#2 OHIO STATE (7-) at #13 PENN STATE (6-1); Noon ET; FOX … Okay, so its called the Big Ten. But they actually have 14 teams. And it really should be called the Big Three and a bunch of other teams. The three of course are Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State and two will meet on Saturday when the 2nd ranked Buckeyes play the #13 Nittany Lions on Saturday. From a purely draft perspective, the big question in this one is how much star OSU WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (#11, 6-0, 200) plays. Smith-Njigba was considered to be a top ten prospect heading into the season, but hasn’t played much this fall because of a lingering hamstring injury. That hasn’t the Buckeyes’ offense much as sophomores Marvin Harrison (#18, 6-3, 205) and Emeka Egbuka (#2, 6-1, 205) have more than picked up the pace, although neither is draft eligible until next year. Same for RB Treveyon Henderson (#32, 5-10, 215), one of the best backs in the country. Of course, the Buckeyes also have plenty of talent for this year’s draft starting with QB CJ Stroud (#7, 6-3, 215) who is still very much part of the discussion to be the #1 player selected this coming April. The Buckeyes also have arguably the top OT combination in the country in LT Paris Johnson (#77, 6-5, 310), a third OSU top ten prospect, and massive RT Dawand Jones (#79, 6-7, 350), while other OSU players to watch include RB Miyan Williams (#3. 5-8, 225), WR Julian Fleming (#4, 6-1, 205), OG Matt Jones (#55, 6-3, 315), DE Zach Harrison (#9, 6-6, 270), safety Ronnie Hickman (#14, 6-1, 205), and CBs Cameron Brown (#26, 6-0, 190) and CB Denzel Burke (#5, 6-0, 195), although the latter also isn’t draft eligible this year.
Penn State doesn’t have quite the depth of talent as Ohio State, but does have a top 10-15 prospect of its own in athletic CB Joey Porter (#9, 6-1, 200) who could ultimately be in the mix to be the first corner off the board this coming April. Certainly, he’ll get the chance to shine covering the OSU receivers. Meanwhile, RSO LT Olumuyiwa Fashanu (#74, 6-6, 310) is a rising star on the offensive line, while FS Ji’Ayir Brown (#16, 5-11, 205), WRs Parker Washington (#3, 5-10, 215), and Mitch Tinsley (#5, 6-0, 205), and widebody NT PJ Mustipher (#97, 6-3, 320) could each get at least some second-day consideration.
#9 OKLAHOMA STATE (6-1) at #22 KANSAS STATE (5-2); 3:30 PM ET; FOX … If the Big XII has any hope of getting a team in the CFP playoff its 7th ranked Texas Christian, the conference’s only remaining unbeaten team. However, the winner of Saturday’s Oklahoma State-Kansas State game will have the inside track to to be the other team in the conference’s championship game. The real reason to watch this game, though, is to check out a trio of very good KSU prospects that haven’t gotten a lot of national media coverage to date. However, pro scouts keep gushing about KSU DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (#91, 6-4, 255), one of the most disruptive edge rushers in college football who is also among the country’s sack leaders with 6.5. Meanwhile, RB Deuce Vaughn (#22, 5-6, 175) may very well be the smallest player in all of FBS, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in speed and quickness as he is averaging over 100 rushing yards per game and is among the nation’s leaders in total offense from scrimmage. At the same time, veteran OG Cooper Beebe (#50, 6-4, 325) has some late second-day potential, while MLB Daniel Green (6-2, 245) is an underrated inside backer.
For its part, Oklahoma State isn’t likely to have any selected until the third but still scores points by the bushel with a wide-open offense led by QB Spencer Sanders (#3, 6-1, 210) who probably isn’t a big-time pro recruit but is also very efficient college passer. He has an intriguing third-day type receiver in WR Brayden Johnson (#8, 6-0, 210) a big-play threat who is averaging over 21 yards per reception so far this year, while he could be joined in the later rounds by DEs Brock Martin (#9, 6-3, 245) and Tyler Lacy (#84, 6-3, 285) and saftey Jason Taylor (#25, 6-0, 215).
FLORIDA (4-3) vs #1 GEORGIA (7-0); 3:30 PM ET; CBS … The annual Florida-Georgia game ‘between the hedges’ lacks the usual national implications as the Gators already have three losses and aren’t ranked. However, it’s a great chance to take another long look at Florida QB Anthony Richardson (#15, 6-3, 215) who pro scouts will tell you has the best overall package of tools of any QB in the 2023 draft field including size, athleticism and arm talent. Unfortunately, the productivity just hasn’t been there this year as Richardson has completed less than 57% of his pass attempts so far this fall and has more picks (7) than TD passes. Still, if he does ultimately opt to enter this year’s draft some team will surely grab him with an early pick just on the physical potential alone. Certainly, Richardson will have a chance to upgrade his grade when he faces Georgia D, the top defense in the country that includes at least three top 15 prospects for this year’s draft including DT Jalen Carter (#88, 6-3, 300), CB Kelee Ringo (#5, 6-2, 210) and ER Nolan Smith (#4, 6-3, 235), along with several second-day candidates including FS Tykee Smith (#23, 5-10, 200) and CB Chris Smith (#29, 5-11, 195). Meanwhile, other Gators to watch include OG O’Cyrus Torrence (#54, 6-5, 345), DT Gervon Dexter (#9, 6-6, 315), OLBs Brenton Cox (#1, 6-3, 255) and Ventrell Miller (#51, 6-0, 225) and safety Trey Dean (#0, 6-2, 210).
#19 KENTUCKY (5-2) at #3 TENNESSEE (7-0); 7 PM ET; ESPN … THE big game in the SEC this year, and maybe even the FBS, comes up next weekend when #3 Tennessee travels to Georgia to play the top-rated Bulldogs. The Vol, still have to take care of business against Kentucky in a game featuring a head-to-head match-up between QBs QB Hendon Hooker (#5, 6-2, 215) of Tennessee and UK’s Will Levis (#7, 6-3, 235), both of whom are considered to be among the top 4 QB prospects for the upcoming year. Hooker, in particular, has started to generate a lot of Heisman buzz as he has completed just over 70% of his passes including 18 for scores against just one pick. Levis also has completed around 70% of his throws with 13 TD throws and 5 picks as he battled some minor injuries much of the season.
Hooker’s job is made easier with the presence of WRs Cedric Tillman (#4, 6-3, 215) and Jalin Hyatt (#11, 6-2, 205), both of whom have at least some first-round potential. Hyatt, in particualr has been a revelation as he is averaging 19 yards per reception and has 12 TD catches in the Vols’ 7 games. At the same time, the Vols have several other interesting pro prospects including mammoth RT Darnell Wright (#58, 6-6, 335), DE Byron Young (#6, 6-3, 245), LB Jeremy Banks (#33, 6-1, 225), each of whom has at least some late-second day potential.For its part, Kentucky has one of the best backs in the country in Chris Rodriquez (#24, 5-11, 225), who led the SEC in rushing last year, but will have some explaining to do at pre-draft interviews as this will be his first game of the year after having been suspended the first month of the schedule as a result of a DWI incident this past spring. Meanwhile, other Wildcats to watch include OG Kenneth Horsey (#68, 6-3, 305), WR Tayvion Robinson (#9, 5-11, 190), and LBs Jacquez Jones (#10, 6-0, 235) and DeAndre Square (#5, 6-0, 225),
