Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

NFL Draft: PAC-12 Sleeper Prospects

PAC-12 Sleeper Prospects Including Xavier Weaver, Bucky Irving, and more!

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By: JC Nevils

We are fully into the offseason folks, and with that comes lists from
everywhere including scouting reports, draft positions, and
predictions with the NFL draft looming near. Everybody knows the
who’s who consisting of Michael Penix and Bo Nix along with
others, but who are the sleepers in the PAC-12?

1. RB Bucky Irving, Oregon

Not only does he have one of the best nicknames in the draft,
but his game is also top notch as well. People know of him, especially
the folks in the PAC-12, but I don’t think he gets near enough credit
for what he brings to the table. While not being the biggest, he
brings a certain toughness along with heart that you can’t measure.
His exceptional vision, acceleration, and quickness just adds
on to that.

Not only that, he creates problems in the passing game as well as
any receiver. He finished this past season with 1,180 yards and 11
scores on a whopping 6.3 yards per carry while also adding 56
catches, 413 yards, and two more scores in the receiving
department. In my eyes he doesn’t get past round three.

2. WR Anthony Gould, Oregon State

Anthony Gould just might be the fastest prospect in the
entire draft, and I don’t think many of his peers would dispute, if
any at all. His size helps that case with him only being 5 ft 8 inches
tall, but he has real game to back it up. A lot of track stars can run in
a straight line and be fast, but they can’t really play. That’s not the
case here.

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Not only is he a deep threat on offense, but his best work may be in
the return game. He is a blur returning punts which earned him First
team All-American honors back in 2022. For the season he finished
with 44 receptions for 718 yards and two scores. He may not be an
early pick, but teams with a specific need should certainly keep their
eyes on Gould.

3. RB Dillon Johnson, Washington

Hailing from good ole Mississippi, Dillon Johnson is
another tough runner. The thing with him is not only does he run
tough, he loves to take on and actually deliver the blow. You just
don’t see a lot of that nowadays with all of the rule changing along
with more of an emphasis on passing. That alone makes him stand
out.

He also brings some wiggle along with good speed, which in turn
helps him in the passing game. He also runs great routes out of the
backfield to gain easy yards. He would go on to finish the season
with 1,195 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding another 24
receptions through the air. Keep an eye out.

4. WR Xavier Weaver, Colorado

If you want a technician that’s always open with
outstanding hands, then Xavier Weaver is certainly your guy. Coming
into last season Travis Hunter was supposed to be the main guy,
which he was at times when healthy, but the transfer from USF(University of South Florida) instead led the team. Every time Shedeur Sanders dropped back to
throw the ball it always seemed to go to Weaver the majority of the
time, which turned into one of the best one-two punches in the
country.

He is silky smooth with his route running which allows him to pluck
passes right out of the air and then use his athleticism to make
people look silly. On the year he finished with 68 receptions for 908
yards and four touchdowns while adding two more on the ground.
He will be a major steal for whoever picks him up.

5. S Cole Bishop, Utah

Cole Bishop, or as I call him “Mr. Versatile”, is one heck of
a player. It’s a shame that only most out west knows who he is, but
I’m sure that is about to change quickly. Bishop starred at Safety for
the Utes, but he can play anywhere in the secondary. Whether that
be safety, nickel back, or even a makeshift linebacker at times at the
line of scrimmage. He just seems to always be around the ball
making a play somehow someway.

He reads and reacts to plays very well which allows him to be in
position in coverage, but his best attribute may be his tackling. He
will come up and lay the wood with anyone, but fundamentally as
well as he makes sure to wrap up along with causing fumbles with
the right positioning. He ended up earning PAC-12 All-Conference
Second Team honors finishing with 60 tackles, three sacks, and two
interceptions. If you want a pure ball player, look no further.

Jan 31, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; National defensive back Cole Bishop of Utah (8) sets the play during practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
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