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We're officially into the pre-NFL draft process for the 2024 class, with all-star events kicking off. I'm down in Texas at the East-West Shrine Bowl this weekend, and I'll be on a plane to Alabama for the Senior Bowl next week. That's just the start, though. The combine is one month away, pro days will dominate March and teams will start having prospects for official visits as we get closer to the start of the draft on April 25. That gives a lot of time and opportunity for prospects to climb draft boards. We see it every year -- a few prospects who build momentum throughout the months leading up to the draft, seemingly come out of nowhere and get drafted much higher than expected. Big performances at the Senior Bowl or Shrine Bowl can bump a guy up a round. Blazing 40-yard dash times or eye-popping testing numbers at the combine might put a player on the map. Even really good pro day showings or outstanding interviews can change the tide. And sometimes it's as simple as scouts getting to see more tape of the smaller-school guys without the in-season grind getting in the way. Let's jump ahead of all of that and project which prospects could experience a major rise. Who is going to wow scouts, coaches and executives over the next few months? I predicted 12 players -- at least one from every position -- who could jump up draft boards by draft day.
  Spencer Rattler, QB, South CarolinaIt wasn't too long ago that Rattler was considered a future top prospect, but he struggled in 2021 in his final season at Oklahoma. Since transferring to South Carolina before the 2022 season, though, he has reinvented himself, throwing for 3,186 yards with 19 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions this past season. "I don't know what happened at his previous stop, but since he's been here, he's been an excellent leader on and off the field for us," said a member of the Gamecocks' coaching staff. Despite being pressured on 38.5% of his dropbacks (26th most in FBS), Rattler managed to finish with a 54.1% completion percentage (8th best) against pressure this season. He is smooth in pre- to post-snap operation, he repeatedly ties his upper and lower bodies together, and he has plenty of arm strength. Scouts want to see Rattler limit the unnecessary sacks -- he took 40 in 2023, fifth most in the FBS -- and get the ball out quicker, but he has a lot of upside. Rattler has a huge opportunity at the Senior Bowl and could catapult into the second tier of quarterbacks, joining the likes of Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix. The controlled setting will emphasize his smooth release and processing ability. Scouts commonly slot Rattler in the early parts of Day 3, but a strong Senior Bowl performance could spark late-Day 2 discussions.
 Jaden Shirden, RB, MonmouthThe 2024 running back class lacks a high-end prospect but has some good midtier options. It reminds me of the 2014 group -- Bishop Sankey was the first running back taken that year at No. 54, but a run at the position resulted in eight running backs still getting picked in the top 100. If Shirden's 40-yard dash times at the combine and his pro day match the acceleration we see on tape, he could emerge and rise up the board. And that's especially true if he turns in an impressive week at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Explosive is the one word to sum up Shirden's scouting report. He finished with 3,200 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns over the past two seasons. During that span, the junior had a carry for at least 20 yards in 16 of 22 games played. "We all saw what Keaton Mitchell was able to do in Baltimore as an undrafted guy. I think Shirden is a similar type of player, and a year from now we'll be asking how he went so late," said an NFC area scout. He enters the pre-draft process receiving mostly mid-to-late-Day 3 grades, but Shirden could take advantage of a down class. I could see him running in the 4.3s and getting some buzz.
 Malachi Corley, WR, Western KentuckyI expect Corley to really stand out from the Senior Bowl bunch during 1-on-1s, 7-on-7s and team periods of practice. His game revolves around his competitive nature, and it isn't hard to imagine him making tough grabs in tight coverage and wowing the evaluators. If he pulls in a few tricky contested catches, Corley's grade could move from Round 3 to Round 2. He has excelled in the past against high-end competition. In a September matchup with Ohio State, Corley had eight catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. He was versatile in the Western Kentucky offense and thrives in open space. He's a powerful tackle-breaker, and 692 of his 984 receiving yards in 2023 came after the catch. NFL teams are all looking for their version of Deebo Samuel -- who also popped during his Senior Bowl back in 2019 -- and Corley could be the next receiver in that mold. His route tree was limited to shallow crossers, screens and double moves down the field during the season, so he will need to show he's capable of more as a route runner at the Senior Bowl.
 Theo Johnson, TE, Penn StateJohnson has steadily gotten better throughout his career, catching seven touchdowns for the Nittany Lions in 2023. At 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds, he's a big target, but he's still very raw at the position. His game is a little bit of a projection. But I wouldn't be surprised if he rises over the next few months because of his traits and raw upside. Johnson primarily served as an in-line option at Penn State, and his route tree was built on complementing the run game. As he continues to settle into his own, he can show that he's capable of running routes detached from formations. His consistency as a blocker still remains a work in progress -- his hand placement must improve and he has to be better running his feet on contact -- but he has the tools to excel in the pros. I'm higher on Johnson than most and have him as TE3 in the class. Round 4 is the most consistent range I've heard from scouts. But with a strong pre-draft process that highlights his physical traits, Johnson could be drafted as high as late Day 2.
 Christian Jones, OT, TexasIf you were creating an offensive tackle from scratch, you'd want Jones' size. At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, he has an NFL-ready frame, long arms and a well put together lower half. He has played in 61 games (48 starts), and the sixth-year senior spent the majority of his college career at right tackle (2,402 snaps). Physical and quick-footed, he showed tremendous improvement in 2023. Against the Alabama edge duo of Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell in an early-season matchup, he didn't allow a single pressure. In fact, Jones allowed one sack this season, and it didn't come until the team's final game (against Washington in the College Football Playoff). "I love this offensive tackle class, and the ones at the top are really good, but if I miss out on one of the early ones, Jones is that guy I'd look to circle back and select in the third or fourth [round]," said an AFC area scout. Jones' 26 penalties over the past four seasons -- including eight this past season -- mean he must learn to be more disciplined with his technique. And considering that he's a sixth-year player, draft rooms will debate how much potential there is left to uncover with his game. But I think there's still room to grow his toolbox, and he carries a grade in the late-Day 2 to early-Day 3 range. After scouts and evaluators see his big frame up close and watch him work through 1-on-1 drills at the Senior Bowl, he could start getting more buzz. His movement skills and length will help him stand out.
 Christian Haynes, G, UConnAn underrated interior prospect in this class, Haynes has been a model of consistency during his final two seasons at UConn. At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, he's strong and has excellent hands that help him maintain control at the point of attack. With good short-area quickness, Haynes also has the lower-body strength to anchor and cancel out pass-rushers. Haynes allowed five pressures and zero sacks over the past two seasons. Over his five-season career, he has only taken reps at right guard (3,183 snaps), so evaluators will want to see if he's capable of playing center at the Senior Bowl. If he can showcase versatility, that could boost him. Haynes is currently my fourth-ranked interior blocker and has an early-Day 3 grade. I expect the base, agile feet and hand strength of Haynes to flash throughout the week in Mobile, and in a class of interior blockers that still has major question marks, he could rise into the latter parts of Day 2 if he shows he has more positional versatility.
 Brandon Dorlus, DT, OregonOn an Oregon defense that saw many players significantly improve in 2023, Dorlus arguably took the biggest leap -- especially as a pass-rusher (5 sacks). Whenever the Ducks' defense needed a big play, it was Dorlus who made it happen, as we saw often in the Texas Tech game. Where do you play him, though? It's the first question that scouts bring up when discussing his game. Dorlus is a bit of a tweener at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, and while he can play any spot along the defensive line, there isn't a consensus on which position he should play at the next level. Some scouts feel he can be a disruptive 3-technique, while others like him better in a three-man front. I lean 3-technique. Dorlus currently has a mid-to-late-Day 2 grade, but he's expected to be a standout tester at the combine, which could change things. And his explosiveness, first-step burst and hand quickness are going to overwhelm blockers during the 1-on-1 drills at the Senior Bowl.
Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn StateExpect Isaac -- who currently is in the mid-Day 2 range -- to stand out with eye-popping testing numbers over the next few months and even climb into top-40 conversations. His explosiveness should make him one of the biggest standouts at the Senior Bowl and combine, and he has the quickness to post a good 40 time for a 6-foot-5, 240-pound edge rusher. Used as a standup outside linebacker at Penn State, Isaac has a wiry frame but the body capacity to add on more weight. He showed an understanding of how to sequence moves together in 2023, finishing with a career-high 7.5 sacks. His 16.8% pressure rate was the seventh highest in the country, too. Isaac lacks the natural feel of dropping in pass coverage and must improve his take-on strength as a run-defender, but an NFL defensive coordinator could use Isaac's movement skills in creative ways in obvious passing situations.
 Austin Booker, EDGE, KansasHere's a name that has created a lot of intrigue in league circles. And Booker is going to build on that momentum and put on a show during pass-rush drills at the Senior Bowl. There are few blockers who can match his up-the-field explosion. Booker was a surprise entry into the 2024 class as a redshirt sophomore. After originally starting his career at Minnesota, he transferred and played one season at Kansas, making the most of it with eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, he's a long and lean edge rusher who plays with burst. Operating primarily as a standup outside rusher, he plays with a consistent pass-rush plan. Booker is also strong for his frame and flashes as a stout run-defender who can set the edge. "Easily one of the more fascinating players in this class," said an NFC national scout. "He just hasn't played a lot of football, but, man, the flashes are outstanding." Indeed, he is very inexperienced -- Booker has played 482 defensive snaps in his career. With such a small sample size, he has plenty to prove, making him a prime candidate for a huge rise. His performances against BYU and Texas in back-to-back weeks had scouts raving about his potential, and because of his explosiveness, he's likely to be a standout tester in pre-draft event drills.
 Ty'Ron Hopper, LB, MissouriWe talk a lot about the biggest winners of the pre-draft process, and I would be surprised if Hopper isn't a headliner on that list by April. With the NFL moving toward hybrid linebackers who are equally as versatile in coverage as they are defending the run, Hopper might get some interest; he fits the modern-day mold of the position. Hopper's career began at Florida, and he transferred to Missouri before the 2022 season -- and it didn't take long for him to become an integral part of the Tigers' scheme. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, he's a bit undersized, but he's a quick downhill run-defender who can plug gaps in a hurry. Hopper also has good instincts and understands how to affect route concepts. With 21 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks over the past two seasons, he makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. His explosive movement skills will help Hopper stand out at the Senior Bowl, but it's his testing numbers that will generate the most buzz. I think he could be in the 4.5s in the 40-yard dash. He still needs to improve his read-and-react skills against the run and do a better job keeping his shoulders square at the first level, but his traits make him an interesting prospect in a down linebacker class. I've heard fourth and fifth round from scouts on Hopper, but he could rise quickly.
 Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida StateI saw Florida State twice while out on the road live scouting this season (at Clemson and vs. Louisville), and Jones' fluidity in coverage was impressive. His play has improved after kicking inside to nickel, as he allowed a solid 28.6% completion rate and hauled in three interceptions this season. At 6-foot and 191 pounds, he transitions with ease in and out of his breaks, and he has the play strength and tackling ability to be an asset as a run-defender. Jones is viewed as a mid-to-late-Day 3 prospect among scouts I've talked to, but I'm giving him a fourth-round grade at the moment. NFL teams have put an emphasis on adding nickel corners, and Jones has the fluidity and physicality that teams covet on the inside. And because of his ball skills, I think he will be a standout during competitive portions of East-West Shrine Bowl practice and create some turnovers.
 Javon Bullard, S, GeorgiaOne more guy to watch as a Senior Bowl riser. Bullard was a key part of Georgia's championship run in 2022, and after returning for his senior season, he went from playing strictly as a nickel to moving around more on the back end of the Bulldogs' defense. Tough and physical, he's a willing tackler in space and against the run. And against zone coverage, he uses his instincts to read route concepts and quickly take away throwing windows. It's easy to see the leadership and energy that he brings to a defensive unit, and I expect those traits to stand out quickly during Senior Bowl practices. Bullard plays with confidence, and he has the playmaking ability and physicality to catch the scouts' attention. Teams are always searching for those types of defensive players. Yes, he needs to become more consistent in man coverage, but Bullard already has good experience from multiple spots in the secondary and has been productive in all of them. The potential third- or fourth-round pick could make a move up boards over the course of the pre-draft process.
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