Big Ten Football: Top 25 2021 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch (#16. Morgan, #20. Bateman)

[WriterGoph]

Lot of if's in there. I mean, we could say the same about nearly any guy on the roster who would be draft eligible.

If Boye Mafe leads the conference in sacks, he'll go pro. There is no reason to expect this, but what if.

Okay, just for debate's sake, why didn't Winfield come back? He still had eligibility left.

My answer: His stock couldn't go higher and he completed 4 years. I think the other thing that could be a factor for Mo is that RBs have a very short shelf life in the NFL. So if he gets feedback he could go in top 3 rounds, why put another year of wear and tear on his body?

Anyway, I hope Mo uses his full eligibility with us. Just was saying he is someone to watch.

 

[WriterGoph]

Lot of if's in there. I mean, we could say the same about nearly any guy on the roster who would be draft eligible.

If Boye Mafe leads the conference in sacks, he'll go pro. There is no reason to expect this, but what if.

One more thought/point on this: you mentioned Mafe and I'd say the difference is that Mafe has flashed a ton of upside a few times but he has not had a sustained season of top-level performance. Mo already slayed it his redshirt freshman season and showed he can be a top back in the Big Ten. That combined with another top season gives scouts a lot of game film to watch on Mo. Mafe still has to build up his film roll and show consistency. But yes, if Mafe leads the Big Ten in sacks, he could go. Plenty of SEC guys have left early for the draft after one elite season.

 

[PitinoFan]

Someone should check with Matt Miller first, and make sure Morgan or Bateman don’t have character issues.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Okay, just for debate's sake, why didn't Winfield come back? He still had eligibility left.

My answer: His stock couldn't go higher and he completed 4 years. I think the other thing that could be a factor for Mo is that RBs have a very short shelf life in the NFL. So if he gets feedback he could go in top 3 rounds, why put another year of wear and tear on his body?

Anyway, I hope Mo uses his full eligibility with us. Just was saying he is someone to watch.

I don't think you can compare Winfield to Ibrahim. Do you really see Ibrahim being a unanimous first team all-american? I'll bet you season tickets for like he isn't an all-american. I'd be STUNNED if he is first team all B1G.

Winfield went pro because he couldn't go higher. I'd be surprised if Mo got drafted.

Mo averaged 5.3 YPC last year. 65th in the nation. I hope he wins the Doak and we can celebrate a 2nd round RB...but it isn't happening.

 

[WriterGoph]

I don't think you can compare Winfield to Ibrahim. Do you really see Ibrahim being a unanimous first team all-american? I'll bet you season tickets for like he isn't an all-american. I'd be STUNNED if he is first team all B1G.

Winfield went pro because he couldn't go higher. I'd be surprised if Mo got drafted.

I was just using the stock and 4-year mindset as an example. I don't think Mo will be first team All-American, but I do think he can be first team all-Big Ten given our OL returning and our stacked offense. Just to note, the two first teamers (Taylor and Dobbins) in 2019 both got drafted in the first two rounds. I think it's easy to forget how good Mo was in 2018: 1,160 yards in only 9 GAMES. I'd argue Mo was our best back this past season, but he just had to take a backseat to Smith (and at times) Brooks. We can't forget, Mo has had a front row seat to both Rodney and Shannon's injury misfortunes while at the U. I'm sure the precarious nature of the position and the game is not lost on Mo.

 

[Maverick]

Mo moved the pile in that last drive vs Auburn.... He's better than most are giving him credit for. Barring injury or some other unforeseen event, he will be 1st or 2nd B1G at the very least.....

 

[UpAndUnder43]

I was just using the stock and 4-year mindset as an example. I don't think Mo will be first team All-American, but I do think he can be first team all-Big Ten given our OL returning and our stacked offense. Just to note, the two first teamers (Taylor and Dobbins) in 2019 both got drafted in the first two rounds. I think it's easy to forget how good Mo was in 2018: 1,160 yards in only 9 GAMES. I'd argue Mo was our best back this past season, but he just had to take a backseat to Smith (and at times) Brooks. We can't forget, Mo has had a front row seat to both Rodney and Shannon's injury misfortunes while at the U. I'm sure the precarious nature of the position and the game is not lost on Mo.

Mo is not Taylor or Dobbins. He isn't anywhere near their level. Even if he is all-B1G, he won't be drafted in the first two rounds. Or the 3rd. Or the 4th.

Look at what TJ6 did this year. Look where he was drafted. Just because he was first team all conference, doesn't mean shit. He was drafted behind other receivers from his conference.

KJ Hamler-56 catches, 904 yards, 8 TD,.
Tyler Johnson-93 catches, 1318 yards, 13 TD.

But Hamler went higher in the draft because the NFL doesn't care if you were all-conference or all-american. Usually those guys get drafted higher because they are better. Dobbins and Taylor > Mo

 

[WriterGoph]

Mo is not Taylor or Dobbins. He isn't anywhere near their level. Even if he is all-B1G, he won't be drafted in the first two rounds. Or the 3rd. Or the 4th.

Look at what TJ6 did this year. Look where he was drafted. Just because he was first team all conference, doesn't mean shit. He was drafted behind other receivers from his conference.

KJ Hamler-56 catches, 904 yards, 8 TD,.
Tyler Johnson-93 catches, 1318 yards, 13 TD.

But Hamler went higher in the draft because the NFL doesn't care if you were all-conference or all-american. Usually those guys get drafted higher because they are better. Dobbins and Taylor > Mo

Dobbins got drafted because he had a huge junior year (2,003 yards). It's an interesting comparison because Dobbins and Mo are about the same exact size. Dobbins is probably a little faster, but Mo is probably a little stronger breaking tackles. If you look at stats, Dobbins' soph year was actually less impressive than Mo's first year (less total yards in WAY more games and less yards per carry). Yes, Dobbins had a very nice freshman year, but if Mo has a huge 2020, they are on similar arcs statistically through 3 seasons.

Dobbins got way more spotlight and had better talent around him in that offense, but what else makes you say Dobbins is far better than Mo?

 

[WhoFellDownTheGopherHole?]

To preface, i'm one of those who felt Mo was our best back last season and should have been used more. "The proof is in the production".

From a more whimsical perspective:

Seems pretty obvious the narrative with Mo is that he's a hell of a back but will always have to share the spotlight - a victim of circumstances, so to speak. He was unexpectedly thrust into a role freshman year. Had to take a backseat last year because of...team chemistry? This year, the phenom is about to broadside everyone. Good for the U, bad for Mo.

I guess i will sink or swim with my fascination with he who i'm about to name, but...while i think Mo could easily rack up 1500 yards this year, i think we will, nevertheless, come away from the season talking about Ky Thomas.


Ironically maybe his ascendance would be something to push Mo to want to go pro earlier if that's even remotely within a radar of possibility.

 

[WriterGoph]

At the end of the day, as I think I said earlier in this thread, a TON of this ties back to how well the team does in 2020. We just had our most Gophers drafted since 1990 - no coincidence that we just went 11-2 and won a number of high-profile games. It's also no coincidence that all the CFP teams had the most players drafted this year. Extra games and SO many people watching them and talking about those players.

If the Gophers win 10 or 11 games again in 2020 - especially if they make the Big Ten title game and play in a Jan 1 bowl - we will lose some players to the NFL Draft that we could never have fathomed in April 2020. It happens to the top teams every year.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Dobbins got drafted because he had a huge junior year (2,003 yards). It's an interesting comparison because Dobbins and Mo are about the same exact size. Dobbins is probably a little faster, but Mo is probably a little stronger breaking tackles. If you look at stats, Dobbins' soph year was actually less impressive than Mo's first year (less total yards in WAY more games and less yards per carry). Yes, Dobbins had a very nice freshman year, but if Mo has a huge 2020, they are on similar arcs statistically through 3 seasons.

Dobbins got way more spotlight and had better talent around him in that offense, but what else makes you say Dobbins is far better than Mo?

Scouts took him in the 2nd round, Mo won't be taken in the 2nd round. Dobbins top year is something Mo cannot achieve. He is faster and shiftier. Mo breaks tackles because he has to. Dobbins doesn't get touched because he is shifty AF.

 

[WriterGoph]

Scouts took him in the 2nd round, Mo won't be taken in the 2nd round. Dobbins top year is something Mo cannot achieve. He is faster and shiftier. Mo breaks tackles because he has to. Dobbins doesn't get touched because he is shifty AF.

That's fair. But you have to agree that Dobbins also looked better and has bigger holes because OSU has NFL talent across the OL as well, right?

 

[UpAndUnder43]

That's fair. But you have to agree that Dobbins also looked better and has bigger holes because OSU has NFL talent across the OL as well, right?

Sure. But he also runs faster away from defenders than Mo. Mo isn't going to hit homeruns. He just isnt

 

[WriterGoph]

Sure. But he also runs faster away from defenders than Mo. Mo isn't going to hit homeruns. He just isnt

Speaking of speed...very interesting to see Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran a 4.6 40 at the combine but got picked in the first round by KC. I feel like Mo can run a 4.6 or better. Either way though, it just really cements that RBs are getting drafted more and more for scheme fits these days. Much different than 10 years ago when a RB was picked to be the focal point of the offense.