#3 TEXAS A&M (11-0) @ #16 TEXAS (8-3); 7:30 PM ET; ABC … There is a lot on the table in the annual Texas-Texas A&M rivalry game with the Longhorns literally fighting for their CFP playoff lives, while the Aggies, who appear to be in the 12-team playoff no matter what the next couple of weeks, do need a win to enhance their chances of getting a first-round bye. It’s also an interesting match-up between two of college football’s more intriguing young QBs in UT’s Arch Manning (#16, 6-3, 220) and Marcel Reed (#10, 6-1, 185) of A&M, although both are considered to be more future pro prospects. In fact, the top prospect in this game is rising A&M ER Cashius Howell (#9, 6-2, 250), an emerging first-round candidate who is 2nd in the country with 11.5 sacks on the season. At the same time, there will be a number of solid second-day type candidates on the field in Austin friday evening including OG DJ Campbell (#52, 6-2, 325), one of the top interior OL prospects in the country, CB Malik Muhammad (#5, 6-0, 190), and S Michael Taafe (#16, 6-0, 190) of the Longhorns and LB Taurean York (#21, 6-2, 250), OG Ar’maj Reed-Adams (#55, 6-4, 325), LT Trey Zuhn (#60, 6-5, 320), CBs Will Lee (#4, 6-0, 190) and Tyreek Chappell (#7, 5-11, 180) and WR/PR KC Concepcion (#7, 5-11-, 190) of the Aggies. Unfortunately, though, two of the best prospects in this game – MLB Anthony Hill (#0, 6-2, 240) of Texas and A&M RB LeVeon Moss (#8, 5-11, 210) – both of whom are also among the top 2-3 prospects at their respective positions, will not be playing because of injuries.
#4 GEORGIA (10-1) @ #23 GEORGIA TECH (9-2); 3:30 PM ET; ABC … It seems like its been awhile since Georgia-Georgia Tech meant something outside the state. And while both look to be long shots to make their respective conference championship games the Bulldogs need a win to solidify their hold on the fourth and final bye in the CFP’s opening round. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets are still clinging to some very faint CFP hopes of their own which would get a major boost with win over the #4 Dawgs. However, while Georgia appears to be on track to earn a CFP bye, the Bulldogs streak of having at least one player selected in the opening round for 10 straight years might be in some jeopardy as they don’t necessarily have any first-round locks at least for this year, although they do have a goodly number of second-day prospects including LB CJ Allen (#3, 6-1, 235) and DT Christen Miller (#52, 6-3, 310), both of whom are currently rated among the top 2-3 prospects at their respective positions, along with WR Zachariah Branch (#1, 5-10, 180), the former USC speedster who doubles as one of the most electric kick returners in the country, and CB Daylen Everette (#6, 6-0, 190). Its possible though that LB Allen won’t play this week as he is dealing with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, whether Georgia Tech makes the CFP field or not, it has been a rather remarkable season for the Yellow Jackets who don’t have much in the way of big-time draft prospects, but they do have one of the very best players in the country in QB Haynes King (#10, 6-2, 215) who if there is any justice in the football world would be very much in the Heisman conversation. Haynes is completing almost 72% of his pass attempts including 12 for scores against 4 picks, while running for another 890 yards and 15 rushing TDs as the rather nondescript Tech offense has piled up an average of 485 yards per game.
#7 MISSISSIPPI (10-1) @ MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-6); NOON ET; ABC … The 122nd renewal of the Egg Bowl may have as much drama off the field as on. That’s because Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has indicated that he’ll say where he’s going to be next fall as he is being heavily recruited by a number of ‘bigger’ time schools including LSU and Florida. Meanwhile, there is a game to be played on Saturday in Starkville where 7th ranked Ole Miss probably needs a win to guarantee a CFL playoff spot, while State needs a win just to be bowl eligible. Fact is, though, there isn’t a whole lot of talent for the upcoming draft in this one although Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss (#6, 6-0, 200), like Haynes King above, is arguably one of the best players in college football of whom the vast majority of the country has never heard. He spent 4 years at DII Ferris State where, in fact, he barely played until last season when he led the Bulldogs to the division’s national championship, along the way earning DII All-America honors before transferring to Ole Miss this past winter. At Ole Miss he has emerged as one of the more exciting dual-threat QBs in the country, although at barely 6-feet even, he may be a better prospect for the Canadian league than the NFL. In fact, the players to watch in this game, at least for the upcoming draft, are probably Ole Miss DT Zxavian Harris (#51, 6-7, 330), a massive guy with some athleticism, who is starting to get some buzz from NFL personnel people, while LB Suntarine Perkins (#4, 6-2, 220) is one of the most athletic backers around. We’d also be remiss in not mentioning sophomore RB Kewan Lacy (#5, 5-11, 210) who would be one of the top prospects at the position this year, but won’t actually be draft eligible until next year.
Bonus coverage: We don’t often highlight Utah games on Thanksgiving but this year we note both Utah and Utah State as the Utes are playing at Kansas (NOON ET; ESPN), while USU is hosting Boise State (4 PM ET’; CBS) in games featuring some top OL prospects. Utah, of course, has arguably the top pair of bookend OTs in the country in RT Spencer Fano (#55, 6-5, 305) and LT Caleb Lomu (#71, 6-5, 310) both of whom are considered to be first-round candidates, while Utah State will be facing BSU’s Kage Casey, a rising prospect with early second-day potential.
