#6 Penn State (6-0) at #3 Ohio State (6-0); Noon ET; Fox … We have said jokingly – sort of – in recent years that the Big Ten was somewhat misnamed. Not because it actually has 14 (and soon to be 18) teams, but because it has been more like the Big Three and a Bunch of Other Teams as Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State have been the only teams that really mattered. Of course, that will very likely change next fall when Southern Cal, Washington, Oregon and UCLA migrate to the conference. For now, though, it is still mostly just the Big Three and two of those teams square off on Saturday when #3 Ohio State hosts #6 Penn State. And just for the record, Michigan plays at Penn State on November 11th, while the Wolverines host Ohio State on November 25th.
And while the PSU-OSU matchup has the potential to be a great one for fans, its also a great one for pro scouts as both teams feature top 5 prospects for the 2024 draft. Buckeyes’ WR Marvin Harrison (#18, 6-4, 205), for example, is arguably the best prospect in the entire draft class not named Caleb Williams, while Penn State OT Olu Fashanu (#74, 6-6, 320) isn’t all that far behind. Indeed, pro scouts are really looking forward to Fashanu being tested by Ohio State DEs J.T. Tuimoloau (#44, 6-4, 275) and Jack Sawyer (#33, 6-4, 265), both of whom could ultimately get some late first-round interest of their own.
In fact, the Buckeyes have prospects, if not multiple prospects, at just about every position. Along with Harrison, for example, the Buckeyes’ WR room, which also includes Emeka Egbuka (#2, 6-1, 210), who has some top 10-15 potential of his own, and veteran Julian Fleming (#4, 6-2, 210), may be the best in the country. Same story for the Buckeyes’ defensive line which features DTs Michael Hall (#51, 6-2, 290) and Tyleik Williams (#91, 6-2, 290), along with DEs Tuimoloau and Sawyer. Meanwhile, CB Denzel Burke (#10, 6-1, 195), along with veteran safeties Luther Ranson (#8, 6-1, 210) and Josh Proctor (#41, 6-1, 205) head the secondary, while Tommie Eichenberg (#35, 6-2, 240) and Steele Chambers (#22, 6-1, 235) clean up MLB. Back on offence, RB Tre’Veyon Henderson (#32, 5-10, 215) should be one of the first RBs off the board next April if he is healthy after missing most of the 2022 campaign with a broken foot, while Cade Stover (#8, 6-4, 255) is a reliable TE. The Buckeyes did have had to replace both starting OTs, but return one of the best OG tandems in the country in Donovan Jackson (#74, 6-4, 320) and Matt Jones (#55, 6-4, 315).
The Nittany Lions don’t have quite the depth of Ohio State’s draft class, but may have just as much upfront talent as the Buckeyes. CB Kalen King (#4, 5-10, 90), for example, is currently considered to be one of the top 2-3 corners for this year’s draft with mid-round potential potential, while the appropriately named DE Chop Robinson (#44, 6-3, 255) is another mid-to-late first round candidate. Penn State also has a couple of rising prospects in WR Keandre Lambert-Smith (#1, 6-1, 185) and DE Adisa Isaac (#20, 6-3, 250) who actually leads the team with 7.5 sacks. For good measure, the Nittany Lions also feature several of the very best young players in the country in QB Drew Allar (#15, 6-5, 245), RBs Nicholas Singleton (#10, 6-0, 225) and Kaytron Allen (#13, 5-11, 225) and LB Abdul Carter (#116-3, 250).
There are in fact, three other games on Saturday between ranked teams including #17 Tennessee (5-1) at #11 Alabama (6-1); #16 Duke (5-1) at #4 Florida State (6-0); and #14 Utah (5-1) at #18 Southern California (6-1). And each game has at least one potentially intriguing draft morsel on which to chew. Indeed, the most compelling might be in the nightcap when USC hosts Utah (8 PM ET; Fox) in a game in which the CFP playoff hopes are on the line for both teams. At the same time, pro scouts will be looking for a bounce back performance from Trojans’ QB Caleb Williams, the consensus favorite to be the first player selected at the 2024 draft after a couple of subpar outings including a real clunker against Notre Dame last weekend when he barely had 200 passing yards and had three passes picked off. For the record, Williams only had 5 picks all of 2022. Folks might also want to check out Utah DE Jonah Elliss (#83, 6-2, 250) who leads all FBS teams with 9 sacks.
There is a similar situation in the Duke-Florida State contest (7:30 PM ET; ABC) in which pro scouts will be watching closely when FSU ER Jared Verse (#5, 6-4, 260) goes up against a quality offensive lineman in Duke OT Graham Barton (#62, 6-5, 315). Verse entered the season as the top-rated edge rusher for the upcoming draft after he posted 9 sacks last fall, but he’s had just 2.5 so far this fall and just has not been as dynamic or disruptive.
Arguably, the most interesting game of the weekend, other than the Penn State-Ohio State Big Ten class, could be the SEC tilt between Tennessee and Alabama (3:30 PM ET; CBS) in what could be a real test of the Tide’s national championship hopes. Alabama is still winning, but they just don’t appear to be the juggernaut they have been much of the past decade; they are still one of the most talented teams in the country when it comes to the draft, but they just don’t have the skill players we have been accustomed to seeing in Tuscaloosa. And Tennessee could prove to be a real challenge. The Vols have some solid producers at their skill positions including QB Joe Milton (#7, 6-5, 235) and RBs Jaylen Wright (#0, 5-11-, 210) and Jabari Smart (#2, 5-11, 215), while Cooper Mays (#63, 6-3, 305) anchors a big, veteran offensive. However, what makes the Vols’ really special is a very good defence led by athletic ILB Aaron Beasley (#6, 6-1, 225) who leads the team in tackles for a second straight year and can make plays both rushing the passer and in coverage; underrated CB Kamal Hadden (#5, 6-1, 200) who has prototype length and good ball skills; and DEs James Pearce (#27, 6-5, 245), a rising sophomore who figures to be one of the top prospects in 2025, and Tyler Baron (#9, 6-5, 260). Both are averaging close to a sack per game this fall and figure to give the Bama OTs, including JC Latham (#65, 6-6, 360), a potential top ten pick this coming spring, a real test. Of course, the Tide have an explosive guy coming off the edge of their own in Dallas Turner (#15, 6-4, 245) who has 7 sacks so far this fall as he has established himself as the top ER prospect for the upcoming draft with top 5 potential.
