#14 LSU (6-2) at #8 Alabama (7-1); 7:45 PM ET; CBS … This year’s version of the Tide-Bayou Tigers rivalry doesn’t necessarily have the national implications of some recent games between the two, but it is critical to the conference race as the winner gets the inside track on the SEC West’s spot in the conference title game, almost assuredly against Georgia. However, while this game has lost a little luster, at least for this year, it is still Alabama versus LSU and there will be a ton of NFL draft talent on the field Saturday evening. In fact, it’s hard to know where to begin, although LSU QB Jayden Daniels (#5, 6-4, 210) would be a pretty good starting spot. The dual-threat Daniels has quietly put up Heisman-like numbers so far this fall as he has completed 73% of his pass attempts for over 320 yards per game and 25 TDs against just 3 picks; for good measure he’s also run for another 500-plus yards and 5 more scores. And with that production, Daniels has been moving up boards across the NFL, but its not totally clear at this point what the consensus is on his grade right now. Daniels has certainly benefited this fall from throwing to two of the top receivers in the country in Malik Nabers (#8, 6-0, 200) and Brian Thomas (#11, 6-4, 205). Nabers, a speedster who leads the country in receiving yards per game, in fact, has emerged as one of the top 3-4 prospects at the position for the upcoming draft, while the rangy Thomas, who like Nabers is averaging over 17 yards per reception this fall and has 11 TD catches so far this season, is just starting to catch the attention of pro scouts. The Tigers also have a couple of young intriguing prospects on defence in DT Maason Smith (#0, 6-5, 310) and DE Savion Jones (#35, 6-6, 275), both of whom are full-sized freakish athletes with great motors, but neither has had the expected breakout season to date this fall. Smith, in particular, looked all the part of top 5-10 pick during a breakout freshman year in 2021, but tore an ACL last fall and does not appear to have fully regained that form yet. They are in fact part of an LSU that also includes DT Mehki Wingo (#18, 6-1, 295), a solid second-day candidate in his own right, while LB Omar Speights (#1, 6-1, 235) and safety Andre Sam (#14, 6-0, 190) are later round candidates. Meanwhile, the Tigers also have some of the best young talent in the country not eligible for the upcoming draft including dynamic DE Harold Perkins (#4, 6-0, 220), OT Will Campbell (#66, 6-6, 315) and TE Mason Taylor (#86, 6-6, 255).
While Alabama is 7-1 and ranked in the top 10 it has not been the kind of dominating season that people have come to expect in Tuscaloosa. However, the Tide, who have had at least one player selected in the opening round for a record 15 straight years as well as at least one top ten pick in each of the past 5 years, still figure to be a major player at the 2024 draft. In fact, there is every chance in the world that Alabama will be back in the top ten again this coming spring as they have at least a couple of prospects with top 10 potential in ER Dallas Turner (#15, 6-4, 245) and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (#1, 6-0, 195), both of whom are currently considered to be the top prospects at their respective positions. The Tide also has at least one more player with first-round potential in rising OT JC Latham (#65, 6-5, 360), while DE Justin Eboigbe (#92, 6-4, 295), TE CJ Dippre (#81, 6-5, 260), RB Jase McClellan (#2, 5-11, 215), WR Jermaine Burton (#3, 6-0, 195), CB Terrion Arnold (#3, 6-0, 195), LB Chris Braswell (#41, 6-2, 255), S Jaylen Key (#6, 6-1, 210) and NB (#13, 6-0, 200) are all later round candidates, although truth be told, the Alabama draft class won’t necessarily have the same kind of depth it has had in recent years.
#5 Washington (8-0) at #20 Southern California (7-2); 7:30 PM ET; ABC … This is another game that was red-circled prior to the start of the season, but has lost some of its luster after USC lost a couple of games; however, only one of those was a conference game so the Trojans are still very much alive in the conference. The game also features two of the best QBs in the country in Caleb Williams (#13, 6-1, 220) of USC and Washington’s Michael Penix (#9, 6-3, 215). Williams, the returning Heisman Trophy winner, is of course the consensus favorite to be the first player selected this coming April, while Penix appears to be the leader of this year’s Heisman race as he leads the country with 370 passing yards per game as he has completed 69% of his throws, while throwing for 24 scores. Pro scouts, though, are a little more divided on Penix, who is a very accurate, instinctive passer, but has a somewhat complicated injury history and isn’t very mobile.
It certainly hasn’t hurt Penix’ chances that’s he’s throwing to one of the better receiver corps in the nation featuring Rome Odunze (#1, 6-3, 215), who appears to be in the mix to be one of the first 4-5 receivers off the board next April, rising junior Ja’Lynn Polk (#2, 6-2, 205) and veteran possession receiver Jalen McMillan (#11, 6-0, 195). The Huskies offence also features one of the hottest offensive linemen in this year’s draft class in LT Troy Fantanu (#55, 6-4, 320), another potential first-rounder, though he may have to ultimately kick inside as lacks prototype length for an OT. For good measure, the Huskies also have one of the better rush-end pairs in college football in DEs Bralen Trice (#8, 6-4, 275) and Zion Tupuola-Fetui (#4, 6-4, 255), although they have combined for only three sacks so far this year and will likely be looking for something of a breakout game versus the Ducks.
Meanwhile, all USC and QB Caleb Williams (#13, 6-1, 220), the consensus favorite to be the first player selected at the 2024 draft, can stop the bleeding as they have lost 2 of their last 4 games, while just squeaking out wins in the other two.
#12 Missouri (7-1) at #2 Georgia (8-0); 3:30 PM ET; CBS … Not many people had this one red-circled at the start of the season, but it looks very much like the 7-1 Tigers may represent the last real remaining obstacle between Georgia and yet another spot in the CFP playoffs. And while Missouri are pretty big underdogs, especially on the road, they also aren’t chopped liver. Indeed, the Tigers have something of a rising second-day draft prospect in CB Kris Abrams-Draine (#7, 5-11, 170) who isn’t all that big, but is a ball-hawker with 4 picks and 10 total pass break-ups so far this season, while OLB Ty’Ron Hopper (#8, 6-2, 230) leads a defensive front which also includes DE Darius Robinson (#6, 6-5, 290) that can get after the QB. Meanwhile, QB Brady Cook (#12, 6-2, 205) runs a wide-open offence that includes RB Cody Schrader (#7, 5-9, 215), who is averaging over 100 yards per game so far this year, and veteran OT Javon Foster (#76, 6-5, 320). The Tigers best prospect, though, is sophomore WR Luther Burden (#3, 5-11, 215) who is 5th in the country with 113 receiving yards per game, but won’t be draft eligible until 2025.
Unfortunately, neither TE Brock Bowers nor OT Amarius Mims, Georgia’s top two prospects for 2024, will be playing Saturday because of injury., although it hardly seems to matter to the Dawgs who just keep rolling in large part because they still win mostly with defence. Indeed, Georgia appears to have quality prospects at just about every position on the D with the headliners including DT Nazir Stackhouse (#78, 6-2, 320), LBs Jamon Dumas-Johnson (#10, 6-1, 245) and Smael Mondon (#2, 6-3, 225), CB Kamari Lassiter (#3, 6-0, 180) and safeties Javon Bullard (#22, 5-11, 105) and Tylee Smith (#23, 5-10, 205). However, the unit’s best prospects are actually sophomores DE Mykel Williams (#13, 6-5, 265) and S Malachi Starks (21, 6-1, 205), both of whom figure to be elite prospects in 2025. Meanwhile, players to watch when Georgia has the ball include C Sedric Van Pran (#63, 6-4, 310), arguably the top prospect at the position for the upcoming draft, along with OT Xavier Truss (#73, 6-6, 320) and WR Dominic Lovett (#6, 5-10, 190).
Bonus (Big XII) coverage … It is looking like its going to be something of a longshot for the Big XII to get a team into the CFL playoff this year; however, that doesn’t diminish the fact that the conference has a great race going on for the two spots in the league championship game next month. Indeed, there are 5 teams tied for the conference lead at 4-1 and 4 of them will be going head-to-head in what are virtually elimination games this weekend when #23 Kansas State (6-2) plays at #7 Texas (7-1) at Noon ET on Saturday on Fox, while #9 Oklahoma (7-1) plays at #22 Oklahoma State (6-2) at 3:30 PM ET on ABC in the final Bedlam game, at least as part of the BigXII/8 conference. In the first game, we are looking forward to watching K-State OG Cooper Beebe (#50, 6-3, 335), arguably the top prospect at the position for the upcoming draft, especially when he goes against massive Texas NT D’Vondre Sweat (#93, 6-4, 365). Meanwhile, Bedlam will give folks a chance to check out what all the fuss is about regarding OSU sophomore RB Ollie Gordon (0, 6-0, 215) who is leading the country in rushing with over 135 yards per game. We’ll see him goes against Sooners’ MLB Danny Stutsman (#28, 6-1, 240) who is averaging close to 10 stops per game. Its also another chance to check out OU OT Tyler Guyton (#60, 6-6, 330), the hottest prospect on the OL for the upcoming draft, if not the whole draft class period!
