NFL Hot Press

*Walt taking 2014 and 2018

Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.
Led all NFL media in draft rumor accuracy in '15, '16, '17, '18, and '20
Led all NFL media in correct picks for the 2017 and 2019 NFL Drafts

2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT - WALT'S | CHARLIE'S ROUND: 1

2020 Players who Jumped Out Part 2 - SEC East

Updated July 4, 2019
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

When NFL scouts visit a school or watch tape, they are focused on watching the specific players they are writing reports on for the upcoming draft. Thus, they don't focus on players who aren't eligible for that draft. However sometimes a football player is so good and talented, he is impossible to ignore and scouts can't help but be impressed with how that player impacts the game. WalterFootball.com reached out to scouts to survey them to see who jumped out at them despite not being in the 2019 NFL Draft. We received enough names that this is the second part in at least three entries as we will continue to reach out to evaluators to hear who has generated some buzz with pro evaluators entering fall training camps.

Last week, we talked about the Alabama prospects, and this week, we will stay in the SEC but bounce over to the SEC East. In speaking to scouts who cover the Southeast, they singled out the following players as jumping out at them last fall and during tape study this spring. They are Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas and running back D'Andre Swift. At Florida, cornerback C.J. Henderson, wide receiver Kadarius Toney, edge rusher Jabari Zuniga and nose tackle Tedarell Slayton.

Swift has provided a nice impact over the past two years while earning touches in a very talented backfield that also included Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and Elijah Holyfield. With those three all in the NFL now, Swift should be the feature back in Georgia this fall. Multiple team sources mentioned being impressed by Thomas, and that goes back to his showing as a freshman starting at right tackle. He could have franchise tackle potential for the NFL.

Like Thomas, multiple team sources have gushed about Henderson jumping out at them and his potential to be a cover corner. Some team sources also said that Toney is an intriguing player with play-making ability. Slayton did not have a big stat line last year, but he is a plugging nose tackle and they typically don't have big numbers. Zuniga was is an interesting prospect, as some sources said they liked him while others said they did not like him. An area scout who was not high on Zuniga said they they thought he was more of a mid-rounder after doing more study on him last fall - he could have entered the 2019 draft - but ultimately decided to return for his senior year. He could become a love/hate prospect depending on the evaluator and team if this trend keeps up.

Of course a lot can and will change in the months to come. A year ago at this time, scouts weren't talking about Quinnen Williams and he ended up being the consensus best player in the 2019 NFL Draft after a dominant 2018 season. However some other future top-20 picks like Devin White, Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, and Brian Burns had already created a buzz in the scouting community. This is just a starting point of players to watch that have made an early good impression on evaluators. Check back in the weeks to come as WalterFootball.com will have more from team sources on the players that jumped out to them last fall and this spring during tape study.