TEXAS v ARIZONA STATE; Peach Bowl, Atlanta; 1 PM ET; ESPN: The Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve may not quite be Ashton Jeanty against the world when upstart Boise State takes on Penn State from the Big Ten, but the Texas-Arizona State duel in the Peach Bowl may very well come down to Skattebo against the world. Sun Devils’ RB Cam Skattebo (#4, 5-11, 215) isn’t pretty, but he’s a throwback, no-fair dodging back who just does not go down easily as he has run for has run for just under 1,600 yards and 19 TDs this fall while adding another 500+ through the air. Skattebo runs behind a solid offensive line anchored by C Leif Fautanu (#79, 6-2, 315) and OT Max Iheanachor (#58, 6-5, 315) who could ultimately be something of a sleeper at the position. Otherwise, the Sun Devils are a relatively young team eptomized perhaps by redshirt freshman QB Sam Leavitt (#10, 6-2, 200) under whom the ASU offence took off this fall.
In fact, at least on paper this game look s to be something of a mismatch. Indeed, while Skattebo may be the Sun Devils’ only pick this year, and that not until the middle rounds at best, Texas is loaded with prospects starting with LT Kelvin Banks (#78, 6-4, 320), arguably the top prospect at the position with top 5-10 potential. Meanwhile, speedy WR Isaiah Bond (#7, 5-11, 180), an Alabama transfer who some think could give former UT WR Xavier Worthy’s record 4.21 40 clocking at the combine a run for its money, is a big play target who could get some mid-to-late first round interest this coming April. The Longhorns most interesting prospect, though, is QB Quinn Ewers (#3, 6-2, 210) who has first-round tools, but pro scouts still just aren’t quite sure as he just doesn’t make enough NFL type throws. At the same time, other Texas prospects to watch include RT Cameron Williams (#56, 6-5, 335), TE Gunnar Helm (#85, 6-5, 250), S Andrew Mukuba (#4, 6-0, 190), a Clemson transfer who figures to be one of the leading prospects at that position next April, DE Trey Moore (#8, 6-3, 245), DT Alfred Collins (#91, 6-5, 320), DE Barryn Sorrell (#88, 6-4, 260), CB Jahdae Barron (#7, 5-11, 200) and LB David Gbenda (#33, 6-0, 235).
OREGON v OHIO STATE; ROSE BOWL, Pasadena; 5 PM ET; ESPN: The Rose features a rematch of what may very well have been the game of the year in college football when the Ducks edged the Buckeyes by one in Eugene earlier in the year. The Rose Bowl even sort of looks like a traditional Rose Bowl with Ohio State from the Big 10 and Oregon from the Pac-12, but of course that conference is no more and the Ducks are actually big 10 champs. hard to keep track. It may also be hard to keep track of the players as there are quality prospects on both sides. In particular, Ohio State may have as many top prospects as any team in the country, although they don’t necessarily have anyone who is a legitimate lock to be an opening round pick this coming April. What they do have, though, is multiple players with at least a second-day grade including the dynamic RB duo of Quinshon Judkins (#1, 6-0, 220), who transferred up from Mississippi this year, and RB Tre’veyon Henderson (#32, 5-10, 215), along with WR Emeka Egbuka (#2, 6-0, 210), OG Donovan Jackson (#74, 6-3, 320), DEs JT Tuimoloau (#44, 6-4, 275) and Jack Sawyer (#33, 6-4, 265), DT Tyleik Williams (#91, 6-2, 290), CBs Denzel Burke (#10, 6-1, 195), Davison Igbinosun (#1, 6-1, 190) and Jordan Hancock (#7, 6-0, 190), LBs Cody Simon (#0, 6-2, 235) and Sonny Styles (#6, 6-3, 230), and S Lathan Ranson (#8, 6-1, 210). However, the key for Ohio State going forward could be QB Will Howard (#18, 6-4, 240), who was among the leaders in passing efficiency this fall, although he’ll have to make do without two of his top offensive linemen as both LT Josh Simmons and C Seth McLaughlin are out for the rest of the campaign. Howard, though, will have electric freshman WR Jeremiah Smith (#4, 6-2, 200) who may already be the Buckeyes’ best player after he hauled in 63 passes for over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs in his first season in college football.
Oregon is also led by a super productive transfer QB in Dillon Gabriel (#8, 5-11, 200), a gunslinger who came over from Oklahoma who was 2nd in the country this fall with a 73% completion mark while throwing for 3,600 yards and 28 TDs against just 6 picks. At barely 5-11, Gabriel isn’t quite the prospect as some of the other top passers in college football over the past few years, but he gives up nothing in terms of accuracy, route anticipation and pocket awareness. Gabriel has the benefit 0f a trio of excellent WR targets to work with in veteran possession receiver Tez Johnson (#15, 5-10, 165), speedy Evan Stewart (#7, 6-0, 175), and Traeshon Holden (1, 6-2, 205). For good measure, the Ducks also feature one of the better TEs in the country in Terrence Ferguson (#3, 6-5, 255). The Ducks also feature one of the best 1-2 OT combination in the country in LT Josh Conerly (#76, 6-4, 315) and RT Ajani Cornelius (#65, 6-5, 315), while Jordan James (#20, 5-10, 220) is an effective back. On the other side of the ball, Derrick Harmon (#55, 6-3, 310), one of the fastest risers in this year’s draft at this time, along with DE Jordan Burch (#1, 6-5, 295), an immense physical talent who finally put it together on the field this year, and DT Jamaree Caldwell (#61, 6-1, 340), another stout interior defender. There’s a similar story at LB where the Ducks rotate Jeff Bassa (#2, 6-2, 235), Jestin Jacobs (#4, 6-3, 235) and Bryce Boettcher (#28, 6-2, 225), while CB Jabbar Muhammad (#7, 5-10, 185), a ball-hawking transfer from Washington, leads a talented secondary, that also includes S Tysheem Johnson (#0, 5-10, 200).
GEORGIA v NOTRE DAME; Sugar Bowl, New Orleans; 8;45 PM ET; ESPN: The CFP quarters wrap up with a classic match-up of storied programs in Georgia and Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. And while both teams generally recruit nothing but high school All-Americans, who advances to next month’s semi-finls may come down to something of a non-entity if Georgia QB Gunner Stockton (#14, 6-1, 215), a former walk-on who replaces Carson Beck who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last week, can rise to the occasion. Stockton held up well enough when he came off the bench after Beck was injured in the SEC championship and led the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind win over Texas. This, however, is a different stage. Fortunately, for Georgia, though, they are pretty much loaded just about everywhere else including at least potential first rounders in DE Mykel Williams (#13, 6-5, 265), who if he ever could get healthy could conceivably work his way into the top pick overall discussion as he has all the tools to be the next great pass-rusher in the NFL, LB/ER Jalon Walker (#11, 6-2, 245), an athletic, versatile OLB who leads the team in sacks has been something of a revelation this fall, and star safety Malachi Starks (#24, 6-0, 205), one of the most dynamic impact defenders in college football. The Bulldogs also feature one of the best offensive lines in the country including LT Earnest Greene (#71, 6-4, 320), OG Dylan Fairchild (#53, 6-4, 315), RT Xavier Truss (#73, 6-6, 320) and C Jared Wilson (#55, 6-3, 210); Fairchild and Wilson, in particular, are considered to be among the top prospects at their respective positions. Meanwhile, other Bulldogs to watch include RB Travis Etienne (#1, 5-9, 205), DT Nazir Stackhouse (#78, 6-3, 320), WR Dominic Lovett (#6, 5-10, 190), LB Smael Mondon (#2, 6-2, 235), and TEs Oscar Delp (#4, 6-4, 245) and Ben Yurosek (#84, 6-4, 245).
On the other hand, Notre Dame won’t have any first rounders on the field against Indiana because star CB Ben Morrison, the Irish’s only opening first-round candidate is out for the year after undergoing hip surgery. However, if the Irish have an edge it could be at QB where Riley Leonard (#13, 6-3, 220) has been around. Meanwhile, other Notre Dame players to watch include WR Beaux Collins (#5, 6-2, 210), TE Mitch Evans (#88, 6-5, 260), DT Howard Cross (#56, 6-2, 280), DE RJ Oben (#9, 6-3, 265), LB Jack Kiser (#24, 6-2, 230) and S Xavier Watts (#0, 6-0, 205).