With The First Pick
Fansided

The PAC 12’s Top Five 2019 NFL Draft Prospects

By Aaron Gershon

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies celebrates on the stage after the Huskies beat the Utah Utes to win the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. Murphy was named the MVP for the game. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies celebrates on the stage after the Huskies beat the Utah Utes to win the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. Murphy was named the MVP for the game. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Which NCAA football conference produces the most draft-worthy prospects? A look at each of the Power Five conferences and their 5 best NFL draft-bound prospects.

It may have been a down year for the PAC 12 who for the second straight season failed to send a team to the college football playoff. However, that does not mean the conference lacks talent that it will send into the 2019 NFL Draft. According to CBS’s latest draft prospect, four PAC 12 prospects would be in line to be first round draft choices.

Here’s a look at the top five draft prospects of 2019 from the PAC 12.

#5 Bryce Love, Running Back Stanford

SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal reacts to scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half of a game against the San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal reacts to scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half of a game against the San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium on September 16, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Despite a senior year that saw a dip in numbers due to injury Bryce Love should still be seen as one of the top running backs available in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Love’s 2017 Junior year was one for the ages. Love ran for 2,118 yards setting a PAC 12 single-season rushing record. He added 19 touchdowns and averaged an incredible 8.1 yards per carry.

Though Love did not replicate that success in 2018 he did improve one aspect of his game. Even in three fewer games played than his junior year Love caught 14 more passes in 2018 than he did in all of 2017.

If Love can find a happy middle ground between his 2018 and 2017 seasons, he will be a hot commodity in the NFL. Bryce Love has a lot of mileage and there are concerns about injuries, but he could be a valuable weapon in a ball carrier stable.

#4. JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Wide Receiver Stanford

PALO ALTO, CA – AUGUST 31: Jj Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Stanford Cardinal catches the ball for a touchdown while covered by Ron Smith #17 of the San Diego State Aztecs at Stanford Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – AUGUST 31: Jj Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Stanford Cardinal catches the ball for a touchdown while covered by Ron Smith #17 of the San Diego State Aztecs at Stanford Stadium on August 31, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

JJ Arcega-Whiteside is one of the top members of what is a talented group of Wide Receivers in the 2019 NFL Draft class. Arcega-Whiteside may just be the top red zone threat in the class. The 6’3 senior caught a career-high 14 touchdown passes for Stanford in 2018 to go along with 969 yards earning him second-team Pac 12 honors.

Arcega-Whiteside has the opportunity to be a first-round draft choice because how reliable he is in the red zone, as well as his ability to help pave the way for runners as he is an above average run blocker. Arcega-Whiteside had a productive career for the Stanford Cardinal’s and could see similar success in the NFL.

Whichever NFL team selects Arcega-Whiteside should surely increase their red zone scoring percentage and will have added an unselfish player to their offense.

#3. N’Keal Henry, Wide Receiver, Arizona State

TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 09: Wide receiver N’Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils catches a five yard touchdown pass against cornerback Ron Smith #17 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 09: Wide receiver N’Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils catches a five yard touchdown pass against cornerback Ron Smith #17 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

N’Keal Henry, like Arcega-Whiteside, is a member of the stacked Wide Receiver class that is NFL bound in 2019. The junior has declared for the NFL Draft and has elected not to play in Arizona State’s Bowl game.

He finished an impressive college career with 2,889 career receiving yards, 22 touchdown catches, and an average 13.6 yards per reception for the Sun Devils. 

Henry is 6’4 with speed of a player much smaller, making him a threat any time the ball is thrown his way. Henry is especially dangerous with the ball in his hands and produced many yards after the catch. He has also been able to take the ball out of the backfield and on reverse plays with success as he has added 144 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in his college career.

N’keal Harry will hear his name called early in April, and whichever team selects Harry is getting an oversized athlete with immense potential.

#2. Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon

It is no slam dunk that Justin Herbert heads for the NFL but, if he does, there’s little doubt he will be the first quarterback selected.

Herbert has had an outstanding career for the Ducks as he’s posted a career quarterback rating of 152.9. Herbert threw a career-high 28 touchdowns in 2018 to go along with a career-high 2,985 receiving yards. Herbert is also an extremely accurate passer as his career completion percentage is 62.7.

Herbert is a bit of an enigma, possessing the live arm and mentality of a gunslinger, with the mobility and athletic ability of a spread system quarterback. There are holes in his game, but Herbert has franchise quarterback potential.

If Herbert declares, expect him to be the first quarterback selected in 2019.

#1. Byron Murphy, Cornerback, Washington

SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 30: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies returns an interception for a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi’s Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 30: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies returns an interception for a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi’s Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

To rank ahead of the likely first quarterback selected in the NFL Draft you must have great talent. Washington’s lockdown cornerback Byron Murphy has just that. Murphy is only a sophomore and isn’t a lock to declare for the 2019 NFL draft, but if he does he will give LSU’s Greedy Williams a fight for being the first corner off the board.

Murphy was named first team Pac 12 and the pro football focus Pac 12 player of the year. Murphy spent the year locking down Wide Receivers with 13 passes defended and four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Murphy also proved to be a solid tackler in the open field, he made 56 total tackles with four of them going for a loss.

Murphy is listed at 5’11 but plays much larger than that. Byron Murphy is physical and disciplined in coverage, and his closing speed and feisty nature make up for any perceived lack of height. NFL teams will covet Murphy for his shutdown corner potential.

Home/NFL Draft News