Philadelphia Eagles Draft Central

Smith arrived in Tuscaloosa as a five-star recruit and top-10 receiver prospect nationally. He played in all 14 games as a freshman, but he caught just eight passes for 160 yards (20.0 per) and three scores. His final catch of the year, though, was the national title game-winner from fellow freshman Tua Tagovailoa in overtime. The Louisiana native started 10 of 14 games played as a sophomore, becoming a regular target for Tagovailoa, with 42 catches for 693 yards (16.5 per) and six touchdowns. In 2019, Smith was a second-team Associated Press All-American and second-team all-SEC selection. He led the Tide with 1,256 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns (on 68 catches, 18.5 per), including an 11-catch performance for a school-record 274 yards and five scores against Ole Miss. His decision to return for 2020 paid off in a major way. "Smitty" won the Heisman Trophy as well as the Biletnikoff and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards. He was a first-team Associated Press All-American and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year (and first-team all-conference). Smith led the FBS with 23 receiving touchdowns, which put him fifth in the career all-time list nationally (46 in four years) and first in the SEC annals. He also led the country in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,856). He became the record-holder in career receiving yards in the SEC. Smith also returned 11 punts for 237 yards (21.5 per) and a score but did not qualify for the FBS leaderboard. Smith finished the year strong, earning MVP of the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Notre Dame (seven receptions, 130 yards, three TDs) and then excelling in the first half of the national title game (12 receptions, 215 yards, three TDs) against Ohio State before going to the sideline with a dislocated finger. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl but did not participate in practices or the game due to the injury. -- by Chad Reuter

Considered one of the top offensive tackle recruits in the country out of North Carolina, Dickerson signed with Florida State for the 2016 season. He became the first true freshman offensive lineman to start for FSU since Jamie Dukes in 1982, starting the first seven games of the year at right guard before an ACL injury ended his season. The following year, Dickerson started the first four games at left guard before an ankle malady sidelined him. Another ankle problem stopped his 2018 season after only one start at right tackle. Looking for a change of scenery, Dickerson transferred to Alabama for the 2019 campaign. The new home proved more hospitable, as he was named a second-team All-SEC performer as a 13-game starter (four at right guard, nine at center) in his first year in Tuscaloosa. His outstanding play as a senior landed him the Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center, as well as first-team Associated Press All-American and all-conference honors. Dickerson also shared the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy with teammate Alex Leatherwood and helped the line win the Joe Moore Award as the top group in the country. He started the first 11 games of the year but suffered a knee injury in the SEC Championship Game win over Florida that required surgery. After sitting out the team's playoff semifinal win over Notre Dame, he returned as a team captain (their lone representative at the coin toss) in the national title game and then finished the game snapping in the victory formation. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl but was not able to participate due to the injury. -- by Chad Reuter

In his first year of action with the Bulldogs (redshirted as a true freshman in 2017), Williams played in seven games and made three tackles. He made a much larger impact in 2019, however, earning honorable mention All-Conference USA honors in 13 starts (59 tackles, nine for loss, 5.5 sacks). Williams became one of the best defenders in C-USA in 2020, receiving first-team all-conference accolades by leading Tech with 10 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks among 44 total tackles in 10 starts. -- by Chad Reuter

Zechariah is the son of Gerrick McPhearson, who played defensive back at Boston College and for the New England Patriots, and brother of Gerrick Jr., a former Maryland cornerback and seventh-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Another brother, Derrick, played football at Illinois and also spent time in the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league system. Emmanuel and Ezekiel, two other brothers, played football and minor league baseball, respectively, and his sister plays soccer at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Given all that athleticism in McPhearson's family, it's no surprise he excelled for Tech the past two seasons. McPhearson was a first-team All-Big 12 pick in 2020, leading his squad with four interceptions and breaking up six other passes to go along with 53 tackle in 10 starts. He started 12 games in 2019, as well (51 tackles, 2.5 for loss, five pass breakups, two blocked kicks). McPhearson actually signed with Penn State out of Riverdale Baptist High School in Maryland, where he also showed skills on the baseball diamond for a two-time national championship squad. Zech redshirted in Happy Valley in 2016 -- while on the same roster as yet another brother, Josh -- and then played as a reserve the next two years (16 tackles, three pass breakups in 24 games) before transferring. -- by Chad Reuter

Gainwell was the Mississippi Class 3A Mr. Football as a senior at Yazoo County High School. Memphis snapped him up in the 2018 class, though he decided to redshirt his freshman season after four games (four carries, 91 yards, 22.8, one touchdown; six receptions, 52 yards, 8.7 average) because he was stuck behind future pros Darrell Henderson, Patrick Taylor and Tony Pollard. Gainwell became the workhorse back in 2019, starting 13 of 14 games and garnering first-team All-American Athletic Conference and the AAC Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 1,459 yards and 13 scores on 231 carries (6.3 per). He also was a valuable weapon as a receiver (51 receptions, 610 yards, 12.0 average, three touchdowns). He chose not to return to Memphis for the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Gainwell's brother, Curtis Jr., was attempting to walk on at Southern Mississippi but suffered a stroke while weightlifting that required multiple brain surgeries and ended his pursuit of a football career. -- by Chad Reuter

Tuipulotu's (pronounced TOO-ee-poo-LOE-too) career at USC started with an injury-filled freshman season (sprained left knee, back) in which he redshirted despite playing three games (two tackles, one start). The next year, he started 10 of 12 games (33 stops, 5.5 for loss, with 4.5 sacks). He came into his own for the Trojans as a redshirt sophomore, starting 12 games and making 46 tackles, six for loss, with two sacks and three pass breakups. He carried that momentum into 2020, garnering first-team All-Pac-12 honors (23 tackles, 3.5 for loss, with two sacks in six starts) and accepting an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Tuipulotu is the distant cousin of USC safety Talanoa Hufanga. Marlon's brother, Tuli, is a defensive lineman at USC, and his cousin, Fili Moala, was a 2009 second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts. -- by Chad Reuter

Tarron (pronounced tuh-ron) Jackson wears the No. 9 jersey because that was his age when his brother, Daron, passed away from leukemia. He played in four games as a reserve in his first year with the Chanticleers (three tackles, two for loss). He started one of eight games played the following year and posted 20 tackles, 4.5 for loss, with 3.5 sacks. Jackson started all 12 games in 2018, garnering third-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors (58 tackles, 11 for loss, with three sacks). He was a first-team all-conference selection in 2019 after setting a school record with 10 sacks among his team-high 13 tackles for loss (60 total stops, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles). Jackson rode the Chanticleers' wave of popularity in 2020, accumulating a team-high 14 tackles for loss and tying for eighth in the FBS with 8.5 sacks among his 54 total stops (with three forced fumbles) in 12 starts. He was named a first-team Associated Press All-American, Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy for his play as a senior. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter

Stevens, a top-25 national recruit after a sensational high school career at Oakland High School in Tennessee, started one game at wide receiver (two receptions, 32 yards) as a true freshman, but also lined up at safety (no statistics) during his six appearances. Stevens moved to defense permanently in 2018, starting the final four games at safety (35 tackles, 6.5 for loss, with 1.5 sacks, one interception, five pass breakups in 11 games). Starting all 15 contests in 2019, his play (92 tackles, nine for loss, with five sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups) helped the Tigers win a national title and earned him second-team All-SEC honors and three conference Defensive Player of the Week awards. Stevens started all 10 games for the Bayou Bengals in 2020, tying for the team lead with 63 tackles (six for loss with three sacks) while also breaking up four passes and tying for third in the FBS with three fumble recoveries. He switched to jersey No. 7, which was previously worn by future pros Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Leonard Fournette, D.J. Chark, and Grant Delpit, prior to his final collegiate season. Stevens accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter

Despite being rated a two-star prospect out of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Johnson became a three-time All-American Athletic Conference selection for the Green Wave. After playing in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2017 (12 tackles, one for loss, one start), he earned his first of two straight second-team All-AAC nods by leading his squad with 16 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks (among 49 tackles) and tied for ninth in the FBS with four forced fumbles, starting 12 of 13 appearances in 2018. Johnson struggled through injuries as a junior, but still started all 13 games (35 tackles, 8.5 for loss with four sacks, four pass breakups). He moved up to first-team all-conference accolades as a senior, tying for second in the FBS with 10 sacks (setting a school record with 24.5 in his career) and tying for eighth with 14.5 tackles for loss among his 39 total stops -- also breaking up two passes and forcing two fumbles in 11 starts. Johnson missed the team's bowl, however, following the unexpected death of his father, Kevin, after he arrived in New Orleans for the game. -- by Chad Reuter