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Michigan State Football: Predicting where prospects go in NFL Draft

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) warms up before the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) warms up before the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) warms up before the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) warms up before the Big Ten Conference football championship game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Let’s try to predict where Michigan State Football’s top prospects will be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft is just a few days away, but it’s never too late to predict where some of the top prospects will be selected. Michigan State Football has over a dozen draft eligible prospects looking to find a new home this weekend to further their playing careers, but not all will hear their names called on draft day(s).

Mark Dantonio has done an excellent job of getting players ready for the NFL in his pro-style system and he’s even had a player selected in the first round of the draft in each of the past two seasons after Michigan State didn’t have any first round picks from 2004-13.

There’s a reason why guys like Le’Veon Bell, Kirk Cousins, Jeremy Langford, Trae Waynes and Darqueze Dennard have seen so much success at both levels and that’s because Dantonio preps these guys for the future and he’s becoming one of the more respects collegiate head coaches out there.

Let’s take a look at where each of the Spartans’ top NFL prospects will land in the upcoming draft process.

Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Jack Conklin (11) participates in a drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans offensive lineman Jack Conklin (11) participates in a drill during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Projected Round: Mid-1st

Jack Conklin is one of the best offensive tackles in this year’s draft and many believe he’s worthy of a top-10 selection. Some have him going to the 49ers at No. 7 or the Browns at No. 8 and even No. 10 to the Giants. All of those are very possible, depending on where Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss goes.

Tunsil is considered the top offensive lineman in the draft and if he isn’t chosen in the top five, then you can assume Conklin will probably drop a little further down the boards.

According to MLive, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock believes that the Lions should “sprint to the podium” if Conklin is there at No. 16:

"“If Conklin was there (for Detroit at pick No. 16), I’d sprint to the podium,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said during a conference call on Friday. “He was a walk-on at Michigan State, as you know, got a little edge to his game,” Mayock said. “I’ll tell you who he reminds me of from a body type and demeanor, he reminds me of Kyle Long, and that’s a compliment. Now I don’t think he’s got Kyle’s feet, but very few people do.”"

That’s high praise for the former walk-on. However, he did say that he believes the Giants (No. 10) or Tennessee (No. 15) will be the likely landing spots for Conklin.

Next: 2. Connor Cook

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