#1 ALABAMA (12-1) vs #4 Cincinnati (13-0); 3:30 PM ET; ESPN; Cotton Bowl; Arlington … One is tempted to call this the 21st century David versus Goliath when defending national champion Alabama faces upstart Cincinnati, the first ever non-Power 5 conference team to make the national playoffs, face off in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, but at least on paper, it probably looks more like David versus several Goliaths. However, the games are played on grass not paper because paper can sometimes be deceiving. In fact, despite a convincing win over then #1 Georgia in the SEC championship game, it has not been a typical dominating year for Alabama which has more than its normal share of close calls, including a comeback win in OT over cross-state rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl in which a loss would have likely knocked the Tide out of the playoffs entirely.
Still, the Tide has potentially the deepest draft class for 2022, although Alabama may not produce the record number of early picks that we saw in the past 2-3 years. Massive LT Evan Neal (#73, 6-6, 350), however, looks to be a top ten lock, while WR Jameson Williams (#1, 6-2, 190) is a rising star in the receiver corps who is also starting to get some top ten consideration of his own and veteran ILB Christian Harris (#8, 6-2, 235) is another later opening round candidate. At the same time, Canadian WR John Metchie (#8, 6-0, 195), safety Jordan Battle (#9, 6-0, 210), DTs Phidarian Mathis (#48, 6-3, 310) and D.J. Dale (#94, 6-3, 310), ILB Henry To’oTo’o (#10, 6-1, 225), CBs Jalyn Armour-Davis (#5, 6-0, 190) and Josh Jobe (#28, 6-0, 195), TE Jahleel Billingsley (#19, 6-4, 230) and RB Brian Robinson (#4, 6-0, 225) are all solid second day prospects. However, anyone thinking that the Tide’s dominating run could finally be coming to an end, probably needs a bit of a rethink as sophomore QB Bryce Young (#2, 5-10, 195) was this year’s Heisman winner, while OLB Will Anderson (#31, 6-4, 245), another Alabama true soph, was the national defensive player of the year after posting 15.5 sacks.
While Cincinnati is a huge underdog in this game, they shouldn’t necessarily be counted out too early, especially if Alabama gets caught looking ahead to next month’s championship game. In fact, Cincinnati looks to have as many quality prospects for the 2022 draft as most of the other top Power 5 programs across the country. The Bearcats, for example, have at least a couple of players with at least some opening round potential in athletic QB Desmond Ridder (#9, 6-3, 215) and CB Ahmad Gardner (#1, 6-1, 200), a rangy cover corner with a chance to be the second CB off the board this year after LSU’s Derek Stingley. The Bearcats defense also features one of the more disruptive edge rushers in the country in DE Myjai Sanders (#21, 6-0, 255), who is something of an odd size, but is very explosive off the snap and should get plenty of second-day consideration, as might rising WR Alec Pierce (#12, 6-2, 210). For good measure, Cincinnati also has a lot of depth with a small army of players who could get some later-round consideration including RB Jerome Ford (#24, 5-10, 215); TE Josh Whyle (#81, 6-5, 235); DTs Curtis Brooks (#92, 6-2, 295) and Marcus Brown (#98, 6-2, 295); LBs Darrian Beavers (#0, 6-4, 225) and Joel Dublanko (#41, 6-3, 240); CB Coby Bryant (#7, 6-0, 200); and safeties Ja’von Hicks (#3, 6-1, 205) and Bryan Cook (#6, 6-1, 210).
#2 MICHIGAN (12-1) vs #3 GEORGIA (12-1); 7;30 PM ET; ESPN; Orange Bowl, Miami … It will be the SEC versus the Big Ten in the second semi-final when Georgia plays Michigan in the Orange Bowl. It could also be one of those immovable forces against an immovable force as both the Bulldogs and Wolverines feature tow of the best defenses in the country. And that’s almost certainly going to show up at the 2022 draft. Michigan, for example, features the best 1-2 pass-rushing combination in the country in star DEs Aidan Hutchinson (#97, 6-6, 270) and David Ojabo (#50, 6-5, 250). Hutchinson, in particular, has emerged as a legit candidate to be the first player selected at the upcoming draft. No question #97’s got the length, quickness and motor of an elite pass-rushing defensive end and has more than backed it up with productivity this year, posting 14 sacks including 3 in the Wolverines’ key win over Ohio State late last month. Meanwhile Ojabo, is a late riser who isn’t as big or technically proficient as his more heralded teammate, but may actually be a better athlete; indeed, he just explodes off the edge and is starting to get some mid-first round interest of his own. For the record, he has 11 sacks of his own this fall, while chipping in 5 forced fumbles. Pro scouts will also keep an eye on MLB Josh Ross (#12, 6-2, 225) who isn’t all that big but just flies around the field, while they also hope to see veteran FS Daxton Hill (#30, 6-0, 195), who at last report had yet to join the team in Miami because of an undisclosed condition. Meanwhile, the Wolverines grind it out on the ground with RBs Hassan Haskins (#25, 6-1, 220) and sophomore Blake Corum (#2, 5-8, 200) running behind an experienced front led by OG Chuck Filiaga (#66, 6-4, 340) and OTs Ryan Hayes (#76, 6-6, 310) and Andrew Stueber (#71, 6-5, 340) and TE Erick All (#83, 6-3, 245).
Meanwhile, the question in Georgia is whether the Dawgs can rebound from a hugely disappointing 17-point loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game earlier this month. And if they do, they’ll likely do it primarily with college football’s best defense which had allowed less than 7 points per game this fall prior to the conference title game. Certainly, almost all of Georgia’s top prospects for the upcoming draft are on that side of the ball. Headlining the defense are rising ILB Nakobe Dean (#17, 6-0, 225) and massive DT Jordan Davis (#99, 6-6, 340), both of whom are currently considered to have top 10-15 potential, while CB Derion Kendrick (#11, 6-0, 195) heads a large group of second-day prospects on the Georgia ‘D’ including DT Devonte Wyatt (#95, 6-3, 315), ILBs Quay Walker (#7, 6-3, 240) and Channing Tindall (#41, 6-2, 230) and S Lewis Cine (#16, 6-1, 200).
On the other hand, the Georgia offense might go undrafted this year, although the unit has been scoring close to 40 PPG so far this year. The Bulldogs have an interesting situation at QB where both Stetson Bennett (#13, 5-11, 190) and J.T. Daniels (#18, 6-2, 210) shared taking snaps much of the year, although Bennett has finally emerged as the clear starter. However, he looks more like a CFL type given his size and arm strength. In fact, the Dawgs’ one real prospect outside the defense per se is P Jake Camarda, one of the top 2-3 punters in the country who averaged 46.5 yards a pop this year.
