player against Tech. Handled himself very well and made some plays. He has the size and definitely the speed to develop into a serious NFL talent. Just like Cook/Green, he just needs to hone his craft, study film, take care of his nutrition and stay healthy. He could very easily turn into a mid-late 1st round corner in two years.
