ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. breaks down TCU’s chances of having a first-round pick
TCU football hasn’t had first-round selections in consecutive drafts since 1960-61.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t like the Horned Frogs’ chances of breaking that trend this year after L.J. Collier went in the first round in 2019.
Kiper has second-round grades on every TCU player who has been linked as a possible first-round talent — wide receiver Jalen Reagor, defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and cornerback Jeff Gladney.
But Kiper had positive things to say about all three, starting with Reagor.
“You saw him up at TCU, he became a guy who you looked at and viewed as a ‘fear factor’ player,” Kiper said during a conference call on Wednesday. “I like the compact frame. I love his speed and his athleticism. To me, he’s a second-round pick who is going to play and play a long time in this league and be highly productive.”
Kiper simply doesn’t see Reagor getting into the first round in a loaded wide receiver class. He feels Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Alabama’s Henry Ruggs have separated themselves as the top three receivers (in that order).
He then mentioned Clemson’s Tee Higgins, Baylor’s Denzel Mims and LSU’s Justin Jefferson as the next tier.
As far as TCU’s two defenders, Blacklock and Gladney, Kiper acknowledged other analysts feel more highly about their pro prospects.
His ESPN colleague, Todd McShay, has pegged Blacklock as a first-round talent.
“Blacklock has a chance to be first-rounder,” Kiper said. “I didn’t see the consistency in terms of sack production game in and game out. There were games where he was a little too quiet, a little too much hand fighting at the line of scrimmage. I didn’t see the ability to get in the backfield and wreak havoc on a consistent basis. Todd is higher on Blacklock than I am. He thinks he’s a first. I think he’s a second.”
Gladney, meanwhile, has been projected as a cornerback who could sneak into the first round. Again, though, Kiper sees him as a Day 2 player.
“I like Gladney, but people think he gets a little handsy at times,” Kiper said. “But his coverage skills, his feet, his awareness, it wouldn’t shock me if he went in the late first round. But I think more second for him.”
