#1 ALABAMA (14-1) v #3 FLORIDA STATE (10-3); Atlanta; 8 PM ET, Saturday; ABC
Pretty great way to kick off the season with two of the top three ranked teams in the country going head-to-head when Alabama faces Florida State in Atlanta. And would be pretty safe in betting one’s rent money that NFL scouts will be out in force as both teams feature a plethora of quality prospects for the 2018 draft. Alabama whose dominance on the field over the past decade or so – the Tide has posted at least ten wins every year since 2008, a period during which the program’s overall record is 112-13 – has translated to the draft where the program has had at least one player selected in the opening round for 9 straight years. That included 4 first-rounders this past April when a total of 9 former Alabama players were selected in the first three rounds. And the chances are better than even that that streak continues in 2018 as both WR Calvin Ridley (#3, 6-0, 190) and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (#29, 6-0, 200), a pair of juniors with top 10 potential, are considered to be the top prospects at their respective positions. Fitzpatrick, who had 6 picks last fall, in fact, heads what maybe the nation’s best secondary which also includes junior SS Ronnie Harrison (#15, 6-2, 215), and CBs Tony Brown (#2, 5-11, 200) and Anthony Averett (#28, 5-11, 185) each of whom has at least second-day potential. Alabama could have some pass-rush issues after losing Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson in the 2017 draft, but do return a couple of studs along the interior of the DL in 5-tech DE Da’Shawn Hand (#9, 6-3, 285) and stout junior DT Da’Ron Payne (#94, 6-2, 310), while MLB Shaun Dion Hamilton (#20, 6-0, 235) and junior OLB Christian Miller (#47, 6-3, 240) head an athletic, but young LB corps. Alabama also faces something of a reload along the offensive line, but have several building blocks along the offensive line including junior OG Ross Pierschbacher (#71, 6-3, 305) and veteran C Bradley Bozeman (#75, 6-4, 315). They work in front of a talented group of offensive skill players that also includes star sophomore QB Jalen Hurts (#2, 6-2, 215), junior RBs Bo Scarborough (#9, 6-1, 235) and Damien Harris (#34, 5-10, 215) and WR Robert Foster (#1, 6-1, 200), along with WR Ridley. For good measure, Alabama also returns the top punter in college football in J.K. Scott (#15, 6-5, 205) who averaged over 47 yards a kick last fall.
Florida State isn’t quite as deep and talented as Alabama, but the ‘Noles are close. The Seminoles also parallel the Tide in at least a couple of ways. For starters, FSU’s offense is also led by a very talented true sophomore QB in Deondre Francois (#12, 6-2, 205), who like Alabama’s Hurts, won’t be draft eligible until 2019. And if any secondary in the country is capable of challenging Alabama’s it’s the Seminoles’ DBs. Indeed, both redshirt sophomore FS Derwin James (#3, 6-3, 210) and junior CB Tavarus McFadden (#4, 6-2, 200) have top ten potential for the upcoming draft with James, in particular, drawing some props as possibly the best non-QB prospect period in the country. FSU also features several second-day candidates in stumpy NT Derrick Nnadi (#91, 6-1, 315), along with junior edge rusher Josh Sweat (#9, 6-5, 250) and rangy junior WR Auden Tate (#18, 6-5, 225). Meanwhile, other FSU seniors with later round potential include SS Trey Marshall (#20, 6-0, 220), RT Rick Leonard (#76, 6-6, 305) and OLB Jacob Pugh (#16, 6-3, 240).
#11 MICHIGAN (10-3) v #17 FLORIDA (9-4); Arlington; Saturday; 3;30 PM ET; ABC
It’ll be for SEC-BIG10 bragging rights when Michigan and Florida hook up in Arlington on Saturday afternoon. However, Florida will have to overcome the suspension of multiple players for off-field issues. The biggest loss for the Gators is junior WR Antonio Galloway, the team’s best prospect, who will sit out as supplementary punishment for a drug arrest. However, the Gators will still have a couple of Top 100 prospects in junior LT Martez Ivey (#73, 6-5, 315) and junior DE/OLB CeCe Jefferson (#96, 6-1, 245). In fact, this is a very young Florida team that starts only three seniors: WR Brandon Powell (#4, 5-10, 180), CB Duke Dawson (#7, 5-10, 200) and safety Nick Washington (#8, 6-0, 200). Speaking of young, the key for the Gators against UM may be redshirt freshman QB Felipe Franks (#13, 6-5, 230), who gets the start over former Notre Damer Malik Zaire (#8, 6-0, 225) who came over from South Bend as a grad transfer. Michigan is also in something of a rebuilding mode after graduating a ton of talent this off-season. The Wolverines, though, did catch a break when star C/G Mason Cole (#52, 6-5, 305), arguably the best pivot in the country, opted to return for his senior campaign. Same for quick interior DT Mo Hurst (#73, 6-2, 285). Also keep an eye on RB Chris Evans (#12, 5-10, 210) and DE Rashan Gary (#3, 6-3, 275), a couple of true sophs who may very well be Michigan’s best players overall.
