2024 NFL Draft: Frank Gore Jr. and the top prospects from non-Power 5 teams -

As an early primer for the 2024 NFL Draft, The Athletic will be taking a look at the prospects you need to know from each of the Power 5 conferences plus a few more names from the Group of 5. Previously: The ACC (plus Notre Dame), the Big Ten, the Big 12, the Pac-12 and the SEC.

Projecting the top NFL draft prospects among the non-Power 5 schools is more difficult now than it ever has been. Many of the players with next-level potential wind up hitting the transfer portal and competing in the Big Ten, SEC or another major conference.

Most likely gone are the days of Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher going first overall or Ben Roethlisberger completing his career at Miami (Ohio). NFL teams selected just one non-Power 5 player in the top 50 of the 2023 NFL Draft (North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch), compared to six in 2022.

But that doesn’t mean teams won’t find value among college football’s less-hyped programs, either at the Group of 5 level or in the Football Championship Subdivision. Let’s take a look at the 2024 NFL Draft’s top prospects outside of the Power 5.

No college football running back finished on a higher note than Gore last year, and it sets up some heightened expectations for the redshirt junior. In the regular-season finale against Louisiana-Monroe, Gore rushed for 199 yards to lead the Golden Eagles to bowl eligibility. Then in the LendingTree Bowl, he set an FBS bowl record with 329 rushing yards (17.5 yards per carry) — a number that also eclipsed the school record.

Gore (5-foot-8, 195 pounds) rushed for 1,382 yards last season with nine touchdowns and a 6.1 yards-per-carry average. A first-team All-Sun Belt honoree, Gore also caught 20 passes for 221 yards and threw three touchdown passes (the former high school QB has seven touchdown passes for his career).

Now a junior, Gore displays good feel, balance, elusiveness and speed. Since arriving at Southern Miss, Gore has gained 30 pounds but still has room to bulk up.

“Like father? Nah, it’s like son!”

Frank Gore Jr. made his namesake proud with this score 💥 pic.twitter.com/fGFGruCp08

— ESPN (@espn) November 21, 2020

Franklin (6-1, 185) has great hands and adjusts to the ball no matter where it ends up — and it often was thrown all over the place last season. Many of his receptions were contested, made on throws behind him or well beyond a decent catch radius. Yet Franklin, a two-time first-team All-Conference USA receiver, came down with them. He entered the transfer portal this spring but has not yet selected a landing spot.

UTSA targeted Franklin on 131 throws last season, second in Conference USA and sixth in the FBS. According to Pro Football Focus, Franklin had seven drops, and his 5.3 percent drop rate ranked 32nd among the 54 FBS players with at least 100 targets. Franklin still finished with 94 catches for 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns. Over his career, Franklin has 262 catches for 3,348 yards and 37 touchdowns.

He has lapses in concentration, which a good assistant will coach out of him in the NFL. However, on 28 targets of 15-plus yards, Franklin had no drops and eight touchdowns.

ʀᴇᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋ

Zakhari Franklin hauls in his 13th TD of the season, breaking his own school record of 12 that he set last season.#210TriangleOfToughness #LetsGo210 | #BirdsUp 🤙 pic.twitter.com/Wn43fpPlGj

— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) December 3, 2022

It’s a bit of a surprise that Haynes remains on a Group of 5 roster. With his build and frame, Haynes (6-3, 310) could start and excel at guard for many, if not all, Power 5 programs.

Last year, PFF graded Haynes as the top pass-blocking guard in the FBS (91.0). He didn’t allow a sack and gave up only three quarterback pressures in 348 pass-block snaps (0.86 percent). As a run-blocking guard, Haynes ranked No. 5 in the FBS (84.6). He chalked up a 90.6 grade on zone runs (best in the FBS and 59.5 percent of his run-block snaps) and a 67.1 in gap schemes (31.4 percent of his run-block snaps).

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Haynes, who’s entering his sixth season at UConn, can execute interior reach blocks with effectiveness. He’s a physical pass protector with a good anchor and punch. He was named a preseason second-team Walter Camp All-American and an Associated Press second-team All-American last season. Hayes has top-50 potential in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Mitchell, a junior, was a terror for MAC offenses last year with five interceptions plus 20 pass breakups and 41 tackles. He recorded the game of his life against Northern Illinois: four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. His 25 passes defended overall led the nation.

Mitchell (6-0, 200) was PFF’s highest-graded MAC cornerback in coverage last season (92.4) and No. 2 among FBS cornerbacks behind only Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon (the No. 5 pick in last month’s draft). Mitchell allowed 27 receptions on 70 targets in 2022 (38.6 percent).

On film, Mitchell displays good ball skills and anticipation, which could keep him at corner. It’s also possible, given his thick frame, that he could shift to safety or nickel. Either way, he’s a pro in 2024 or 2025.

“Catch it like a cornerback, that’s an interception (x2)” – B.o.B & @quinbangout14 @ToledoFB | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/mZhIljujrL

— #MACtion (@MACSports) October 8, 2022

The numbers scream “dual-threat quarterback,” but Pratt’s arm strength and ball placement are too good to label him as anything short of a legitimate pro prospect. There is so much to like about Pratt (6-3, 220), from his accuracy down the field and the way the ball jumps off his hand to his pocket awareness and elusiveness.

Last year, he completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,010 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 478 yards and 10 scores. Most impressive, though, was how he fought through adversity and persevered in Tulane’s biggest games. After an interception early in the fourth quarter at eventual Big 12 champion Kansas State, Pratt picked up all but one yard on the game-winning touchdown drive. Then against USC and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams in the Cotton Bowl, Pratt twice converted on fourth down and eventually threw the game-winning TD pass with nine seconds left.

Pratt has 30 career starts over three seasons (and still could return again in 2024). There are many quarterbacks to whom Pratt compares favorably, but in style and ability, Tony Romo immediately comes to mind.

Pratt is under-the-radar now — and probably will remain that way throughout the pre-draft process, should he participate — but he has a legitimate chance to make it in the league.

A beauty from Michael Pratt to Duece Watts for the Green Wave to regain the lead🤩#AmericanFB x @GreenWaveFB pic.twitter.com/CYSNL2oLv7

— American Football (@American_FB) November 25, 2022

Like a bingo wand collecting chips, Henderson compiled a college football-leading 186 tackles in 2022, just eight shy of the FBS single-season record. Henderson (6-1, 225) averaged 15.5 tackles per game and also had 10 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a blocked punt. All that, despite Henderson leaving one game in the first quarter and Old Dominion not playing in a bowl.

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Henderson was efficient, grading as PFF’s top tackler among C-USA linebackers last season (81.6). He missed just 8.4 percent of his tackle attempts, second fewest among any FBS player in a 100-tackle season over the past four seasons (Wyoming’s Chad Muma, a third-round pick in 2022, missed 8.1 percent during his final college season).

A junior this fall, Henderson is physical, instinctive and quick to the ball. Perhaps his size limits him to the middle rounds, but Henderson will provide production, toughness and accountability to an NFL team.

Garret Greenfield (and friends), OL, South Dakota State

A two-time first-team FCS All-American, Greenfield (6-6, 305) started 14 games at right tackle in 2021, then switched to left tackle last fall for the FCS national champions. He’s lean with good footwork and has the potential to bulk up and flip inside. Greenfield, a senior, is a solid mid-round possibility.

There are two other senior Jackrabbits with solid cases as potential draft prospects. Guard Mason McCormick (6-4, 305) has made 41 consecutive starts and was a first-team FCS All-American last year. Like Haynes, McCormick could start for most Power 5 programs, and he is one of the most physical guards in the country — an absolute mauler. His teammate, defensive tackle Caleb Sanders (6-1, 270), was a terror last season with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Sanders is a quick penetrator and a good finisher, and he’s worth a strong look as a three-technique.

GO DEEPER

NFL Draft 2023 prospect tracker: Profiles, news and analysis of the top players by position

For two consecutive years, McCall has been considered a likely transfer portal candidate. Each time, McCall returned to Coastal Carolina.

The 6-3, 200-pound QB has posted impressive statistics, no matter the level of football: a combined 8,061 yards, 77 touchdowns and just five interceptions over the last three seasons, with a 70.4 percent completion rate.

The Chanticleers have a new coach this year (Tim Beck), and it will be interesting to see how the change impacts McCall. The zone read was effective statistically for McCall, but it didn’t showcase his arm strength or great passing fundamentals. Many of his receivers were so open they were hard to miss.

At this point, McCall is probably a borderline draft pick, but he’s also someone who could stay in the league for a while. It all depends on how he throws against NFL-caliber defenses at any postseason all-star games and training camp.

Run it back 🔟 @McCall_Grayson #FAM1LY | #TEALNATION | #BALLATTHEBEACH pic.twitter.com/97ICkxgoYQ

— Coastal Football (@CoastalFootball) January 12, 2023

Last year, Kamara recorded 8.5 sacks with 16 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. PFF credited him with 38 quarterback hurries. In 2021, Kamara had 7.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Among Mountain West edge rushers, Kamara had the fourth-highest grade (81.6) as a pass rusher. He also was third in the league with 53 total pressures and fifth with a 21.0 percent pass-rush win rate. Kamara had multiple pressures in 11 of 12 games last season.

Kamara (6-1, 250) has some advantages with his height, especially rushing off the edge. He has good bend and can get under long-armed tackles. He’s explosive and can convert power to speed very quickly, and he’s also a good finisher.

David Walker, DL, Central Arkansas

Walker (6-3, 265) put up incredible numbers in his first year at Central Arkansas: He led the FCS with 22 tackles for loss and was second nationally with 12 sacks. Walker also was one of three finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the nation’s top FCS defender, and was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. He had 3.5 sacks in a game against Stephen F. Austin.

The previous two seasons, Walker played for Division II Southern Arkansas. In 2021, he had 15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and nine quarterback hurries to earn second-team All-Great American Conference honors.

Those numbers and awards should warrant Walker, a redshirt junior this fall, an NFL shot despite his tweener build. He’s mainly played as an edge rusher with the Sugar Bears so far, but Walker has the ability to bulk up and become an interior rusher. He has plenty of natural ability but requires some strong coaching and fundamental work — especially with his hand usage — to reach his full potential.

David Walker is that DUDE‼️

the @UCA_Football DE comes around the edge to clobber JSU's Zion Webb👏💪#ASUNFootball | #BearClawsUp🐻 | @dwalkeerr33 pic.twitter.com/SLlkl9X7Dn

— ASUN Football🏈 (@ASUN_Football) November 19, 2022

Other prospects to watch (listed alphabetically): Jesus Gibbs, Edge, Towson; Woo Governor, CB, Northern Iowa; Tyler Grubbs, LB, Louisiana Tech; Grant Gunnell, QB, North Texas; Zach Heins, TE, South Dakota State; Tyrone Howell, WR, Louisiana-Monroe; Foday Jalloh, Edge, Eastern Illinois; Isaiah Major, LB, Florida A&M; Jay Person, Edge, Chattanooga; Jeremiah Walker, CB, Stephen F. Austin

(Photo of Frank Gore Jr.: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)

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