#14 CLEMSON (9-4) vs #1 GEORGIA (13-1); Atlanta, Noon ET; ABC … What a way to kick-off the college season with a couple of perennial national contenders Clemson and Georgia facing off in Atlanta. Indeed, the two schools have combined to win 4 of the last 10 national championships and one of the two has been in 7 of the past 10 CFP title games. And Georgia, which was denied a shot at a 3rd straight national title last fall when the Bulldogs were upset by Alabama in the SEC championship game last December for their only loss, will almost assuredly be back in the mix this year with a deep roster headed by QB Carson Beck (#15, 6-3, 220) who could ultimately get some consideration to be the first player selected next April. For the record, Beck threw for just under 4,000 yards and 24 scores last fall while completing 72% of his throws with just 6 picks. Beck could be joined in next year’s opening round by safety Malachi Starks (#24, 6-0, 205), one of the most dynamic impact defenders in college football. In the end, though, the Bulldogs best prospect could ultimately be DE Mykel Williams (#13, 6-5, 265) who didn’t necessarily have a dominant year last fall, but has all the tools to be the next great pass-rusher in the NFL. The Bulldogs also feature one of the best offensive lines in the country anchored by LT Earnest Greene (#71, 6-4, 320), another possible first rounder next fall, while OGs Tate Ratledge (#69, 6-5, 320) and Dylan Fairchild (#53, 6-4, 315) and RT Xavier Truss (73, 6-6, 320) have mid-round potential. Same for DT Nazir Stackhouse (#78, 6-3, 320), LB Smael Mondon (#2, 6-2, 235), WR Dominic Lovett (#6, 5-10, 190) and TEs Oscar Delp (#4, 6-4, 245) and Ben Yurosek (#84, 6-4, 245). The Bulldogs are also hoping to have RB Travis Etienne (#1, 5-9, 205), who transferred north from Florida this winter, available on Saturday, but he’ll likely be a game time decision because of a foot injury.
Like Georgia, Clemson won a couple of national championships in the past decade, but the Tigers appear to have hit something of dry stretch recently both on the field and at the draft. Clemson had, for example, a player selected with a top 10 pick in 6 of the 8 drafts in the latter part of the past decade, but haven’t had anyone taken earlier than very late in the opening round since QB Trevor Lawrence was the first overall selection in 2021. And that trend likely isn’t going to change dramatically this coming draft year as Clemson doesn’t appear to have any first round locks for 2025, although veteran LB Barrett Carter (#0, 6-0, 235) is generally considered to be the top prospect at the position, but is still more of a early to mid second day candidate. Same for rising LT Blake Miller (#78, 6-5, 310). Indeed, we are hearing that pro scouts are literally lining up to watch Miller go up against Georgia DE Mykel Williams on Saturday in what should be the most anticipated one-on-one dual on this weekend’s college football schedule. Meanwhile, other Tigers to watch with later round potential include DT DeMonte Capehart (#19, 6-4, 320), RB Phil Mafah (#7, 6-0, 230), TE Jake Briningstool (#9, 6-5, 230), S RJ Mickens (#9, 6-0, 210) and OG Walter Parks (#64, 6-3, 315).
#7 NOTRE DAME (10-3) at TEXAS A&M (7-6); 7:30 PM ET; ABC … Probably no program in college football is happier that we are now in the 12-team CFP era than Notre Dame as it was always going to be difficult for the Irish to make the 4-team playoff given their schedule. And the Irish should certainly be in the playoff mix this with a quality roster led by transfer QB Riley Leonard (#13, 6-3, 220) who comes over from Wake Forest where he was considered to be a rising star for the 2024 draft at one time last year before missing the back half of the campaign with an injury. Leonard will some decent targets in TE Mitch Evans (#88, 6-4, 260), arguably one of the top prospect at the position for next year, along with WRs Beaux Collins (#5, 6-2, 205) and Kris Mitchell (#10, 6-0, 190) who transferred from Clemson and Florida International respectively. However, the offensive line will be manned by largely unproven players. No such problems for the defense, though, which features CB Ben Morrison (#20, 6-0, 190), a legit top ten prospect for next year’s draft, along with S Xavier Watts (#0, 6-0, 205) who led the country with 7 picks last year, active DTs Howard Cross (#56, 6-0, 290) and Rylie Mills (#99, 295), DE RJ Oben (#9, 6-2, 260), another ACC transfer, veteran LB Jack Kiser (#24, 6-1, 230), and underrated CB Jordan Clark (#1, 5-9, 185).
No program in the country was more active in the transfer portal this year than the Aggies who added 26 new players. And one of those – DE Nic Scourton (#11, 6-4, 285) who transferred from Purdue – is the Aggies top prospect this year. He’s a legit first-round prospects who had 10 sacks in 2023 and is considered to have one of the highest-ceilings of anyone in the upcoming draft. Scourton anchors what should be a very good defensive front which also includes a couple of Shemars: DT Shemar Turner (#5, 6-3, 300) and DE Shemar Stewart (#4, 6-4, 290). The Aggies also have an intriguing QB prospect in 3rd year junior Connor Weigman (#15, 6-2, 220) who has oodles of talent, but just hasn’t been able to stay on the field to date.
