After two back-to-back seasons thwarted by injury, Winfield, Jr. bounced back to earn the 2019 Big Ten’s Woodson-Tatum Defensive Back of the Year Award. His seven interceptions were the fourth-best total in the nation and led the Big Ten. The former Golden Gopher defender was a big part of the team’s 11-win campaign. He joins a young, athletic secondary in Tampa.
Category Archives: 2020
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Laviska Shenault, Jr.: 2020 NFL Draft, 2nd Round, 42nd overall
Former Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault, Jr. brings a burly, strong build to the receiver position. In 2018, he cleared the 1,000-yard barrier on 86 receptions. Over the last two seasons, Shenault, Jr. has rushed for seven touchdowns in a variety of ways. Frequently, the team would put him in the Wildcat quarterback position during school. The Jaguars have plenty of options with the native Texan.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT Tristan Wirfs: 2020 NFL Draft, 1st Round, 13th overall
The former high school state champion wrestler brings a similar temperament to the football field. Wirfs has started at both tackle spots and earned All-Big Ten honors for the Iowa Hawkeyes as a senior. He contains potential at a minimum of four different offensive line spots but should see time early in his career on the edges.
Atlanta Falcons P Sterling Hofrichter: 2020 NFL Draft, 7th Round, 228th overall
Hofrichter’s strong leg traveled both inside and outside during his career for the Syracuse Orange. He registered 72 punts of 50 yards or more. The AP third-team All-American allowed just 17 yards on 10 punt returns in 2019. Over the course of his stay in school, he improved as a directional punter.
Detroit Lions RB D’Andre Swift: 2020 NFL Draft, 2nd Round, 35th overall
Former Georgia RB D’Andre Swift proved to be quite the all-purpose threat in Athens. The back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher averaged over nine yards per reception on 56 catches the last two seasons. For his career, the Pennsylvania native averaged 6.6 yards per carry with 25 total touchdowns. He should add a different element to the Detroit Lions offensive attack.
Green Bay Packers TE/H-back Josiah Deguara: 2020 NFL Draft, 3rd Round, 94th overall
After catching 114 passes for 24 touchdowns as a prep level star at Folsom High School (Calif.). He slowly settled into a role at Cincinnati over a three-year period, concluding his stay with a career-high seven touchdown receptions in 2019. His versatility bodes well in a possible NFL transition to a full-time H-back position for the Packers.
Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love: 2020 NFL Draft, 1st Round, 26th overall
Although Love didn’t have a textbook final season, he still ended his career with three bowl game appearances, 69 total touchdowns (60 PASS, 9 RUSH) and a 63-percent winning percentage. The talented former Aggie attacks all levels of the football field.
Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman: 2020 NFL Draft, 2nd Round, 34th overall
Aside from torching Pac-12 defenses for 171 receptions for 2,549 yards (14.7 YPR) and 19 touchdowns, former USC wide receiver Michael Pittman, Jr. also found time to post 17 tackles and blocked three kicks. In addition, he returned one punt for a score. Similar to his father, Michael, Sr., he is a true all-purpose threat on the football field.
Indianapolis Colts DB Julian Blackmon: 2020 NFL Draft, 3rd Round, 85th overall
Former Utah defensive back Julian Blackmon earned AP second-team All-American honors in 2019 as he led a Utes defense that ranked 12th nationally in pass defense. For his career, Blackmon returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Houston Texans OT Charlie Heck: 2020 NFL Draft, 4th Round, 126th overall
Former North Carolina offensive tackle Charlie Heck started at both tackle spots for the Tar Heels over a three-year period. In 2019, Heck earned second-team All-ACC honors for the Texans at the left tackle spot. He accomplished the feat after suffering a broken hand early in his senior campaign.