Last week had a flurry of upsets with four of the top six teams dropping down the ranks. Moving on to week seven, we’ll find out if one or both of the Mississippi schools has the staying power to make an SEC West title run. In the Big 12, TCU travels on the road to play a second top-five ranked conference opponent in as many weeks. Baylor didn’t win pretty last week versus Texas, and will have to clean up their act offensively against the Horned Frogs.
And while the Mississippi schools and TCU’s rise dominate the early story-lines, there are plenty of scouting match-ups around the rest of the country. Georgia and Missouri are fighting for the lead in the SEC East race, while Oregon and UCLA look to right their ships after suffering heartbreaking losses a week ago in Pac 12 play. Keep on reading below to find out the top prospects to watch, and sit back for another great weekend of college football!
By: Alex Brown
Texas vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, ABC, 12:00 PM EST
There’s been a near even split of carries between Texas top two ball carriers, but junior Johnathan Gray (4.9 ypc) has been more productive than senior Malcolm Brown (3.8 ypc). Still, Brown powers through first contact and runs with very good vision for the zone game. Given how much Oklahoma stunts and blitzes, scouts will take note of how Gray and Brown are able to execute in pass protection. Oklahoma’s front seven has a truckload of NFL talent to throw at Texas running game, so be sure to check out redshirt sophomore Jordan Phillips at nose tackle. He’s massive and mobile from the interior, with the skill set to two-gap and also rush the passer. In the back half, Oklahoma senior CB Julian Wilson plays exclusively over the left side of the field and should give Texas’ leading senior WR John Harris his toughest matchup of the season. Texas other senior WR Jaxon Shipley remains the go-to, possession receiver (leads team in receptions) and, while he does some of his best work from the slot, he’ll occasionally line up at the Z-position and be guarded by junior CB Zack Sanchez. Sanchez has been boom-or-bust this season, as he leads the Big 12 in interceptions but has given up his fair share of big plays.
When Oklahoma has the football, pay attention to the junior slot WR Sterling Shepard and Texas senior CB Quandre Diggs. Diggs is Texas’ best nickel corner and aggressively jumps routes to play the ball in-air. With Shepard’s ability to setup and win with double-move routes, I’m interested to see how disciplined Diggs plays versus Oklahoma’s big play wide receiver. Along the trenches, another matchup to watch includes senior RT Daryl Williams and senior DE Cedric Reed. Williams is a dominant point of attack blocker that creates gaping holes in the run game, while Cedric Reed looks to defeat blockers with his sudden hands and plus length. Neither are speed-based players, so it’ll be a test of strength and leverage for these two players. Last but not least, senior OG Adam Shead will have to deal with Texas’ junior DT Malcom Brown. Brown wins with natural power, leverage and sudden disengage moves, and should be viewed as one of the top interior DL prospects in the country.
No. 13 Georgia at No. 23 Missouri, CBS, 12:00 PM EST
In a shocking turn of events, Georgia’s best player Todd Gurley will be indefinitely suspended for violation of NCAA rules. Losing the leading Heisman candidate and top RB in college football is devastating news, and now the Bulldogs will lean on senior QB Hutson Mason. Mason is an efficient player within Georgia’s offense, but his inability to test defenses vertically has limited Georgia to an extent. He’ll need to give senior WR prospects Michael Bennett and Chris Conley more opportunities downfield, both of whom are solid mid round prospects. The game within the game will be along the line of scrimmage, where Georgia LT John Theus faces off against Missouri DE Shane Ray. Both players are juniors and have the traits to expose each other’s weaknesses. Theus doesn’t have the lateral quickness to keep up with an athlete like Ray, but his length and strength can overwhelm the Missouri edge rusher in the run game.
As for Missouri’s offense, their senior LT Mitch Morse has his work cut out for him this week with Georgia redshirt sophomore Leonard Floyd. Floyd is too lean-bodied to be a 4-3 DE, but fits the bill for as a 3-4 outside linebacker. For Morse, it’s an opportunity to prove he belongs at OT at the next level or if he’ll need to kick inside to OG. At the second level, take note of the linebacker-running back battle involving senior RB Marcus Murphy and Georgia ILB Ramik Wilson. Wilson reads and reacts to the play at a high level, but will need to take sound pursuit angles and break down in space to tackle an elusive ball carrier like Murphy. Additionally, Murphy is a threat in the passing game with angle routes and screens. At WR, also be sure to check out Missouri seniors Bud Sasser. Providing over-the-top help for Georgia’s corners, senior SAF Corey Moore should be active in this one. Missouri’s redshirt sophomore QB Maty Mauk is a risk-taker at QB that will force the ball vertically when his number is called, so it’ll be important to see if Corey Moore can cash in on any of those contested throws.
No. 2 Auburn at No. 3 Mississippi State, 3:30 PM EST
Auburn finally played a complete game offensively versus LSU behind senior QB Nick Marshall, who continues to be a more consistent decision maker in the run game and pass game. He’s an undersized passer but gifted with the natural arm strength and athleticism to earn day three consideration. Marshall’s go-to weapons are junior WR prospects Sammie Coates and Duke Williams. Coates is a size-speed target that flashes a violent stiff-arm to win after the catch, while Williams is a big-bodied, intermediate target with a plus catch radius. In last week’s win over Texas A&M, Mississippi State junior ILB Bernardrick MicKinney continued to flash the elite physical tools and explosive traits that should warrant top 40 grades; however, he needs to gain better depth to his cover drops and take more consistent angles in pursuit. Up front, the focus will be on Auburn senior OC Reese Dismukes. Mississippi State is extremely deep on the defensive line, with true sophomore Chris Jones being their most disruptiveinterior player. On obvious passing downs, look for senior DE Preston Smith to kick inside over Dismukes. Smith has greatly improved his hand usage as a senior and is finally making the most of his length-strength skill set.
With Mississippi State’s offense, junior QB Dak Prescott has really shown positive signs as a passer in 2014. His reset footwork when pressured remains a work in progress, but his combination of downfield throwing and inside power runs have put opposing defenses on their heels. His running mate in junior RB Josh Robinson has also performed well this season, displaying light feet through jump cuts and the contact balance to break past arm tacklers. The backfield combo of Prescott and Robinson go up against a rising junior ILB for Auburn in Kris Frost, who has really stood out this season with enhanced instincts and elite closing burst as a tackler. Frost’s been fighting through a left knee MCL sprain and isn’t 100%, so watch his usage in this game. On the offensive line for Mississippi State, senior OC Dillon Day couldn’t be returning from suspension at a better time. Both Day and senior RG Ben Beckwith are facing a deep and talented DT rotation for Auburn. Senior Angelo Blackson has brutish strength through his hands and carries his 6’5, 300+ lbs. frame impressively, while senior teammate Gabe Wright has the developed pass rush repertoire and first step quicks to slant into the backfield. In pass coverage, I want to see how senior CB Trovon Reed operates in press looks versus sophomore De’Runnya Wilson. Reed is converted WR that relies heavily on physicality and hand usage, leading to holding and pass interference calls. In this contest, Reed’s ball skills will certainly be tested by Wilson’s 6’5 length and ability to high point as a converted basketball player.
No. 9 TCU at No. 5 Baylor, ABC/ESPN2, 3:30 PM EST
I’ll actually be at this game in person and will have a full report on Bryce Petty’s play over on Sporting News, but watch out for the interior pressure caused by TCU DT duo of junior Dayvion Pierson and senior Chucky Hunter. Pierson is the better athlete and pass rusher, and Hunter does his best work in finding the football as a run defender. On the perimeter, senior WR Antwan Goodley will square off against a smaller but still talented CB in senior Kevin White. White is a quick-twitched athlete that can flip open and play big at the catch point, but he’s inefficient with his footwork in press coverage. Goodley’s strength advantage could give TCU’s pass coverage problems. As the nickel DB on TCU’s defense, senior SAF Sam Carter is tasked with either curl-to-flat responsibilities in Quarters coverage or man coverage in the slot. Scouts will be watching to see how he fares against Baylor’s slot weapon Levi Norwood, who is a sneaky fast athlete and dangerous after the catch.
When I went back and broke down TCU’s game versus Oklahoma, I was very impressed with how junior QB Trevone Boykin commanded the offense and placed his vertical passes. He leads his team in rushing and passing, and is one of the top dual threat passers in the nation. With that being said, his 3/4’s delivery forces him to work hard for throwing lanes and limits his ability to work the middle of the field at times. On the defensive line for Baylor, junior Shawn Oakman has the size (6’9, 280 lbs) and length to cloud passing lanes for Boykin. Protecting the TCU passer is an equally massive player in senior LT Tayo Fabuluje (6’7, 360 lbs). I expect Oakman to dominate this match-up with his superior athleticism, but will be watching to see how the heavy-set senior blocker holds up in pass protection. As for an under the radar prospect, keep your eye on senior TE Cliff Murphy. TCU uses Murphy equally as a lead blocker on option and inside zone running plays, and he possesses the toughness, technique and size to be a very solid #2 TE at the next level. The Horned Frogs leading pass catcher Josh Doctson will face a bit of a buzz saw in Baylor redshirt sophomore CB Xavien Howard. Howard is a long, physical corner (6’2, 200 lbs) and ranks 3rd in the country with 2 pass breakups per game.
No. 12 Oregon at No. 18 UCLA, FOX, 3:30 PM EST
This game features two of the top junior QB talents in the country with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and UCLA’s Brett Hundley, but neither passer has an offensive line they can trust. While Mariota has a sparkling 15 TD: 0 INT ratio and shows far more command from the pocket in 2014, his loose handle on the football has led to costly fumbles. With Hundley, his pocket presence remains shaky as he continues to drop his eye level to deal with the pass rush. In terms of pure arm talent, these are two of the best in college football. But while both passers have top of the draft upside and athleticism, scouts want to see more ball security from Marcus Mariota and improved rush awareness with Brett Hundley. UCLA senior LT Malcolm Bunche struggled the most against Utah’s pass rush last week. He’s best suited as an NFL OG, but won’t get an off week versus a talented Oregon front seven. Junior Arik Armstead is the 5-technique that should line opposite Bunche, while senior Tony Washington is the top edge rusher for the Ducks. Look for Armstead and Washington to have a field day.
On defense, UCLA has one of the best 2015 ILB prospects in senior Eric Kendricks. Kendricks, the brother of Philadelphia Eagles starting Mike backer Mychal, showcases elite instincts and athleticism needed to make plays against the speed of Oregon’s offense. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota should be most concerned with is senior DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa is a rocked-up, long-armed athlete that wins with power rush moves. He’ll be in Mariota’s face all afternoon. There’s a chance that senior LT Jake Fisher plays in this game, which would be a huge boost for an Oregon OL that has allowed 12 sacks in the previous two games Fisher missed. In the back end, senior CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has gone from being a consensus top of the first round guy to a polarizing evaluation for scouts. His lack of ideal size (sub 5’10 CB), mixed with good, not great long speed and elite body control make him comparable in many ways to former Chargers CB Jason Verrett. Just like Verrett, he’s competitive, aggressive and extremely quick-footed. Still, IEO has been beaten downfield more often this season than in years past and, despite being known for his consistency in run support, he left a handful of tackles on the field versus Arizona. Facing a group of UCLA WRs with size and speed, along with a talented passer in Brett Hundley, IEO’s play will be the focus for NFL scouts in attendance.
No. 3 Ole Miss at No. 14 Texas A&M, ESPN, 9:00 PM EST
Well, senior QB Bo Wallace delivered in the clutch for Ole Miss with three touchdown passes in the second half to upset Alabama. The knock has always been consistency with Wallace, so we’ll see if he can build on last week’s standout performance. In a WR-DB matchup heavily slanted in Ole Miss’ favor, I fully expect Bo Wallace to follow Mississippi State’s gameplan from a week ago –target Texas A&M field cornerback De’Vante Harris. Harris is a very good athlete, but it’s his lack of functional strength that puts him in recovery mode when asked to jam receivers at the line or defend the catch point. I’ll be looking to see if senior WR Vince Sanders can make the most of his one-on-ones with Harris, as he’s developed into a solid day three prospect for the Rebels. On the other side, senior Deshazor Everett has the length to match up with sophomore Rebel wideout Laquon Treadwell. The issues for Everett, however, are inefficient footwork and inconsistent drive angles to the throw. Both Everett and Harris will be tested early and often in this contest.
The calling card for Ole Miss is their pass defense (2nd lowest average QB rating in the nation) and Texas A&M wins behind their high-powered passing attack (2nd most passing yards in the nation), so what gives? Senior LT Cedric Ogbuehi still is a top ten talent that plays with a flexible, athletic lower half and efficient footwork; yet, his inability to keep his hands in a punching position exposes his midsection. He’ll be facing an aggressive and explosive edge rusher in junior CJ Johnson, who can beat you with a speed rush or convert his first step burst into bull-rushing power. Expect Ogbuehi and Johnson to battle it out in this game. On the interior, senior LG Jarvis Harrison and junior Mike Matthews will have their eyes peeled for sophomore Robert Nkemdiche. Nkemdiche wins a majority of his one-on-ones, flashing rare first step speed for his size and explosive power to erase blockers. The player most tested in this game, may wind up being senior SAF Cody Prewitt. Texas A&M sophomore QB Kenny Hill is unafraid to test defenses vertically down the middle third of the field and, with Ole Miss playing a high-number of single-high safety defenses (Cover 1 or Cover 3), Prewitt will have his hands full with dig patterns, seam routes and deep posts.
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