With The First Pick
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2021 NFL Draft: Key prospects to watch in South Alabama vs. Southern Miss

By Cory Kinnan

LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 03: General view of a Southern Miss Golden Eagles helmet seen during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. Southern Mississippi defeated Kentucky 44-35. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 03: General view of a Southern Miss Golden Eagles helmet seen during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. Southern Mississippi defeated Kentucky 44-35. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Riley Cole, LB, South Alabama

Perhaps the biggest name of the players taking the field tonight is South Alabama linebacker Riley Cole. Named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250 watchlist, Cole has been spotted by director Jim Nagy for the all-star affair in front of NFL general manager and scouts alike.

Anchoring the second level of the Jaguars’ defense, Cole is coming off of a Redshirt Junior campaign where he racked up 37 solo tackles, nine of which came behind the line of scrimmage, and three sacks. He also forced one fumble for the Jaguars in 2019 as well. With the 2021 NFL Draft looming, Cole will look to build upon those numbers, but the question remains: what is his natural position on the field?

South Alabama moves him around from linebacker to edge rusher, making him a candidate to play as a SAM backer in the NFL, similar to that of Kyle Van Noy of the Miami Dolphins. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Cole has the length to come off the edge, but is a bit slim to do so on an every-down basis.

He will be a fun one to follow this season as the Jaguars look to start their year off on the right foot. If Cole keeps it up, he will have homefield advantage in Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl this upcoming January.

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