NFL draft: 10 up, 10 down in January bowls, national title game

Two weeks ago, we brought you our list of 10 players who helped their stock and 10 more who hurt their stock through the early slate of bowl games. Now let's move on to the bowl games from January 1 on, along with the national championship game.

TEN UP

Michigan State OT Jack Conklin — Scout B noted that Conklin struggled around midseason with a knee injury but finished strong, declaring for the 2016 draft on a high. “The last two, those were his best games,” Scout C said. “He finished strong. He was out there mauling Iowa. They ran the ball, at one point, six straight plays and he owned his guy all of them. He held his own against Bama, too. I think he showcased himself as a left tackle. Looks like a [first-round pick] to me.”

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Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell — “I didn’t see a better receiver by the end of the year,” said Scout B, and we agree. Treadwell put a cherry on top of a brilliant college career — despite a terrible leg injury that ended his 2014 season — with a six-catch, 71-yard, three-TD performance in the Sugar Bowl win over Oklahoma State, along with a 45-yard pass off a trick play. We think he’s a top-10 cinch.

Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil — You’ll want to make sure you read all the way down to Scout B’s analysis of Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley when you hear what he had to say about Tunsil: “To me, he’s the best lineman in the country. That trick play they threw to him? A reward for how good he was. It’s too bad about the suspension [that cost Tunsil seven games this season while the NCAA ruled on his eligibility]. That hurt. I wish he was out there. But the kid went out there and finished strong. Only team that gave him any trouble was LSU, and they have some of the best young rushers in the country. I’d take him [top five], I would. He’s Tyron Smith all over.”

Clemson DE Kevin Dodd — Scout A saw Dodd up close more than once this season and said he’s a ready-made NFL strong-side end. “Put him in a ‘40’ front and let him set the edge. Big frame. Heavy hands. Big, strong kid. I like him,” Scout A said. “Pitched a tend in the backfield against Bama; they couldn’t block him.” Some might get hung up on Dodd’s age — he’ll turn 24 before training camp — but he’s a mature, productive and tenacious rusher.

Alabama TE O.J. Howard — “I was a little angry Nick [Saban] started using him. We thought he was our little secret,” Scout A said after Howard had breakout performances against Michigan State and Clemson, combining for eight catches, 267 yards and two touchdowns, most of it in the national title game. “But we knew all about him — his blocking, his length, his athleticism, work in the weight room. Guy can run, and they just didn’t use him right until the end.” Howard still has a decision to make on whether to come out, but Scout A thinks he’s a top-50 pick for sure if he does.

Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott — I asked how many questions Scout C had about Elliott after rushing 27 times for 149 yards and a season-high four touchdowns, plus adding a 30-yard catch. “None, really. He’s special,” Scout C said. “Vision, balance, size, speed, running though contact — little of everything. I have a higher grade on him than I did [Carlos] Hyde coming out, and I was high on him.”

Georgia LB Leonard Floyd — One more strong performance in the Taxslayer Bowl appears to eliminated doubt about where Floyd belongs: in the first round this spring. Scout C sees Floyd as a 3-4 rusher, and there are enough teams in Round 1 (or certainly in the first 40 picks, if he slips into the second round) that have a need there and run that defensive system. Floyd lived in the backfield against Penn State, although as Scout C noted, “That’s a bad group.”

Iowa C Austin Blythe — “I wasn’t too sure about him coming into the season, but he really has grown on me a bit,” Scout A said. Facing a good Stanford interior front, Blythe was one of the few standouts for a Hawkeyes team that otherwise would like to scrub the Rose Bowl from their collective memories. “He was out there playing hard in the fourth quarter. I like that. Football seems important to him,” Scout A said. Blythe is a mid-round prospect but could creep into the fourth-round range despite less-than-ideal measurables at 6-2, 290.

West Virginia LB Nick Kwiatkoski — The lesser-known inside linebacker for the Mountaineers had six tackles and played well in coverage in the 43-42 bowl win over Arizona State and has caught the eye of Scout B. “Late-rounder, not a big guy, but great instincts and toughness. He’ll play special teams in the league a decade. Might only be a fourth or fifth linebacker but teams are always looking for guys like that.”

Florida DE-DT Jonathan Bullard — Not a pass rusher, but he takes on opponents with power in the run game and could be a nice fit as a 5-technique in an odd front. “Reminds me a little of Allen Bailey,” Scout A said. “If he gets sacks they’re ‘effort’ sacks.”

TEN DOWN

Clemson S Jayron Kearse — Despite intriguing measurables at 6-4 and 220 pounds and good athleticism and range, Kearse isn’t universally loved. “I think he’s a three [third-round pick]. I saw him turn down a few chances to make plays in the run game. He also gets caught watching the paint dry a lot. Let me ask you this … how many safeties [that tall] can you name? That kid Dallas took years ago [2006 fifth-rounder Patrick Watkins] and that’s it. I’m not in love.”

Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard — “Still a fan, but [Clemson CB Mackensie] Alexander was in his pocket. They had to move him into the slot to get him away from him,” Scout A said. Shepard had a fantastic season, and he’ll have a chance to help himself — the way Duke’s Jamison Crowder did a year ago.

Michigan State WR Aaron Burbridge — “Can he separate? I don’t think he’ll run all that well, and he’s not big. He played well this year and can go up and get it, but he’s a [No. 3 receiver] in my book,” Scout B said. “He didn’t do enough in that [game vs. Alabama] to change my mind a lot, but I need a longer look.”

Michigan State QB Connor Cook — Scout B had more: “I have my concerns. I don’t love the accuracy. I see him spraying it high and low. He can get choppy [with his feet]. He has physical tools, but I wonder. I didn’t think he played very well in that game.”

Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley — “So this is the best lineman in the country?” joked Scout B. “Could have fooled me. He’s soft. He moves well, great feet. But I question the drive and strength. I’m not seeing him own guys. That bowl game he got undressed a few times. Not sold yet.”

Florida RB Kelvin Taylor — “Someone is going to have to talk me into this guy,” said Scout A. “He’s a one-trick guy. He has some wiggle, but I am not on board. Did you see him [in the bowl loss to Michigan] out there pass blocking? Nope. Not for me. Young and doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. I’ve got him as a 5 [fifth-round grade] right now.”

Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert — The FBS sack leader in early October, Schobert’s pass-rush production dropped down the stretch, and though he did not play a terrible game against USC, Scout C felt he’s just not easily translatable to the NFL. “Where do you play him?” he asked rhetorically. “They asked him to drop a little, but he was mostly going forward and I am not sure he wins against the tackles in our league. If he’s anything more than a [fourth-rounder] I’d be surprised.”

Oregon OT Tyler Johnstone — “A turnstile,” Scout B said. “Tall, lean kid, waist-bender. He’s not [2015 Cincinnati Bengals second-rounder] Jake Fisher, trust me. He’s a [sixth-rounder] all day.” Injuries have been a factor, too, and he likely will need a good performance at the East-West Shrine Game after coming into the season with big expectations but roundly disappointing.

Texas A&M C Mike Matthews — “Take the name off the jersey, and what do you have?” mused Scout A about the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews. “A try-hard backup. I don’t love him. He got beat in that bowl game with strength and quickness. I know some guys will say he’s Jeff Saturday, but I’m not there yet. Too small. Not a special player, except maybe mentally and that pedigree. The effort is there; the production is not.”

Auburn OT Avery Young — The younger brother of Chicago Bears pass rusher Willie Young and the cousin of Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis had a solid season overall after coming back to school. He’s 6-6 and 312 pounds and could be a good project with nice bloodlines, but Scout C isn’t enamored. “He’s better as a guard, honestly. I watched the bowl game [against Memphis] and didn’t change my mind. Pretty solid run blocker. You don’t want him pass blocking on the edge, though.”

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm