2015 NFL Rookie 'Strugglers' and Who's Next to Prove NFL Worth
The regular college football season is wrapping up and the Heisman winner will be announced Saturday. Nonetheless, it is that time of year where the transition from college to NFL conversation starts to come about. Despite the statistics recorded in college, it is never an easy jump to the next level. But, certain former college stars have had much tougher time making the transition than others. Here's a look at my top NFL Rookie 'Strugglers', the moment it went wrong, and which college teammate will prove their school still has NFL worth.
1. Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers
The Chargers traded to move up two positions to select the Wisconsin product at 15th overall in the 2015 Draft. Gordon was supposed to come and make an immediate impact for San Diego but has failed to do so. His game high rushing stats is at a mere 88 yards with 14 carries – and that was in week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Other than that, the running back hasn’t made much of an impact. However, his struggles have a lot to do with the fact that he is playing with elite quarterback, Philip Rivers, who has 3,713 passing yards this season not allowing much room for Gordon to get involved.
When we saw it go wrong: Melvin Gordon experienced his first time being benched after two fumbles against the Green Bay Packers. He was benched again later in the season for fumbling against the Denver Broncos. He has fumbled six times this year with four of them causing turnovers. He left college carrying the ball 631 times for 4,915 yards and 45 rushing touchdowns with only 1 career fumble! In simple terms… The struggle is real.
College teammate that will show school’s NFL worth: Do not give up hope Badger fans! While Gordon is having trouble holding on to the ball, Joe Schobert is forcing the ball out of opposing offenses' hands. The senior outside linebacker has gone from walk-on to absolute star. His 9.5 sacks, 78 tackles, and 5 forced fumbles helped him earn Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. While RB and former back up to Gordon, Corey Clement, has struggled to stay on the field due to off-field incidents, let's look forward to seeing Schobert reach his full potential in the NFL.
2. Trae Waynes, CB, Minnesota Vikings
Taken 11th overall out of Michigan State, Waynes made his first NFL start last week against the Arizona Cardinals and struggled. He got confused in coverage which led to a 42 yard touchdown for Arizona. At the combine, he shined as the seventh-fastest cornerback and has come into the NFL speedy and raw, but mental mistakes have kept him off the field. The Vikings are sitting at 8-5 and are likely playoff bound. Hopefully, the cornerback will get more shots this season to end on a positive note.
When we saw it go wrong: Waynes didn’t exactly have the warmest welcoming into the NFL. In the preseason he was beaten for eight receptions for 131 yards, and flagged three times. We thought this was too early in the season to see things go so wrong for the college star, but was this a premonition of things to come?
College Teammate that will show school’s NFL worth: Waynes may be struggling to keep touchdowns from happening but his former teammate and Michigan State quarterback, Connor Cook, has been throwing touchdowns like it’s nobody’s business. Cook has thrown 24 touchdowns for 2,921 yards and has led his team to major victories over both Michigan and Iowa to claim a spot in the CFB Playoffs.
3. Cameron Erving, G, Cleveland Browns
The Browns selected the Florida State offensive lineman 19th overall in the NFL Draft. Eventually transitioning him to guard, he has struggled this season to showcase his talent. He has added to an already tough season for the Browns, struggling with playing too high and lacking strength in pass protection. This past week, Cleveland demoted the guard behind Austin Pasztor after a poor performance in the 17-3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
When we saw it go wrong: In his first start career start against the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans hoped that the mistakes Erving made earlier in the season were due to the newness of the NFL. Well, that might be true, but that dream is dwindling. Erving made his case for the worst block in NFL history after allowing RB, Isaiah Crowell, to be tackled in 0.2 seconds.
College Teammate that will show school’s NFL worth: The Seminoles might be upset that Florida State isn’t back in the playoffs this year, but they have had some serious excitement surrounding defensive back, Jalen Ramsey. The junior hasn’t officially declared for the draft just yet, but last week captured All-America first team honors. As a top tier athlete, Ramsey won the ACC indoor and outdoor Track and Field championships. His athletic ability showed in coverage, as a rusher, and in run support. He is projected to be a top 10 pick and is expected to produce right away.
Sidenote: The Seminoles' running back, Dalvin Cook, also deserves praise, but as a sophomore won't be eligible to follow NFL footsteps until 2017.
The ‘Struggler’ we actually saw coming: Randy Gregory, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Taken No. 60 overall out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Gregory has shown flashes of athleticism and star-like ability, but has failed to be consistent. Though he has earned praise for his talent and development so far, it is not easy to overlook the off-field issues exhibited during his college years. Gregory has had issues with drug use, injuries, academic eligibility, and immaturity. He was seen as one of the biggest gambles of the draft but luckily Jerry Jones likes to bet on long shots.
Change is never easy and after breaking headlines in college it can be an overwhelming amount of pressure to perform. Which current college stars from this season do you think will continue their stardom or even struggle at the NFL level?