Rashod Bateman goes for an easy touchdown against Columbia in a Tift County spring game.

TIFTON — Could Tifton be the site of NFL draft parties next year? An ESPN draft expert certainly thinks well of one local player eligible in 2021.

Mel Kiper, best known for his list of top players available each draft, was asked about 2021 quarterback prospects on the network’s College Gameday. After agreeing with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence as one of the names, Kiper named two others. Unprompted, Kiper threw out another name at a different position:

“I like Rashod Bateman,” said Kiper, who went on to call him a “great receiver.”

Bateman is a rising junior wide receiver at Minnesota and could declare for the draft after this season. As a sophomore, he won Big 10 Receiver of the Year and the Associated Press named him third team All-America.

Bateman who had a career high over 203 yards against Penn State in 2019, finished with 1,219 for the season. He averaged 20.3 yards per catch.

Kiper’s not the only one who thinks highly of the former Blue Devil.

CBS Sports draft expert Ryan Wilson said if Bateman “plays like he did in 2019, will be right there in that mix” of first round receivers. Chris Trapasso of CBS sports rated Bateman his No. 6 player overall in the 2021 in draft.

Fox Sports’ 2021 NFL mock draft also projects Bateman as a first round selection, as does NBC Sports.

Bateman holds the all-time receiving yards record at Tift County. Among other records he set were most touchdowns in a season. He scored 21 in 2017, all receiving.The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Associated Press and Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all named him first team All-State that season.

Tift County has had three NFL draft picks in its history, two from Tift County High and one from Tifton High. Billy Mixon was picked in the third round in 1951 by the San Francisco 49ers after playing for Georgia.

After Tift County opened under that name in 1962, Roy Hart became the first selection, taken in the sixth round by the Seattle Seahawks in 1988. Clay Shiver went to the Dallas Cowboys in the third round in 1996 after being named All-America at Florida State in 1995.

Todd Fordham, who has had the longest NFL career of any former Blue Devil at 10 years, went undrafted before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997.

Bateman might not be the only area draft pick.

Tamorrion Terry, a redshirt junior from Turner County, is also getting some looks.

Terry is already 15th in Florida State history with 1,932 receiving yards. Most of those came last season when he racked up 1,188 yards and nine touchdowns. USA Today listed Terry among receivers in its early watch list for 2021.