Texas Football: Early predictions for Longhorns in the 2021 NFL Draft
Projected Late Rounders
Jalen Green, Cornerback
One particular position to watch this coming season for the Longhorns is going to be cornerback. A make or break year for the corners that are projected to start in 2020 will have a big focus on rising juniors Jalen Green and D’shawn Jamison. Purely in terms of stat line, Jamison was the greater of those two Texas corners last season.
But Green does have more potential with a skill set that translates quickly in the NFL. The lengthy and athletic 6-foot-1 and 185 pound Green needs to prove himself as a cornerback that can hang in consistent one-on-one coverage against NFL-caliber receivers in the Big 12 (and with the LSU Tigers next year).
From his two year playing career on the Forty Acres thus far, Green registered 33 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and five pass deflections.
Projected Draft Spot: Rounds 5-7
Ta’Quon Graham, Defensive End
The two solidified spots along the defensive line for the Longhorns next season are at one defensive end position and defensive tackle. Keondre Coburn will be anchoring the defensive line, while rising senior Ta’Quon Graham will be looking for his official breakout season in his final year on the Forty Acres.
The 6-foot-3 and 300 pound former four-star recruit Graham has a lot of raw potential and should draw a lot of attention from NFL scouts next year. His quickness and consistent motor off the line of scrimmage just needs to be backed up by one solid year of production. He’s registered 47 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble in his career thus far.