With only a few hours remaining before the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia, I thought it would be fun to look at one of the one thousand Mock Drafts floating around the internet to see where the the potential first rounders played their high school football.
Maurice Jones-Drew Mock 2017 NFL Draft
For the purposes of this story, I decided to use the Mock Draft of former De La Salle (Concord, California) Maurice Jones-Drew, who was a second round draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jones-Drew, who is now an analyst for the NFL Network, was part of De La Salle’s historic 151-game win streak. As a junior, Jones-Drew (actually he was only Maurice Drew at the time) shined in the national spotlight when he scored four touchdowns in the Spartans’ 29-15 win over Long Beach Poly (California), in a game that marked the first-time that the No. 1 and No. 2 high school teams in the nation faced each other.
So without further ado, here’s Jones-Drew’s 1st round for the 2017 NFL Draft, barring trades:
2017 NFL Mock Draft via Maurice Jones-Drew
Draft Position – Team – Player – Position – College – High School
#1 Cleveland – Myles Garrett, DE – Texas A&M – Arlington Martin (Texas)
#2 San Francisco – Marshon Lattimore, CB – Ohio State – Glenville (Ohio)
#3 Chicago – Jamal Adams, S – LSU – Hebron (Texas)
#4 Jacksonville – O.J. Howard, TE – Alabama – Autauga Academy (Alabama)
#5 Tennessee – Malik Hooker, S – Ohio State – New Castle (Pennsylvania)
#6 NY Jets – Mitchell Trubisky, QB – North Carolina – Mentor (Ohio)
#7 LA Chargers – Solomon Thomas, DE – Stanford – Coppell (Texas)
#8 Carolina – Leonard Fournette, RB – LSU – St. Augustine (Louisiana)
#9 Cincinnati – Reuben Foster, LB – Alabama – Auburn HS (Alabama)
#10 Buffalo – Mike Williams, WR – Clemson – Lake Marion (South Carolina)
#11 New Orleans – Derek Barnett, DE – Tennessee – Brentwood Academy (Tennessee)
#12 Cleveland – Jonathan Allen, DE – Alabama – Stone Bridge (Virginia)
#13 Arizona – Tre’Davious White, CB – LSU – Green Oaks (Louisiana)
#14 Philadelphia – Christian McCaffrey, RB – Stanford – Valor Christian (Colorado)
#15 Indianapolis – Takkarist McKinley, DE – UCLA – John F. Kennedy (Richmond, California)
#16 Baltimore – Charles Harris, OLB – Missouri – Lincoln College Prep Academy (Missouri)
#17 Washington – Dalvin Cook, RB – Florida State – Miami Central (Florida)
#18 Tennessee – Corey Davis, WR – Western Michigan – Wheaton Warrenville South (Illinois)
#19 Tampa Bay – Jabrill Peppers, S – Michigan – Paramus Catholic (New Jersey)
#20 Denver – Ryan Ramczyk, OT – Wisconsin – Stevens Point (Wisconsin)
#21 Detroit – Jarrad Davis, LB – Florida – Camden County (Georgia)
#22 Miami – Forrest Lamp, OG – Western Kentucky – Venice (Florida)
#23 NY Giants – Cam Robinson, OT – Alabama – West Monroe (Louisiana)
#24 Oakland – Haason Reddick, LB – Temple – Haddon Heights (New Jersey)
#25 Houston – Patrick Mahomes, QB – Texas Tech – Whitehouse (Texas)
#26 Seattle – Garrett Bolles, OT – Utah – Westlake (Utah)
#27 Kansas City – Gareon Conley, CB – Ohio State – Massillon (Ohio)
#28 Dallas – Kevin King, CB – Washington – Bishop O’Dowd (California)
#29 Green Bay – T.J. Watt, OLB – Wisconsin – Pewaukee (Wisconsin)
#30 Pittsburgh – Marlon Humphrey, CB – Alabama – Hoover (Alabama)
#31 Atlanta – Taco Charlton, DE – Michigan – Pickerington Central (Ohio)
#32 New Orleans – Adoree’ Jackson, CB – USC – Serra (Gardena, California)
Texas and Ohio lead the way
So, if Jones-Drew’s crystal ball is correct, the first round will end with traditional high school football power states Texas and Ohio leading the way with four first rounders. Falling-in behind the Buckeye and Lone Star states are Alabama, California and Louisiana with three players each, followed by Florida, New Jersey and Wisconsin with two first rounders each. Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia having one each on Jones-Drew’s board.
In all, in Jones-Drew’s mock draft, 17 states are represented.
Once again this year, High School Football America will provide round-by-round coverage of where every draft pick played their high school football.
Good luck to all of the players that will be having their childhood dreams of being an NFL player coming true this weekend.
