WKU Football: 2021 NFL Draft Preview & #ProTops Offseason Update
With less than one week away until the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off in Cleveland, All 32 NFL teams are wrapping up their final draft plans. Could at least four of the teams potentially welcome the future of WKU Football alumni in the upcoming weeks ahead? Let’s break bread together and dive in.
First, the most touted prospect from the Tops previous season is Jordan Meredith. The offensive tackle and Bowling Green High native have created a very productive career on The Hill. In his career spanning from 2016–2020, with redshirting his freshman year, Meredith hasn’t missed a beat in terms of total production. In 2020, he was the leader of the 2nd ranked pass-blocking unit in the nation while playing a total of 764 snaps. From 2018–2020, Meredith started every game. He was also named to the PFF’s All American Second team recognizing him as one of the top blockers in the nation. On his five-year career on The Hill, Meredith recorded starts in 49 total games, including a rare rushing touchdown in 2020. Recently, Meredith was interviewed by NFL Draft Blast on his college football experience and his plans:
Focusing now on the defensive side of the ball, another name that keeps drawing NFL interest is safety Devon Key. The Lexington Bryan Station native has recently concluded one of the best careers for a defensive back to wear a Hilltopper uniform. As his career spanned from 2016–2020, in which he was a redshirt his freshman year. In the seasons of 2017, 2019,& 2020, Key managed to average over 90 total tackles on the pass defense scheme for the Hilltoppers. He concluded his career with 350 all-purpose tackles, six interceptions, and a fumble recovery. He was also named to the Wuerfful Trophy list in 2020 before the season began. On his pro day, Key recorded a 4.53 mark in his 40 Yard Dash time and was graded as a priority free agent prospect.
After making a name for himself during the four years of former defensive coordinator Clayton White’s system, Dionte Ruffin has declared for his shot at making an NFL roster. Originally from Kenner, Louisiana, The Paulding County, Georgia representative started his career on The Hill after committing to former head coach Mike Sanford in 2017. In that same year, he played 11 games as a true freshman. As a sophomore in 2018, his talent began to flourish as he started all 12 games, including being named the Pro Football Focus Player of the Week after a game against Charlotte. In 2019, he played all 13 games in his best season to date, recording 9 pass breakups. In his final season in 2020, he was one of the leaders for the top pass defenses in the nation. He also had his first career interception off of BYU’s highly accoladed quarterback Zach Wilson. He finishes his career with 78 total tackles.
Nickelback corner Tre Meadows has also declared for the draft. He s a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, and was an original commit to NC State. After arriving on The Hill from Garden City Community College in 2019, he played a total of 25 total career games through 2020. Last season, he recorded 28 tackles including a quarterback sack & a blocked field goal. Despite being a redshirt senior, Meadows had the option of returning to WKU in 2021 due to the extra season of eligibility for student-athletes granted by the NCAA. He was also named as an honorable mention team member for the Conference USA in 2020.
Elsewhere in #ProTops nation:
On April 7th, Prince Charles Iworah has signed to play for the Montreal Alouettes in the 2021 season.
This move is a huge step in the career of the Nashville native & famed Hilltopper alumni from 2012–2015. He has experience in the NFL with the Washington Football Team, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons. He was also part of the “Team 9” practice squad in 2020 for the XFL.
The Canadian Football League is set to open league play in August after canceling the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 sanctions in Canada. This is a golden opportunity to catch Prince Charles and DeAndre Farris of the Ottawa REDBLACKS once August rolls in.
Returning to the States, Forrest Lamp ended the 2020 season with an expiring contract after four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. 2020 was also his best season yet as a pro. On the offensive line, he started 16 games & allowed only one penalty. On April 7th, he signed with the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills, who had just completed their best season since 1999, won the AFC East division and made an appearance in the 2021 AFC Championship title game against the Chiefs. Lamp joins a very stout offensive line in protecting athletic quarterback Josh Allen. However, Buffalo returned all five starters from last year with more immediate depth from free agency. This may pose a challenge to Forrest but either way, he should be a vital role in the Bills returning to the AFC title game. The contract is good for one year, the price was not reported at the time of the signing.
Stay tuned for more updates on #ProTops news and where our future Hillttoper alumni will end up on their quest for NFL stardom.
