Players with south Louisiana ties take first round potential in 2020 college football season

The 2021 NFL draft projections have a strong local flavor with eight players who have south Louisiana ties figuring prominently ahead of the college football season.

LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, the 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner, is projected to be the top wide receiver taken. The Archbishop Rummel alum could be a top five overall selection.

A Baton Rouge native, Alabama’s Dylan Moses, missed all of last season with an injury. If healthy, the outstanding linebacker is viewed as a sure fire first rounder.

Clemson’s Travis Etienne is ranked as the top running back prospect in in ’21 NFL draft at this time. With his 4.38 speed, 4,038 career rushing yards and 56 touchdowns, the Jennings High product will be a focal point again for the ACC powerhouse.

Devonta Smith returned to Alabama for his senior campaign. The Amite High alum is considered a first round lock after snaring 68 passes for 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns last fall. At 6-1 but a little light at 175 pounds, Smith has the chance to prove himself in 2020 as the focal point of the Crimson Tide’s passing attack.

Jabril Cox transferred to LSU from North Dakota State for his senior season. He flashes first round skills after collecting 258 career tackles (32 for loss), 14 sacks and six interceptions. Cox can prove to NFL teams he is a top prospect against top-level competition this fall.

Speaking of LSU’s defense, junior Tyler Shelvin is the center of attention. The product of Notre Dame-Crowley could be a 2021 1st rounder with a big 2020 season. He can be a dominating, physical presence as the anchor of a defense.

Tulane’s pass rushing specialist, Patrick Johnson, is a fringe first rounder at this time. A big season could vault the 6-3, 250 pounder into the opening round. He has 14.5 career sacks and 23.5 tackles as a playmaker off the edge. If he were to go in round one, Johnson would be the first Tulane player to hear his name called that early in the draft since quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey (2002) and J.P. Losman (2004).

Former John Curtis safety Garrett Wallow was the third ranked safety in Louisiana in the 2017 signing class. He left the state, gained strength and developed into a 6-2, 230-pound linebacker for the TCU Horned Frogs. Wallow led the Big 12 and ranked fourth in the country with 125 tackles last season. He has a powerful initial burst and is a good pass rusher as a potential every down player.

Finally, Washington”s Elijah Molden has not played prep or college football in this area, but his father Alex Molden was the Saints’ first round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. The 5-10, 190-pound cornerback, like his dad, has first round potential after grabbing four interceptions last season.