#7 NOTRE DAME (2-0) at #3 GEORGIA (3-0); 8 PM ET; CBS … Expect plenty of fireworks on Saturday evening when traditional powers Notre Dame plays at Georgia in a game with significant national playoff implications for both teams. Athens will also be a must stop for NFL scouts as both teams also have plenty of likely talent available for the 2020 draft. It starts with junior QBs Ian Book (#12, 6-0, 215) of the Irish and UGA’s Jake Fromm (#11, 6-2, 220), both of whom are considered to be Top 100 candidates for the upcoming draft. Fromm, in particular, looks to have legit early first round potential, while Book, who at barely 6-0 is a little shorter than NFL teams generally like their QBs, but who is smart and athletic, figures to be more a later second-day prospect.
Meanwhile, this game also features what could be the weekend’s best one-on-one match-up when Georgia OT Andrew Thomas (#71, 6-5, 320) faces Notre Dame DE Juliian Okwara (#42, 6-4, 250), particularly on passing downs. Both are rising juniors who are among the best prospects in the country at their respective positions. Indeed, it won’t be any surprise at all if Thomas is ultimately the first offensive lineman off the board this coming April, possibly as early as the top 5-10 picks, while Okwara is an emerging second-day prospect coming off an 8-sack season last fall.
Georgia has a third possible first-round candidate for 2020 in junior RB D’Andre Swift (#7, 5-9, 215), an explosive slasher who ran for over 1,000 yards last fall when he shared carries in a crowded backfield. At the same time, veteran safety J.R. Reed (#20, 6-1, 195) could give the Dawgs yet another possible top 100 candidate. Meanwhile, other Georgia seniors who could get later round or free agent interest include WR Tyler Simmons (#87, 6-0, 200), who is also a good return artist, TE Charlie Woemer (#89, 6-5, 245), DE Tyler Clark (#52, 6-3, 300), NT Michael Bennett (#94, 6-3, 305), DE David Marshall (#51, 6-3, 275) and MLB Tae Crowder (#30, 6-2, 235).
Along with DE Okwara, Notre Dame’s best prospect for the 2020 draft could be rugged junior OG Tommy Kraemer (#78, 6-5, 320) who also carries an early-to-mid second day grade, while WR Chase Claypool (#83, 6-3, 230), has mid-round potential. Other Notre Dame veterans with later round or free agent possibilities include WR Chris Finke (#10, 5-9, 185), RB Tony Jones (#6, 5-10, 225), OLB Asmir Bilal (#22, 6-2, 230), CBs Troy Pride (#5, 5-10, 195) and Shaun Crawford (#20, 5-9, 180) and safeties Jalen Elliott (#21, 6-0, 210) and Alohi Gilman (#11, 5-10, 205).
#11 MICHIGAN (2-0) at #13 WISCONSIN (2-0); Noon ET; FOX … Pretty nice way to start the football weekend with a key early season BIG TEN battle between perennial contenders Michigan and Wisconsin. Certainly, the pressure is on at Michigan where a loss to the Badgers would put the Wolverines behind the 8-ball (not to mention THE Ohio State) in the divisional standings, especially after a stumbling start to the season which included an ugly overtime win at home over Army. And much of the pressure at Michigan is on QB Shea Patterson (#2, 6-2, 205), who entered the season with visions of being part of the Heisman discussion, but who has struggled with consistency in the early going to date. The Wolverines are also looking for more production from star junior WR Tarik Black (#7, 6-3, 215) who’s been held to just 7 catches in the UM’s first two games. There is some good news for the Wolverines, though, as veteran LT Jon Runyan (#75, 6-5, 310) returns to the lineup after missing those first two games with an undisclosed injury. Runyan should strengthen an already strong Michigan offensive front that also includes OGs Ben Bredenson (#74, 6-4, 320) and Michael Onwenu (#50, 6-3, 350). Runyan, in particular, has some early second day potential, while Bredenson could figure in the mix early on the third day. Meanwhile, the Wolverines have a quality Top 100 prospect on defense in veteran CB Lavert Hill (#24, 5-11, 185), while DE Josh Uche (#6, 6-2, 240), DT Carlo Kemp (#2, 6-3, 280), OLB Khaleke Hutchinson (#7, 6-0, 220) and safety Josh Metellus (#14, 6-0, 205).
From the ‘what else is new’ file: Wisconsin can run the ball. Indeed, the Badgers have arguably the most productive back in the country in junior RB Jonathan Taylor (#23, 5-10, 220) who ran for a remarkable 2,200 yards less fall. In fact, Taylor has run for over 4,000 yards in his first two years and should get plenty of consideration as the first back off the board this spring. However, Taylor isn’t the Badgers’ best prospect; that honor goes to junior C Tyler Biadasz (#61, 6-5, 325), a mid-first round candidate who could very well be the best offensive lineman in the country. The Badgers could also have an intriguing prospect at WR in junior Quintez Cephus (#87, 6-1, 210), who is averaging almost 19 yards per catch through the first couple of games of the year. That Cephus is actually in uniform for the Badgers is a longshot as he didn’t play at all in 2018 after being charged with domestic violence and was only re-instated just prior to the season when a grand jury failed to return an indictment. Should be interesting when Cephus matches up with UM CB Hill. Unfortunately, there is a big drop-off to the next tier of Wisconsin prospects, though, WR AJ Taylor (#4, 5-10, 200), OG jason Erdmann (#78, 6-5, 330) and MLB Zack Baun (#56, 6-2, 235) are later round candidates.
