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NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Watch Week 14: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jack Anderson, David Curry, Chris Brown, Adam Korsak

Texas’ Chris Brown (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Each week, the scouting department at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl will examine some of the top performances in college football by potential pro prospects that we are keeping an eye on. 

Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa
Coming into the season, many scouts anticipated a big campaign out of Iowa wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette. The senior finally delivered with a much-needed, bust-out game this past weekend, collecting seven receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns during the Hawkeyes victory over Wisconsin. A world-class sprinter in high school, the Newark, New Jersey native flashes exceptional burst and explosion after the catch. While his deep speed and athleticism are two traits that stand out, Smith-Marsette also possesses tremendous versatility, as he has four rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons. In addition, he has averaged nearly 30 yards per kick return for his career, including two returns for touchdown. While Smith-Marsette didn’t quite stuff the stat sheet this season, his skill-set will be held in high regard among NFL front offices.

Jack Anderson, OL, Texas Tech
One road-grater sure to be paving lanes on Sundays is Texas Tech senior offensive guard Jack Anderson, who elected to opt out of the Red Raiders final two games in order to prepare for the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. A four-year starter, Anderson finished the season on a high note, playing a key role in helping guide the Texas Tech offense with over 200 rushing yards in consecutive games for the first time since 2015. The Frisco, Texas native is considered one of the highest rated recruits in school history and his presence was felt from the first day he stepped onto the Lubbock campus. He finishes his career with 38 games played and projects as a mid-late round draft candidate.

David Curry, LB, Georgia Tech
While he may not be the flashiest player, Georgia Tech linebacker David Curry is certainly a well-rounded, fundamentally sound prospect with strong NFL bloodlines. The senior has heated up down the stretch of the season with his third consecutive game of double-digit tackles (48 tackles in his past three games). It’s impressive the way Curry fights his way through the trash and sniffs out the ball-carrier with his swarming mentality. He has also shown great toughness, battling through a handful of ailments throughout his career and playing through a thumb injury for much of last season. His father, Buddy, was an All-Pro linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons and David possesses all the tools in the shed to go onto the NFL and make his own mark.

Chris Brown, S, Texas
Despite the Texas Longhorns being bowl eligible, senior safety Chris Brown has opted to move on to the next stage of his career and prepare for the pros. A fierce competitor known for his clutch plays, Brown made a name for himself early on in his career on special teams before emerging as a starter last season. The Longhorns team captain finished his career with 107 tackles (92 solo), six tackles for loss, one sack and an interception; and, he led the team with seven pass breakups in 2020. Known for his signature celebration “flex,” Brown will now turn his attention toward muscling his way onto an NFL roster.

Adam Korsak, P, Rutgers
It’s no secret that Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano places a heavy emphasis on special teams, as the Scarlet Knights have traditionally had some of the best units in the nation under his regime in Piscataway. However, he has never had a punter quite like Adam Korsak, who amazingly is not one of the semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award. The Melbourne native grew up playing Australian rules football and began punting at the age of five. His distance, along with pinpoint accuracy and rollout kicking style, makes it extremely difficult for opponents to accomplish returns. He had over 400 yards on nine punts (44.7 average) this past week during Rutgers 27-24 overtime win against Maryland. The previous week versus Penn State, Korsak pinned down five punts inside the opponents 20-yard line, something he does on the regular. A secret weapon and under the radar prospect, Korsak has the makings of a longtime pro.

*Be sure to catch NFLPA Collegiate Bowl director of college recruiting Dane Vandernat this Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. ET on ‘The State of Football’ show live on @NFLDraftBible!

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