Michigan State DE Shilique Calhoun projected as 2015 first-round NFL pick by ESPN's Todd McShay

Some mock drafts have as many as three MSU Defensive prospects going in the first round.
Calhoun, Waynes, and Drummond

EAST LANSING — The bad news for Michigan State fans: Oregon could have three 2015 first-round NFL draft picks on the field when the Spartans play the Ducks in Eugene on Sept. 6.

The good news: The Spartans will likely have at least one 2015 first-round NFL draft pick playing in the game, too.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay put out his "Way-too-early 2015 mock draft'' on Thursday, and Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun was among the first-round picks listed in the ESPN Insider (pay site) story.

McShay's mock draft has Calhoun going to the Atlanta Falcons as a defensive end/outside linebacker, citing Calhoun's size (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) and 7 1/2 sacks last season.

The Oregon players listed as first-rounders by McShay are: Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (No. 6 pick); quarterback Marcus Mariota (No. 8 pick) and center Hroniss Grasu (No. 18 pick).

Calhoun is one of four Big Ten players projected as first-round picks. The others are Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff (No. 7 pick), Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory (No. 28 pick) and Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Bennett (No. 32 pick).

Calhoun, Gregory and Bennett were among the 42 players named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List on Wednesday.

Calhoun also was recently projected as a No. 6 first-round pick by SI.com, to the Washington Redskins, and Trae Waynes was projected as the No. 22 overall pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In a CBSsports.com 2015 NFL mock draft, Calhoun was projected as the No. 6 overall pick -- interestingly enough, also to the Atlanta Falcons -- while the Rotoworld.com mock draft has Calhoun going No. 14, and the USA Today mock draft has him going No. 13.

CBS also has Waynes projected as the No. 27 pick to the New Orleans Saints, and Rotoworld has Spartans quarterback Connor Cook at No. 9, third among the quarterbacks.

USA Today has Michigan State safety Kurtis Drummond listed as the No. 27 pick.

By Mike Griffith
Courtesy of MLive

If Waynes stays healthy, there is no doubt in my mind that at least two Spartans will be selected in the first round of 2015.

I'd love for Wayne's to have a break out year. Which, for a db, might mean that the other corner is thrown at.

Crazy thing is Darian Hicks on the other side may end up being just as good as Waynes later this year. Kid has all the tools, and was Dantonio's #1 CB prospect in the '13 class.

I think we will find out very quickly this year, although it might take 4 or 5 games until the D is clicking. I'm very excited about the Oregon game and I think if we can keep it close, that will be very good for us.

Breaking Down Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun

Shilique Calhoun – DE – Michigan State

Calhoun is a fifth year senior and a three year starter for the Spartans. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2011, played as a backup in 2012 and has been a starter ever since at the wide side defensive end position. Michigan State runs an attacking 4-3 scheme.

In 2014 Calhoun had 39 total tackles, 8.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. To date this season he has 37 total tackles, 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. His career sack total stands at 25.

LooseGoose wrote:Breaking Down Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun

Shilique Calhoun – DE – Michigan State

Calhoun is a fifth year senior and a three year starter for the Spartans. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2011, played as a backup in 2012 and has been a starter ever since at the wide side defensive end position. Michigan State runs an attacking 4-3 scheme.

In 2014 Calhoun had 39 total tackles, 8.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. To date this season he has 37 total tackles, 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. His career sack total stands at 25.