#1 ALABAMA (12-0) vs #4 GEORGIA (11-1); 4:00 PM ET; Atlanta; CBS … No surprise that the SEC championship game could be the best conference title match-up this weekend. Indeed, this is the only game this weekend from which both teams can quality for the CFP playoff with a win so it has the feel of a real playoff game, although unbeaten and top-ranked Alabama would still likely get a playoff bid if the Tide did lose to upstart Georgia.
It is also no surprise that the dual between top-ranked Alabama and #4 Georgia will have – by far – the best array of likely prospects for the 2019 draft. Indeed, Alabama itself has as many as 4 top 15 prospects for the upcoming draft. Redshirt sophomore DT Quinnen Williams (#92, 6-3, 295) for example is the fastest rising player in the entire draft and could even ultimately be a serious challenger to be the #1 pick overall when all is said and down. Meanwhile, junior LT Jonah Williams (#73, 6-5, 300) is the consensus top offensive line prospect for this year’s draft with top 5-10 potential. Two more juniors – DT Raekwon Davis (#99, 6-6, 320) and FS Deionte Thompson – are considered to be top 10-15 candidates, while MLB Mack Wilson (#30, 6-2, 240), another junior, has late first or early second round potential.
At the same time, the Tide also features a number of quality second-day prospects including seniors like RB Damien Harris (#28, 5-10, 215), who could be the first back off the board this coming April, C/G Ross Pierschbacher (#71, 6-3, 310), OG Lester Cotton (#66, 6-3, 320), OLB Christian Miller (#47, 6-3, 245) and DE Isaiah Buggs (#49, 6-4, 285), along with juniors such as OLB Anfernee Jennings (#33, 6-3, 265), rising TE Irv Smith (#82, 6-4, 245) and RT Matt Womack (#77, 6-5, 325).
Georgia won’t have quite the impact on the 2019 draft as Alabama, but the Dawgs do have at least one solid opening round candidate in junior CB Deandre Baker (#18, 5-10, 185) who is one of the top 2-3 cover corner prospects in this year’s draft class. The UGA secondary also features a very good FS in junior J.R. Reed (#20, 6-1, 195) whose has second-day tools, while the rest of the defense is anchored by veterans like DE Jonathan Ledbetter (#13, 6-3, 280), OLB D’Andre Walker (15, 6-2, 245) and ILB Natrez Patrick (#6, 6-2, 245) each of whom has mid-to-late possibilities. On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs feature a trio of big-play receivers in Terry Godwin (#5, 5-11, 185) and juniors Riley Ridley (#8, 6-2, 200) and Mecole Hardman (#4, 5-11, 185).
Of course, none of this includes sophomore QBs Tua Tagovailoa (#13, 6-2, 225) of Alabama, this year’s leading Heisman Trophy candidate, and Georgia’s Jake Fromm (#11, 6-2, 220), neither of whom are eligible for the 2019 draft, but who both figure to be front and center at the top of the QB rich 2020 draft class. Enjoy!
