#11 Southern California (6-1) at #13 Notre Dame (5-1); 7:30 PM ET; NBC … After several rather blasé weeks on the college football docket, the season starts to heat up this weekend as the season hits the midway point. And last week’s spate of upsets brought a whole bunch one-loss teams including Notre Dame and Southern California which face off in their annual classic in South Bend on Saturday night. Needless to say, there’ll be a full contingent of pro scouts on hand when the Irish host the Trojans. In particular, NFL personnel people will be focused in on USC red-shirt sophomore QB Sam Darnold (#14, 6-3, 220) who will be trying to cement his status as one of the top prospects for the upcoming draft. Darnold entered the season as the consensus favorite to be the #1 pick overall, but he’s had an up-and-down season that has seen him throw 9 picks as he’s been all over the place with his mechanics in the pocket. Meanwhile, USC has a trio of juniors with at least top 100 potential in RB Ronald Jones (#25, 5-11, 200), a speedster who has been slowed by a thigh injury thru the first of the campaign; MLB Cameron Smith (#35, 6-2, 235), a tackling machine with great instincts, although he hasn’t made a lot of impact plays to date this year; and CB Iman Marshall (#8, 6-0, 200), a solid cover corner with the size and length NFL teams are always looking for.
Southern California is likely a slight favorite against Notre Dame, but the Irish have quietly snuck up on people after stumbling to a 4-8 record last fall. Indeed, Notre Dame’s only loss was by a point to 3rd ranked Georgia, while they have won their 5 games by an average of 28 points. The Irish start with a typical Notre Dame offensive line anchored by a couple of first-round prospects in LT Mike McGlinchey (#68, 6-7, 315) and LG Quenton Nelson (#56, 6-4, 330). McGlinchey is one of the top LT prospects in the 2018 draft class, although pro scouts would like to see him be more physical. Meanwhile, Nelson doesn’t get the same national pub as McGlinchey, but could very well end up being the first offensive lineman chosen this coming April. Meanwhile, TE Durham Smythe (#80, 6-5, 260), is a solid two-way veteran with mid-to-late round potential. The Irish defense isn’t as talented as the offense, but has more experience including senior LBs Nyles Morgan (#5, 6-0, 235), Drue Tranquill (#23, 6-1, 235) and Greer Martini (#48, 6-3, 240) and DEs Jay Hayes (#93, 6-3, 290) and Andrew Trumbetti (#98, 6-3, 265), who like TE Smythe are decent second-tier prospects.
#19 Michigan (5-1) at #2 Penn State (5-1); 7:30 PM ET; ABC … With apologies to the SEC West, the most competitive division in college football this year may just be the Big Ten East which currently has 4 teams in the top 20 including Penn State at #2 and Ohio State at #6. And the BIG East will start sorting itself out this weekend when second-ranked Penn State hosts Michigan on Saturday evening. The game will also feature another opportunity for pro scouts to grade PSU junior RB Saquon Barkley (#26, 5-11, 230), arguably THE best player in college football this season. Barkley, who is built like a power back, but with the speed, quickness and agility of a scatback, is on pace to run for almost 1,400 yards, while he leads the Lions in receiving with 29 catches and also averages over 32 yards per on KO returns. Penn State also has a top 100 safety in veteran FS Marcus Allen (#2, 6-1, 210), while TE Mike Gesicki (#88, 6-5, 250) has mid-round potential. Meanwhile, other Nittany Lions who could figure in the later rounds or as premium free agents include WR DaeSean Hamilton (#5,6-0, 210), OG Brendan Mahon (#70, 6-3, 320), MLB Jason Cabinda (#40, 6-1, 235), SS Troy Apke (#28, 6-0, 200) and CBs Christian Campbell (#1, 6-0, 195) and Grant Haley (#15, 5-9, 190).
Michigan struggles to put points on the board, but return an active swarming defense that if nothing else will make life tough on Penn State’s Barkley and company. The unit is anchored by veteran DT Maurice Hurst (#73, 6-2, 280), one of the quickest interior defenders in the country who could get a second-day call from a 3-4 team looking for a 5-tech DE with some upfield ability at the 2018 draft. Hurst lines up next to rugged run stuffing DT Brian Mone (#90, 6-3, 325), while DE Chase Winovich (#15, 6-3, 255) leads the Wolverines in sacks and OLB Mike McCray (#9, 6-3, 245) brings the heat from the outside. Whether the Wolverines can hang with Penn State, though, may depend largely on QB John O’Korn (#8, 6-4, 215) making a few plays and taking care of the football. O’Korn gets plenty of help from C/T Mason Cole (#57, 6-3, 300), arguably UM’s best overall prospect for 2018, who figures to be one of the first 2-3 centres off the board this coming April, although he’ll be lining up at LT for the Wolverines on Saturday.
