A lot of walk-over games last week, but don’t mention that in front of a rabid Penn State fan. ‘Bama’s effort on the field against Louisville was mighty impressive, just don’t mention the word Quarterback within walking distance of Nick Saban, lest he challenge you to a fight. We have serious matchups this week in preparation for Conference schedules which are visible on the near horizon.
Saturday Swept 8th NOON/ET ESPN
MISSISSIPPI STATE BY 10 @ KANSAS STATE
Bulldogs QB NICK FITZGERALD makes his 2018 debut, after sitting out a 1-game suspension in the opener. You get an idea of how much DAN MULLEN wanted that Florida gig, when you realize how much talent he left behind for new HC Joe Moorhead. It includes 17 starters and 49 lettermen. It’s not a great team for Bill Snyder, but as always it will be competitive, and if Miss State does not bring their A-game then it could become a nail biter. But I will take the Bulldogs by double digits.
Bulldogs to watch:
#7 NICK FITZGERALD QB 6’5/230
#22 AERIS WILLIAMS RB 6’1/220
#74 ELGTON JENKINS OC 6’4/315
#9 MONTEZ SWEAT DE 6’6/241
#4 GERRI GREEEN DE 6’4/255
#94 JEFFRY SIMMONS DT 6’4/300 JR
#95 BRAXTON HOYETT DT 6’3/305
#41 MARK McLAURIN SS 6’2/215
K-STATE players to watch:
#32 JUSTIN SIMON RB 5’10/198
#61 ABDUL BEECHAM OG 6’3/310
#71 DALTON RISNER OT 6’5/300
#8 DUKE SHELLEY CB 5’9/180
#21 KENDALL ADAMS FS/LB 6’1/221
Saturday, Sept 8 3:30/ET CBS
GEORGIA by 7 @ SOUTH CAROLINA
UGA lost some 35 lettermen to graduation, but KIRBY SMART has already proven to be a recruiting whiz, just like his former boss over at Alabama. And he does return some 53 lettermen, not to mention 26 new recruits, from a Top 10 recruiting class. But don’t dismiss the Gamecocks under BILL MUSCHAMP. His program only lost 13 lettermen and returns 14 starters from a 9-4 campaign. The SEC is loaded this season at the QB position and this game is a top notch match up between JAKE FROMM and JAKE BENTLEY. This is a mighty big match-up in the SEC East between two of its top 3 teams. I will take the Bulldogs, but will give Muschamp some major kudos for retooling this program in only two years.
GEORGIA pro prospects to watch:
#5 TERRY GODWIN WR 5’11/180
#65 KENDALL BAKER OG 6’6/305
#13 JONATHAN LEDBETTER DE 6’4/277
#6 NATREZ PATRICK LB 6’3/240
#18 DEANDRE BAKER CB 5’11/185
#15 D’ANDRE WALKER OB/DE 6’2/245
Gamecocks prospects to watch:
#1 DEEBO SAMUEL WR/RS 6’2/210
#19 JAKE BENTLEY QB 6’4/225 JR
#74 DENNIS DALEY OT 6’5/312
#4 BRYSON ALLEN-WILLIAMS LB 6’1/230
#22 STEVEN MONTAC FS 5’10/188
Saturday, Sept 8 7PM/ET ESPN
CLEMSON by 7 @ TEXAS A&M
The first big test of the season for new Aggies Head Coach JIMBO FISHER, who fled the Florida panhandle for big oil money in Texas. FISHER has to get his new team clicking quickly, because a big showdown with Alabama is coming up in two more weeks… ouch! But he does have 16 returning starters to work with and had a 20+ recruiting class. What can you say about DABO SWINNEY and his Clemson program? How about ‘new dynasty’ team. I’m giving a lot of credit to the Aggies team and their 12th Man to even rate this under a 10-point margin for Clemson, even on the road. The key in this one could simply be how A&M manages to put double digit points on the scoreboard. I am projecting that all 4 members of the Clemson DL will be drafted in the Top 50 of next years NFL Draft.
CLEMSON prospects to watch:
#2 KELLY BRYANT QB 6’4/220
#13 HUNTER RENFROW WR 5’10/180
#75 MITCH HYATT OT 6’5/305
#99 CLELIN FERRELL DE 6’5/260 JR
#90 DEXTER LAWRENCE DT 6’4/340 JR
#42 CHRISTIAN WILKINS DT 6’4/300
#7 AUSTIN BRYANT DE 6’5/265
#34 KENDALL JOSEPH LB 6’0/225
A&M PROSPECTS TO WATCH:
#78 KEATON SUTHERLAND OT 6’5/315
#36 DANIEL LaCAMERA K 6’4/230
#2 MICHAEL CLEMONS DE 6’5/270
#88 KINGSLEY KEKE DT 6’4/305
#42 OTARO ALAKA LB 6’3/240
#6 DONOVAN WILSON SS 6’1/207
Saturday, Sept 8 7:30/ET SEC Network
KENTUCKY @ FLORIDA by 6
The talent on this Florida team is not reflective of their final 4-7 record last year. Not all his fault, but the Jim McElwain regime was a raging wild fire last season. It was his inability to coach up a productive SEC level QB and handle off field antics that cost him his job, not too mention friction with the rest of the Athletic Department. DAN MULLEN returns from his OC days way back when in Gainesville. He has 19 starters back, 53 lettermen overall and no defined starting QB… yet. MARK STOOPS has done a nice job at Kentucky in making football relevant on campus in the Fall. He too, however, is breaking in a new starting QB this season to go with 15 returning starters overall. If the Gators new QB (looks like FRANKS for now) falters the Wildcats could have enough juice to spoil things in the Swamp.
Kentucky prospects to watch:
#26 BENNY SNELL RB 5’11/225 JR
#2 DORIAN BAKER WR 6’3/205
# ADRIAN MIDDLETON DT 6’3/300
#41 JOSH ALLEN OB/ER 6’5/250
#7 MIKE EDWARDS FS 6’0/200
#8 DERRICK BAITY CB 6’3/190
Gator prospects to watch:
#25 JORDAN SCARLETT RB 5’10/225 JR
#60 C’YONTAI LEWIS TE 6’4/235
#73 MARTEZ IVEY OT/G 6’5/315
#54 KHAIRI CLARK DT 6’2/315
#96 CECE JEFFERSON DE/ER 6’1/242
#33 DAVID REESE LB 6’0/240 JR
