A couple of guys at the safety position fit the same scope as the aforementioned offensive linemen. Trey Rucker needs to show consistency, particularly in coverage, and Kobe Hylton is entering his first season at the Power Four level, so a productive year could be valuable.
Had he chosen not to return for his final season at OSU, Black would’ve been the Cowboys’ top draft prospect this weekend, though likely still a final-day pick. But with another year to hone his skills — he has shown notable improvement each of the last two years — the 6-foot, 185-pound Black could get himself into the top half of the draft a year from now.
Black was among the best cornerbacks in the Big 12 last year, and some of the other top ones are gone now, so he could show himself as one of the best in the league while also upping his draft profile with his ability to take away one side of the field.
On the defensive line, Collin Clay has shown versatility, and he’s up to 330 pounds, so he, too, could make a jump with a strong season. And other defensive linemen are in the same situation.
For the sake of comparison, Jacob Cowing of Arizona was drafted in the fourth round and Anthony Gould of Oregon State was drafted in the fifth round Saturday. Cowing measured 5-foot-8, 186 pounds and ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Gould ran a 4.39-second 40.
So regardless of how great a statistical year Presley has this fall, his draft stock will be heavily weighted by his 40 time in front of NFL scouts next March.
