I was pretty sure that Ohio State would take care of a Win at Penn State, so I spent a lot of viewing time watching the Buckeyes’ giant OT tandem of PARIS JOHNSON (6’6/315) & DAWAND JONES (6’8/360). They are both being pegged as potential First Round Picks for the 2023 NFL Draft. This is the second season for both as collegiate starters, and JOHNSON’s 13 starts last season were at RG. The good news is that they both handle their size well and are holding up quite well against Big Ten competition. They both show good footwork in forward or reverse, and use their long arms well to joust with DL. Speed Edge-Rushers are gonna be their kryptonite at the next level of play as pros, at least initially. Lots of NFL teams need young upgrades outside on the edges, which boosts their stock automatically. They may both be First Rounders, but I doubt it will be at or near the Top 10 off what I have seen this season. To my eyes the top OT, who may end up in the Top 15 Picks, is JAELYN DUNCAN of Maryland. At 6’6/320 He’s just a tick below them in overall size and has much more playing experience with over 30 starts and counting. I have got to believe the JOHNSON/JONES combo is the largest pair of starting OT from the same team in college football history. Out of need some teams may target them both later in Round One, but starting them as Rookies right away may be a disaster waiting to happen.
Since I am speaking here of two members of the OT class for the 2023 Draft, I want to mention someone that I have only one question about as a prospect; How highly will he be drafted by the time the next Draft rolls around. His name is JAVON FOSTER from Missouri, who mans their LT spot. He’s not quite as huge as the Boys from Buckeye-land, but at 6’5/320 I think he’ll be adequate on size for the pro game. This man has nice long arms, and best of all is quite nimble on his feet. The MIZZOU Offense seemed to move the ball at will against a solid South Carolina Defense. And it mattered not at all if he was run blocking, or in pass-pro, he controlled the line play. He pancaked a few guys, protected his QB’s blind side and was way downfield looking for an extra block when Mizzou runners were racking up yardage. If he stays healthy he should have over 25 career starts if he declares for the 2023 Draft. I am shocked that I am not hearing/reading more about this guy. He looks like a Top 100 prospect, no sweat, if he comes out.
Skipping ahead here chronologically, I must say it was no surprise to me that Auburn Head Coach BRYAN HARSIN got the axe after the team fell to 3-5 on the season. The HARSIN hiring came under fire when he took over last year. It was clear that a core group of influential alumni were unhappy about the outsider (Boise State) being hired as opposed to a good ole boy with SEC roots. The locker room seemed “divided”, at best on their new coaching staff from the get-go last Spring. And the icing on the cake this season was as Harsin’s troops fell below .500 while transfer QB BO NIX has looked very good in leading Oregon to a 7-1 record. Add to the team’s success that NIX has played well enough to get his name back into Draft consideration with his leadership and numbers on the season to date. What did surprise me was the selection of former Auburn star RB CADILLAC WILLIAMS as the interim Head Coach. I didn’t even realize that Williams was grooming himself to be a collegiate Head Coach at his Alma Mater or anywhere else. Strange doings down on the Plains of Alabama. But when it comes to their football program, especially their Head Coaching position, nothing is really any stranger than what they have done over the last decade plus.
Clearly we do not have all the info from the incident following the Michigan/Michigan State game in which 2 Michigan players were assaulted in the tunnel to the locker rooms by Spartans players. I have seen some of the film from security video cameras and it is repulsive to my eyes. Let me also add that to many fans of the Big Ten, the Spartans have had a reputation for being a “thug” football program, and playing over the borderline of “dirty” in many contests over this century. Thuggery might be an appropriate way of describing their activities on and off the football field at times. From the short video clip that I saw it is not hard to imagine that this incident is not going away any time soon, nor should it. As I head to posting this article the number of suspended players for the State football team is up to 8. Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has stated that he expects legal issues to follow the current investigations going on. I would agree with him.
Unlike some of my writing comrades I have not historically talked a lot about college players who are not eligible for the NFL Draft for another year or two. But I am about to make an exception. And I so because I am absolutely overwhelmed by the talent I have seen this season out of a group of guys who will not be eligible until the 2024 NFL Draft.
MARVIN HARRISON, JR. WR Ohio State
J.T. TUIMOLOAU DE/OB Ohio State
BROCK BOWERS TE Georgia
XAVIER WORTHY WR Texas
DRAKE MAYE QB North Carolina
There will be more, but if you haven’t watched these 5 guys please do so soon. They are absolutely gonna all be in the Top 10 of their Draft once they come out.
After watching K-State absolutely demolish a solid Oklahoma State team 48-0 last Saturday the thought popped into my mind, once again, trying to visualize how NFL coaches are going to find room on their rosters for explosive Offensive skill players who would normally be dismissed as pros because of their relatively small size for the game of college/pro football. The player in that game that caught my eye constantly was RB/RS DEUCE VAUGHN, who is listed at 5’6/176. He seems pretty durable playing Big 12 football, but most talent evaluators will tell you at 176 lbs. he’s gonna need to play on a “snap count” limitation. I do NOT disagree with that opinion in general, but there ought to be room on a 53-man roster for a guy, or even two, who are electric with the ball in their hands. Little did I expect the score shown above. In 2020 he produced just over 1800-yards of total Offense from the line-of-scrimmage. He does it with combination of quickness and speed, as well as great balance to stay on his feet. He is also willing to go out of bounds, to play another touch, instead of pile-driving into tacklers, which is for the bigger boys to do. He carried the ball 28 times (way too much for the pro game) for 158 yards and 1 TD. He also caught 4 balls for 18 yards and another TD. VAUGHN is draft eligible even tho listed as a Soph. That includes the NCAA Free Covid year of 2020. I recall seeing another mighty-might shortly after starting to go to the Senior Bowl by the name of DARREN SPROLES, who coincidentally was also from K-State. He was 5’6 and 190 lbs. and quick as a hiccup. He played out a 16 year NFL career with roles as RB, Receiver and Return Specialist. But I can’t discount that Sproles carried 14 more pounds on that short body, with most of it muscle. I would peg VAUGHN for about Round 3/4 range for a team willing to work with a limited touch/game player. With his production potential who wouldn’t give him a try?
As you may have noticed above, UNC has a fine young QB in RSFrosh DRAKE MAYE starting and he is leading a dynamic Offense. That attack has been spearheaded for the past 2 seasons by JOSH DOWNS, who had 101 catches last year, and may make a push for 100+ this season. And that is especially true now that Maye’s other top receiver ANTOINE GREEN is back on the field after losing early season playing time to injury. Green and Downs both hit double digit receptions vs. PITT as the Tar Heels raised their season record to 7-1. Their Defense is highly suspect, but improving weekly. GREEN makes Downs even more dangerous since neither of them can be ignored without consequences for opposing Defenses. GREEN started his big day with a 1st Quarter, athletic 16-yard TD pass. He went deep, he worked the sidelines and the end zone. He’s a big target at 6’2/200 lbs. and gets separation from defenders. On the game he ended up with 10 receptions for 180 yards and 2 TD. I am guessing he will post some impressive athletic testing numbers at the Combine, and might work his way into a Day Two Draft spot. However, a lot of young receivers are improving their Draft rankings, leaving Green to possibly last into Day Three making him a potential steal for some NFL team in Round 4.
After watching Penn State play for two weeks in a row, I must mention this years leader of their secondary in JI’AYR BROWN, who has ably taken over for the now starting NFL S in Chicago in JAQUAN BRISKER. In fact I see some of the same qualities in BROWN that BRISKER displayed during his fine collegiate career. BROWN is very effective in providing deep coverage in the Nittany Lions secondary, as well as being an aggressive participant in run-D support. He may be a slight notch below BRISKER overall, but he still should make a solid pro S. Against Ohio State he recorded 8 tackles, 6 of them solo. On the season his stats show his versatility and quality of play; 41 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 FF, 3 PD, 3 INT. I expect him to show up in Mobile for the Senior Bowl and picture him as a Round 3/4 draftee.
Speaking of emerging WR how about a short paragraph to point out a sky-rocketing player by the name of JALIN WYATT of Tennessee. With an ankle injury, and surgery, top wideout CEDRIC TILLMAN had missed several recent games. WYATT has taken up the slack and had a couple of monster games working with QB HENDON HOOKER. WYATT is a speedster, with good hands, who has worked hard to build his body into the 6’0/190 player he is right now. In the Vols 44-6 spanking of a good Kentucky team HYATT caught 5 balls, for 138-yds and 2 TD. That computes to 27.6 ypc. Let’s go back to the Vols biggest Win in their 52-49 victory over ‘Bama. In that game WYATT caught 6 balls for 207 yards & 5 TD, which is 34.5 ypc. A lot of NFL teams are looking for that deep threat receiver that WYATT certainly seems to be. He is moving into just about everyone’s Top 25-50 prospect rankings. In the last 3 games WYATT has recorded 9 TD & 18 catches for 519 receiving yards. The word you should be looking for about WYATT right now is “WOW”! As has happened in recent years, an ever emerging number of new quality young receivers seem to be showing up each season, to take the place of quality receivers departing college each year as they head to the NFL.
As we wrap this up for another week, let me give you two prospect names of talented players who overall seem to be toiling under the radar right now. One on Offense, one on Defense:
WR #12 PUKA NACUA 6’2/205 BYU Capt. Nice sized receiver who is an excellent all-around athlete. He’s sorta the BYU multiple-role player who catches the ball and is also used to tote the rock in some gimmick play designs. In a surprising home loss East Carolina NACUA started the night with a 2nd Quarter TD catch. For the game he caught 7 passes for 79 yards, 1 TD, and had 3 rushes for 22 yards. Look for him early on Day 3 next Draft.
DE #9 ISAIAH McGUIRE 6’4/275 Missouri I have been on his band wagon for several years now. He’s solid as an edge-setter, but also shows some serious pass rush moves and quickness. Despite some more highly touted DL on opponent South Carolina’s DL last weekend, McGuire was the man showing the most consistent play all game long. McGUIRE had 5 Tackles, 4 solo, 3 TFL, 2 Sacks. Another early Day 3 look to me.
A record day for the NFL as the 2022 season Trading Deadline came and went in a flurry of trades. Colin has been keeping you up to date and will continue to do so.
This just in from New Orleans, the oft injured WR MICHAEL THOMAS who missed almost 2 seasons with an ankle injury is now scheduled to undergo toe surgery which will likely put him out for the remainder of this season. More bad news for Saints fans.
A sad farewell to another NFL pioneer with the passing of Hall of Fame RAIDERS Punter RAY GUY. The first Punter to gain entry to the hallowed halls in Canton.
Stay tuned for my posting of a Mock Draft, Round 1 this weekend.
Cheers
Pigskin
