NEPD Special Contributor: Matthew Elder
With the loss of Stony Brook to the CAA the Big South lost a lot of its next level talent but the teams that remained should still give fans plenty to be excited about. The Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina are sure to be stop for almost every NFL team this year.
Top Offensive Prospect: WR Matt Hazel – Coastal Carolina
Hazel is the best prospect in this conference. He offers solid size, strong hands, and good routes. Hazel will have to take his game to the next level this year with a new QB leading the Coastal Carolina offense every defense focusing on him. He’ll also need to prove to NFL scouts that he has the speed and acceleration to separate at the next level.
Top Defensive Prospect: OLB Mike McClure – Coastal Carolina
With the reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year, Quinn Backus (Junior-2015) playing next to McClure its easy to overlook him. The 6’0, 215 lbs wrecking ball plays defense like a man on a mission. He loves to hit and runs very well in the open field.
Big South Watchlist:
RB Aldreakis Allen-Liberty
RB Teddy Allen-Charleston Southern
WR Niccolo Mastromatteo-Coastal Carolina
TE Mario Thompson-VMI
TE Hudson Smith-Gardner-Webb
DE Maurice Dickson-Gardner-Webb
DE Justin Smith-VMI
DE Preston Pemasa-Gardner-Webb
ILB Weston Reber-VMI
CB Mike Smith-VMI
CB LaDarius Hawthorne-Coastal Carolina
SAF Adam Morgan-VMI
SAF Elijah Lee-Charleston Southern
Tags: 2014 NFL Draft, Small-School
