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Football analyst- Mel Kiper has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on "SportsCenter," ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast, and he writes regularly for ESPN+.
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senior NFL draft analyst- Todd McShay is a senior NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting reports on the nation's top pro prospects. He also serves as a college football field analyst on Saturdays in the fall. Todd joined ESPN in 2006 and contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live, College Football Live and ESPN Radio. He is a Massachusetts native and was a backup quarterback at the University of Richmond. You can follow Todd on Twitter via @McShay13.
ESPN NFL draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay answer three questions at the midway point of the college football season, taking a closer look at prospects who have come out of nowhere and guys who need to improve quickly.
They also pick out 2019 prospects rising up draft boards and give their picks for under-the-radar prospects to keep an eye on, the College Football Playoff and CFP MVP.
Answering questions at midseason
Which prospect has risen the most on your board so far?
Kiper: Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama. He was on my radar after starting Bama's final two games last season, but he has risen all the way to No. 13 on my updated Big Board after a fantastic start to 2018. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound Thompson is a natural playmaker (two interceptions, five pass breakups this season) with great range, and he can tackle, an underrated but necessary skill for defenders entering the league.
Now, Thompson is only a third-year sophomore with just a handful of starts for the Crimson Tide, so he could still come back to school in 2019. But he might already be the best free safety in this class -- if he enters the draft. Alabama has breezed through its schedule so far, but it travels to Baton Rouge in three weeks, and I can't wait to see how Thompson and a loaded defense fares against LSU.