Oregon running back Kenjon Barner improved his draft stock Saturday with 201 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Fresno State.(US Presswire) |
The Pac-12 put on a show in Week 2, going 9-3, including a perfect 3-0 record against the Big Ten. Big time wins usually mean big time performances. With that in mind, here are three players who helped their NFL Draft stock:
3 on the rise
- RB Johnathan Franklin, UCLA: Franklin's draft stock isn't just rising, it's skyrocketing. For the second week in a row, the UCLA senior topped 200 yards, going for 217 in the Bruins' 36-30 upset of Nebraska. Franklin's two game total of 431 rushing yards not only leads the country, it leads the country by a wide margin; second place Branden Oliver of Buffalo sits 82 yards back at 349. Going into 2012, Franklin was a projected seventh round pick, however, he's moved himself into the fourth and fifth round-range according to CBSSports.com's latest draft board. You can see him next: Saturday, vs. Houston, 10:30 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network).
- QB Matt Scott, Arizona: If Scott makes it big in the NFL, he'll want to write a nice thank you note to Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez. Scott has thrived running Rodriguez's spread offense. The senior quarterback ranks fifth in the nation in passing yards per game (353.5). In Arizona's 59-38 shootout win over Oklahoma State on Saturday, Scott threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for another touchdown. You can see him next: Saturday, vs. South Carolina State, 10:30 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network).
- RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon: After spending the last three seasons playing in the shadow of LaMichael James, Barner made a name for himself Saturday with 201 yards and three touchdowns in the Ducks' 42-25 win over Fresno State. The versatile back does more than run the ball though, he also caught three passes for 21 yards. Barner is currently projected as a late-round pick, but he can improve that projection if he continues to play like he did against the Bulldogs. You can see him next: Saturday, vs. Tennessee Tech, 3 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network).
3 who are falling
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- RB Cameron Marshall, Arizona State: Marshall's stock isn't necessarily falling because he's playing badly; he's just not getting much of a chance to play. The senior running back is currently projected to go in the seventh round of the draft and that number won't improve if Marshall is only rushing for 52 yards per game, as he did in the Sun Devils' 45-14 win over Illinois Saturday. Marshall has 21 carries for 66 yards on the season. More troubling, he has two fumbles, including one in the red zone last week. You can see him next: Saturday, at Missouri, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
- C Drew Schaefer, Washington: If Schaefer wants to improve his NFL Draft stock, he'll need to play better than he did against LSU on Saturday -- and that's not just Schaefer, that's the Washington offensive line as a whole. The Washington offense was stymied against the No. 3 Tigers. Quarterback Keith Price was sacked four times and the running game was only able to muster 26 yards. Schaefer and the Huskies will have a good chance to rebound this week. You can see him next: Saturday, vs. Portland State, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN).
- WR Marquess Wilson, Washington State: Wilson, a CBSSports.com preseason All-American, had a relatively quiet game against FCS Eastern Washington. The senior receiver only caught four passes in the Cougars' 24-20 win. Coach Mike Leach's offense emphasizes spreading the ball around to more receivers, which can be frustrating for a talent like Wilson, who's body language has suggested he'd like to get more touches. You can see him next: Friday, at UNLV, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN).
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