It will be Tigers versus Tigers in CFP title game … It all comes down to this in college football as the LSU Tigers will face the defending national champion Clemson Tigers for the national title later this evening in New Orleans. Kick off is set for 8 PM ET on ESPN. And its not hard to figure that given these are arguably the two best teams in the country, there will plenty of top draft prospects on the field tonight. Indeed, the game features a dual between the presumptive #1 pick for the 2020 draft in LSU QB QB Joe Burrow (#9, 6-3, 220) going against the presumptive #1 in 2021 in Clemson sophomore QB Trevor Lawrence (#16, 6-5, 220). Burrow, in fact, was arguably the best story in college football this season as he went from career journeyman to the best player in the game. Along the way, Burrow has completed a ridiculous 78% of his pass attempts, good for over 5,200 yards and 55 TDs against just 6 picks. The LSU offense also features two of the most explosive WRs in the country in sophomore Ja’Marr Chase (#1, 6-1, 200) who has 75 receptions for almost 1,600 yards and 18 TDs, and junior Justin Jefferson (#2, 6-2, 195) who has 102 catches for over 1,400 yards and 18 scores of his own. For the record, Jefferson is considered to be a second-day prospect for the upcoming draft, while Chase has top 5-10 potential for 2021. If the Tigers’ Burrow does ultimately end up in this year’s opening round, he should have plenty of LSU company as junior FS Grant Delpit (#7, 6-2, 205), senior CB Kristian Fulton (#1, 5-11, 200) and sophomore OLB K’Lavon Chaisson (#18, 6-3, 250) each have first-round potential. Delpit, the star of the group, is considered to be a top 10-15 candidate, although he hasn’t had the impact so far this fall as he had in 2019 when he had 5 picks along with 5 sacks. Meanwhile, wide-body 5T DE Rashard Lawrence (#90, 6-2, 310) should get some second-day consideration, along with rising junior LT Saahdiq Charles (#77, 6-4, 295) who isn’t all that big or physical, but is very quick and athletic, and junior MLB Jacob Phillips (#6, 6-3, 235). Also keep an eye on rugged OG Damien Lewis (#68, 6-3, 335).
While Clemson’s Lawrence won’t be draft eligible until next year, the ACC Tigers still have a potential top 5 prospect in rising LB Isaiah Simmons (#11, 6-4, 225), arguably the most athletic player in the country at any position with the physical tools to really blow up the combine. He’s also a converted safety who also figures to be one of the more scheme versatile players in this year’s draft. Indeed, in last month’s CFP semi-final win over Ohio State, Simmons actually spent much of the game playing a hybrid FS role. In fact, Clemson has as many as a half dozen players with top 100 potential including WR Tee Higgins (#5, 6-4, 205), RB Travis Etienne (#9, 5-10, 215), CB A.J. Terrell (#8, 6-2, 190) and OGs John Simpson (#74, 6-4, 330) and Tremayne Anchrum (#73, 6-2, 310).
GBN staff pick: LSU 35 Clemson 31
