NFL Bound: Players form around the state prepare for draft

The 2015 NFL Draft kicks off April 30, Heisman winner and University of Oregon’s football Jesus, Marcus Mariota, is predicted to be a high first round pick. Jameis Winston is predicted to be the overall No. 1 pick, even though some critics rank Mariota above Winston.

Regardless of Mariota’s draft position, he will be one of many “impact” players to come out of this year’s draft, but he won’t be the only player or quarterback to be drafted out of the state of Oregon.

Completely off the radar is Western Oregon University wide receiver Tyrell Williams. Williams competed at Oregon State’s pro-day running the 40 in 4.42 and 4.44 seconds, the 20-yard short shuttle in 4.11 seconds, and the three-cone drill in 6.55 seconds. He had a 10-foot-7 broad jump and 39 1/2-inch vertical jump.

He is unlikely to be drafted, but NFL Senior Media Analyst Gil Brandt said, “Williams is a potential free-agent pickup for a team following the draft.”

All time Pac-12 passing leader, Oregon State’s Sean Mannion, is ranked as the No. 6 quarterback in the draft by ESPN and will likely be a mid-to-late-round pick. He will follow previous Pac-12 passing leaders such as USC’s Matt Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals), and No. 5 on the list and fellow OSU alumni Derek Anderson (Carolina Panthers) into the NFL.

Mannion won’t be the only Beaver to come off the board.

Steven Nelson, a speedy cornerback, should be a solid fourth-round pick. Defensive end Obum Gwacham joined teammates Mannion and Nelson at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and could be a late-round pick, or possibly get picked up in free agency.

If there is a Civil War rivalry on draft day, the Ducks’ success on the field is directly reflected through the draft. The Ducks had seven players invited to the NFL Combine: cornerback Troy Hill, linebacker Tony Washington, center Hroniss Grasu, offensive lineman Jake Fisher, defensive lineman Arik Armstead, and of course, Mariota. Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu was invited, but is rehabilitating his injured knee.

The Ducks’ first-round talent doesn’t stop at Mariota with the possibility of several Ducks being plucked off the board in the first round. Armstead is ranked the tenth best player overall in the draft by ESPN and could join Mariota as a top ten pick.

Fisher could be spreading his wings a mile high, projected by NFL.com to be the twenty-eighth overall pick landing with the Denver Broncos. If he joins Mariota and Armstead in the first round of the draft, 2015 will be a record setting year for UO football. Never have they had three players selected in the first round.

Even if the Ducks don't soar to first-round heights, they should tie a school record with at least six players drafted. With a possibility of a seventh, this could be the best Ducks draft class in history.