#3 GEORGIA (7-1) at #16 MISSISSIPPI (7-2); 3:30 PM ET; ABC … This isn’t do-or-die for Georgia, which can probably afford a second loss and still qualify for the 12-team CFP playoff, but it certainly is for Mississippi which really can’t take another loss and still qualify. And as it seems with just about every game in the SEC this fall there will be an inordinate amount of pressure on the QBs, in this case Carson Beck of Georgia and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Beck, for example, entered the season considered to be the potentially THE #1 prospect overall, but he’s had a very up-and-down season which has included three games with 3 picks. Dart, on the hand, leads all FBS in passing that includes a 21-3 TD-to-INT ratio and a 72% completion rate, but still hasn’t gotten much love from pro scouts.
Of course, the two QBs won’t be the only players that scouts focus on in Oxford Saturday afternoon as both are also loaded with top draft talent. In fact, if Georgia DE Mykel Williams (#13, 6-5, 265) could ever get healthy he could conceivably work his way into the top pick overall discussion as he has all the tools to be the next great pass-rusher in the NFL. Williams, though, has been dealing with a foot injury this year and like Beck has not really lived up to the billing this fall. Those two could also 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. 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 OG Dylan Fairchild (#53, 6-4, 315) and RT Xavier Truss (73, 6-6, 320) have mid-round potential. Same for RB Travis Etienne (#1, 5-9, 205), DT Nazir Stackhouse (#78, 6-3, 320), WR Dominic Lovett (#6, 5-10, 190) and TEs Oscar Delp (#4, 6-4, 245) and Ben Yurosek (#84, 6-4, 245). At the same time, LB Smael Mondon (#2, 6-2, 235), another mid-round prospect, will not play because of a foot injury.
The big question entering the game at Ole Miss is who exactly going to be able to play after the Rebels listed 26 players on their pre-game injury report. While a number of those were actually ‘probable’ star WR Tre Harris (#9, 6-2, 210), who leads FBS in receiving yards per game, is listed as ‘doubtful. after he missed the past couple of games. The Rebels also could be without WR Jordan Watkins (#11, 5-11, 200) who stepped but big time last week, while speedy WR Juice Wells (#3, 6-2, 205) will be available. The Rebels also feature a very good defensive front including DEs Jared Ivey (#5, 6-5, 285) and Princely Umanmielen (#1, 6-4, 255) and DT Walter Nolen (#2, 6-3, 305), once the #1 recruit in the country. Meanwhile, other Ole Miss players to watch include LB Chris Paul (#11, 6-2, 235), TE Caden Prieskorn (#86, 6-5, 255), CB Trey Amos (#9, 6-0, 190), and safety Trey Washington (#25, 5-10, 205).
#11 ALABAMA (6-2) at #16 LSU (6-2); 7:30 PM ET; ABC … If the UGA-Ole Miss game wasn’t exactly an elimination game, this one could very well be one as both teams already have a couple of losses, although there are scenarios in which Alabama, with its pedigree, could make it into the playoff with a 3rd loss. Time will tell. Like the first game, though, this one also features a couple of QB prospects very much under the microscope. Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, for example, had all the look of an emerging dual-threat type with top 10-15 potential through the early part of the season, but has looked more like a good athlete playing the position rather than necessarily a poised passer. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, on the other has as much arm talent as anyone in college football, but he’s completed just 54% of his passes in conference play where he has only one more TD pass than INT.
Truth be told, if Milroe were to slip out of this coming April’s opening round, and that is if he already hasn’t opted to return to school, Alabama’s record streak of having at least one player selected in the first round for 17 straight years could very well be in some jeopardy as no one on the roster is considered to be a lock at this time to be selected in the opening round in 2025. However, what Alabama does have is a solid group of early to mid second-day type prospects including OG Tyler Booker (#52, 6-4, 325), C Parker Brailsford (#72, 6-2, 290), MLB Jihaad Campbell (#11, 6-2, 245), ER Deontae Lawson (#0, 6-2, 240), safeties Keon Sabb (#3, 6-1, 210), who is out with an injury, and Malachi Moore (#13, 6-0, 205), DT Tim Smith (#50, 6-3, 315), and TE CJ Dippre (#81, 6-5, 265). Booker, Brailsford, Campbell, Sabb and Moore are each among the top prospects at their respective positions; however, they all play positions that are not usually considered high-value at the draft. Meanwhile, scouts will also be keeping an eye on freshman WR Ryan Williams (#2, 6-0, 175), who won’t be draft eligible for several more years, but has already shown some big play ability.
Meanwhile, whether Nussmeier enters the draft or not, the Tigers should have an impact this coming April as OT Will Campbell (#66, 6-5, 325) has top 10 potential. So did star DE/ER Harold Perkins, but he’ll likely be back at school next fall after tearing an ACL earlier this season. Back to the OL for a moment, LT Campbell combines with RT Emory Jones (#50, 6-5, 320), who has some late first round potential of his own, to give LSU the top 1-2 OT combination in the country, while TE Mason Taylor (#86, 6-5, 255) is one of the top 2-3 prospects at that position. He combines with WRs CJ Daniels (#4, 6-1, 205), Zavion Thomas (#0, 5-10, 195) and Kyren Lacy (#2, 6-2, 195) to give Nussmeier a solid receiver corps. At the same time, the Tigers also have several intriguing prospects on the other side of the ball starting with rising DE Braydn Swinson (#4, 6-3, 250), an Oregon transfer who leads the team with 8 sacks, while DE Sai’vion Jones (#35, 6-3, 290), a freakish athlete with first round tools who has finally started to consistently produce like one, has 4.5 sacks so far this fall. At the same time, other Tigers with later round grades include S Major Burns (#8, 6-2, 200), RB Josh Williams (#18, 5-9, 210), OG Miles Frazier (#70, 6-4, 325), DT Jalen Lee (#92, 6-2, 295) and CB Zy Alexander (#14, 6-1, 195).
