The 2020 NFL Draft gets underway tonight as teams will make their first-round selections starting at 8:00 P.M. No Indiana players are expected to hear their name called tonight, but there are a few former Hoosiers that could see their NFL careers get underway at some point this weekend, either as a drafted player or as an undrafted free agent. Peegs.com takes a look at the top draft prospects from IU and where they are projected to be taken.

2020 NFL DRAFT TV SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 23rd: Round 1 can be seen on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network starting at 8:00 p.m. EDT

Friday, April 24th: Rounds 2-3 can be seen on ABC, ESPN/ESPN2 and NFL Network starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Saturday, April 25th: Rounds 4-7 can be seen on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network starting at Noon EDT

Indiana Draft Prospects

Indiana offensive lineman Simon Stepaniak.

Offensive lineman Simon Stepaniak appeared in 41 career games with 31 starts. The Ohio native started 30 games at right guard and he started one game at left guard in his career at Indiana. Stepaniak was a team captain in 2019, and following the season he was named Third Team All-Big Ten by the media and he earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition from the coaches.

As a senior in 2019 Stepaniak started all 11 games in which he appeared with 10 starts at right guard and one start at left guard.

As a junior in 2018 the Ohio native started all 12 games at right guard for the Hoosiers. He was named the IU offensive player of the week following Indiana’s win over Virginia.

As a sophomore in 2017 Stepaniak started all six games in which he appeared at right guard. He missed six games that year due to an injury.

As a redshirt freshman in 2016 Stepaniak made two starts at right guard and played in 12 games.

NFL.com Scouting Report for Stepaniak

OVERVIEW: Burly and strong with the ability to play either guard position in a gap-scheme attack. He's productive on double teams and combo blocks. Stepaniak comes off the ball and into opponents with some pop when he's singled up and he's a nasty block finisher, but he may not have enough length for NFL-block sustain. His ability to recover in pass pro is limited by both his wide base and exaggerated slide steps out to the edge. Despite his bench-press strength, Stepaniak gives too much ground to power rushers who push him into the pocket. It's possible to correct some of his pass protection issues and his physicality in the run game helps his cause as a late-round guard with backup potential.

STRENGTHS: Split low with broad lower body and thick calves. Keeps pads low out of stance and into drive blocks. Puts some pepper into his initial pop at contact. Excellent upper-body strength. Hands are quiet and efficient fitting his run block. Patient with good accuracy working up to linebackers. Plays with block-finishing grit. Hip to hip squeezing A-gap against blitzers. Good bend in ankles, knees, and hips.

WEAKNESSES: Base gets way too wide in his pass sets. Exaggerated set steps out to the edge open him to quick counters. Too antsy with hands and feet when looking to punch. Gets bumped back into the pocket by power. Forward lean opens him for quick arm-over loss. Needs to stay lower for longer on lateral movements. Below-average reactive athleticism.

Pro Football Network Scouting Report for Stepaniak

POSITIVES: Tough, nasty offensive lineman who is best in a small area. Stays square, keeps his knees bent and sets with a wide base. Fires off the snap into blocks, plays with terrific lean, and quickly gets his hands into opponents. Anchors at the point, keeps his feet moving and always looks for someone to hit.

NEGATIVES: Not effective far off the line of scrimmage. Rumbles around the field. Not an agile blocker.

ANALYSIS: Stepaniak was a terrific player at Indiana the past two seasons as a wide-bodied, nasty lineman, but he must be used in confined quarters.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Priority Free Agent

Indiana wide receiver Nick Westbrook.

In his Indiana career wide receiver Nick Westbrook appeared in a program-record 52 games with 36 starts. He finished his career with 144 receptions for 2,226 yards and 16 touchdowns. In school history he ranks sixth in catches, seventh in yardage and touchdowns, and tied for seventh in 100-yard receiving games with six. He is the seventh Hoosier to reach 125 receptions and 2,000 yards. The Florida native was also a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Following the 2019 season Westbrook was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, and he was a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award and the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He was also a Wuerffel Trophy nominee, an Academic All-Big Ten selection, and Indiana’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.

Following the 2018 season Westbrook was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, and he was an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Westbrook missed the majority of the 2017 season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the season opening game. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection that year.

Following the 2016 season Westbrook was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and the media, and he was also an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

As a true freshman in 2015 Westbrook appeared in all 13 games and he hauled in his first career touchdown in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Pro Football Network Scouting Report for Westbrook

POSITIVES: Tall, big-bodied receiver with average speed and quickness. Smoothly releases off the line of scrimmage, knows where he is on the field and competes to come away with the difficult catch. Sells routes, uses his frame to shield away defenders and plays to his size. Extends his hands to offer the quarterback a target and makes the reception away from his frame. Gets vertical over defenders, high points the pass and plays with both balance and body control. Works to pick up yardage after the catch. Terrific downfield blocker.

NEGATIVES: Plays to one speed and lacks a burst. Minimally quick off the line, doesn’t run sharp routes and really cannot separate from defenders.

ANALYSIS: Westbrook is a hard-working receiver with terrific size who flashes the ability to take over games. He’ll need to show the ability to physically separate from defenders with his hands and be more than just a contested-catch receiver to make an NFL roster.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Priority Free Agent

Wide receiver Donavan Hale, linebacker Reakwon Jones, and kicker Logan Justus are other former Indiana players that will be trying to catch on with an NFL team this weekend as priority free agents.

Wide receiver Donavan Hale played in 49 games during his career at Indiana with 13 starts. He finished his career with 85 receptions for 1,217 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the coaches following the 2018 season.

Linebacker Reakwon Jones played in 44 career games for the Hoosiers with 23 starts. He finished his career with 100 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. As a senior in 2019 he was a team captain, and following the season he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.

Logan Justus was Indiana’s starting kicker in 2018 and 2019. He appeared in all 25 games over those two years, and he made 32-of-39 on field goals (82.1 percent) and 77-of-80 on extra points (96.3 percent). He is Indiana’s all-time field goal percentage leader, and he is seventh in school history on extra points made and he is eighth in field goals made. Following the 2019 season he was named Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media). He was also a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and Burlsworth Trophy nominee. Following the 2019 season Justus was named Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and Third Team All-Big Ten by the media. He was also a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, and he was named IU’s Most Outstanding Specialist of the Year.