Given that there aren’t any real must-see games on the college football schedule this weekend we’ll be taking the opportunity to check out some of the players mentioned as on the rise in this week’s post introducing the latest GBN Big Board. Start with Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton (#60, 6-6, 330) when the #6 Sooners (7-0) play at Kansas (5-2) at Noon ET on Fox. While he’s relatively new to the position, Guyton is a very athletic 330-pounder who actually was originally recruited to play H-back. He helps anchor a very good OU offensive front that also includes LT Walter Rouse (#75, 6-6, 325) and C Andrew Raym (#73, 6-4, 305), a pair of veterans with early third day potential, while MLB Danny Stutsman (#28, 6-4, 240), a late second-day type, leads the defence. The Sooners also have a very talented QB in Dillon Gabriel (#8, 5-11, 205), arguably the Big XII’s leading Heisman candidate, although at barely 5-11, he’s more a later-round draft prospect. Kansas doesn’t have quite the talent level of Oklahoma, but they have proven to be a very pesky out this year with a lineup that features RB Devin Neal (#4, 5-11, 215), S Kenny Logan (#1, 6-0, 210) and CB Cobee Bryant (#2, 6-0, 170).
Neither South Carolina (2-5) nor Texas A&M (4-3), who also play at Noon ET on ESPN are all that close to being ranked, but both do have a rising prospect for the upcoming draft in SC WR Xavier Legette (#17, 6-3, 230), a big-play threat who is averaging over 19 yards per catch this fall, and A&M DT McKinnley Jackson (#3, 6-2, 325), a wide-body run stuffer who can get upfield. The ‘big’ game in the SEC, though is at 3:30 PM ET when #1 ranked Georgia (7-0) plays Florida (5-2) in their annual shoot-out in Jacksonville. Unfortunately, neither of the Bulldogs best prospects – TE Brock Bowers and OT Amarius Mims – are playing because of injuries. As such, the guy to watch here might be Gators’ DE Princely Umanmielen (#1, 6-5, 255) a rising ER who has intriguing length, agility and motor. Across the dial at 3:30 PM ET on Saturday on ABC, people might also want to check out BYU OT Kingsley Saumataia (#78, 325) when the Cougars (5-2) play Texas (6-1), who will be without star QB Quinn Ewers.
If there is a ‘big’ game this weekend its probably when #8 Oregon (6-1) faces #13 Utah (6-1) also at 3:30 PM ET on Fox with the loser likely dropping out of the chase for a spot in the Pac-12 championship game. Oregon is led by QB Bo Nix (#10, 6-2, 220) who has put together an excellent season to date which has been helped by the fact that he has a terrific receiver to work with in WR Troy Franklin (#11, 6-2, 195), a rising second-day candidate who has been averaging around 17 yards per catch so far this fall. Same for underrated RB Bucky Irving (#0, 5-10, 195), who isn’t all that big, but is an elusive runner who has been averaging around 8 yards per carry this season, while he’s also a good receiver who can make plays in space. The Ducks also have a couple of DEs with second day possibilities in Brandon Dorlus (#3, 6-3, 290) and Jordan Burch (#1, 6-6, 290), both of who have good size with the potential to contribute as 5-tech DEs in a 3-4 scheme with the pass-rush ability to kick inside on passing downs. In fact, the Ducks-Utes dual looks to be something of an ER fest as Utah has one of the most productive DEs in the country in Jonah Elliss (#83, 6-2, 250) who is a little undersized, but is quick, agile and has a Bosa/Crosby type motor. And for the record. he’s among the top sackers in the country to date with 10. Meanwhile, S Cole Bishop (#8, 6-2, 210) is also a good one who can make plays in coverage as well as in the backfield.
Lastly, for those that still haven’t had quite their fill of the Prime Sanders hype at Colorado, the 4-3 Buffs will be in LA to play UCLA (5-2) at 7:30 PM ET Saturday evening. Of course, it’s one more chance to check out Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, who continues to play well despite the Buffs current three game skid. The player we will be watching most closely, though, will be UCLA DE/OLB Laiatu Latu (#15, 6-5, 265), another very good pass rusher coming off the edge who has 6.5 sacks so far this fall.
